William Troth 1824 & Charlotte Storer 1829

WILLIAM TROTH born 27 Dec 1824 in Sidemoor, Worcestershire &

CHARLOTTE STORER born 1829 in Ibstock, Leicestershire.

William was born on the 27th Dec 1824 in Sidemoor in the Bromsgrove area of Worcestershire. son of Charles Troth and Mary Smith, he was baptised on the 11th May 1834 at Southhalls House, Sidemoor along with a number of his siblings. This was under the denomination of the Arminian Methodist faith, so they became non-conformists and split from the main teachings of the traditional church. Arminianism is based on theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609) and his historic supporters known as Remonstrants. This was obviously a conscious decision by William's parents to split from the main church and they may well have suffered abuse and mistreatment from the state and general population because of this.

William became a nailer like his father Charles Troth and most people in the district, Bromsgrove was known as Nail Town. He would have been employed from a young age and would have had little education. In fact on the 1841 Census William's parents and his brothers and sisters from Daniel aged eight upwards are all nail makers. Nail making provided a very meagre wage and the whole family would have to work long hours and from a very young age to make ends meet. The photo above shows an actual nailshop forge that was moved brick by brick to the Avoncroft Museum from Melbourne Road in Sidemoor, Bromsgrove.

In 1778 it was estimated that 900 people were employed in the nailing industry but by 1851 when the industry was at its peak the number of people working in the nail trade had risen to over 10,000, half the town's population. Men, women and children were all employed in the trade. According to the statistics of the 1861 census child labour in Worcestershire accounted for around 1/4 of the child labour for the whole of England and Wales due to the number of children working in the nail trade. A good nailer could produce 24,000 nails in a week, however due to the expansion of the trade and the abundance of nailers prices continually dropped. Also middle men called foggers who supplied iron to the nailers at higher price or on credit then bought back the goods by cheque which had to be spent in the foggers shop made the situation worse.

House owners with some garden space would supplement their income by growing and selling produce and sometimes men would go off to find seasonal agricultural work leaving the women and children to carry on with the nail making. The 1840's were very bleak with families facing starvation which eventually led to riots, in 1842 a march to the executive industry board meeting in Dudley led to people damaging nail masters property and breaking up the machinery of nailers who refused to join the protest. By the 20th century the cottage industry in Bromsgrove had largely disappeared due to large industrial methods in larger factories in cities such as Birmingham.

It was probably this uncertainty and poor income that led William to move from Bromsgrove to Ibstock in Leicestershire, In Ibstock he was lodging with Henry Storer and his family, while there he would have met their daughter and his future wife Charlotte Storer. His skill as a nailer would have brought him to Ibstock to supply nails for the local coalmine. His fellow lodger William Smith from Northampton and Charlotte's brother Issac were both working down the pit at Ibstock colliery.

He married Charlotte Storer on the 9th June 1851 at the local Parish Church, he made his mark on the certificate as he was unable to write. Charlotte was born in 1829 in Ibstock, daughter of Henry & Elizabeth Storer of Ibstock, her father was a Frame Work Knitter by trade. William and Charlotte had at least three children, Mary was born around 1852, Charles was born around 1854 and then they had a son John William Troth, born on the 1st of March 1869 (my x3 Great Grandfather).

William, Mary and the children lived at several addresses in Ibstock including Deacon Lane, Mainways Yard, Principal Street and Peggs Lane.

William, when he was younger and in his prime was noted as a master nail maker, a 'master' is someone who would have owned his own business. In later years and on his death certificate it states he is a Journeyman Nail Maker, a Journeyman is a fully qualified tradesman who had worked his way up from an apprentice and was probably paid my the day unlike a 'master'.

Charlotte died on the 7th July 1886 in Ibstock and William passed away on the 29th September 1893 aged 70, the certificate states the cause being Epithelioma of the mouth, a form of cancer which he had suffered from for nine months. This was a common disease that the nailers contracted from holding the nails in their mouths. They are buried next to each other at Ibstock Cemetery on Pretoria Road.

