Former reference: Deeds/Business 1. Deed of Settlement of the Coventry Corn Exchange...

PA 102/1

Former reference: Deeds/Business 1. Deed of Settlement of the Coventry Corn Exchange and Public Room Company made between shareholders [T[homas] N[oble] Beasley (of Stoneleigh, Warws., landagent), Thomas Sammons (of Fletchamstead, Warws., farmer), R[ichard] K[evitt] Rotherham (of Coventry, watchmanufacturer), Charles Dresser (of Coventry, silk-agent), Samuel Newsome (of Coventry, --), William Lynes (of Coventry, --), James Hewat (of [Walsgrave-on-] Sowe, Warws., farmer and maltster), John Brown Izon (of Walsgrave-on-Sowe, farmer), Thomas Congreve jun. (of Leamington Hastings, Warws., farmer and grazier), Richard Bass (of Cubbington, Warws., farmer), Thomas Dewes (of Coventry, solicitor), Edwin Morris Swan (of Coventry, bank-manager), John N[ewman] Clarke (of Stoke Green, Coventry, ribbonmanufacturer), John and Joseph Cash (of Coventry, ribbonmanufacturers), Richard Caldicott (of Coventry, ribbonmanufacturer), Bryan Dunn (of Coventry, currier), Thomas Bromwich (of Wolston, Warws., farmer), James Morris (of Stoke Green, solicitor), John Adcock Beale (of Brockhurst, Monks Kirby pa., Warws., farmer), John Yeldham Betts (of Coventry, corndealer), Thomas Pegg (of Cannonbury Villa, London, warehouseman), Charles Iliffe (of Coventry, draper), John Williams (of Coventry, chemist), Joseph Odell (of Coventry, ribbonmanufacturer), Thomas Cash (of Coventry, oilman), Joseph Tomkinson (of Coventry, stationer), William Slingsby (of Coventry, grocer), Thomas Slingsby (of Coventry, grocer), William Stone Booth (of Coventry, timbermerchant), George Earle (of Stoke near Coventry, timbermerchant), Charles James Nutt (of Coventry, winemerchant), Abraham Taylor (of Coventry, draper), John Gulson (of Coventry, silkman), Henry Brown (of Coventry, auctioneer), Edward Simms (of Coventry, organist), Edward Copson (of Brandon, Warws., farmer), Charles Handley (of Allesley, Warws., farmer), William F[rederick] Pridmore (of Wyken Grange, Warws., farmer), Luke Pearman (of Berkswell, Warws., farmer), Mark Newton (of Great Packington, Warws., builder), Charles Sumner (of Bull Ring, Coventry, maltster), Richard Henry Beaumont (of Combefields, Warws., farmer), John Wyley (of Charter House, Coventry, chemist), Thomas Carter (of Styvechale, Warws., farmer), Joseph Jordan jun. (of Blackdown, Warws., miller), Isaac Smith (of [Walsgrave-on-] Sowe,farmer), W.S. Hayes (of Halesowen, Salop, solicitor), William and Thomas Farmer (of Hinckley, Leics., coalmerchants), Bourne & Sale (of Atherstone, Warws., woolstaplers), Thomas Clarke (of Coventry, auctioneer), James Bass (of [Walsgrave-on-] Sow[e], farmer), William Campbell (of Tocil House, Stoneleigh, farmer), Thomas Townsend (of Hillmorton Hall, Rugby, Warws., grazier), Richard Congreve (of Wadham College, Oxford, clerk), Thomas Lewis (of Grandborough, Warws., farmer), Thomas Ball Troughton (of Coventry, gent.), William Tite (of Coleshill, Warws., gent.), William Wilmot (of Coventry, gent.), John Hiorns (of Ashow, Warws., farmer), Joseph Kemp (of Allesley, farmer), Samuel Bury Congreve (of Harborough Magna, Warws., farmer), Edward Samuel Thomas Swan (of Coleshill, farmer), Henry Butterworth (of Upper Tooting, Surrey, gent.), Robert Swinnerton (of Weddington, Nuneaton, Warws., [timber-] merchant), Edward James King (of Bickenhill, Warws., farmer), Thomas Clark (of Foleshill, Warws., grazier and farmer), John B. Congreve (of Stoney Stratford, Bucks., solicitor), William Dickenson (of Fillongley, Warws., timber-merchant), W[illiam] Taunton (of Coventry, auctioneer), Joshua W. Butterworth (of Upper Tooting, law-publisher), Joseph Paxton (of Chatsworth, Derbs., --), James Weston (of Stoneleigh, grazier), Philip J[ames] Pickering (of Coventry, manufacturer), George German Pegg (of Coventry, bookseller), R[obert] Harvey Minster (of Coventry, solicitor), Henry Soden (of Coventry, ribbonmanufacturer), Dennis George Barnes (of Coventry, auctioneer), Joseph Odell (as father of William, and Mary Arnold, Odell of Jordan Well, Coventry), J. Odell (as father of Joseph Charles and James George Odell), J. Odell (as father of Richard and Fanny Clara Odell), John Inglis Hewat (of Binley, Warws., farmer), William Mabbatt (of Coventry, perfumer), Francis Robbins [sen.] (of Stoneleigh, miller), Matthew Henry Brown (of Coventry, auctioneer), Richard Ward (of Nuneaton, ribbonmanufacturer), Charles Garraway Proctor (of Emsote, Warws., factor), Thomas Hollick (of Nuneaton, ribbonmanufacturer), Alfred Dawson Lea (of Coventry, gent.), Edward Haymoor (of Warwick, gent.), Ann Hills (of Coventry, spinster), Joseph Sutton Pratt (of Wolston, Warws., gent.), Cadwallader Coker Adams (of Ansty, Warws., clerk), John Haddon (of Leamington [Spa], Warws., brewer), Thomas Birditt (of Brandon, farmer), Charles Rotherham (of Coventry, miller), John Dell (of Coventry, winemerchant), John Webb (of Coventry, writing-clerk), H[enry] Bellairs (of Bedworth Rectory, Warws., clerk), William Odell (of Coventry, ribbonmanufacturer), David Lewin (of Coventry, printer), Priscilla Shaw (of Meriden, Warws., spinster), Ann Shaw (of Meriden, spinster), Frederick Browett (of Stoke, Coventry, manufacturer), Thomas and William [II] Birditt (as executors of the late William [I] Birditt of Brandon; of Wolston, farmers), Isaac Pearson Evans (of Griff, Warws., landagent), John Walter Pridmore (of Coleshill, farmer), Thomas Haddon (of Hampton Lucy, Warws., farmer), William Chater (of Coventry, professor of music), Isabella Jane Hewat (of [Walsgrave-on-] Sowe, spinster), Charles Marriott Caldecott (of Holbrook Grange, Rugby, Warws., esq.), Sarah Ann Clark (as executrix of Thomas Clark; of Foleshill, farmer), Mary Farmer (of Stoneleigh, widow), Thomas Winterton (of Alrewas Hays, near Lichfield, Staffs., farmer), Henry Townsend (of King's Newnham, Warws., farmer) and William Stephenson (of Coventry, ribbonmanufacturer)] of the one part, and Francis Wyley and John Weston Perkins (of Coventry, gents.) of the other, whereby the shareholders covenant with F. Wyley and he with J.W. Perkins that they will pay their respective shares and perform the following agreements:-

