Kendricks in Birmingham

The Kendricks seem to have been established in Birmingham from the 18th Century, although, as the name Kendrick probably has Celtic origins, they may have come from Wales. The earliest I have found is Richard and his wife Ann who were both born in Birmingham around 1790. In the census for 1841 they were living in Horse Fair with two sons, John aged 14 and Thomas 6 . Both children were baptised at St Martins in the Bull Ring, the ancient parish church of Birmingham. The present church is a rebuild dating from the 1870s, but it is believed that there has been a church in this place from Norman times. Because of the gap of eight years between the two boys, there may have been other children who did not survive.
By 1851 the family had moved to 7, Blucher St. Richard's occupation was Lock Forger. John was a clerk in a Newspaper Office and Thomas, aged 17, an Electro Plater.
I haven't yet found out when Richard and Ann died. In the 1861 census a Richard Kendrick aged 65, widower, was lodging at 39 Granville Street.
In 1861 John was married to Charlotte and living in Gt. Colmore St. with a growing family. His occupation was Patent Agent, an occupation his brother Thomas was to follow.

Early Barretts

The earliest Barrett I've so far found is Reginald who married Charlotte King on 1 October 1810 at St. Gregory's Church, Dawlish, Devon.

Charlotte, according to later censuses, apparently came from nearby Kenton.

The family seems to have moved around the West Country, crossing the border between Devon and Cornwall several times.

In the 1851 census for Liskeard in Cornwall I found the following family living in Church Street South.

Charlotte BARRETT Head Widow Aged 65 Born Kenton Devon
Mary Ann CLEMENTS Daughter Aged 39 " " "
Richard BARRETT Son Unmarried Aged 26 Shoemaker
Charlotte OAK Grandaughter " " 14 Dressmaker

and in nearby Barn street was the Hicks family
James 29, Cordwainer, His wife Ann, son James and

Benjamin BARRETT Lodger Aged 21 Cordwainer Born Liskeard

So I think this must be our Barrett family. There seems to be a large gap in the ages of Charlotte's children, possibly there were others in between who have now left home or did not survive infancy. I haven't yet found the family in the 1841 census.

Reginald Barrett was apparently a Tailor, judging by his son's marriage certificate, but his sons became Shoemakers.

Amongst the Barrett papers, I found these two photographs ............

..........I have no proof, but like to think that they may be Benjamin and his wife Lydia Cavannah . Judging by the clothes, I would date the pictures to the early 1860s when the couple would have been aged 30.

Barretts

When we were clearing the family house after the deaths of my uncle and aunt, we found a trunk containing various items of interest including some relating to the Barretts. My Grandma Randle was Beatrice Barrett before her marriage. There were two pieces of paper torn from a book with lists of Barrett births and deaths.


The C Oak refered to is, I think, a cousin, Charlotte Oak. Beatrice and Benjamin are the children of Edward Reginald. Their mother died when they were very young so they were 'Granny Reared' as Beatrice put it, by Benjamin and Lydia.

Benjamin and Lydia married in 1852 in Devonport and had six children. Four sons survived childhood, Edward Reginald, David, Joseph and Andrew, born between 1854 and 1863. Benjamin's occupation was cordwainer (shoemaker); but in the 1870s the family seem to have moved from the Plymouth area to Islington, London. In the 1881 census Benjamin and two of his sons, Joseph and Andrew, were working for the GPO as postmen. Edward R. was still living in Plymouth with his wife Mary Jane, and new born daughter Beatrice.

Although there is nothing written on this photo, I feel sure it is B. and L. with their Grandchildren, Beatrice (my grandmother) and Benjamin Junior. Sadly, Benjamin Junior died of peritonitis at the age of sixteen.

I've attempted to upload a copy of the Barrett Family Tree but I think it is going to be too small to be readable. If anyone would like a larger copy, I can email you one.

Family Blog

I've decided to start this blog purely for family history purposes. My research interests are, in the main, RANDLE, WOOD, BARRETT, TEAGUE, EVESON, TITCOMB, KENDRICK, CHAPMAN and their connections. I'll start with a few Randle photos. The first is of the wedding in 1930 of Eddie Randle to Olive Taylor. Seated far right front row is Eddie's mother Beatrice nee Barrett next to her daughter Dorothy. My father Walter is on the far left, Ben Randle fourth from left, Jack Randle second from right. Sadly, Beatrice's husband Tom Randle, died the year before and the wedding had to be postponed.

I still possess the dress that was worn by my grandmother. It is in quite poor condition, but here is a sample of the beaded hem.

This photo was taken in spring 1944. Ben RANDLE had just returned from military duty in North Africa and Palestine. The toddler at the front is myself with my cousins Eileen and Sheila Randle and my auntie Dorothy. Back row Ben Randle, his wife Hilda nee Simkiss, Jack Randle, Alfred Taylor, Marjorie nee Wood(my mother), Beatrice nee Barrett, Walter Randle (my father) and Olive nee Taylor. Missing, probably behind the camera, Eddie Randle.

Now for a more recent picture. This was taken on the occasion of the ruby wedding of my cousin Sheila and her husband Roy in June 1998.

Seated front Rachel and Sam, Sheila and Roy's grandchildren.

Second row - David Eileen's son, Roy, Sheila, Eileen, Annette.

Back row - Second from right, Brian Sheila and Roy's son, third from right Marjorie. Others are Roy's brothers and inlaws.