Embedded Files
Goodman Oswin
~ Framework Knitter of Sileby
&
Elizabeth Martin
~ Framework Knitter of Sileby
GOODMAN OSWIN born 1816 in Sileby, Leicestershire &
ELIZABETH MARTIN born 1814 in Sileby, Leicestershire
In 1816 the current Monarch is George III and the Prime Minister is Lord Liverpool, a Tory. The Leeds to Liverpool Canal is completed in October. Lord Byron flees Britain to escape a growing scandal, depts and his failed marriage and the Elgin Marbles are purchased by the nation from Thomas Bruce (7th Earl of Elgin) for the British Museum.
Goodman Oswin was born in Sileby and baptised on the 16th of June 1816. His parents were Thomas & Mary Oswin. His father was a Frame Work Knitter like so many in the East Midlands area, Goodman also learned the trade like his father before him. He married Elizabeth Martin on the 25th September 1837 and was noted as working as a Lacer at that time.
Elizabeth Martin was also born in Sileby and baptised on the 2nd January 1814, daughter of Daniel & Anne Martin, her father was also a Frame Work Knitter. Goodman and Elizabeth's first daughter Mary Anne was baptised on the 19th November 1837, Goodman is noted as a Frame Work Knitter on his daughter's baptism record. Their second daughter Catherine was baptised on the 1st March 1840. In the 1951 Census Goodman is living with his wife Elizabeth and his other four children in Sileby.
In 1861 Goodman and Elizabeth are living together with the children minus Mary Anne, I believe Mary Anne, their daughter dies in 1858. Also at the same address is their second daughter Catherine’s family, they are all crammed in together at 22 High Street, Sileby. Catherine's new husband John Kirk had been declared bankrupt very recently and the Kirk boatbuilding \ coal merchant business and the Mountsorrel wharf had all been put up for sale. Frame Work Knitting also paid a meagre wage and so they were probably having to live together to make ends meet.
In 1871 they are living at 5 High Street Sileby, their earnings are supplemented by Frame Work Knitting and by their two daughters dress making.
Towards the end of the 19th century the Frame Work Knitting trade slumped as fashions changed, long hose was no longer needed as gentlemen were now wearing trousers. The factory system began to replace the cottage industry and machines became powered. The Royal Commission in 1845 found that three quarters of all Framework Knitters were either unemployed or seriously under employed and many dependent on parish relief. You can read more about the occupation and life of a Frame Work Knitter in the article below.
Elizabeth died on the 5th November 1873 in Sileby aged 60 and was buried in Sileby on the 7th. Goodman died on the 13th October 1880 of Apoplexy, an old term meaning a sudden death that begins with a sudden loss of consciousness, possibly a stroke or heart attack. Goodman was buried in Sileby on the 15th October 1880.
To the left you can see my current house in Shepshed being renovated a few years ago. This is a classic example of a Frame Work Knitters cottage which originally had the windows along the top floor to let in light to work. You can see the hatch at the end of the house where goods were taken in & out directly to the top floor.
Frame Work Knitters
To anyone who has delved into their family tree, and whose ancestors come from the East Midlands, the initials FWK will have appeared on many census records. The letters stand for Framework Knitter, an occupation almost unique to the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. The legacy of the Framework Knitters, spanning some 250 years, is evident today in the Hosiery, Knitwear and Cut and Sew Trades of the East Midlands.
In 1589 Rev. William Lee of Calverton, Nottinghamshire is credited with inventing the first Knitting Frame - knitting produced by mechanical means. The new machine produced flat plain knitting in a continuous piece some twelve inches wide. There were eight stitches to the inch and the heavy worsted would probably be between modern four-ply and double knitting wool. It was certainly as good as the heavy duty long hose that the hand knitters were producing.
However Queen Elizabeth 1 and her advisers were not impressed. The Court was concerned that hand knitters would be thrown out of work and add to the growing destitution and vagrancy, which eventually led to the harsh 43rd Elizabeth, Poor Law Act in 1601. The Royal Patent was not given. Without Royal favour and approval it looked as though the venture was at an end.
William Lee was made of sterner stuff and, together with his brother, packed up and went to France where they gained favour and support of the French king. In France they continued to develop and improve the Knitting Frame. Within a decade the machine was able to knit fine garments such as silk long hose, for the Royal Court.
When William died, circa 1610, his brother returned to England and set up a workshop in London, producing quality silk hose for the gentry. The industry spread in the capital and, in 1663, the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters were granted a Royal Charter.