I The shareholders will comprize a joint-stock company called "the Coventry Corn Exchange and Public Room Company".

II Its object will be to maintain a public exchange for corn and other crops, and a hall for meetings and balls.

III The company will for the present have its offices at the "King's Head" inn, Smithford St..

IV The capital will consist of £10,000 in 2,000 x £5 shares.

V An Ordinary General Meeting will be held on the last Friday in June, 1854 and every subsequent last Friday in June (or another day, within seven on either side, if more convenient).

VI An Extraordinary General Meeting may at any time be called by the directors, or by them at the request of not less than five shareholders (who have at least 100 shares) upon the third Friday after such a request shall have been made - if the directors will not call the latter type of meeting the requisitionists may have one between fourteen and 21 days after the third Friday.

VII The quorum for a General Meeting will be twenty holders of at least 200 shares; if called by requisition, an inquorate meeting will be dissolved, but if called by another means it will be adjourned to that day week.

VIII A General Meeting may be adjourned for discussion of outstanding business.

IX Notice of a meeting must be circularized to all shareholders between seven and 28 days before it is due to happen, and an advertisement must be inserted in a Coventry newspaper from three to 21 days beforehand.

X The regular business of a General Meeting will be:-

(a) Election of officers.

(b) Consideration of accounts.

(c) Consideration of ordinary reports.

(d) Deciding about a directors' dividend-recommendation.

(e) Matters arising.

XI A General Meeting will have the power to:-

(a) Elect or dismiss officers.

(b) Vary the number of directors, auditors or trustees.

(c) Examine accounts and reports.

(d) Decide upon a directors' dividend-recommendation.

(e) Transact other business.

(f) Order the production of company documents.

(g) Make bye-laws.

(h) Control the board of directors and consider anything raised by shareholders.

XII An Extraordinary General Meeting will have the following special powers which require for their exercise the consent of a majority consisting of two-thirds of the shareholders (who hold two-thirds of the shares):-

(a) Increase of capital, so as to produce more shares, by up to £2,500.

(b) Sale of the premises by the directors.

(c) Dissolution of the company as detailed hereinafter.

(d) Amendment or repeal of any clauses in this deed (or a supplementary one) except those concerning the business' name, future capital-increase, indemnification of officers, or dissolution; a change will be registered in the Office for the Registration of Joint Stock Companies within one calendar month after such a meeting.

XIII When the chairman is away, his place will be taken by a board-member, and in default thereof by a shareholder.

XIV Voting-strength for shareholders will be as follows:-

1 - 5 share = one vote, 6 - 10 = two, 11 - 20 = three, 21 - 40 = four, 41 - 60 = five, 61 - 100 = six, 100+ = seven (maximum); infants, lunatics and married women who hold shares may not vote.

XV Proxies will be allowed for up to fifty of a member's shares; the form of appointment is given.

XVI Except in cases for which this deed stipulates otherwise, policy will be decided at meetings by a simple majority; the chairman will enjoy a casting vote.

XVII For voting, the first-mentioned of two or more holders of a share will be deemed its proprietor.

XVIII A lunatic/idiot or infant may vote through its committee or guardians respectively.

XIX There will be nineteen directors, each holding at least twenty shares; the first ones are Samuel Newsome (esq., mayor of Coventry), Rt. Hon. Lord Leigh (of Stoneleigh Abbey, Warws.), T.N. Beasley, F. Wyley, F. Robbins sen., B. Dunn, H. Brown, C. Dresser, R. Caldicott, I.P. Evans, T. Congreve jun., J.W. Perkins, W. Odell, T.B. Troughton, R.K. Rotherham, L. Pearman, J. Wyley, W. Lynes and J.B. Izon.

XX At least one-third of the directors will retire at each Ordinary General Meeting according to the order shown in the preceding clause; future directors' priorities will be determined by lot; meetings may be adjourned until a shortfall of directors shall have been made good.

XXI The mayor of Coventry for the time being shall be proposed to the shareholders for a directorship, but when he shall retire from the former position, and therefore the directorship also they may choose anyone to succeed him.