It was perhaps fortunate that William would not have been alive to see his son John William Troth die in a tragic accident at the colliery at Ibstock. John died in a mining accident on the 28th of July 1899 when the roof caved in while working underground at the Ibstock pit. You can read more on this via the link to William's son below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WILLIAM TROTH born 27 Dec 1824 in Sidemoor, Worcestershire

Born . 27 Dec 1824 Sidemoor, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

Bap. 11 May 1834 Southhalls House, Sidemoor

Denomination. Arminian Methodist

Father Charles

Mother Mary

Census 1841. William Troth. Age 15. Occupation - Nailmaker.

Born - In County

Address - Sidemoor

Parish - Bromsgrove

Living With Charles Troth(40), Mary Troth (40),

Ann Troth(19), Eliza Troth (15), Emma Troth (11),

John Troth(10), Daniel Troth (8)

- All Nailmakers

and David Troth (6), George Troth (4).

Census 1851. Lodger - William Troth Age 25. Occupation - Nailor.

Born - Bromsgrove

Address - Deacon Lane, Ibstock.

Living with Head Henry Storer(61). Widower .

- Frame Work Knitter.

Daughters Elizabeth(24), Charlotte(21), Eliza(14)

Son Isaac(18) - Coalminer

All Born Ibstock.

Lodger - William Smith(22) - Coalminer. Born - Northampton.

Lodger - William Troth(25) - Nailor. Born - Bromsgrove

Marriage. 9th June 1851. William Troth (Full Age). Nailer.

Residence - Ibstock

Father - Charles Troth. Nailer

to Charlotte Storer (Full Age).

Residence - Ibstock

Father - Henry Storer. Frame Work Knitter

at the Parish Church, Ibstock.

County of Leicester (By Banns)

Signed by Charlotte Storer and marked by William Troth

Presence of - Abraham Wardle & Eliza Wardle

Census 1861. William Troth. Age 37. Occupation - Nailmaker

Born - Sidemore

Address - Mainways Yard, Ibstock

Parish - Ibstock

Living With Wife Charlotte Troth (32)

Daughter Mary Troth (8) - born Ashby Z and Son Charles(6)

- born Ibstock

Lodgers Eliza Adkins? (24) - Wool Knitter &

Daughter Elsie Adkins? (3 mnths)

Noted on Sons Birth Certificate. John William Troth

Born 1st March 1869, Ibstock.

Father - William Troth. Occupation - Nail Maker, Master.

Registered Twenty-Sixth March 1869.

Census 1871. William Troth. Age 46. Occupation - Nailmaker

Address - Principal Street, Ibstock.

Parish - Ibstock

Living With Wife Charlotte Troth(40)

Son's Charles(16) & John William Troth(2).

Census 1881. William Troth. Age 59. Occupation - Nailmaker

Born - Sidemore, Worcestershire.

Address - Deacon Lane, Ibstock.

Parish - Ibstock.

Living With Wife Charlotte Troth(52)

Son John William Troth(12) - Scholar.

Census 1891. William Troth. Age 67. Father-in-law

Born - Sidemore, Worcestershire.

Address - Ibstock.

Parish - Ibstock.

Living With Daughter Mary Elizabeth Ottey(40) & Family.

Joseph Ottey(49) Head & Mary Elizabeth's Husband.

Son William Thomas Ottey(19)

and Niece Mary Jane Troth(12)

Occupation: Given as Nailer (Nail Maker)

on Son's Marriage Certificate 1890

William Troth Died 29th September 1893 Aged 70.

Registration District : Market Bosworth.

Sub-District : Ibstock.

Where : Peggs Lane, Ibstock

Occupation : Formerly a Nail Maker (Journeyman)

Cause : Died of Epithelioma of mouth 9 Months.

Informant : W.J.Cottey (Grandson)

Registered : 13th September 1893.

Buried 2 Oct 1893 Ibstock Cemetery

No 424 1893, Grave 61/c

Aged 70 Nailer

Peggs Lane, Ibstock

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHARLOTTE STORER was born 1829 in Ibstock, Leicestershire

Bap : December 10th 1829 - Charlotte Storer

Daughter of Henry & Elizabeth Storer - Ibstock.

