Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

May have been born or lived at Briplington, Gloucestershire.

Joan married William Lester on 26 Jul 1768 in Westbury on Trym. William was born in 1746 in Westbury on Trym, Gloucestershire; died on 07 Jan 1839 in Newcastle under Lyme; was buried on 10 Jan 1839 in Newcastle under Lyme (St. Giles). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Occupation at time of marriage also given as 'painter' or 'printer'.
Started his first silk mill in 1815 in Newcastle under Lyme. Made a fortune in the silk business.
Had a prominent position in Newcastle under Lyme as a householder and churchman until his death in 1836. Lived at Friarswood i.e. at the silk mill.

Extracts from 'The soft silk industry of Newcastle under Lyme by Stephen M Adams':-
'Two enterprising gentlemen, Thomas Major Lester and Samuel Henshall entered into partnership and, in 1815 aand they erected a silk throwing mill in Marsh Parade'. (ref. Parliamentary Papers 1834 XX page 312).
'The partnership was a success; silk had established a firm foothold in Newcastle under Lyme but unforeseen difficulties were soon to shatter the dreams of lasting prosperity.'

'In the period 1829 to 1832, Henshall and Lester's mill in Marsh Parade was still a relatively modern factory employing 150 people and was powered by a 8 hp steam engine'.

'Richard Faulkner of the Friarswood Road factory entered into partnership with Thomas Lester, who ambitiously transferred his allegiance from the Marsh Parade Mill to the much larger Friarswood Road Manufactory. This new association was a relatively short one. It ended with the departure of Faulkner on 27/3/1830. The Friarswood Road Mill later became a family concern when William Upton Lester and his brother John were admitted to their father's business on 1/1/1834. In the meantime, Samuel Henshall had replaced his former partner by his own son William.'

Gravestone implies that he was born in 1776.

From Newcastle Museum: -
'Friarswood Mill wove both dress fabrics and ribbons. Ribbons were used to trim hats and bonnets and were also used as decoration on dresses, Silk dress fabrics were woven in narrow widths. The first silk mill in Newcastle was opened in 1822 by Henshall and Lester in Marsh Parade. By 1833 there were five silk mills in the area including two at Silverdale, which employed over 700 people in total including many children. The silk industry declined towards the end of the 19th century and the mills were converted to Fustian cutting'.

Friarswood Mill was used for silk production from 1835 to 1857 (Newcastle musuem). It was sold by auction on 13/05/1855. Another source says that the mill was built in 1825 and first used in January 1826.

Friarswood Mill was up for auction in July 1844. (His will was not proved until 1844!)

Thomas married Rebecca Upton on 30 May 1802 in Prestbury, Cheshire. Rebecca (daughter of John Upton and Rachel Barber) was born on 24 Dec 1779 in Butley, Macclesfield; died on 13 Jul 1851 in Newcastle under Lyme. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Elizabeth Coulson on 06 Feb 1825 in Hornsey, Middlesex. Elizabeth (daughter of Robert Coulson and Elizabeth Wilson) was born between 10 Dec 1804 and 11 Dec 1805 in Hoxton, Middlesex; died on 12 Nov 1873 in Mile End. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Newcastle under Lyme parish register gives birth of a William Lester on 21/05/1804 (baptism on 08/07/1804), father Thomas Lester, mother Rebecca Lester. However, the IGI has an entry for a William Upton Lester giving a birth date of 1805 at Stoke on Trent. This needs checking out.
Reference for the above entry is:-
Birth 1805 at Stokeryson Trent. Relative Henry Lester.
Column B:- 20MAR1923SL
Column E:- PRE-1970
Column S:- PRE-1970
Source:- Batch/film no. 0183496. serial/sheet:- FILM

Mayor of Newcastle under Lyme 1841-1842

Extracts from 'The soft silk industry of Newcastle under Lyme by Stephen M Adams':-
In May 1833 William Lester testified that prices were depressed and demand was falling.
J H Thompson and Co. and William Lester (who by 1841 had succeeded his father as head of the Friarswood Road Mill (ref 1841 census) were both able to survive the depression. Lester was the owner of the largest single mill in the area. Thomas Lester and later his son William had even managed to amass sufficient capital to render the Friarswood Road mill independent of the larger merchant-manufacturers and their commission work.
William proudly stated in 1833 'We can chose our own silk, being throwsters not for hire but mostly for our own use'.
They also entered the weaving business in addition to throwing.
No other local mill was able to reach such an advanced state of development.
William Lester was well-equipped for survival in 1842, yet even he did not possess sufficiently large resources to survive the next disaster.
'William Lester had been popular and influential during his years in Newcastle and had served the borough as Mayor in 1841 (ref. White's Directory 1851).'
'Nevertheless, his long association with the town finally came to an end when he was unable to survive in the face of increased competition.
J and T Brocklehurst took over the mill. By 1851 Lester had left Newcastle (ref. 1851 census).
With regard to child employees, William Lester admitted that a strap and a cane had been used to inflict punishment in certain extreme cases. He stressed that such occasions were rare, and when they did arise punishment was administered by him and not by one of the overlookers.
'Lesters was the largest local factory and capable of employing in excess of 240'.
Factory Commission Report on Newcastle under Lyme and the Staffordshire Potteries, 1833 :- 'Mr. Lister (sic) stated that he always prefers employing children who have regularly attended a Sunday School'.

Probate Index:-
'13/02/1877. Effects under £4000. The will of William Upton Lester, late of the Batch near Bridgnorth in the County of Salop and of Stoke on Trent in the County of Stafford, merchant, who died 05/02/1876 at Stoke on Trent was proved at Lichfield by William Lester and George Lester, merchants, the sons, and James Smith commission agent, all of Stoke on Trent, the executors'.
(James Smith may have been his son in law)

At time of second marriage address given as Stoke on Trent.

Not living with his wife on census day 1871. They may have been separated since he was the head of household at Weston on Trent and he also died at Stoke on Trent.

Was declared bankrupt in 1845. At this time he was a potter's merchant.

Partnership with Henry Mills of Shelton was dissolved on 25/01/1848. Partnership traded as Henry Mills and Co., china manufacturers.

William married Margaret Harrison on 31 May 1830 in Stoke on Trent. Margaret (daughter of Living) was born in 1803 in Newcastle under Lyme; died on 08 Jun 1863 in Stoke on Trent Registration District. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Martha Burrow on 08 Jun 1865 in Newington, Surrey. Martha (daughter of Richard Burrow and Sally Unknown) was born about 1814 in Coventry; died on 02 May 1885 in Worfield, Shropshire; was buried on 08 May 1885 in Worfield, Shropshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]