Devon Glovers.
All our Devon Gloveresses lived in the vicinity of Great Torrington and Barnstaple. In Barnstaple the glove factory was Pilton’s and in Great Torrington there was a busy Glove factory founded by the Bible Christian William Vaughan, indeed the facade of his factory resembled a Methodist chapel. Vaughan eventually became Mayor of Torrington on several occasions and lived in the biggest house in the town. As an Alderman William Vaughan did much to help the community his workers inhabited, and helped to establish a Cottage Hospital in the town. In 1880 the Vaughan Tapscott factory employed over 600 people (both in the factory and out workers).
[http://www.great-
An interview with Margaret Gorvett nee Smale who was born in Bideford about 1738 appeared in the St Thomas Times journal Ontario on 3 Aug 1918. In the report Mrs Gorvett told how she was taught to sew black kid gloves embroidering the backs with white thread. She also talks about the packmen bringing supplies to the cottage and taking the completed gloves back
[http://www.angelfire.com/ct2/beharu/mgt_smale.htm]
This is a similar situation to that found in Oxfordshire.
Our Devon glove makers.
Mary wife of William BENNETT [13253] Roborough 1851 -
Mary wife of John HANCOCK [12950] Dolton 1861
Mary wife of George HANDFORD [2527] Frithelstock 1851
Mary wife of Thomas HEARD [10279] Beaford 1851
Mary wife of Samuel HOOKWAY [12914] Wear Gifford 1851 aged 63
Mary wife of Joseph WELSH [4902] Merton 1851-
Ann Hockway ARNOLD [18652] Monkleigh 1861 cotton
Jane ARNOLD [18651] Monkleigh 1851 aged 14, Buckland Brewer 1861
Fanny ASHPLANT [17625] Monkleigh 1861 described as gloveress (all sorts) aged 14
Maria ASHPLANT [6026] Beaford 1841
Susan ASHPLANT [16485] Wear Gifford 1841
Jane ASHTON [4850] Beaford 1841 Winkleigh 1851 * sisters
Mary ASHTON [4851] Beaford 1841 aged 14 * sisters
Grace BAKER nee SANDERS [10986] Beaford 1841-
Emma BEER [13012] Monkleigh 1851
Mary BEER [10943] Beaford 1871
Mary BEER [12960] Little Torrington 1861
Eliza BENNETT [4714] Great Torrington 1851 aged 11 years, 1861 (cotton), St Giles in the Wood 1871
Eliza BENNETT [13677] Roborough 1871 -
Grace BENNETT [13100] St Giles in the Wood 1861
Mary BENNETT [16187] St Giles in the Wood 1871 * sisters
Lucy BENNETT [16188] St Giles in the Wood 1881 * sisters
Sarah BENNETT [16189] St Giles in the Wood 1881 * sisters
Mary BENNETT [11819] Roborough 1861, Dolton 1871
Mary BENNETT [10163] St Giles in the Wood 1861 -
Ann BIRD [208] Bideford 1851 aged 12 years
Ann BIRD [4142] Beaford 1851
Catherine BIRD [4140] Beaford 1851
Catherine BIRD [16242] St Giles in the Wood 1851 -
Ann BISSETT [6269] Dolton 1871
Mary BISSETT [9957] Dowland 1851
Jane BLAKE [16329] St Giles in the Wood 1861
Betsy BLIGHT [18649] Monkleigh 1851 aged 12 * sisters
Jane BLIGHT [18648] Monkleigh 1851 aged 14 * sisters
Ann BRIGHT [17377] Dolton1841
Betsy BRINSMEAD [19038] Beaford 1851
Mary BRINSMEAD [14985] St Giles in the Wood 1851
Betsy Folland CLARKE [11039] St Giles in the Wood 1851
Elizabeth COPP [6034] St Giles In the Wood 1851
Susan COPP [17433] Frithelstock 1881
Emma CUDMORE [13680] Roborough 1871
Elizabeth DAVEY [12936] Bideford 1851 a glover, 1861 a silk glove sewer in and and 1881 glove maker
Ann DENNIS [12985] Lttleham by Bideford 1851 * sisters
Fanny DENNIS [12947] Lttleham by Bideford 1851 * sisters
Dorothy DOWN [11661] Dolton 1841
Charlotte DYMENT [43] Beaford 1851-
Eliza DYMENT [420] Beaford 1845
Elizabeth DYMENT [47] Beaford 1844
Jane DYMENT [555] Beaford 1841 aged13 years
Joanna DYMENT [74] Dolton 1851 aged 12 years * sisters
Martha DYMENT [93] Dolton 1851 * sisters
Mary DYMENT [99] Dolton 1851 * sisters
Susan DYMENT [127] Dolton 1851 aged 14 years * sisters
Mary DYMENT [11610] St Gles in the Wood 1871
Sarah Ann [459] St Giles in the Wood 1881
Susan DYMENT [126] St Gles in the Wood 1851
Susanna DYMENT [483] Dolton 1861
Susanna DYMENT[582] Beaford 1841
Elizabeth DYRE [10870] Dolton 1861 aged 12 years
Ann EBSWORTHY [11262 ] Merton 1861
Elizabeth ELLACOTT [18459] Dolton 1871
Elizabeth FOLLAND [5991] St Giles in the Wood 1861
Elizabeth Ellen FOLLAND [6257] Ashreigney 1871 aged 13 years, 1881
Esther FOLLAND[5992] St Giles in the Wood 1861 aged 12 year
Grace Ann FOLLAND [10971] St Giles in the Wood 1861
Rachel Gray FOLLAND [10838] St Giles in the Wood 1851 aged 15. She died two years later.
Ann FORD [6278] Ashregney 1861-
Elizabeth FORD [6277] Ashreigney 1851
Elizabeth FOWLER [2570] Great Torrington 1851
Amy FRIEND [11496] Dolton 1871
Celia FRIEND [14451] Dolton 1861
Susan GOODING [10731] Beaford 1861
Mary GORDON [21155] wife of Andrew ROWTCLIFF Merton 1851
Sarah GRIGG [12869] Monkleigh 1861 .
Ann GREENSLADE [18018] Chumleigh 1841
Mary GUARD [16217] St Giles in the Wood 1861 -
Mary Ann HAMMET [10898] St Giles in the Wood 1871
Sarah Ann HAMMETT [13114] St Giles in the Wood 1871
Mary HANCOCK [13046] Dolton 1861
Emma HANDFORD [2529] Fithelstock 1851 aged 14 years daughter of Mary JUDD [2527] * sisters
Mary Ann HANDFORD [20153] Fithelstock 1851 daughter of Mary JUDD [2527] * sisters
Bessie HARRIS [9937] Shebbear 1871 aged 15 years. Daughter of Jane DYMENT [555] * sisters
Mary Jane HARRIS [9934] Beaford 1861 aged 15 years. Daughter of Jane DYMENT [555] * sisters
Mary HARRIS [11491] Dolton 1871
Agnes HEARD[10909] Beaford 1841 aged 14 years
Elizabeth HEARD [10894] Beaford 1841
Ellen HEARD [10756] Beaford 1861 daughter of Susan GOODING [10731]
Mary Heaman HEARD [13655] Dolton 1861
Rebeccah HEARD [6171] Beaford 1851
Rebecca HEARD[6117] Beaford 1871
Catherine HELLINGS [18969] St Giles in the Wood 1851 -
Mary HELLINGS [18958] St Giles in the Wood 1851 -
Betsey HOOKWAY [18646] Wear Gifford 1841
Jane HOOKWAY [18663] Wear Gifford 1851
Susannah HOOKWAY [707] Monkleigh 1851, Bideford 1861 silk glove sewer aged 64
Charlotte HUNKIN [18878] Shebbear1851
Mary HUXTABLE [9955] Dowland 1851 -
Mary JAY [1950] Monkleigh1851
Mary JUDD [2527] Fithelstock 1851
Anna Arnold JURY[18656] Monkleigh 1841 aged 15
Hannah JURY [8930] Beaford 1841
Fanny LILE [19067] Great Torrington 1851
RachelLUGG [17451] Dolton 1871
Grace LUXTON [2390] Great Torrington 1851
Elizabeth LYNE [18366] Dolton 1871
Mary MARTN [13043] Dolton 1861 Beaford 1841
Martha Anna MATHEWS [18963] St Giles in the Wood 1881
Grace MITCHEL [18680] Bideford 1841
Betsey MITCHELL [6369] Beaford 1841
Jane MITCHELL [4043] Beaford 1851 -
Maria MITCHELL [9] Beaford 1861 -
Mary MITCHELL[6322] Beaford 1841
Mary MITCHELL [4143] St Giles in the Wood 1851
Grace MOORE [2446] Beaford 1861 aged 13 years with her mother Elizabeth nee ROCKEY [2441]
Jennie MOORE [10944] Beaford 1871
Mary MOORE[16198] St Giles in the Wood 1861 described as formerly a glover
Ann MOORE [1996] Beaford 1861 -
Jane MOORE [1993] Beaford 1841 -
Rebecca MOORE [1994] Beaford 1851 -
Susan MOORE [10752] Beaford 1861 aged 14 yrs
Grace PICKARD [2106] Beaford 1841 aged 10 years 1851, 1861, 1871 married Henry DYMENT [57] in 1870
Mary Ann PICKARD [7483] Beaford 1841
Charlotte POW nee YOUNG [17565] Gt Torrington 1851 glover 1861 cotton glove maker
Elizabeth POW [17562] Great Torrington 1851 aged 8, 1861cotton glove maker
Eliza Anne POW [17571] Great Torrington 1861 cotton glove maker
Mary POW [17570] Gt Torrington 1851
Grace PUDNER [10935] St Giles in the Wood 1871 mother of grace Ann FOLLAND [10971]
Elizabeth ROCKEY [2441] Beaford 1861-
