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Allbut Family
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| Allbut People from Stoke-on-Trent | |
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Allbut Family |
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Thomas Allbut b.1777 d.1857
Printer and publisher of the Pottery Mercury newspaper.
Signature of Thomas Allbut on an Indenture declaring a
Trust of a Chapel called Bethesda
Dated: 31st August 1803
father: John Allbut Mother: Mary Thomas Allbut
b.1777 d.1857wife: Sidney Ashford
sons: 4 -
Thomas(b.1803);
William (b.1808);
Edwin;
?
daughters: 3
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Owners and
partnerships in the printing business |
|
| 1786-88 | John Strahan (Straphan?) -founder. |
| 1788-96 | John Mort |
| 1796-1800 | John Allbut |
| 1800-06 | Allbut & Son [John &Thomas Allbut (son of John Allbut)] |
| 1806-1811 | Thomas Allbut |
| 1811-1813 | Thomas Allbut and George Gibbs |
| 1814 - | Thomas Allbut |
| 1832-1852 | Thomas Allbut & Son [Edwin Allbut (son of Thomas)] |
| 1848-1850 | Thomas & Edwin Allbut & Robert Hobson |
| 1851 | Allbut & Son |
| Dec 1852 | Edwin Allbut |
| 1853-1902 | Allbutt and Daniel |
| 1902-14 | Wiment and Watkins |
| 1914 - | Webberley Ltd - in 1924 Webberley moved from Tontine Sq. to Percy Street, Hanley. |
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Pigot & Co's 1828/9 Directory of Staffordshire
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1898 OS map showing the
location of Allbut Printing Works (Red)
The later works of Webberly is shown in Blue
The printing works (right) in Tontine Square when in the ownership of Wiment & Watkins (1902-14)
Note the tram lines on the road.
In the gap (to the left of the printing works) can be seen Market Square
On the corner is The Grapes, then the District Bank (now the National Westminster Bank)
and the shop with the awnings was J.D.Furnival (Dispensing Chemists) (now Boots)
The new bookshop and printing works of Webberly Ltd (1924 onwards)
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THE POTTERY SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARY "We cannot, however, acquit ourselves of passing over, without a distinct notice, the oldest literary institution within the district, established, about fifty years ago, and still kept up under the title of "THE POTTERY SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARY," which is supported by a considerable body of members and subscribers, of the upper classes, in Hanley, Shelton, and the neighbourhood. This Library contains about 3,000 volumes, and consists of the best publications in history, geography, voyages) travels, novels, and miscellaneous literature, which have issued from the press within the last half-century, with others of earlier date, but excludes divinity, law, and physic. The property of the Institution belongs to the members, about 60 in number, who are elected by ballot, and pay a premium of two guineas each on admission, and a subscription of one guinea per annum, they choose a committee of management, who decide on the purchase of books recommended. The rules are framed with proper regard to the character of the books as well as the members. The Commissioners of Public Records have bestowed on this Library a series of their valuable publications, which are the only antiquarian works it possesses. The depository is at the shop and premises of Mr. Thomas Allbut, Hanley, who has held the office of librarian and treasurer about forty years, and succeeded Mr. James Straphan, the first bookseller in the Potteries, who commenced the Library in the year 1790." The Borough of Stoke-upon-Trent John Ward, 1843 |
| 1777 | Thomas Allbut (son of John & Mary Allbut) born 31 March 1777 at Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire. |
| 1796 | John Allbut (Thomas's father) bought the printing business of John Mort of Hanley (the printing business was founded by John Strahan the first bookseller in the Potteries) |
| 1798 | Thomas Allbut married Sidney Ashford on 27 February 1798 at the church of St.Martins-in-the-Bull-Ring, Birmingham. |
| c.1800 | John Allbut became the proprietor of Meriden Academy, Warwickshire and his son Thomas took over the Hanley printing business. |
| 1800 | Thomas Allbut published
"A view of the Staffordshire Potteries" - this
volume consists of a descriptive chapter "The History of the
Staffordshire potteries", followed by "A Directory Containing and
Alphabetical List of the names and Places of Abode of the Gentlemen,
Tradesmen, Shop-Keepers, etc, etc in the Staffordshire Potteries"- it
only contains six pottery manufacturers. |
| 1802 | Thomas published "The
Staffordshire Pottery Directory". The publication was announced in
the Staffordshire Advertiser dated 27 March 2002. - this volume is essentially just a reprint of the 1800 publication with the important addition of a detailed map of the Potteries together with a key list of the potters titled 'Names and Residences of the Earthenware Manufacturers'. |
| 1803 | Thomas Allbut [b. 1803
d.1867] - first son of Thomas & Sindey Allbut (he became the Vicar of
Dewsbury.) The Reverend Thomas Allbutt was the father of Sir Thomas Clifford Allbutt (born 185-Dewsbury Yorkshire. Died 1925 Cambridge), A very well known Victorian medical man, Regius Professor of Physics, Cambridge University. He was considered by some as the "Father of Modern Medicine". He invented the "short" clinical thermometer. The Rev. Thomas Allbutt married Mary Ann Wooler, sister to Margeret Wooler. Margeret Wooler was head of the Roe Head High School, attended by the Bronte sisters. Rev. Thomas taught there. |
| c.1808 | William Allbut born (son of Thomas) |
| 1824 | Thomas Allbut founded a newspaper The Staffordshire Mercury (later named The Potteries Mercury). The Rev. Leonard Abington was the first editor. |
| Much of Allbut's printing was for
the local Methodist churches . For 50 years he was a local preacher at the Bethesda Methodist New Connexion Church where he was also a trustee. As well as printing and bookselling Thomas Allbut also sold a range of toiletries and dealt in tea for a time. He was listed as a Printer and Druggist |
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| 1833 | By this date William Allbut
was the proprietor of The Staffordshire Mercury newspaper. William Allbuts first wife, Anne née Shirley, died in childbirth in 18 February 1833 (age 22) |
| c.1834 | Thomas Allbut. operated a post office. |
| Thomas succeeded his father a the librarian and treasurer of the 'Potteries Subscription Library' which was housed in his shop in Market Square, Hanley. (When Thomas retired the library was merged with the Mechanics' Institute. | |
| 1837 | William Allbut married his
second wife, Sophia Mort, who had opened a school for young ladies in
Northwood, Hanley. (Perhaps Sophia Mort was related to John Mort - the previous owner of the printing business Thomas Allbut bought) |
| 1844 | Previously living at
Northwood, Hanley; William Allbut moved to
the Mount,
Penkhull in June 1844. The ladies school also moved to the Mount and was open by the Autumn term of 1844. |
| 1852 | 31 December 1852, Thomas retired and his second son Edwin continued with the business. |
| c.1853 | William and Sophia Allbut left the Potteries to live in Cheshire. |
| 1857 | Thomas Allbut died 29 Dec. 1857. He was buried in Bethesda churchyard. |
| 1879 | William and Sophia Allbut had retired to Middlesex. William died at Downhurst, Hendon on 15 February 1879. |
The Mount, Penkhull - built 1803
originally the home of the master potter Josiah Spode
from 1844 the home and Ladies School of William and Sophia Allbut
Young Ladies School - The 1851 Census return for the Mount
Name Position Age Employment Place of Birth William Allbut Head 41 Newspaper Editor & Farmer of 43 acres Hanley Sophia Allbut Wife 40 Principal of Ladies School Nottingham Elizabeth Ann Allbut Daughter 11 Scholar Hanley Thomas Henry Allbut Son 8 Scholar Hanley Sophia Jane Allbut Daughter 6 Penkhull Mary Dorothea Allbut Daughter 3 Penkhull Elizabeth Mort Sister-in-Law 35 English Teacher Kingston-upon-Hull Helen Mayer Ridgway 29 Teacher of Music Hanley Amee Alexis Samson 29 French Teacher Native of France
