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Mortiboys the pawnbrokers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deadwood
  • Start date Start date
D

Deadwood

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My great grandfather Walter James Mortiboys was born in 1867 and his address was given as 19 Edward Street. When he married in 1890 he was living at 17 Bell Barn Rd. When he died in 1927 he was living at 100 Wilton St which was where my grandfather was born in 1896. Walter James was a pawnbroker as was his father before him who was born sometime in 1830 and died 1888 at 215 Sherlock Street.

I have two questions if that’s ok. One is how can I find out whether any of these addresses were where the pawnbroker business ran from. Would pawnbrokers have normally lived ‘above the shop’?

Secondly, I think all of these streets still exist though I strongly suspect that most of the original houses have now gone. I may have to come and have a drive around one Sunday and have a look for myself! In the meantime can you recommend any sources of information where I might find contemporary photographs that might give me a feel for what things looked like at each of those addresses in those years?

Many thanks
 
Mortiboys and Sherlock Street

Thanks, Postie, for the photos - it gives me a start!
 
Deadwood,welcome to the forum, these seem to be your family, taken from the 1891 census

215 Sherlock St 1,
Sarah Mortiboys,Head,W,,62,Pawnbroker,Employer,Birmingham Warwickshire,,
,,,Sarah Mortiboys,Daur,S,,37,Pawnbroker's Assistant, Employed,Birmingham Warwickshire,,
,,,William Mortiboys,Son,S,21,,Cabinet Maker,Employed,Birmingham Warwickshire,,
,,,Alfred E Mortiboys,Son,S,19,,Pawnbroker's Assistant, Employed,Birmingham Warwickshire,,

Colin
 
Re; Ladywood site pictures of Bel Barn Rd

Thanks Robert - I am new to this site as you can see! Can you give me a clue as to where can I find the Ladywod site you refer to?

Anita
 
Colin B. Thanks for that. I have a copy of the 1881 census when they were living at 96 Sherlock Street but not the 1891 census. Walter James was one of 6 sons and 2 daughters that I know of and most of them were involved with the family business in some form though one son was a car leather dresser and another a bone turner, whatever that was! By 1891 it would appear that most had left the family home and the father had died which according to his death certificate which I do have said bronchitis at 58!

Thanks again

Anita
 
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