Re: Mr William Adams
Mike - Thanks for the info.
Barrye - a bit more info for you, although it might not help with your avowed intention to trace the kids. How are you getting on ?
It does appear that WA might have started manufacturing in Sheffield, in 1865. One of the trade marks directories shows : 'William Adams, Birmingham & Sheffield England, New York City, 1865 - c.1966.'
But, if the 'c1865' is accurate, and if Suzanne's WA is the same man, he would have been seven years old. A truly precocious child entrepreneur. Perhaps it was started by his father, of the same name.
Another possible indication that they were the same is that much of WA's early work carries Sheffield's Crown Mark; his later stuff weighing Birmingham's Anchor (despite Birmingham being the near centre (( Meriden)) of England - Matthew Boulton and his Sheffield-based conspirator probably tossed a coin in the Crown & Anchor Tavern.
Thanks to Suzanne, we know that a WA was born Sheffield in 1858, was a clerk there in 1881, so unlikely to be an industrialist, and in 1891 he was in Hampshire possibly visiting his in-laws, "the 'Rogers' ", but working as an 'Ins Co Manager' - where? Was he an industrialist moonlighting as an 'Ins Co Manger' or vice-versa, or just someone with a namesake?
By 1901 he was living in Moseley, in a house he named 'Sorrento'. So, when he married Martha Rogerson in 1879 he had enough money (working as a clerk ?) to honeymoon in Sorrento, although perhaps his parents or his in-laws paid. Or perhaps his honeymoon had been delayed for a few years.
Colin Baker says that 'In 1911 he opened it as an institution for the poor and needy'. Or had 'he' died and left it in his will. If so, and if the "Rogers' " of Hampshire were in fact the Rogersons, perhaps Martha had moved there ?
Are Suzanne and I laying claim to the same 'William Adams' ? I wonder.