Mary Ann ROWTCLIFFE [21172] Merton 1851 daughter of Mary GORDON [21155]
Mary SELDON [10733] Petrockstow 1851
Eliza SHEARS [10541] Monkleigh 1861
Jane SHEARS [526] Monkleigh 1861
Mary SHORT [2581] Merton 1851
Susan SHORT [2111] South Molton 1881
Eliza SNELL [4134] Dolton 1861
Eliza SUSSEX [2727] St Giles in the Wood 1851 -
Elizabeth SUSSEX [4] St Giles in the Wood 1861
Elizabeth SUSSEX [16219] St Giles in the Wood 1861
Ellen SUSSEX [16226 ] St Giles in the wood 1871 aged 13 years
Jane SUSSEX [10164] St Giles in the Wood 1851
Jemima SUSSEX [6492] St Giles in the Wood 1851
Lucy SUSSEX [16253] St Giles in the Wood 1871
Rachel SUSSEX[10421] St Giles in the Wood 1861
Susanna SUSSEX [10422] St Giles in the Wood 1861
Elizabeth TANTON [19014] Beaford 1851
Mary TANTON [18982] Beaford 1851
Mary Ann TANTON [16] St Giles in the Wood 1851
Elizabeth THOMAS [11519] Roborough 1871
Susanna THOMAS [11522] St Giles in the Wood 1851
Louisa TRICK [11029] St Giles in the Wood 1881 aged 14 glove pointer
Elizabeth TURNER [11611] St Giles in the Wood 1841 -
Betsy VODDEN [61225] Beaford 1851
Selina VODDEN [6127] Beaford 1861
Ann WARE [1976] Dolton 1861
Elizabeth WARE[12062] St Giles in the Wood 1861
Mary WARE [16199] St Giles in the Wood 1871
Wilmot WARE [15003] Huish 1851 aged 14 year
Charlotte WELSH [2719] Merton 1861 aged 8 years * sisters
Grace WELSH [2722] Merton 1861 aged 10 years * sisters
Jane WELSH [4903] Merton 1861 aged 10 years * sisters
Sarah WELSH [10402] Merton 1861 aged 10 years * sisters
Thomas DYMENT [11619] Great Torrington 1891 a fabric glove cutter, 1901 a cotton glove cutter.
After serving in the R.M. His step son William BASSETT was a tailors cutter
John SQUIRE [14956] Great Torrington 1861 cotton glove cutter
Oxfordshire Glovers.
The ancient glove making industry was centred around Woodstock. The area being famed for its light coloured leather gloves which were often embroidered on the backs. In his book "Stonesfield" (published in 1975) G H Powell gives a detailed description of Gloving and the memories of Miss Thornett who had learned the trade from her mother. She says that it took five hours to complete a pair of gloves for which she was paid 5d but she received an extra farthing for binding button holes, strangely she did not have to sew the buttons on. In the early days they had to collect the parts and return the completed items themselves often walking or cycling to the factory in her case five miles each way. Even early in the 20th century women from Leafield would walk through the forest every week to Charlbury, Woodstock and Chipping Norton collecting cut skins and delivering sewn gloves. Our ancestors lived in Finstock and Leafield near Stonesfield. Being further from Woodstock, the gloves were probably dispatched in bundles to the cottage workers either by carrier or by a specialist village 'pack or bag woman'. On the 1871 census return for Stonesfield a Sarah SHURMER gave her occupation as glove carrier. Interestingly Sarah was originally from Worcestershire.