XXII A director will give the secretary a fortnight's notice of his resignation; in that case, or in the event of a director's ceasing to hold twenty shares, becoming bankrupt or dying (or because of his mayoral retirement) an Extraordinary General Meeting will be called to choose a substitute.

XXIII Directors' special meetings will require at least three days' notice.

XXIV Five directors may constitute the board.

XXV The chairman will be elected annually and be re-eligible for election every year; he may resign at any time but must be replaced within fourteen days.

XXVI Questions coming before the directors will be decided by majority; the chairman will have a casting vote.

XXVII Unless otherwise specified, the directorate will control all business.

XXVIII Directors may apply to the Board of Trade for a licence enabling them to buy real estate in Coventry.

XXIX Under that licence, the directors may build or adapt, repair and insurance the exchange.

XXX Therefore, directors may sign contracts for the erection of buildings or their alteration, provided that their intentions are lawful and not liable to bring the company into debt.

XXXI The directors may borrow up to £10,000 for buying real estate; they may mortgage the exchange or other realty, or issue debentures or promissory-notes.

XXXII Under cls.XXX or XXXI, at least two directors may enter into undertakings which require signature to promissory-notes (countersigned by the secretary) if they gain the board's resolved permission.

XXXIV Proper accounts will be kept.

XXXV Accounts will be balanced up to a date not less than six weeks before an Ordinary General Meeting; the chairman and two directors will certify the balance-sheet which, with the accounts, will be delivered to the auditors at least 28 days before the O.G.M., before whose members will be laid accounts and a general report.

XXXVI Muniments will be kept at the company-offices.

XXXVII All sealed documents will be signed by a minimum of two directors.

XXXVIII At every board-meeting the names of the directors present will be inserted in the minutes; their attendance-record will be reported to the shareholders at every Ordinary General Meeting.

XXXIX The directors may alter or rescind a contract or legal proceedings, submit matters to arbitration, compound for debts, discharge a bankrupt or empower proof of debt.

XL Anyone not a director or trustee in office for that or the previous year may be chosen an auditor at the Ordinary General Meeting, and be joined by another elected by the directors at their first subsequent meeting; the first auditors appointed are (for the shareholders and directors respectively Luke Dresser and William Odell, and may have at least 1gn. each for their trouble.

If one shall retire before his term's expiry, an Extraordinary General Meeting or board-meeting respectively will select a new auditor.

XLII Within fourteen days after the date to which accounts are to be balanced, the auditors will check them and be allowed fourteen thence for so doing; they will report on them, and separately upon anything with which they disagree; audited accounts may be inspected by shareholders for fourteen days before an Ordinary General Meeting - copies of the report and balance-sheet will be sent to them at least seven days before the O.G.M..

XLIII The secretary will make proper entries in the books (and ensure their signature) and forward notices; F. Wyley is appointed the first secretary.

XLIV The company will patronise the Coventry Union Banking Co..

XLV Thomas Dewes is the first solicitor.

XLVI By minuted resolution the board may appoint the secretary, bankers, solicitors and employees, and determine clerks' and servants' service-conditions.

XLVII All property and banked money will be vested either in the company or in three directors as trustees.

XLVIII The first trustees are John Wyley, William Lynes and J.B. Izon; new trustees must be elected when the number shall have been reduced to one through death, incompetence or refusal to serve.

XLIX Subject if necessary to board or General Meeting resolutions, the trustees may alter or rescind deals.

L Receipts must be signed by three directors; the secretary or a trustee will indemnify the signators in the event of investigation.

LI Directors' remuneration is contingent upon profit-margins and may be varied at an Ordinary General Meeting's discretion.

LII Officers and servants will be indemnified against losses unless they have caused them; such compensation will be a lien which must be discharged before all other claims upon company money; all officers except the directors, auditors, bankers and solicitor will give surety for good behaviour, and the exceptions will not be held responsible for the C.U.B.C.'s failure.

LIII Shares will be deemed personalty.

LIV Shares will be numbered arithmetically as in [Schedule A Part 3 below].

LV Upon paying at most 1/-, a holder may request a certificate of share-proprietorship.

LVI A damaged or outdated certificate should be shown to the board so that that body might order its replacement; the board may order a lost certificate's replacement - in both cases the secretary will note the circumstances.

LVII A registered holder may transfer his share to anyone who is not an infant, lunatic, married woman or legally disabled (even if there be a call upon the holder's share).

LVIII A register of transfers and deeds of transfer will be kept at the company offices; by paying a 1/- fee a transferee may obtain a new certificate, or the endorsement of his ownership may be written on an old one.

LIX If interest in a share be transmitted because of death, bankruptcy, a woman's marriage or other means, such transmission will be authenticated by a written declaration signed before a magistrate or another person authorized to take affidavits.

LX Such transmission of a married woman's, deceased's or bankrupt's share will respectively require a copy of the marriage-entry, testamentary papers or assignees' appointment.

LXI The company will not be bound to execute any trust to which a share is subject, but will pay any dividend to the first person named in the register as holding that share.

LXII The receipt of a guardian/father, committee, husband or assignee will be respectively sufficient discharge for an infant's, lunatic's, wife's or bankrupt's share.

LXIII Any share-transfer will be executed within six calendar months of the transmission-date, and the transferee will not be entitled to shareholders' rights before then.

LXIV A shareholder who acquires more shares through transfer will not have to re-execute this deed.

LXV Anyone not executing a transfer within the six calendar months will forfeit his shares to the company.

LXVI The company will have a permanent lien upon debts owed to it by shareholders, and may take all or part of such holders' shares if they shall not have been wholly or partly discharged after three calendar months' notice.

LXVII Whenever a share be transmitted or forfeited its previous owner will become free from liability.