Father's Occupation - FWK Curate - Joseph Taylor

Census 1841. Charlotte Storer. Age 10.

Address - Deacon Lane, Ibstock.

Parish of Ibstock.

Living with Henry Storer(50). F W Knitter.

Elizabeth(45), Isaac(8), Eliza(4)

Census 1851. Charlotte Storer. Age 21.

Address - Deacon Lane, Ibstock.

Parish of Ibstock.

Living with Father Henry Storer(61). Widower .

- Frame Work Knitter.

Sisters Elizabeth(24), Eliza(14)

Brother Isaac(18) - Coalminer

All Born Ibstock.

Lodger - William Smith(22) - Coalminer. Born - Northampton.

Lodger - William Troth(25) - Nailor.

Born - Bromsgrove, Northampton.

Marriage. 9th June 1851. William Troth (Full Age). Nailer.

Residence - Ibstock

Father - Charles Troth. Nailer

to Charlotte Storer (Full Age).

Residence - Ibstock

Father - Henry Storer. Frame Work Knitter

at the Parish Church, Ibstock.

County of Leicester (By Banns)

Signed by Charlotte Storer and marked by William Troth

Presence of - Abraham Wardle & Eliza Wardle

Census 1861. Charlotte Troth. Age 32.

Wife. Born - Ibstock.

Address - Mainways Yard, Ibstock.

Parish of Ibstock.

Living with Husband William Troth(37). Head of Household.

Daughter Mary Troth(8) - born Ashby Z and Son Charles(6)

- born Ibstock.

Lodgers Eliza Adkins (24) - Wool Knitter

and Daughter Elsie Adkins (3 mnths).

Census 1871. Charlotte Troth. Age 40.

Wife. Born - Ibstock.

Address - Principal Street, Ibstock.

Living with Husband William Troth(46)

Son's Charles(16) & John William Troth(2).

Census 1881. Charlotte Troth. Age 52. Born - Ibstock.

Address - Deacon Lane, Ibstock.

Parish - Ibstock St Dennis.

Living with Husband William Troth(59)

Head of Household. - Nailmaker

and Son John William Troth(12).

Charlotte Troth Died 7th July 1886 Age 56.

Registration District : Market Bosworth.

Sub-District : Ibstock.

Where : Ibstock

Occupation : Wife of William Troth a Nail Maker.

Cause : Siviliuis? Mammary 8 years. Haematemesis 2 Days.

Informant : The mark of Betsy Timmins Niece.

Registered : 9th July 1886.

*Haematemesis is simply defined as “vomiting blood”.

It is caused by bleeding from part of the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract.

Buried 10 Jul 1886 Ibstock Cemetery

No 106 1886, Grave 62/c

Aged 56 Nailer’s Wife

Peggs Lane, Ibstock

Children of WILLIAM TROTH and CHARLOTTE STORER are:

i. MARY ELIZABETH TROTH

b Oct-Dec 1852 Ashby de la Zouch, Leics

mar Apr-Jun 1869 to Joseph Ottey at Ibstock, Leics

d Apr-Jun 1943 Ibstock, Leics

ii. CHARLES HENRY TROTH

b Oct-Dec 1854, Ibstock, Leics

mar 15 Jul 1878 to Sarah Ann Halfpenny,

at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

d Jul-Sep 1897 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

iii. JOHN WILLIAM TROTH

b 1 Mar 1869, Ibstock, Leics

mar 25 Dec 1890 to Sarah Ann Gray,

at Parish Church, Ibstock, Leics

d 28 July 1899, Ibstock Colliery, Leics

Go to associated images - William Troth(1824) and Charlotte Storer(1829)

Go to William's parents - Charles Troth(1800) and Mary Smith(1801)

Go to Charlotte's parents - Henry Storer (1790) & Elizabeth Millington (1795)

Go to William & Charlotte's Son - John William Troth(1869) and Sarah Ann Gray(1870)

Go to the Almond descendants home page