Certain London Knitters were unhappy at the controls imposed on them by the Guild in London. William Illiffe set up some frames in his native Hinckley in 1641. Others, taking advantage of the unrest caused by the Civil War, also moved to the East Midlands, a major wool producing centre and hand knitting area. By the time of the Restoration in 1660 knitting frames were in Leicester and many other villages, for example, Wigston in 1680. In the next 100 years, using the existing cottage industry set-up, Framework Knitting spread throughout the East Midlands - Kibworth being on the southern edge of the area. This period coincided with the Enclosure of much of the farmland and many people left agriculture to take up framework knitting. By the early 1800's, of the 45,000 Knitting Frames in the country, 90% were in the East Midlands.
The making of long hose suited a family unit, the man did the knitting, the woman did the sewing up and the children wound the hanks of wool onto cones.
The Knitting Frame is somewhat taller than an upright piano, but not as wide. The solid wooden frame, incorporating a seat and foot pedals, supports the metal knitting machine. A row of fixed hooked needles hold the knitting, whilst the operator works on the new row. On 19th century machines, five or six rows of knitting with 288 stitches to the row could be achieved in one minute.
Development of the machine continued through the years, but even a machine built in the early 20th century would still have been familiar to William Lee.
By the 19th century, Derbyshire was concentrating on the production of silk garments, Nottinghamshire on cotton, such as Nottingham Lace, and Leicestershire on worsted, woollen garments.
As the 19th century progressed trade slumped as fashions changed, long hose was no longer needed and gentlemen went into trousers, the factory system began to replace the cottage industry and machines were developed to use first steam, then electric power. The Royal Commission in 1845 found that three quarters of all Framework Knitters were either unemployed or seriously under employed and dependent on Parish relief.
By the First World war the handframe industry was virtually dead in Leicestershire. The last small Framework Knitting Factory, of eight machines producing gloves and mittens at Bushloe End in Wigston, closed in 1928. Thankfully, this has now been preserved as a Museum. In the rest of the region, handframe knitting survived until the Second World War and Hurts in Nottinghamshire kept a few frames working until the 1980's.
We are left with little physical evidence of this once important industry. One of the best clues to the existence of FWK is the long uninterrupted window in some garden workshop or attic roof, an over large window in a house or a window that has clearly been increased in size.
Based on a Article by © Ian R Varey 1995
Kibworth and District Chronicle
Trade Directory from 1862.
Goodman Oswin under Mnufacturers of Hosiery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GOODMAN OSWIN born 1816 in Sileby, Leicestershire
Baptism. Jun 16th 1816
Goodman Oswin - Son of Thomas & Mary Oswin
Sileby
Father Occupation - F.W.K.
Marriage. 25 September 1837. Goodwin Oswin Age 19. Lacer
Father - Thomas Oswin. F.w.k.
to Elizabeth Martin Age 18
Father - Daniel Martin. F.w.k.
at Parish Church, Sileby.
Baptism. Mary Anne Oswin - Daughter of Goodman & Elizabeth Oswin
Nov 19th 1837, Sileby
Father Occupation - F.W.K..
Baptism. Catherine Oswin - Daughter of Goodman & Elizabeth Oswin
March 1st 1840, Sileby.
Father Occupation - F.W.K.
Census 1841. Goodman Oswin Age 25. Profession - F W Knitter
Address - Church Lane, Sileby
Hundred - East Goscote
Living with Elizabeth Oswin (25)
Mary Anne Oswin (4), Catherine Oswin (2)
Sarah Calladine (15) - Knitter
All Born in the County.
Baptism Daniel Thomas Oswin - Son of Goodman & Elizabeth Oswin
Nov 6th 1842, Sileby
Father Occupation - F.W.K.
Baptism Lucy Oswin - Daughter of Goodman & Elizabeth Oswin
Dec 8th 1844, Sileby
Father Occupation - F.W.K.
Census 1851. Goodman Oswin Age 35.
Address - Sileby
Living with Wife Elizabeth (36)
Daughters Lucy Oswin (8) & Betsey Oswin (3)
Sons Thomas Oswin (10) & Goodman Oswin (6)
Census 1861. Goodman Oswin Age 44 - Head. Profession - Hosier
Address - 22 High Street, Sileby
Living with his Wife Elizabeth Oswin (47) - Hosiers Wife
His Sons Thomas (18) - FWK & Goodman (14) - FWK
His Daughters Lucy (16) - FWK, Betsy (12) - Scholar
& Rosa(6) - Scholar
All Born Sileby.