The glovesses sat outside their cottages with the work on their laps on a cloth which could be quickly folded over the work if they needed to move.
During that period between 1870 and 1900 prices fell pretty steadily as much manual work was being replaced by machines and pay fell. The productivity of hand sewers couldn't rise and machine-
This is an interesting website about the Glovesses of Leasford http://www.leafieldvillage.co.uk/history/gloving/
Our Oxfordshire glove makers.
Eliza ANDREWS [8632] Finstock (Near Stonefield) 1861 leather,1871glovemaker
Ann BARRETT [7550] Duns Tew 1851
Leah Isabel BENFIELD [8652] Leaford 1881 -
Hannah CLARE [8630] Charbury 1846 on her marrriage to Elias DUNSBY.
Eliza DUNSBY [8626] Finstock Oxf 1841 sister of Harriet
Harriet DUNSBY [8602] Finstock Oxf 1851 sister of Eliza
Caroline GASKINS [18129] Yarnton 1851
Elizabeth GIBBS [11960] Great Milton 1851
\Elizabeth A HARRIS[11724] 1871 North Leigh
Charity JOHNSON [4775] Glympton 1841
Elizabeth MATTHEWS [1750] Middle Barton 1861
Mary Ann MERCER [2223] Lower Heyford 1851
Sarah MOLE [9764] Duns Tew 1851
Elizabeth WOODWARD [13062] Combe 1851
Harriet QUAINTON [9588] Gloveress Yarnton 1851
Worcester Glovers.
The glove making trade was centred within the city of Worcester itself with two major firms to consider, the oldest being Dents. John Dent founded his factory in 1777 and it was improved by his sons John and William. By 1833 they were employing 133 people producing hand stitched gloves. However in 1820 the industry was at its height when 150 manufacturers were employing over 30,000 people in and around Worcester making gloves. Things changed radically after 1826 when the government lifted taxes on foreign gloves thus allowing the market to be flooded with fashionable french gloves. Napoleon apparently had over 450 pairs of gloves and encouraged Josephine to wear gloves some say even when bathing! She started a fashion of wearing very long gloves which spread across Europe. This lead to a massive slump in the market. The introduction of machine stitched gloves discussed in the paragraph on the trade in Oxfordshire further exasperated the market. However amid this unstable period of trade Fownes opened a new purpose built factory in 1884. The importance of the industry to the city is reflected in the nick name “The glover’s Needle” being given to the spire of the church of St Andrew. Both Fownes and Dents have had the reputation of producing quality gloves.
Our Worcestershire glove makers.
Glove cutter
John HODGES [8882] Worcester from his marriage in 1834. In 1841 he was an ag lab.
Glove Labourer
Henry Edward COLLEY [5119] Worcester 1901
Glove Maker
Emma JUNIPER [1396] Worcester 1891
Esther MARSHALL [2060] Worcester 1891 * sisters
Alice MARSHALL [2061] Worcester 1891 * sisters
Susannah MAYCROFT [2784] Doddenhill 1851
Sarah PRATT [6300] Hill and Moor 1861 aged 15 years
Mary PRATT [7835] Norton 1841 aged 15 years.
John SEFTON [17183] St Clements Worcester 1841 a glover journeyman aged 55.
From Worcester to Gloversville New York.
Elizabeth MARSHALL [2073], daughter of Emma JUNIPER, and her husband Henry Charles JONES emigrated to America in 1889 where they worked in the glove industry at Gloversville, Fulton, New York.
In 1900 Henry and his daughter Alice [6963] were glove cutters while his wife Elizabeth was a glove maker (mach).
On the 1905 New York census Henry was a foreman, Elizabeth and daughter Florence glove workers while son William was a glove cutter. On the same census Henry’s daughter Alice [6963] and her husband Harvey HORNIDGE were both glove workers.
The area around Gloversville was renown for producing fine kid gloves and at its height there were 200 glove manufacturers in the town employing both factory and home workers. In 1905 Alice was a glove worker at home.
