WILLIAM WELCH PUBLICAN

[daid rathgen]

Easy Row, City Pubs
In 1837 Sarah Welch was a minor from Easy Row, Birmingham, "a publican's daughter." Her father, William Welch, was described as a Publican. Sarah married Edwin Withers, 5 Oct 1837, at St Thomas church, Birmingham. I cannot locate any pub in Easy Row earlier than the Woodman where she may have lived, probably with her father. I believe the Woodman began c1890s, but what was in Easy Row earlier, say 1830-1840?
I have traced Edwin to 15, Albion St where he stayed with Sarah’s brother, Samuel Welch, a commercial traveller. Sometimes he is variously described. Early on he was a butcher, then in 1830 at 2 Court St, as a servant; later in 1842 a "cook shop" in his wife’s eating house.
Any clues to accommodation or pubs in Easy Row c1837, please?
Daid

 

[brummy-lad]

The Woodman was in Pigot's of 1835 on Easy Row. Edited: date changed to 1835

 

[pjmburns]

The Woodman was in Pigot's of 1935 on Easy Row.
View attachment 170662

Should that be 1835?

 

[brummy-lad]

sorry, yes

 

[mikejee]

I think this letter in the Birmingham Journal 16.9.1837 confirms he was the landlord

 

[brummy-lad]

In 1866 the address is given as 5 Easy Row.

 

[MWS]

John Chandler, Inn Keeper is listed at 5 Easy Row on the 1841 census.

 

[mikejee]

William Welch had only just become landlord in January



But was not there for long, as he was made bankrupt

 

[Astoness]

I think this letter in the Birmingham Journal 16.9.1837 confirms he was the landlord

View attachment 170666

mike so am i correct in thinking mr welch ran an earlier woodman pub to the one we all know

lyn

 

[mikejee]

It might have been an earlier building .

 

[Astoness]

It might have been an earlier building .

it must be mike as the woodman we know was not around in the 1830s...i will check my pub books to see i by chance there is an old photo

lyn

 

[mikejee]

But it is the same address, 5 Easy Row, so on the same site

 

[mikejee]

McKenna's book ,Central Birmingham Pubns, states that the first woodman was opened in 1822,, "plain an unadorned".It was sold to Henry mitchell jr in 1890 (who soon after merged with William Butler to from M&B. He drew up the plans for the new pub in 1891

 

[Astoness]

McKenna's book ,Central Birmingham Pubns, states that the first woodman was opened in 1822,, "plain an unadorned".It was sold to Henry mitchell jr in 1890 (who soon after merged with William Butler to from M&B. He drew up the plans for the new pub in 1891

yes ive got that one mike and had a look through it...alas no photo or drawing of the original woodman but i still have other pub books to go through

ly

 

[daid rathgen]

Oh you wonderful people. Very grateful to you. Clarified a lot. I see William did become a publican again at the Red Lion in 2 Bull Ring, but in between times rose out of bankruptcy via Provisions Dealer (1851), refreshment house keeper (1859) at Dale End, a pastry cook in Lady Pool(?) Lane, ended up with a house and shop in Dale End 1859. Died with less that 300 pounds to his name in Sept 1859.
Found an image of the Eating House cnr Moor St and Dale End on Ancestry.

 

[daid rathgen]

I think this letter in the Birmingham Journal 16.9.1837 confirms he was the landlord

View attachment 170666

Hi Mikejee, thanks for this sorry tale. Would you mind inserting the original letter re 'Flash Houses' please? I wonder if the author of the first letter was envious and wanting the Inn for himself?

David

 

[mikejee]

Here is the letter referred to. I must admit, I had never heard of a thimble rigger before, but it is apparently what is nowadays known as the shell game .

Going back to the beginning of 1837, the only earlier reference I could see regarding the Woodman and the magistrates (though the search engine could, of course have missed it) was this short piece in April, which would seem on the surface at least in indicate that the letter writer was on some sort of crusade



I