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Picken Matthew

Another interesting snippet, the marriage certificate of Matthew Picken in April 1838. He is shown as a machine fitter. He would then be about 25 years old. Notice that the residence is Harbourne, and that his father here is down as Matthias and not Matthew. His father is confirmed as a labourer.


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Astoness said:
thats what i thought so on the same side as the cross guns pub...so would this photo of the cross guns looking up frankfort st from summer lane show no 24 in the distance or have i got this wrong

View attachment 195552What a great picture. Thank you for sharing it. When might it have been taken? Early 1960s? I can see a Jaguar parked and wonder if it might have been my Dad's!
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Pedrocut said:
Another interesting snippet, the marriage certificate of Matthew Picken in April 1838. He is shown as a machine fitter. He would then be about 25 years old. Notice that the residence is Harbourne, and that his father here is down as Matthias and not Matthew. His father is confirmed as a labourer.


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Yes, I picked this up on Ancestry. Matthias was a labourer and worked in Kemberton, Shropshire. That's where his son, Matthew Picken, set out from when he was ten years old. I love Sarah's signature. It looks for well controlled and makes me think that she was an educated woman. I did wonder if the residence being Harbourne might be why I can't find any note of Joe Murdock. I'm looking in the wrong place. Maybe they started the factory in Harbourne and Matthew started buying up back to backs in Frankfort Street.
 
Pedrocut said:
I have not read the attachments yet but something occurred to me.
In 1895 Matthew was at 24 Frankfort Steet and back of 24 was Sarah Cudd, cycle fittings, and in 1900 at the back there was The Wizzard Vacuum Manufacturers!
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Pedrocut, you'll never guess. You were right! He probably did buy up Sarah Cudd's cycle fittings, OR he started manufacturing pedals for her!
 

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Pedrocut said:
August 1864 a Matthew Picken.


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I hope you might be interested to know that this small advert that you found, ignited a big story in my novel. I wanted to say thank you for finding and sharing it. I'd like to mention you in acknowledgements. I'm happy to use @Pedrocut as your name but, if you prefer, you can email me at [email protected] and let me know your correct name. Thanks again, Sara
 
I wanted to pop back in to thank @Pedrocut @Astoness @Richard Dye @pjmburns for your wonderful assistance in finding nuggets of information. The first book, A Legacy Forged, is now signed off and I hope to publish on 25th October this year. Your encouragement and generous assistance in finding the details which helped me to create a fictional but historically correct story have been invaluable. I'd like to mention you in my acknowledgements. I can either say, the contributors of BirminghamHistory.com or I can mention your handles, or, if you'd like your proper name to go into the book, please message me at [email protected]

The second book has started and will cover 1900 to around 1952, maybe 1960s depending on how much space I have! The first book has been very well received by review readers. The only fly in the ointment is the cover picture which the publisher has control of...but then this was always a family saga - nothing changes there.

You can read the first chapter on my temporary website at www.sarafox.uk
 
WriteTheBook said:
I wanted to pop back in to thank @Pedrocut @Astoness @Richard Dye @pjmburns for your wonderful assistance in finding nuggets of information. The first book, A Legacy Forged, is now signed off and I hope to publish on 25th October this year. Your encouragement and generous assistance in finding the details which helped me to create a fictional but historically correct story have been invaluable. I'd like to mention you in my acknowledgements. I can either say, the contributors of BirminghamHistory.com or I can mention your handles, or, if you'd like your proper name to go into the book, please message me at [email protected]

The second book has started and will cover 1900 to around 1952, maybe 1960s depending on how much space I have! The first book has been very well received by review readers. The only fly in the ointment is the cover picture which the publisher has control of...but then this was always a family saga - nothing changes there.

You can read the first chapter on my temporary website at www.sarafox.uk
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For me personally, it is about history. I think any/all credits go BHF, that is why we are here. Having said that I leave that decision to the Moderator & Warren.
Best of luck with your next book, you know where history is kept!
 
Richard Dye said:
For me personally, it is about history. I think any/all credits go BHF, that is why we are here. Having said that I leave that decision to the Moderator & Warren.
Best of luck with your next book, you know where history is kept!
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Thank you, I appreciate your quick reply. I'm happy to do whatever feels the right thing to do. You're right, it IS about the history. While I'm writing fiction, it was so important not to have any historical bumps in the road!
 