Also at 22 High Street :-
Goodman's Daughter Catherine Kirk (21)
- Frame Work Knitter.
Born Sileby
and Catherine's Husband John Kirk (30) - Head.
Profession - Boat Wright. Born Mountsorrel
Catherine's Daughter Emma Oswin (3) - Scholar. Born Sileby
John Kirk & Catherine's Son Alexander Kirk (1 Month)
- Born Sileby. (later named Alfred)
Census 1871. Goodman Oswin Age 56.
Profession - Frame Work Knitter
Address - 5 High Street, Sileby
Parish - Sileby
Living with Elizabeth Oswin (58) - Frame Work Knitter
Daughters Lucy Oswin (25) & Rosa Oswin (18)
- Both Dress Makers
Grandson James Oswin (4)
All Born in Sileby.
*He is also counted on another 1871 Census night.
When he is visiting a James P Ward,
his Wife Ann & Family at Twyford.
Also with him is William Martin Age 20.
Goodman Oswin Died 13th October 1880.
Registration District : Barrow Upon Soar
Sub-District : Rothley
Where : Union Workhouse Rothley
Occupation : Bag Hosier
Cause : Apoplexy 11 Hours
Informant : Jane East
Registered : 16th October 1880.
Buried. 15 Oct 1880. Age 63
Goodman Oswin of Union House, Rothley
Buried Sileby .
Children of GOODMAN OSWIN and ELIZABETH MARTIN are:
i. MARY ANNE OSWIN
b 1837, Sileby, Leicestershire
bap 19 Nov 1837, Sileby, Leicestershire
d Apr-Jun 1858, Sileby, Leicestershire
ii. CATHERINE OSWIN
b 25 Jan 1840, Sileby, Leicestershire
bap 1 Mar 1840 Sileby, Leicestershire
m 31 Dec 1860 to John kirk. Sileby, Leicestershire
d 14 Aug 1914 Union Workhouse, Rothley, Leicestershire
bur 17 August 1914 Sileby, Leicestershire. Age 73
iii. DANIEL THOMAS OSWIN
b 1842, Sileby, Leicestershire
bap 6 Nov 1842, Sileby, Leicestershire
m 1864 Elizabeth Taylor. Sileby, Leicestershire
d 28 Jul 1926 Blaby, Leicestershire (?)
iv. LUCY OSWIN
b Oct-Dec 1844, Sileby, Leicestershire
bap 1 Dec 1844, Sileby, Leicestershire
m Oct-Dec 1872 to Thomas Dexter. Sileby, Leicestershire
d 9 Dec 1913 Lucy Dexter. Sileby, Leicestershire
v. GOODMAN OSWIN
b Jan-Mar 1847 Sileby, Leicestershire
m Jul-Sep 1865 to Mary Eliza Ilston. Sileby, Leicestershire
d Apr-Jun 1903 Leicester. Age 56
vi. BETSEY OSWIN
b Jul-Sep 1849 Sileby, Leicestershire
m Oct-Dec 1866 to Thomas Underwood. Sileby, Leicestershire
d Jul-Sep 1872 Betsy Underwood. Sileby, Leicestershire. Age 23
vii. ROSETTA OSWIN
b Apr-Jun 1855, Sileby, Leicestershire
m Oct-Dec 1871 to Eli Crane. Leicester
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
ELIZABETH MARTIN born 1814 in Sileby, Leicestershire
Baptism. Jan 2 1814
Elizabeth Martin - Daughter of Daniel & Anne Martin.
Sileby
Father Occupation - F.W.Knitter
Marriage. 25 September 1837. Goodwin Oswin Age 19. Lacer
Father - Thomas Oswin. F.w.k.
to Elizabeth Martin Age 18
Father - Daniel Martin. F.w.k.
at Parish Church, Sileby.
Baptism. Mary Anne Oswin - Daughter of Goodman & Elizabeth Oswin
Nov 19th 1837, Sileby
Father Occupation - F.W.K.
Baptism. Catherine Oswin - Daughter of Goodman & Elizabeth Oswin
March 1st 1840, Sileby.
Father Occupation - F.W.K.
Census 1841. Elizabeth Oswin Age 25.
Address - Church Lane, Sileby
Hundred - East Goscote
Living with Goodman Oswin (25) - F W Knitter
Mary Anne Oswin (4), Catherine Oswin (2)
Sarah Calladine (15) - Knitter
All Born in the County.
Baptism Daniel Thomas Oswin - Son of Goodman & Elizabeth Oswin
Nov 6th 1842, Sileby
Father Occupation - F.W.K.
Baptism. Lucy Oswin - Daughter of Goodman & Elizabeth Oswin
Dec 8th 1844, Sileby
Father Occupation - F.W.K.
Census 1851. Elizabeth Age 36.
Husband Goodman Oswin(35).
Daughters Lucy (8) & Betsey (3)
Sons Thomas (10) & Goodman (6)
Census 1861. Elizabeth Oswin Age 47 - Hosiers Wife.
Address - 22 High Street, Sileby.
Living with her Husband Goodman Oswin (44) (Head) .
Profession - Hosier.
His Sons Thomas (18) - FWK & Goodman (14) - FWK.
His Daughters Lucy (16) - FWK, Betsy (12) - Scholar
& Rosa (6) - Scholar.
All Born Sileby.
Also at 22 High Street :-
Goodman's Daughter Catherine Kirk (21)
- Frame Work Knitter.
Born Sileby.
and Catherine's Husband John Kirk (30) (Head) .
Profession - Boat Wright. Born - Mountsorrel.
Catherine's Daughter Emma Oswin (3) - Scholar. Born Sileby.
John Kirk & Catherine's Son Alexander Kirk (1 Month)
- Born Sileby. (later named Alfred)
Census 1871. Elizabeth Oswin Age 58 - Frame Work Knitter
Address - 5 High Street, Sileby
Parish - Sileby
Living with Husband Goodman Oswin (56)
- Frame Work Knitter
Daughters Lucy Oswin (25) & Rosa Oswin (18)
- Both Dress Makers
Grandson James Oswin (4)
All Born in Sileby.
Elizabeth Martin Oswin. Died 5 November 1873 Sileby. Aged 60.
Registration District : Barrow upon Soar
Sub-District : Barrow
Where : Sileby
Occupation : Wife of Goodman Oswin Frame Work Knitter.
Cause: Cerrhosis Ascites
Informant : The mark of Elizabeth Kirkby
Registered: 7 November 1873
Buried. 7 Nov 1873 Sileby. Aged 60.
Children of GOODMAN OSWIN and ELIZABETH MARTIN are:
i. MARY ANNE OSWIN
b 1837, Sileby, Leicestershire
bap 19 Nov 1837, Sileby, Leicestershire
d Apr-Jun 1858, Sileby, Leicestershire
ii. CATHERINE OSWIN
b 25 Jan 1840, Sileby, Leicestershire
bap 1 Mar 1840 Sileby, Leicestershire
m 31 Dec 1860 to John kirk. Sileby, Leicestershire
d 14 Aug 1914 Union Workhouse, Rothley, Leicestershire
bur 17 August 1914 Sileby, Leicestershire. Age 73
iii. DANIEL THOMAS OSWIN
b 1842, Sileby, Leicestershire
bap 6 Nov 1842, Sileby, Leicestershire
m 1864 Elizabeth Taylor. Sileby, Leicestershire
d 28 Jul 1926 Blaby, Leicestershire (?)
iv. LUCY OSWIN
b Oct-Dec 1844, Sileby, Leicestershire
bap 1 Dec 1844, Sileby, Leicestershire
m Oct-Dec 1872 to Thomas Dexter. Sileby, Leicestershire
d 9 Dec 1913 Lucy Dexter. Sileby, Leicestershire
v. GOODMAN OSWIN
b Jan-Mar 1847 Sileby, Leicestershire
m Jul-Sep 1865 to Mary Eliza Ilston. Sileby, Leicestershire
d Apr-Jun 1903 Leicester. Age 56
vi. BETSEY OSWIN
b Jul-Sep 1849 Sileby, Leicestershire
m Oct-Dec 1866 to Thomas Underwood. Sileby, Leicestershire
d Jul-Sep 1872 Betsy Underwood. Sileby, Leicestershire. Age 23
vii. ROSETTA OSWIN
b Apr-Jun 1855, Sileby, Leicestershire
m Oct-Dec 1871 to Eli Crane. Leicester
Go to Goodman & Elizabeth's Daughter - Catherine Oswin (1840)
Go back to the Kirk Family Tree Page
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse