I have already blogged about the possible parents of John Musgrove (Week 108 : the first of my Musgroves) and now I want to tell you what I know about him.
He was born in the Kings Brompton district of Somerset. He was a shoemaker and a cordwainer.
He was born in the Kings Brompton district of Somerset. He was a shoemaker and a cordwainer.
The photo to the left (source : Wikipedia) is a statue found in front of St Mary Aldermary in Watling Street in the City of London. This was the main shoe and boot making area of London and it still includes the Cordwainer Ward.
The word ‘cordwainer’ is derived from the name of the city of Cordoba in Spain, which was renowned for its fine leatherwork. A cordwainer worked on particularly fine leather so only the more skilled shoemaker would work with it. Hence, describing yourself as a cordwainer meant you considered yourself to be a better class of shoemaker.
The photo to the left (source : Wikipedia) is a statue found in front of St Mary Aldermary in Watling Street in the City of London. This was the main shoe and boot making area of London and it still includes the Cordwainer Ward.
The word ‘cordwainer’ is derived from the name of the city of Cordoba in Spain, which was renowned for its fine leatherwork. A cordwainer worked on particularly fine leather so only the more skilled shoemaker would work with it. Hence, describing yourself as a cordwainer meant you considered yourself to be a better class of shoemaker.
At some point before 1830 John must have moved up to London as he married Mary Martha Ann Lewis on 12th April 1830 at St Botolph without Aldgate. Very little is known about Mary other than she was born in about 1807 in either Plymouth (1861 census) or Exeter (1851 census) and died in Marylebone in 1873. They had three sons and three daughters who were all born in Marylebone between 1835 and 1850 :
The first four children were all baptised on 24th July 1844.
John died of bronchitis on 1st February 1871 at 9 St Paul Street, Marylebone. His wife died on 31st January 1873 at 11 North Street West, Marylebone.
- William born 11th June 1835 (my 2 x great grandfather)
- Joseph born 28th April 1837 (died 14th April 1921; possibly murdered at goldfields)
- Samuel born 26th August 1838
- Rachel born 2nd November 1842
- Matilda born 9th April 1845
- Fanny born 7th June 1850 (died 3rd February 1854)
The first four children were all baptised on 24th July 1844.
John died of bronchitis on 1st February 1871 at 9 St Paul Street, Marylebone. His wife died on 31st January 1873 at 11 North Street West, Marylebone.