WriteTheBook said:
Thank you, I appreciate your quick reply. I'm happy to do whatever feels the right thing to do. You're right, it IS about the history. While I'm writing fiction, it was so important not to have any historical bumps in the road!
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There was a television series called “Stranger than Fiction” looking at history, you are in the right place. Certainly Birmingham has SO much history and I dare say fiction!
 
so pleased the first book is now finished and good luck with it and we are always happy to help..as with others who have written books and sought our help if you just acknowledge "members of the birmingham history forum " that would be fine and thank you for doing that..

you are of course at liberty to post your email address on open forum but you do leave yourself open to your email being hacked etc...we advise that if members want to get in touch privately to use our private message system..you can just edit it out if you wish..

lyn
 
Don’t bother to credit me, give any credit to the Birmingham History Forum.
It may increase the Membership and the donations !
 
This a link to a similar photo to that in post #65 but earlier, probably 1950s, (shows a rag and bone man), apparently the original is a glass-plate negative so may even show the factory names. There is a cost involved unfortunately. There are several enlargements available.
www.worthpoint.com

BIRMINGHAM - SUMMER LANE CROSS GUNS INN PUB DARE'S BREWERY RAG & BONE MAN ASTON | #475572176

Item Decription Please note: I have listed this under postcards in addition to photographs as I thought it may be of interest to collectors of topographical images. However, please note that this is a
www.worthpoint.com www.worthpoint.com
 
Richard Dye said:
There was a television series called “Stranger than Fiction” looking at history, you are in the right place. Certainly Birmingham has SO much history and I dare say fiction!
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I didn't expect to be so passionately drawn into the history of Birmingham when I started this project. I don't consider myself a Brummie even though my roots are right there. But I do feel very strongly about wanting to see the vibe in Birmingham lifted. It was a great city once and it's so sad to see so many people seeing the worst in it.
 
WriteTheBook said:
I didn't expect to be so passionately drawn into the history of Birmingham when I started this project. I don't consider myself a Brummie even though my roots are right there. But I do feel very strongly about wanting to see the vibe in Birmingham lifted. It was a great city once and it's so sad to see so many people seeing the worst in it.
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There are a lot of folks on this Forum that are knowledgeable and passionate about history so you are in the right place! We do not always agree but that is what makes it interesting but the history always dictates….
 
Richard Dye said:
For me personally, it is about history. I think any/all credits go BHF, that is why we are here. Having said that I leave that decision to the Moderator & Warren.
Best of luck with your next book, you know where history is kept!
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I did go to your temporary website and read the first chapter of your book. I liked it! I was very pessimistic at the on set but began to warm to it quite quickly!
Best of luck with it…..
 
Richard Dye said:
I did go to your temporary website and read the first chapter of your book. I liked it! I was very pessimistic at the on set but began to warm to it quite quickly!
Best of luck with it…..
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WriteTheBook said:
Hello, I hope I can re-ignite this Frankfort Street thread (edit - this new thread started for Matthew Picken). I'm Sara and I'm writing a family saga based on my 3 times great grandfather Matthew. He set up a business in Frankfort street when, I believe, it was named MacDonald Street. He started working for Joe Murdoch in 1822 and went on to set up the family business, Picken and Son, in 1854.

Census' show that he lived at 148 MacDonald Street and started as a machinist under Joe Murdoch. The Census' then show him moving to 151 MacDonald Street and later 152 MacDonald Street. Moving forwards to the 1990s, the company went into receivership but took up a good area of space on what is now Frankfort Street.

I'm trying to figure out HOW Matthew grew his business from starting in the back yard of a house to a full factory development. Were they back to back houses in the higher numbers? I've seen threads from people living in numbers 50+ but no one lived in the 140s. I can't see how he could have set up business 'in the back yard' of a back to back.

My book is fiction, based on fact, but I'd like to get this right because I believe this is a remarkable story. Matthew walked aged 10 from Kemberton in Shropshire in 1822, and found work in MacDonald Street. He went from poverty creating a family business which spanned over 200 years and 6 generations. I just feel it's worth getting this as right as I can get it!

I'd be very grateful for tips on how to tackle the library for deeds or documents on the street and its houses.
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To everyone involved in this thread, I'm excited to say that the novel I posted about 13 months ago is now published and available everywhere, including Kindle. A Legacy Forged is receiving terrific reviews on the historical content too.

I wanted to show your acknowledgement in the image below. I did not expect to be drawn into the fascinating world of Brum history and this is largely thanks to the research rabbit holes you pointed me to. I am truly grateful for your help and hope that I might visit again now that Book 2 - which covers the two world wars is on the PC.

Kind regards to everyone and thank you @Richard Dye for reading Chapter 1 - I wasn't notified of your reply, I'm sorry for the late response - you'll be encouraged to know that reviews on Goodreads call it a book with heart and soul and a message of hope in adversity.

@pjmburns @Pedrocut @Astoness

Brum Forum Acknowledgement.jpg
 
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