Catch up on the full story of last weeks NEWS...........
*Joseph E Barker –
Joseph was only 14 ½ years old in last weeks NEWS when
his father reported him to the police for stealing his mother’s jacket. He was sentenced to imprisonment in Derby Gaol
for 10 days and the reformatory school for a further 4 years. Joseph had asked that he could be sent to a
training ship, which the Bench had said they would attempt to arrange for him.
Joseph was born in 1865 at Stocksbridge, Yorkshire. He was the son of John Henry and Sarah
Barker. On the 1871 census Joseph was 6
years old, he had 2 older brothers; John H aged 11 years and Frederick aged 9
years, and 2 younger brothers; Arthur aged 4 years and Francis aged 2
years. All boys, it must have been a hard
life for the Barker family, especially as on this census John Henry Barker was
recorded as unemployed grocers assistant.
The children were born back and forth from Sheffield to Chesterfield, so
maybe the family moved around to get work or they had family members living in
these areas. They are living at 39
Saltergate, Chesterfield.
What became of Joseph is not clear; he does not seem to
appear on the census returns after his court appearance. Maybe he did get onto a training ship and was
at sea each time the census was taken?
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*Charles Thompson –
Was aged 11 years old and was charged on remand with
throwing stones last in last week’s NEWS.
For his punishment and wellbeing he was sent to an
industrial school for 5 years.
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*Lorenzo Gothard –
Lorenzo was the son of John and Elizabeth Gothard, born
in 1844. John was a prominent member of
Chesterfield society who founded John Gothard and Son’s coal merchants – he has
his own story but that will be told in another post. Although the name sounds exotic, the family
were from Chesterfield. At the age of
16 years Lorenzo was working as a plumber’s apprentice whilst still living at
home with his parents and siblings.
In 1868 he married Mary Ann Hoyland and in 1870 they had
a daughter named Florence. On the 1871
census Lorenzo is clearly doing well for himself, he lives with his wife and 11
month old Florence at 63 Low Pavement.
He has completed his apprenticeship and is now a Master Plumber. The family have the finances to spare to hire
a domestic servant named Mary Ann Smith who would help around the house.
All is not straight forward however with the affairs of
Lorenzo Gothard as in July of 1880 he was brought up at the bankruptcy court;
it seems his business was not as secure as we are led to believe through the
census returns.
That said and by 1881 Lorenzo had not only increased his
family, but his shop premises and business had also grown considerably. Lorenzo had obviously bounced back or maybe
his father John had helped him out of a difficult situation? Lorenzo and Mary
Ann now have the following children; Florence 10 years, John George 8 years,
Gertrude 6 years, Lorenzo 5 years, Ethel 3 years and Norah aged 1 year. The family occupied numbers 4&5 Low
Pavement and employed a domestic servant named Annie Eyre. The business had now branched out to provide
plumbing and glazing services and Lorenzo employed 3 men and 4 boys.
Ten years on in 1891 and things have changed again for
the Gothard family. There are 2
editions; Elizabeth 8 years and Wallace aged 5 years old. Mary Ann’s mother is now widowed and she is
living with them, Sarah Hoyland aged 79 years.
The family are living at 3 Brewery Street and Lorenzo is described as a
“traveller”. I would expect that the
phrase “traveller” meant that Lorenzo worked around the country, possibly
working as a plumber or maybe selling and dealing?
Lorenzo’s father John died of influenza at the age of 85
years old on 19th March 1892.
John had lived at Russell House, Gladstone Road, Chesterfield. Probate was granted on 10th May
1892 to Joseph Gothard coal and iron merchant and Henry Gothard coal
merchant. He left £4066 8s 6d.
Life was to take another down turn for Lorenzo as he
again found himself being declared bankrupt in June of the same year. At this time he was living on Church Lane in
the centre of Chesterfield town, he was trading as a plumber and commission agent. He stated that he had been in business 27
years but had “failed twice previously”.
What became of Lorenzo after 1891? Mary Ann continued to
live in Chesterfield; she is recorded on the 1901 and 1911 census returns. I have not found a death registered for a
Lorenzo Gothard, other than one in 1956 for his son Lorenzo born in 1876.
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Ref –
Derbyshire Times
Derby Telegraph
