Embedded Files
Charles Troth
~ Nailmaker of Sidemoor, Bromsgrove.
&
Mary Smith
~ Nailmaker of Sidemoor, Bromsgrove.
CHARLES TROTH born in 1800 Sidemoor, Worcestershire &
MARY SMITH born 1801 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
Charles Troth was born in 1800 in Sidemoor which is located in the Bromsgrove area of Worcestershire and he is my 4x great grandfather. He was baptised on the 27th July 1800 in Bromsgrove, his father was called William Troth and his mother was named Elizabeth Wallace. Charles's occupation was a Nailmaker like many in the area. In fact Bromsgrove was known as Nailtown, in the 16th Century the industry grew in Bromsgrove with nail-making becoming the major employer in the town and surrounding villages. Whole families would be involved in the whole process just like the Troth family. The industry flourished for 300 years, dying out in the 19th Century when machine made nails were introduced.
Charles married Mary Smith on Christmas Day 1821 in Bromsgrove. Mary Smith was born in Bromsgrove in 1801 and was baptised on the 31st May 1801, her father was a William Smith and her mother was called Mary. Charles and Mary had eleven children, most becoming Nailers by trade. Ann their first child was born about 1823, their first son was called William, born on the 27th December 1824, he is my 3x great grandfather. Willliam would move to Ibstock in Leicestershire to continue his trade as a nailer supplying nails for the local Ibstock colliery. Charles and Mary then had two girls, Eliza and Emma. Then followed several boys, John, Daniel, David, George and Walter. Their last two children were two girls called Caroline and Ellen, Ellen was born in 1849.
All of Charles's family except for the very young were noted as Nailmakers on the Census returns of the period. On the 1861 & 1871 Census they are noted as living on the Common, the Common in Sidemoor ran alongside almost the whole of Broad Street as it's now known. Sidemoor was separated from the rest of Bromsgrove town by the racecourse on the common.
Charles and Mary joined the growing movement of non-conformist worship, the Methodists or in their case the denomination of Arminian Methodists. They had all their family baptised into the faith on the 11th May 1834 at Southhalls House, Sidemoor. They must have felt very strongly about becoming non-conformists, it was demonised by the main church and alot of the general population. Rights were taken away from the non-conformists such as not being able to vote, even riots took place in nearby Birmingham where non-conformists were set upon and assaulted, some were even driven out of their homes as they were set alight by the violent and angry crowds. But Charles and Mary still had their family baptised into the faith at Sidemoor, William, Eliza, Emma, John and Daniel were all baptised on the 11th of May.
The Nailers lived a very meagre existence and a lot of the work force was made up of women and children as well as the men, all trying to make enough money or earn credit from the nailmaster or middlemen to feed themselves. Many nailers were on the bread line and some faced starvation as wages were squeezed yet further, eventually the nailers rioted - you can read more about this in the below extract from the "The Black Country Nail Trade".
Mary died on the 16th June 1878 aged 78, she was suffering from Chronic Bronchitis, her son John Troth was in attendance. William died in 1879 aged 79 of Dropsy, which is an abnormal collection of fluids in body cavities, often caused by kidney or heart disease. Charles and Mary had lived and worked in Sidemoor all their lifes as Nailmakers, they had eked out a living in the nailmaking industry but both still lived to be a good age.
You can read all about the Nailmaking industry and the hardships they endured below :-
* "The Black Country Nail Trade" by Arthur Willets.
A typical nail shop was usually about ten or twelve feet square with one door and one or two unglazed windows. The nail shop had a central hearth or fire, this differed from a chain shop which had the hearths around the walls so that all the family could work independently of each other but using just one fire thus saving on fuel. There could be as many as six working round one fire. Nailers usually either rented or owned their own shop but a nailer who for some reason had no shop of his own, could rent a "standing" from a fellow nailer and share the fire to carry on making nails. Nailers provided their own tools, These were not numerous or expensive. The bellows, a small block or anvil, sharpening tools and for nailers making large nails, "the Oliver". The Midland Mining Commission report of 1843 includes this description:- "The best forges are little brick shops of about 15 feet by 12 feet in which seven or eight individuals constantly work together with no ventilation except the door and two slits, a loop-hole in the wall. The majority of these workplaces are very much smaller and filthy dirty and on looking in upon one of them when the fire is not lighted presents the appearance of a dilapidated coal-hole. In the dirty den there are commonly at work, a man and his wife and daughter, with a boy or girl hired by the year. Sometimes the wife carries on the forge with the aid of the children. The filthiness of the ground, the half-ragged, half-naked, unwashed persons at work, and the hot smoke, ashes, water and clouds of dust are really dreadful"
Around this time machinery for nailmaking was being developed, first the cast nail in 1780, and in 1811 cut nails began to be manufactured in Birmingham. By 1830 they were being produced in large numbers, Hand-made nails were also being imported in increasing amounts from Belgium adding to the distress of the nailers. During the "Hungry Forties" the people in the nail trade suffered terribly and by 1842 many of them were dying of starvation. The Worcestershire Guardian of 16th April 1842 stated that the nail trade in Bromsgrove and Stourbridge is so deplorable that at the petty sessions, held on Tuesday at the former place, the magistrates urged the surveyor to employ as many of the nailers upon the roads as he possibly could, remarking that they could not be permitted to starve and that it was not relief for one day that they required but every day till the trade turned, though when that may be we know not. The nailmasters replied by reducing the already low wages another 20% and just over a week later the nailers rioted.
Several thousand from all the nailing districts proceeded to march on Dudley where there was to be a meeting of the nailmasters. On the way the nailers visited a number of warehouses and forced the masters to go with them as prisoners. They also slashed the bellows of any nailers found working. On arrival at Dudley the nailers were forced to hold a conference with delegates of the nailers but the nailers had been tricked. Help had been sent for and while the conference was being held a troop of cavalry arrived with sabres drawn. The rioters were dispersed and several were arrested and sent to Worcester to await trial. Over the next few days the cavalry was reinforced by troops bought into the area from other counties, even pieces of artillery were bought into Dudley. From time to time there were clashes between the troops and the nailers who used their hammers as clubs. They used what was known locally as a "tiswas", this consisted of three nails welded together in such a way that when thrown upon the ground one point would always stick up. These were thrown under the horses of the charging cavalry crippling the horses and throwing their riders off. Gradually the riots were brought under control and the authorities distributed loaves of bread and other food to the people. The prisoners were taken to Worcester and given reasonably light sentences after the court had heard their plea of Starvation.In 1852, during a strike against the truck system and low wages, a protest march was led by Sam Salt from Halesowen to Bromsgrove to raise funds for the strike. The coal was provided by Thomas Attwood who had been the first Member of Parliament for Birmingham.
For most of the 19th century the nail trade was dogged by strikes many of them instigated by the masters. When their warehouses became over-stocked with nails, or certain types of nails. They would encourage the district, making that type of nail, to strike and then when they had run out, play one district against another to reduce wages even further.
After the early 18th century improvements in the smelting and slitting of the iron began to appear in the trade. Those who had the finance, opened warehouses in the nailing districts. They were able to carry large stocks of nails and had the ability to market them and became known as "nailmasters"or "nail ironmongers" They bought the rod from the slitting mills, distributed it to the nailers (either by delivering it or the nailer fetching it himself) and received the finished nails back for payment, The larger nailmasters had branch warehouses in outlying districts for receiving the nails made there, employing agents to run them. The nailmasters controlled and regulated the wages of the workers at quarterly meetings which until 1875 were held in Dudley and after that in Birmingham.
At these meetings the masters agreed on the prices they would pay the workers for the various types of nails according to the market. These prices were supposed to remain in force until they were again considered but once away from the meetings many masters reduced the agreed rates and paid their workers less, to try and undercut each other. The masters employed their workers on the out-work principle and many of them owned the houses and workshops of their employees and received rent for them.
A few of the larger nailmasters did employ a few nailmakers on their own premises making nails for special orders. In 1830 there were about fifty nailmasters employing an estimated 50.000 men women and children in nailmaking. By 1880 there were over 60 masters listed in the minutes of the meetings but the number employed had dropped considerably.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHARLES TROTH born in 1800 Sidemoor, Worcestershire.
Baptism. 27 July 1800 Bromsgrove, Worcester
Father William Troth
Mother Elizabeth
Marriage. 25 December 1821. Charles Troth
to Mary Smith
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Baptism. Ann Troth . 2 May 1823 (Daughter)
Bromsgrove
Father Charles
Mother Mary
Several Children all baptised on the 11th May 1834
William, Eliza, Emma, John, Daniel - Troth
At Southhalls House, Sidemoor
non-conformist baptism's
Denomination. Arminian Methodist
Father Charles
Mother Mary
Baptism. David Troth . 21 Feb 1836 (Son)
Bromsgrove
Father Charles
Mother Mary
Census 1841. Charles Troth. Age 40. Occupation - Nailmaker.
Address - Sidemoor.
Parish - Bromsgrove.
Living With Mary Troth (40), Ann Troth (19),
William Troth (15), Eliza Troth (15), Emma Troth (11),
John Troth (10), Daniel Troth (8) -
all Nailmakers
and David Troth (6), George Troth (4).
Census 1851. Charles Troth. Age 51. Occupation - Nailmaker.
Address - Sidemore.
Parish - Bromsgrove.
Living With Wife Mary Troth (52). Daughters Ann Troth (28),
Emma Troth (21)
- all Nailmakers
Daughters Caroline Troth (4), Ellen Troth (2)
Sons John Troth (19), Daniel Troth (17), David Troth (16),
George Troth (14), Walter Troth (9).
- all Nailmakers
All born Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
Census 1861. Charles Troth. Age 60. Occupation - Nailmaker.
Address - Common
Parish - Bromsgrove.
Living With Wife Mary Troth (60).
Sons John Troth (29), Walter Troth (19).
All born Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
Census 1871. Charles Troth. Age 70.
Occupation - Nailmaker.
Address - Sidemoor Common
Parish - Bromsgrove.
Living With Wife Mary(71).
Son Walter Troth (29) & his Wife Harriett Troth (29)
& his Children Kate Troth (7), George Troth (6),
John Troth (3), Simeon Troth (1).
All born Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
Charles Troth Died 6 November 1879 Age 79.
Registration District & Sub-District : Bromsgrove.
Address : Sidemoor, Bromsgrove.
Occupation : Nail Maker
Cause : Dropsy
Informant : The mark of John Troth, Son.
Registered : 8 November 1879.
Children of CHARLES TROTH and MARY SMITH are:
i. ANN TROTH
b 1823 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
bap 2 May 1823 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar Oct-Dec 1858 to James Wheeler,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
ii. WILLIAM TROTH
b 27 Dec 1824, Sidemoor, Worcestershire
bap 11 May 1834 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
m 09 Jun 1851 to Charlotte Storer at Ibstock, Leics
d 29 Sep 1893, Peggs Lane, Ibstock, Leics
iii. ELIZA TROTH
b 13 Mar 1826 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
bap 11 May 1834 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
mar 17 Nov 1849 to Martin Peplow,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
d Eliza Peplow Jan-Mar 1906
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
iv. EMMA TROTH
b 22 April 1830 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
bap 11 May 1834 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
mar1 8 Oct 1853 to Henry Nicklep/Nickless/Nicholas,
at Sidemoor, Worcestershire
mar2 Jan-Mar 1874 to Edwin Giles,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
d Emma Giles Apr-Jun 1899
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
v. JOHN TROTH
b 19 Nov 1831 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
bap 11 May 1834 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
mar Jul-Sep 1862 to Elizabeth Holmes,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
d Oct-Dec 1913 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
vi. DANIEL TROTH
b 31 Aug 1833 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
bap 11 May 1834 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar 1871 Oct-Dec to Mary Ann Yates,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
d Apr-Jun 1915 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
vii. DAVID TROTH
b 1836 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
bap 21 Feb 1836 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar 16 Nov 1857 to Martha Ashfield,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
d 1901 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
viii. GEORGE TROTH
b 1838 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar 25 Dec 1860 to Elizabeth Smith,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
d 1903 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
ix. WALTER TROTH
b 1842 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar 26 Apr 1863 to Harriett Dyers,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
x. CAROLINE TROTH
b 1846 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
xi. ELLEN TROTH
b 1849 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar 25 Feb 1866 to Joseph Gossage,
at St John's Church Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
d 1910 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MARY SMITH born 1801 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
Baptism 31 May 1801 Bromsgrove, Worcester
Father Willm Smith
Mother Mary
Marriage. 25 December 1821. Charles Troth
to Mary Smith
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Census 1841. Mary Troth. Age 40. Occupation - Nailmaker
Address - Sidemoor
Parish - Bromsgrove.
Living with Charles Troth (40), Ann Troth (19),
William Troth (15), Eliza Troth (15),
Emma Troth (11), John Troth (10), Daniel Troth (8)
- All Nailmakers
and David Troth (6), George Troth (4).
Census 1851. Mary Troth. Age 52. Occupation - Nailmaker
Address - Sidemore.
Parish - Bromsgrove.
Living with Husband Charles(51). Daughters Ann(28),
Emma(21)
- all Nailmakers
Daughters Caroline(4), Ellen(2)
Sons John Troth (19), Daniel Troth (17), David Troth (16),
George Troth (14), Walter Troth (9).
- all Nailmakers
All born Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
Census 1861. Mary Troth. Age 60. Occupation - Nailmaker.
Address - Common
Parish - Bromsgrove.
Living with Husband Charles Troth (60).
Sons John Troth (29),
Walter Troth (19).
All born Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
Census 1871. Mary Troth. Age 71. Occupation - Nailmaker.
Address - Sidemoor Common
Parish - Bromsgrove.
Living with Husband Charles Troth (70).
Son Walter Troth (29) & his Wife Harriett Troth (29)
& his Children Kate Troth (7), George Troth (6), John Troth (3),
Simeon Troth (1).
All born Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
Mary Troth Died 16 June 1878 Age 78.
Registration District & Sub-District : Bromsgrove.
Address : Sidemoor, Bromsgrove.
Occupation : Wife of charles Troth a Nail Maker
Cause : Chronic Bronchitis Certified by a Carey FRCS?
Bromsgrove
Informant : X The mark of John Troth, Son.
In attendance Sidemoor Bromsgrove
Registered : 18 June 1878.
E Coxell Registrar
Children of CHARLES TROTH and MARY SMITH are:
i. ANN TROTH
b 1823 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
bap 2 May 1823 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar Oct-Dec 1858 to James Wheeler,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
ii. WILLIAM TROTH
b 27 Dec 1824, Sidemoor, Worcestershire
bap 11 May 1834 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
m 09 Jun 1851 to Charlotte Storer at Ibstock, Leics
d 29 Sep 1893, Peggs Lane, Ibstock, Leics
iii. ELIZA TROTH
b 13 Mar 1826 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
bap 11 May 1834 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
mar 17 Nov 1849 to Martin Peplow,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
d Eliza Peplow Jan-Mar 1906
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
iv. EMMA TROTH
b 22 April 1830 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
bap 11 May 1834 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
mar1 8 Oct 1853 to Henry Nicklep/Nickless/Nicholas,
at Sidemoor, Worcestershire
mar2 Jan-Mar 1874 to Edwin Giles,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
d Emma Giles Apr-Jun 1899
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
v. JOHN TROTH
b 19 Nov 1831 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
bap 11 May 1834 Sidemoor, Worcestershire
mar Jul-Sep 1862 to Elizabeth Holmes,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
d Oct-Dec 1913 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
vi. DANIEL TROTH
b 31 Aug 1833 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
bap 11 May 1834 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar 1871 Oct-Dec to Mary Ann Yates,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
d Apr-Jun 1915 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
vii. DAVID TROTH
b 1836 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
bap 21 Feb 1836 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar 16 Nov 1857 to Martha Ashfield,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
d 1901 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
viii. GEORGE TROTH
b 1838 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar 25 Dec 1860 to Elizabeth Smith,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
d 1903 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
ix. WALTER TROTH
b 1842 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar 26 Apr 1863 to Harriett Dyers,
at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
x. CAROLINE TROTH
b 1846 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
xi. ELLEN TROTH
b 1849 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
mar 25 Feb 1866 to Joseph Gossage,
at St John's Church Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
d 1910 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse