2010-04-10 11:07:30
The Startin Saga 1777-2010.
[I've had a good look at all the Startin data that we've collected and the following is an attempt to summarize it. I hope that this might focus our thinking and perhaps lead to new lines of inquiry.]
The Startins of Birmingham are first heard of as merchants. John Startin is listed as such in 1777 at 30 Colmore Row. By 1802 a Mrs Startin is living in salubrious accommodation in Newhall St. By 1815 Startin & Co are merchants operating from Summer Row, and John Startin is living at Spring Hill. By 1823 merchants James Startin & Co are based at Saturday Bridge.
The earliest Startin coach-builder so far discovered is Charles Startin. He is listed in 1828 as coach maker at London Rd, Newcastle-under-Lyme (northern Staffordshire). Obviously this is not Birmingham, but he might be the progenitor of the Birmingham coach-building clan. By 1835 he is based at Brunswick St in the same town.
Moving southwards, we find another Charles Startin who is listed in 1828 as a manufacturer of "coach and harness furniture brass and plated", based at Pool St, Limepit Bank, Walsall. By 1835 he is the landlord of the "Dog" public house (still in Pool St) as well as being a brass founder, and coach and harness plater. By 1839 he is at the same place, no longer pub landlord but still brass founder and plater. In 1842 he is only a brass founder (in Poole St which has acquired an "e"). By 1850 he has been joined by James Startin (possibly his son) and by 1851 it is James Startin alone, brass founder of Bank St, Walsall.
There are no Startins listed in Birmingham in the period 1829-1840.
In 1841-1842 we find Charlotte Startin (coal dealer of 46 Banbury St) and James Startin (stenciller of 115 Pritchett St), both of Birmingham.
In 1849 we begin to hear of the bricklaying Startins. William Startin is a bricklayer of Summer Lane in 1849-1853 and of Mott St (living in Whittall St) in 1858. By 1867 and again in 1875 he is at 84 Edward St, Parade. He is still listed as a bricklayer in 1892. There is also a bricklayer named Thomas Startin from 1839, but I believe him to be the founder of the long-lived body-making firm, so I'll come to him a little later.
The earliest Birmingham coach-building Startin is the partner in Richardson & Startin, coach-builders of 84.5 Edmund St and Tay's yard at 20 Great Charles St in 1849-1850. It is interesting that livery stable keepers Startin Brothers are listed in 1888-1890 as "late W Tay" and of 20-21 Great Charles St Mews. Despite the 38 year gap, it seems that there is some connection here.
In 1852-1862 there is coach-builder John Startin of 143 Icknield St E.
In 1883-1892 Henry Startin of Alcester St and Vaughton St is listed as a coach trimmer. By 1914 he is a newsagent at 12 Vaughton St S.
Now we come to Thomas Startin and his descendents. We first hear of Thomas Startin in 1839-1842 as a bricklayer (and sometimes also stenciller) of 7 Baggot St. By 1849 he has moved to 12 Baggot St, where he remains in 1850. In 1849-1853 bricklayer, stenciller and colourer Thomas Startin Junior is based in Summer Lane and 11 Grove's Buildings. By 1855 we hear of coach-builders Startin & Mackenzie of 240 Bristol St, and we know that the partners are Thomas Startin and Henry Mackenzie. I suspect (with no real evidence) that Thomas Startin the coach-builder and Thomas Startin Junior the bricklayer are one and the same person. [There is some confusion here as the Thomas Startin of the 1871 census (see below) is said to have had a father and grandfather of the same name who were also coach-builders (not bricklayers!)]. By 1862 Startin & Mackenzie had moved to Vere St and Benacre St (and for this year only 23-24 Bristol Rd). Startin & Mackenzie dissolved their partnership amicably in 1864, and Thomas Startin continued the coach-building business under his own name as Thomas Startin.
The proprietor was responsible for patent applications in 1865 and 1876. He was trustee for the indebted horse bus proprietor Abraham Whitehouse in 1866. He served as a councillor for St Mary's ward from 1873. The main address of the business seems to have been 126 Benacre St, with a branch at Vere St. It appears (based on an 1871 census entry for the Thomas Startin household at 126 Benacre St) that he was born c 1829 (this date of birth fits in well with his becoming a bricklayer c 1849) and his wife was Ann Startin (born c 1828). Their sons were Thomas Startin Junior (born c 1850), Francis Startin (born c 1854), Charles Startin (born c 1861) and Frederick William Startin (born c 1864). This Thomas Startin Junior was not listed in the census; he had probably already left home (his year of birth is a "guesstimate").
By 1878 the company was called Startin & Sons, involving Thomas Startin Senior, Thomas Startin Junior and Charles Startin (at least). By 1888 Thomas Startin Junior was in business for himself (under the name Thomas Startin Junior) as carriage builder based at Victoria Carriage Works, 71 Aston Rd N (also at 1 Holland Rd). Charles Startin is briefly heard of in 1892 as a coach and carriage builder at 158 Great Charles St. Thomas Startin Junior died on 26 Apr 1897 and the executors of his will were his wife Mary Ann and his sons Thomas Edward Linnett Startin, Ernest Henry Startin and Percy Startin. It appears that Thomas Startin Senior died in Dec 1904.
In 1907 the brothers Thomas Edward Linnett Startin, Ernest Henry Startin and Percy Startin amicably dissolved their partnership (trading as Thomas Startin Junior). The company continued to operate under the same name, and is listed in 1914 as coach and carriage builder (still of 71 Aston Rd N). I am pretty sure (again with no hard evidence) that Thomas Startin Junior was building charabanc bodies in 1922 for Midland Red Tilling-Stevens TS3s. By 1959 Thomas Startin Junior was building bodies for Austin ambulances (also hearses, I believe). In 1987 the company was purchased by the non-Startin directors. It continues today as a car dealership under the name Startin Group Ltd. The managing director is Gerald P Freeman (who has very kindly agreed to ask his father to help us with our researches).
I am pretty sure that Frederick William Startin of Aston, who is listed as carriage builder in the 1901 census and as coach body maker in the 1911 census, is the son of Thomas Startin Senior (c 1829 – 1904). He gave his age as 39 in 1901 and 46 in 1911 so there is some confusion there. Frederick Startin son of Thomas Startin is aged 7 in the 1871 census, so if these are the same person he might have overstated his age in 1901. He married Emma Woodbridge (c 1865 – 1907) in 1885 and their children were Elizabeth (b 1886), Emma (b c 1895), Thomas (b c 1897), Frederick William (b c 1900).
[FONT="]As Lloyd has discovered, Birmingham even exported Startin coach-builders! Francis Startin (b c 1855 in Birmingham) was a coach body maker at Leeds by 1894 and by 1901 two of his four sons were in the same occupation! It seems to me that this man was the second son of Thomas Startin Senior.
[Thanks to all who unearthed the data on which the above is based. We've gone to a lot of trouble for such a tenuous Midland Red connection! The picture that’s emerging from the mist is quite interesting though.][/FONT]