LXVIII There will be separate accounts of capital and revenue; at least three directors will, at an Ordinary General Meeting, declare whether or not the clear profits permit a dividend-issue, but its payment-size will depend upon the consent of two-thirds of the shareholders.

LXIX Unclaimed and unowned dividends will accumulate for the person next registered for the relevant shares; after six calendar months the dividends will be invested, but will be forfeited if still unclaimed after a total of twelve.

LXX The bankers will receive a £1 deposit per share plus £4 in instalments (with £5% p.a. interest); there will be 21 days' notice for calls made by the company upon shares.

LXXI If a call shall not have been answered within two calendar months of the payment-date, a notice will be sent threatening forfeiture within 21 days.

LXXII Within six calendar months after a call's payment-date, the directors may receive that money together with interest and a fine (of up to 10% of the call) and remit forfeiture; if such a share shall have been sold in good faith it will become irredeemable.

LXXIII Directors may order the company to sue for non-payment by shareholders.

LXXIV Directors may retain or sell forfeited shares, gaining a General Meeting's sanction if necessary.

LXXV Upon passage of an Extraordinary General Meeting resolution for extra capital, new shares will first be offered to existing shareholders and any residue to new applicants; within two calendar months, any unsold share will be forfeit: new shares will be as valid as old ones.

LXXVI The deed of settlement, lists of shareholders and of officers, and bye-laws may be inspected by any shareholder or his nominee.

LXXVII Company books and reports may be inspected within fourteen days before and one calendar month after a General Meeting, and shareholders may take extracts from them; three directors may authorize inspection at any other time.

LXXVIII Every individual shareholder (or the clerk of a corporate one) may search the register of shareholders and pay a maximum of 6d. per 100 words which he might need to have copied therefrom.

LXXIX Notices will be deemed sufficiently served if they shall have been posted to the first-named shareholders' registered addresses within the relevant time allowed by this deed.

LXXX The company may be dissolved if a resolution be both read twice, and carried by two-thirds of the shareholders voting at a specifically-called Extraordinary General Meeting, and the procedure be repeated between fourteen days and two calendar months thereafter; dissolution will proceed from the second vote's passage.

LXXXI At dissolution, the directors will sell the estate, have a general account compiled for sale, and submit it and a debt-account to an Extraordinary General Meeting; surplus assets and effects will be proportionately divided amongst the shareholders; every shareholder will pay his part of any deficiency within one calendar month of the last-named meeting and establish his title to such a surplus within two years from that meeting's date; until all affairs shall have been wound up, the company will still operate.

LXXXII In this deed (unless otherwise stated) the singular includes the plural and vice versa; the masculine includes the feminine; "the board" denotes the board-meeting; and "the secretary", "the trustees" and "the auditors" refer to the people who hold those posts for the time being.

Schedule [A]

Part 1: Index to the deed's clauses: - the company's name, object and venue.

Part 2: Index to the deed's clauses: - the capital.

Part 3: Shareholders' details.

Part 4: Names of directors and officers.

Part 5: Duration of the company.

Schedule [B]

Names of shareholders (J.W. Perkins, F. Wyley, T.N. Beasley et seq) with share-numbers and date of signature for each block.

<span class="wrapper"><p>Foundation-stone laid by Francis Wyley on 18th. Aug., 1854 and opened for business on 11th. Jan., 1856. See B. Poole: "Coventry: its History and Antiquities" pp.328,329 (Record Office searchroom library reference 942.48).</p> <p>Margination by William Lynes and Charles Dresser, two of the company's directors, certifying the deed's veracity.</p> <p>Who acquire interests in the company according to Schedule [B] between 31st. Mar., 1854 and 19th. Aug., 1858.</p> <p>Of Fletchamstead Hall, according to White's Directory (1850).</p> <p>Mayor in 1832, this watchmanufacturer and silkdyer received apprentices from Katherine Bayley's Charity School (see 358/127/57,67,78;134/1,7) and lived at Hertford Pl.. Rotherham was a trustee of the Freemen's Seniority Fund, of Wheatley's Charity in 1848 (see 101/138/6) and of the Coventry &amp; Warws. Banking Co. in 1858 (see 101/7/70); he was an assignee of the bankrupt publisher Henry Merridew in 1843 (see 346/72); he was named an executor in his brother Charles' 1845 draft will (101/7/330) and in those of Joseph Soden (1842-46; see 101/7/250-253), Edward Phillips (1837-38; see 101/8/731-733) and Samuel Vale (1846-48; see 101/11/110-111). Rotherham contributed £150 towards the restoration of St. John's in 1856 and donated the east window in 1860/1; with Col. Jarvis, he gave land for the parish school. See 101/7/302 ff,337-339:324/10: 344/182:206/2:219/6/3:221/1/25:295/40/90.</p> <p>Mayor in 1857, Charles Dresser lived at Greyfriars Green in 1850 and died on 30th. Apr., 1862 aged 45; he was a beneficiary under his brother Luke's 1837 draft will (see 101/8/820). Charles Dresser gave 20gn. towards St. Michael's Parish Schools (opened on 7th. Mar., 1853), being on their building committee, and £50 towards the School of Art's 1859 rebuilding. See 101/12/422: 333/6. He was a trustee of the General Charities.</p> <p>The current mayor, Newsome was a trustee of the General Charities, and in 1858 a director of the Coventry &amp; Warws. Banking Co. (see 101/7/70); he was an inspector of the financially-embarrassed firm of Sturdy and Turner (ribbonmanufacturers) in 1851 (see 101/12/419) and an assignee of the estate of the bankrupt draper Walter Brown in 1854 (see 101/1/612). Newsome gave 20gn. to St. Michael's Parish Schools (see footnote 6) and 10gn. to the School of Art (see footnote 6). See 333/6:202/7/5:242/2/1.XXVIII;3/14.</p> <p>Mayor in 1855, Lynes' activity as a Corn Exchange trustee in 1858 may be found at 101/7/315: he was a trustee of the Church Charities, of the Freemen's Seniority Fund in 1843, of the National School in 1852/3, of Bluecoat School and of the Coventry Union Banking Company (see 101/2/68; 8/235); Lynes was among the last members of the Butchers' Company (dissolved in 1835) and held land in what became Avon St., Stoke (see 333/1 of 1850). Lynes was on the building-committees for All Saints' and St. Mark's churches whose foundation-stones were laid on 5th. May, 1868, and gave £50 towards the erection of each. He was an executor of Jane Morris in 1859 (see 101/7/256) and named an executor in the draft wills of Mary Grove (1851-59; see 101/8/401,402), Fanny Downes (1858; see 101/8/426) and Frederick Robinson (1868; see 101/8/763). See 101/4/162-195:346/76:202/7/3.</p> <p>See 101/7/315 for Izon's trusteeship of the Corn Exchange, and 101/7/345-347 for his 1873-80 draft wills. See 101/11/107.</p> <p>See 101 passim, especially series 2 and (for his trusteeship of Edwards' Charity) 101/143/3. Dewes contributed £25 towards St. Michael's Parish Schools (see footnote 6). See 328/9.</p> <p>His factory was at Much Park St. (1850).</p> <p>With his brother Joseph, John Cash erected the cottage factories which, as part of an experiment never completed (see 562/38-43), were built beside Coventry Canal in 1857; of Quaker ancestry, he lived at Coundon Vicarage but held a house at Radford (plus 4a.) for which he paid £27/10/ - p.a. rent to Bablake School. In 1859, John Cash was a trustee of Moore's Charity (see 101/146/2). See 202/7/2.</p> <p>In 1843 Joseph Cash founded the Coventry Co-operative Labourers' and Artizans' Friendly Society, which provided 400 men with allotments; the enterprise's Gas St. shop (which sold groceries, flour and coal) was hit by the 1859 slump, and Cash's firm became less benevolent. This member of the family began Thomas St. Infants' School which he allowed the Wesleyans to use; it was a Wesleyan Mission from 1883 but was finally closed in 1922. On the Technical Institute's Textile Committee, with Sir Richard Moon he tried to produce synthetic fibre at the Artificial Silk Co.'s Wolston works.</p> <p>The firm gave £50 towards the School of Art (see footnote 6), gained a medal for plain and fancy ribbons at the 1862 London International Exhibition, and built a warehouse opposite the Corn Exchange in 1867/8.</p> <p>Mayor in 1847, Caldicott was a trustee of the General Charities, the Freemen's Seniority Fund, Wheatley's Charity in 1848 (see 101/138/6), Fairfax' School, Bayley's School (see 368 passim) and of the Coventry &amp; Warws. Building and Investment Society in c.1850. Caldicott gave £20 towards St. Michael's Parish Schools (see footnote 6) and was on their building-committee, and gave £50 to the School of Art (see footnote 6); he was mortgagee of the Oliver family's property in 1846 (see 101/1/406), an executor of William Merry's will during the same year (see 101/12/530), trustee for the release of property at Foleshill's Carpenters Lane in 1849 (see 101/4/231) and an inspector of the financially-embarrassed ribbon manufacturing firm of Sturdy &amp; Turner in 1851 (see 101/12/419). Caldicott's Much Park St. house was owned by the Belcher family (see 101/6/120); he died early in 1871 (see 368/1/66). See 333/2,6:202/7/5:402.</p> <p>Mayor in 1849-50, Dunn was a trustee of the General Charities (see 333/6) and of the Coventry &amp; Warws. Building and Investment Society in 1850 (see 333/2); he donated £100 to St. Michael's Parish Schools (see footnote 6) and was on their building committee, and gave 2gn. towards the School of Art (see footnote 6); he was an acting trustee for Bayley's School in 1853 (see 368/1/61). See 202/2/16.</p> <p>Working in Palace Yard, he lived at the Butts in 1850 and held land in Coundon Field beyond Cook St. Gate from Henry VIII Grammar School in 1862. See 324/17.</p> <p>Of Rider, Betts &amp; Son (corn- and manure-merchants; 58, West Orchard and 110, Spon St.) with a house in Earlsdon in 1874 according to White's Directory, he was a trustee of West Orchard Chapel in 1873 (see 101/150/3).</p> <p>Of Earl Street (1850).</p> <p>Of Sharp, Odell &amp; Jury, ribbon-manufacturers, Earl St. in 1850 (see 101/8/275), as manager of the Coventry Elastic Webb [sic] Weaving Co. Ltd. of Cox St. (1862) he accepted apprentices from Bayley's School, of which he was a trustee (see 368/127/90,109,117), and discharged them (see 368/134/111,133,139,141,163). Odell was on the building-committees for St. Michael's Parish Schools (see footnote 6) and All Saints' and St. Mark's churches (see footnote 8), giving 10gn. towards the latters' construction. A justice of the peace, Odell was a trustee of the Church Charities and is buried in Coventry cemetery. See 202/32: 242/3/6,29.</p> <p>Of Broadgate (1850). See 101/11/995,996 for his 1844 and 1855 draft wills.</p> <p>Tomkinson's works were leased from John Turner (see 101/12/424) and stood at the corner of High St. and Pepper Lane; he discharged Bayley's School apprentices in 1862 and 1870 (see 368/134/20,67) and gave 1gn. to the School of Art (see footnote 6). See also 101/3/202-203; 12/426 (his draft will dated 1839):368/70/58; 71/66; 72/46; 74/51; 75/39; 78/58.</p> <p>Of William and Thomas Slingsby, grocers, 5, Broadgate in 1874, he lived at Chapel Field House. See 101/9/62,67,69 for his father's and his own draft wills and for the partnership with his nephew Charles Henry. See 99/9/63.</p> <p>Of William and Thomas Slingsby, grocers, coffee-roasters and hop-merchants, Broadgate (1850). He benefited under his father Thomas' 1845 draft will (101/9/62) was named executor under his brother William's in 1862 (see 101/9/68) and made his own that year (101/9/70). See 99/9/63.</p> <p>On the building-committee for St. Michael's (Hay Lane) Particular Baptist Chapel (opened 17th. Feb., 1858), he was a timbermerchant with George Earle in 1854 (see 101/2/162); in 1891 he leased "Middleborough House", Radford Rd. from Mrs. S.E. Parsons (see 101/12/158).</p> <p>Cf. footnote 25.</p> <p>Of Cross Cheaping, Nutt gave 2gn. to the School of Art (see footnote 6).</p> <p>Living at Hertford Terr., in 1865 Taylor leased his Cross Cheaping shop for £65 p.a. from Bablake School.</p> <p>23rd. Oct., 1813 - 25th. Dec., 1904. Born a Quaker (he left the Friends in 1862) this Liberal reformer was mayor in 1867-68; he was a member of the Lockhurst Lane Mutual Improvement Society; he was a trustee of Baker, Billing and Crow's School, of Southern and Craner's School, and of White's and Smith's Charities. Gulson gave £20 towards St. Michael's Parish Schools and £100 to the School of Art (see footnote 6) and bequeathed £1,000 to the Coventry &amp; Warws. Hospital; he financed the Gulson Library in 1873 and its 1890 extension. Gulson lived at Stoke and Priory Row, and had land adjoining Barras Lane and Hill St. before 1855 (see 101/135). An inspector of Sturdy &amp; Turner, ribbonmanufacturers, in 1851 (see 101/12/419), Gulson was named an executor under the (draft) wills of Mary Laing (1856; see 101/4/123), Luke Dresser (1837 ; see 101/8/820) and James Sibley Whittem (1872; see 101/12/9). See 101/8/653:313/188/3:344/99/18-19. J.E. Short's "The John Gulson Story" is in the searchroom library (reference 920). Gulson Rd. is eponymous. See 219/4/7.</p> <p>Brown gave £25 to St. Michael's Parish Schools and was on their building committee (see footnote 6); in 1858 he was a trustee for allotting Lammas Lands. Brown was an auctioneer until he ended the partnership with Thomas Clarke in 1855 (see 101/9/107; 12/169,247,249) but then became a silkdyer with the Labore brothers (see 101/9/108,109); however, he was also a pawnbroker with William Marston in 1838 (see 101/9/122) at Bishop St. and by himself at Bayley Lane. In 1850 Brown lived in High St.. See 202/32:242/3/29.I.</p> <p>Organist of St. Michael's, Simms fostered the music at Christ Church (see 368/106/3-4) and specified a new organ for that daughter-church; he purchased a secondhand organ for St. Peter's in 1856 and specified a new one for Vicar Lane Independent Chapel in 1858. On 3rd. May, 1849 Simms suffered lightning in his St. Nicholas' St. house - in 1852 and 1860 he was at Middleborough Row (see 101/7/95-98); named as an executor under Charles Cross' 1861 and 1868 draft wills (101/7/81,83) and mortgagee of Hillfields land in 1876 (see 101/8/113), he had been "George Eliot"'s music-teacher. See 295/9/3:402.</p> <p>Of Brandon House (1850).</p> <p>Of Eastern Green (1850).</p> <p>With his brother James, W.F. Pridmore was a principal leaseholder on H.W. Adams' Ansty estate in 1850; he lived at Styvechale before he was at Wyken, and probably held land at Avon St., Stoke (see 333/7). Pridmore valued Richard Barson's estate under the terms of the latter's will (see 101/2/83), was named an executor of Margaret Dalton of Ansty under her 1865 draft will (101/8/683) and was an assignee for land at Burton Overy, Leics. in 1868 (see 101/8/682). See 101/140/27:242/I,29.I.</p> <p>Of Merecot Hall, Berkswell (1850).</p> <p>His premises were in Butcher Row (1850).</p> <p>John Wyley made two dwellings of the Charterhouse. See 101/7/315 for his trusteeship of the Corn Exchange company; he was also a trustee of Bayley's School, of Edward's Charity (see 101/143/3) and of the Coventry Union Banking Co. (see 101/7/225; 8/235,656). He was a churchwarden of St. Michael's in 1854. See 101/2/68; 8/273; 12/246:202/6:242/2/41ff.</p> <p>Of Wolvey, Warws. by 1862 (see 101/11/841-843), he died during the autumn of 1865 (see 101/11/948). See 101/8/283.</p> <p>Related to Thomas Dewes - see accession 101; series 2, sub-series 8.</p> <p>Also cornmerchants, their offices were in Long St., Atherstone (1850).</p> <p>Thomas Clarke was in partnership with Henry Brown until 1853 (see 101/9/107); he leased premises on the corner of Hertford and Smithford Sts. in 1856 (see 101/9/108), acted for Bayley's School trustees in purchasing railway-shares (1866-69; see 368/47) and was named an executor under the draft wills of Thomas Brown (1847; see 101/1/613) and William Slingsby (1862; see 101/9/68). Clarke contributed £10 to St. Michael's Parish Schools and 10gn. plus 1gn. to the School of Art (see footnote 6). The firm was later called Clarke &amp; Cope. See 99/9/17:101/11/59,61,76:379/4.</p> <p>An executor of William Shettle of Binley under an 1843 draft will (101/11/618); see 101/11/619 for his farming-lease (1858).</p> <p>Cannon Park's Tochil Croft is eponymous.</p> <p>Of Calcutt House, Grandborough (1850).</p> <p>Town Clerk 1836-52,1854-58, T.B. Troughton supported the reforming city council which disagreed with its supposedly corrupt predecessor about administration of city charities in 1836 (see accession 101, series 136), although his own accounts were criticized by the corporation auditor in 1855 (see 101/134). Troughton, who held 203a. in Keresley in the 1840s, subscribed £20 to the School of Art (see footnote 6); he was an executor of Thomas Ball in 1819 (see 101/1/387). See 101/8/280:327/32:328/17:346/64/1:353/1/23,33:202/3/7;16/19,22:221/2/8,9:242/2/1.XIX;3/2,14.I:295/33/93.</p> <p>Stationer (Market P1.) and master of Coleshill Free Grammar School in 1850, he was appointed an executor under the 1845 draft will of John Turner of Coventry (101/12/424).</p> <p>Mayor in 1858 and dying during Jan., 1860 aged 51, a memorial glass to Wilmot was installed in the Drapers' Chapel of St. Michael's, to whose schools he had given £25 (see footnote 6). Wilmot was first treasurer of the shortlived Coventry Boat Club of 1830 (see 101/11/93) and solicitor to the freemen when enclosure-land was settled in 1854. See 319/1:206/5/1:295/46/2.</p> <p>Of the Mount, Fillongley in 1850.</p> <p>Also Clerk to the Market and living in Cherry St. in 1850.</p> <p>Paxton was still head gardener to the Duke of Devonshire when he laid out Coventry Cemetery (where a memorial was placed when he died in 1865) in 1847. Paxton was Liberal M.P. from 2nd. Dec., 1854 to 8th. June, 1865 (see T.W. Whitley: "The Parliamentary Representation of the City of Coventry" pp.326-347 passim; searchroom library-reference 324.428); he gave £52/10/1 towards the restoration of St. John's in 1856, and £25 toward the rebuilding of the School of Art in 1859.</p> <p>Of Styvechale Grange (1850).</p> <p>Ribbonmanufacturer, Hertford St.; he lived in Park Terr. in 1850. Pickering was a National School trustee, 1852-3.</p> <p>Pegg printed the "Coventry Standard" in succession to Charles Aris Noah Rollason (see 368/57/40-41; 59/74-75; 60/57-58; 61/72-73; 62/77-79; 63/68; 64/55-56; 65/43-47; 66/56-57; 67/54-58; 68/63-67; 69/59-61; 70/50-52; 71/57-58; 72/41-42; 73/43; 74/47-48; 75/35-36); he received an apprentice straight from Bayley's School in 1863 (see 368/127/89), was assigned another in 1871 (see 368/129/14) and discharged them in 1870 and 1875 (see 368/134/73,115). See 101/12/259.</p> <p>This solicitor was mayor in 1863-64, trustee of the National School in 1851, of Bluecoat School and of the Coventry Union Banking Co. (see 101/1/409; 8/230,432; 9/71); he supported Henry Greenwood's claim to a place at Bayley's School in 1851 (see 368/15/375) and was a founder-member of the Coventry Boat Club (see 101/11/93). See 328/18:346/78:202/7/1:221/1/4;2/9.</p> <p>Mayor in 1859 and 1873, Soden was a J.P. and trustee of the Church Charities who lived in Much Park St. in 1850 and at 5, the Quadrant in 1874. An executor under Charles Read's 1849 draft will (101/12/531), by his own will (1888) Soden left £1,000 for the provision of beds (for patients who could not be treated at home) at the Coventry &amp; Warws. Hospital's Provident Dispensary - after it was closed, the money was (in 1949) administered by the General Municipal Charities.</p> <p>Of Smithford St. in 1850, Barnes was named an executor in Ann Sprigg's 1851 draft will (101/8/602). See 101/117.</p> <p>Nephew of Thomas Berry, ribbonmanufacturer, through marriage (see 101/7/104), J.C. Odell was in 1881 working as an elastic-web manufacturer in succession to his father (see 101/7/105); in Kelly's 1900 directory he was called a cycle agent of 25, Bishop Street.</p> <p>Mabbatt bought a close at the corner of Hill St. and Barras Lane in 1854 from the corporation (see 101/135).</p> <p>Also a farmer; of Stoneleigh Grange (1850).</p> <p>With William Thomas, Brown ran Thomas, Brown &amp; Son, White Friar Lane, in 1850; their partnership was re-founded in 1857 (see 101/12/895) - Brown kept a Bayley's School apprentice (received in 1858; see 368/127/46) when it was dissolved in 1861 (see 368/129/1).</p> <p>Of Hood &amp; Ward, Abbey St., Nuneaton and 117, Wood St., London (1850).</p> <p>Agricultural-implement and manure merchant in 1850.</p> <p>Of Bridge St., Nuneaton (1850).</p> <p>Lea leased 8, the Quadrant from 1862 (see 101/8/375ff); an executor of Joseph Ford in 1851 (see 101/8/201), he gave £20 to the School of Art (see footnote 6). See 353/1/33:242/2/69.</p> <p>Entry excised. Of Summerland Butts (1850). See accession 101, series 7, subseries 13.</p> <p>Trustee of Coventry National School in 1851 and an executor of Daniel Bolton's 1866 will (101/45), C.C. Adams was curate to his father Thomas Coker Adams at Ansty and vicar himself from 1852 to 1886; he leased part of the family's Ansty estate but bought a segment in 1869-70. He was educated at Merton College, Oxford.</p> <p>Of Lewis, Haddon &amp; Allenby, Binswood, Leamington Spa (1850).</p> <p>Lessee of Altgeder or Howlett's Mill in 1833 and 1846. See 101/7/330 for his 1845 draft will, when Rotherham was described as a grocer and miller. See accession 242, series 2 passim.</p> <p>Of Smithford St. (1850), see 101/8/804 for the premises in 1844. Dell was an executor under Ann Pratt's 1854 draft will (101/7/311). See 242/7/20.</p> <p>Of Hertford Terr. (1850).</p> <p>Here in the schedule comes Joseph Jordan jun. again; he had moved (by 1856) to Lillington, Warws..</p> <p>Bellairs gave £5 to Coventry National School and benefited under Dr. G.H. Mellor's 1843 draft will (101/11/997). See 295 passim.</p> <p>A trustee of the General Charities in 1858 (see 333/6), of the National and Bluecoat Schools and to the Freemen, this justice of the peace was a Holy Trinity churchwarden in 1843; he was on the building-committee for All Saints' and St. Mark's churches (see footnote 8) and gave £50 towards their joint erection. Odell was an executor under William Hitchens' 1843 draft will (101/2/256) and a member of the Drapers' Company (see 99/9/1); he died during mid-1878 (see 368/1/67).</p> <p>Working from Theatre Yard in 1874 but from 25, Hertford St. in 1888 (see 101/11/178), Lewin lived at Ragland St., Spittlemoor; he successively discharged a Bayley's School apprentice in 1868 (see 368/134/50).</p> <p>Described as a Brandon farmer and maltster in 1850, William Birditt sen.'s draft will was made in 1853 (see 101/11/487); he had been named an executor according to William Douglas' 1843 draft will (101/12/252).</p> <p>"George Eliot"'s elder brother. A tanner at High St., Coleshill in 1850.</p> <p>Of Sand Barn, Hampton Lucy (1850).</p> <p>Organist of St. Peter's, and of Holy Trinity from Sept., 1866, Chater inaugurated Well St. Independent Chapel's organ on 12th. Oct., 1858; in 1874 he was described as a pianoforte-dealer and musical-instrument warehouseman of 20, Hertford St., but had been succeeded in the business by Alfred Hanson by 1888.</p> <p>Farmer and limeburner, Well Farm, King's Newnham (1850).</p> <p>A trustee of the Church Charities, Stephenson lived in Spon St. in 1850 but paid 10/- chief rent to the trustees of Henry VIII Grammar School in 1862; he was named an executor by Joseph Sutton Pratt's 1850 draft will (101/7/307).</p> <p>Mayor in 1860-61 when (with Lord Leigh, Lord-Lieutenant of Warws.) he signed an appeal for aid for the depressed weavers, Francis Wyley was a justice of the peace; trustee of the Church Charities, of Bayley's School (see accession 368 passim and 101/147/20), of Holy Trinity Schools, of the Coventry Union Banking Co. (see 101/2/68;7/225-226;8/235,771), of the Coventry Union Land &amp; Building Society (see 101/2/159) and of Edward's Charity (see 101/143/3), he was on the building-committees for St. Michael's Parish Schools (see footnote 6) and for St. Mark's and All Saints' churches (see footnote 8), giving £50 towards the latter project. Wyley donated £25 towards the School of Art's 1859 rebuilding, and laid the Corn Exchange's foundation-stone on 18th. Aug., 1854 (see 101/2/189 for his activity as Secretary in 1865); he was named an executor by J.B. Izon's 1873-80 draft wills (101/7/345-347) and was mortgagee for land at Cosby and Whetstone, Leics. in 1851 (101/8/639). See 101/7/148,225;8/642. He lived at the Charterhouse with his brother John.</p> <p>Of Whitley in 1849 (see 101/2/145) but of Hertford House, Hertford P1. in 1874, J.W. Perkins made his will in 1875 (see 101/2/185); he was a mortgagee for premises owned by Sarah Witherow in 1850 (see 101/12/540) and gave 10gn. to the School of Art (see footnote 6).</p> <p>This led to the Smith-ford over the Sherbourne in the 1.12c.. In 1410/11 the road stretched to Smithford Bridge, which had probably replaced the ford in the 13c.; there were buildings on this bridge when it was repaired in 1469; still called Smithford Bridge in 1610, it was known as Fleet St. Bridge in 1630, and as Fleet Bridge in 1636-37; on maps of 1748/9 and 1807 it was called Ram Bridge (probably after the "Ram House" inn, there in 1574 and 1650); the river itself was there called Ram Brook in 1700. Both street and bridge disappeared in the m.20c..</p> <p>William Henry Leigh gave stone from Kenilworth Rd. quarry for St. Thomas' (opened on 7th. Aug., 1841), £25 towards St. Michael's Parish Schools (see footnote 6) and some of the stone for Holy Trinity Parish Schools (opened on 1st. Sept., 1854), donated £21 to the School of Art (and presided at its 10th. Nov., 1863 reopening), laid the Coventry &amp; Warws. Hospital's foundation-stone (on 9th. Aug., 1864), opened the Market Hall (on 19th. June, 1867) and laid the foundation-stone for All Saints' church (as Provincial Grand Master of Warws., on 5th. May, 1868; on the building committee for that church and St. Mark's, he gave £105 for their construction). With W.S. Dugdale, Leigh unsuccessfully petitioned for the revival of Coventry diocese in 1860; he was patron of St. John Baptist, Westwood Heath.</p> <p>Ribbonmanufacturer and actuary, Luke Dresser made a draft will in 1837 (see 101/8/820); he was a trustee of Holy Trinity Parish Schools, to which he gave 10gn. (see footnote 87) and £21 to the School of Art (see footnote 6). See 101/8/803; 12/419:368/1/45;55/17;131/1:379/14/10;15/6:202/7/3.</p></span>

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