Genealogy Forum UK

Researching my family (a branch of the Willetts) I am interested that although a Black Country family, they moved long distances for work (Liverpool, Chester, Newcastle, Hull etc) and I am just curious how poor chain making families actually moved in the 19th Century. Was it horse and cart, or did the employer pay for a railway company to move them? Although they wouldnt have had many possessions it must have been quite an undertaking. Does anyone know how this worked?
I am also interested in Zenas Willetts second wife, Catherine, and her family. Catherine was the daughter of William Young who appears to have been involved in the chain trade but not originating in the Black Country although he spent some time there before moving to Newcastle. One of Williams other daughters, Elsa, wasTom Sitch, the Chainmakers union founder, wife. but I am particularly interested in Williams grandson Josiah Frederick Young-the trail is cold although I believe he remained in Newcastle. Any suggestions on following up this individuals story would be welcome.

as yous said poss moved around with horse & cart as they wouldnt of had many possesion, also train if possesion could be carried ?

here zenas on bcc

http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tr ... =198512231

did he have a 3 rd wife or is catherine / kate ?


1891; 3 Anchour Row, Saltney, Flintshire

Zenas Willetts 46 chainmaker, Walsall
Kate Willetts 36 Walsall
Sam Willetts 22 chainstriker, Walsall
Joseph Willetts 15 errand boy, Gateshead
Tom Willetts 13 Gateshead
Martha Willetts 9 Gateshead
Rebecca Willetts 7 Gateshead
Lizzie Willetts 5 Gateshead
Jane Willetts 3 chester
Albert Willetts 1 Saltney

1901; 11 Oakfield Avenue (New St) Brierley hill

Zenas Willetts 55 Chainmaker, cradley heath
Katherine Willetts 45 tivadle
Joseph Willetts 25 chainstriker gateshead
Rebecca Willetts 18 dressmaker gateshead
Eliza Willetts 16 dressmaker gateshead
Albert Willetts 11 Saltney
Lizzie Willetts 8 Saltney
Marik Willetts 6
Alice Willetts 3
Gladys Willetts 3 Months
rest Brierley hill

1911; 106 Preston Terrace, Wallows St, Round Oak, Brierley Hill

Zenas Willetts 66 wid chainmaker, cradley heath
Albert Willetts 21 chainstriker, Saltney
Jane Willetts 24 Saltney
Marion Willetts 17 Brierley hill
Alice Willetts 13 Brierley hill

Regarding movement of people, I can trace one of my family lines from Leicestershire to Cheshire and then to Lancashire, and they may have travelled by canal.

1841; New town, Rowley Regis

John Willetts 20 chainmaker
Hannah Willetts 20
Samuel Willetts 1 Mo
Y in C


4 doors down relation ?


1841 New town, Rowley Regis

John Willetts 40 chainmaker
Hariot Willetts 30 nailor
Joseph Willetts 15 chainmaker
John Willetts 12
Thomas Willetts 5
Ephriam Willetts 3

Hi There you found us then
will start to add some of this so will sticky

do you want your username adding to the notes on Zenas? what relation are they Grandfather?

copea wrote:Researching my family (a branch of the Willetts) I am interested that although a Black Country family, they moved long distances for work (Liverpool, Chester, Newcastle, Hull etc) and I am just curious how poor chain making families actually moved in the 19th Century. Was it horse and cart, or did the employer pay for a railway company to move them? Although they wouldnt have had many possessions it must have been quite an undertaking. Does anyone know how this worked?
I am also interested in Zenas Willetts second wife, Catherine, and her family. Catherine was the daughter of William Young who appears to have been involved in the chain trade but not originating in the Black Country although he spent some time there before moving to Newcastle. One of Williams other daughters, Elsa, wasTom Sitch, the Chainmakers union founder, wife. but I am particularly interested in Williams grandson Josiah Frederick Young-the trail is cold although I believe he remained in Newcastle. Any suggestions on following up this individuals story would be welcome.

do you have the marriage info pls you can post for Zenas and Catherine we could add to Bcc then

and Elsas marriage?

is Elsa from Newcastle if so need new thread in there pls
and again Josiah Frederick young---who is he son of?
pop a post on in General if the Youngs are outside the BC area and we can help you with that ...............hopefully

do you have a dob pls for Wm Young father ?

1881 Census 24 Eldon Street Gateshead Durham
Zenas Willetts HD M 37 Chainmaker Rowley Staffs
Catherine Wife 26 Twydale Staffs
George H. Willetts Son 14 Chainmaker Walsall
Samuel J Willetts Son 12 Walsall
Joseph Willetts Son 5 Gateshead
Josiah F Young Foster Child 2 Newcastle On Tyne Northumberland------------------------where is he on other census?/who is he son of?
Martha Willetts DA Infant Gateshead.

Does Josiah Fred die? not with family on census

Can you just confirm the dobs and names of Zenas kids pls cos seems on census bit confusing



Can someone look on Bcc see which ones (kids) are missing and find the dobs on regis index for me pls

or Copea if you have them if you can post that would really help

Many thanks for everyone's input. BCC is not accurate for this branch of the Willetts; this is I believe the correct situation:-
Zeanas Willetts b 1846 Married Emily Brazier C1866
Children of the above marriage were William B 1867; Samuel B 1869; Joseph B 1876 and Thomas Born 1877 (Thomas is a bit of a mystery as he "took to the roadf" and we dont know where or when he died but think it may have been Bromsgrove. We fdo know he tramped the road between Chester and the Black Country regularly)
Emily Brazier died 1876.
Zenas Willetts then married Catherine (Kate) Young in 1880 in Newcastle. Kate already had a child called Josiah Frederick born in 1879. This child is a bit of a mystery and remained in Newcastle living with his grandfather William Young.
Zenas and Kate issued the following children Martha B 1882; Rebecca B 1863; Eliza B 1884 Sarah B 1887; Albert B 1889 (Chester);v Lizzie B 1893; Marion B 18954; Alice B 1898. Some Census's show a Gladys-She was a daughter of one of the boys from the previous marriage.
Albert married Amy Davies and they had one child Danetree Joan Willetts B 1919 (Still alive). She married Stephen Cope and had two childrem Pamela Cope 1947 and Andrew Cope (thats me!) 1955.
Zenas's parents were John Willetts and he married Hannah Garrett as BCC says. I believe that his father was also a John Willetts but it was such a common name its difficult to pin down.
Hope this makes sense! I have quite a lot more on this branch of the Willetts but mystery surrounds Tom Willetts mentioned above and Josiah Frederick who I believe was always known as Fred.

Just working thru this

ZEnas has a birth date from his bapt record 18 Apr 1842
Rowley Regis

this has been verified from the Parish register

Marriage do you have the full info?