Hi Liz, I checked with the museum some years ago, and at that time they had nothing. A very kind man named Alan Voce was there and checked for me, although I believe that he has since passed on. The factory records did not appear to include mention of my ancestor, leaving me to guess that perhaps he was a journeyman, paid by the hour, rather than a permanent employee. They seem to have more records now than a few years back, including non-conformist records, so it might be worthwhile checking again. I believe they had a son, Jesse, between 1821 and 1823, and although I couldn't find him in the Parish Registers, he might be in the non-conformist church records. John's parents were Baptists, so it's quite possible. I may need to plan a visit to Tiverton, unless someone is able to check for me. Best wishes & thanks for the reply, Mike -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Liz Sent: 20 December 2010 14:12 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [B&D] QUAIL and GOVIER - was Home for Christmas: PONSFORDandPARKER Hi Mike Have you checked with the museum in Tiverton to see what they have on your QUAIL family? They have all the records for Heathcoats factory. Liz www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery OPC for Street, Somerset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Gould" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 1:41 PM Subject: Re: [B&D] QUAIL and GOVIER - was Home for Christmas: PONSFORD andPARKER > Hi Charani, > > I noticed that your posting included references to Tiverton (Devon) and > Loughborough (Leicestershire). These two places always make me sit up and > take notice, as an ancestor of mine was also connected with both. It's an > example of where family historians need to research local history to > understand what happened to their ancestors. My great x4 grandfather, > John > QUAIL, was born in Leicestershire but married in Tiverton. He was an > Engineer and Framesmith, working on lacemaking frames. The reason for his > move was as follows: > > In 1816, there was a lot of unrest across the country. Luddism was rife, > and although this is often portrayed as an opposition to new technology, > it > was as much about the problems caused by cheap imports from overseas. And > so it came about that a group of Luddites attacked John Heathcoat's lace > factory in Loughborough. They smashed up the lace making frames and burnt > the lace. Heathcoat was incensed. The Leicestershire County Council > offered him compensation for his losses, but only on condition that he > re-built a factory in Leicestershire. But Heathcoat was having none of > it. > He had recently purchased a new factory in Tiverton and resolved to set up > his base there. He offered work to his Leicestershire workforce, and so > it > came about that hundreds of people - many whole families - made the exodus > from Loughborough to Tiverton. They could not afford transport and walked > the whole way - mostly down the old Fosse Way. > > So it was, I'm sure, that my Leicestershire ancestor came to marry a lass > from Tiverton, Ann GOVIER, in 1821. He would only have been 14 in 1816, > so > may have completed his apprenticeship before making the journey. I have > yet > to find any records that tell me about his apprenticeship or when he moved > down to Tiverton. Perhaps one day ... > > To make sure that this is relevant to the List, John died in Bristol ! > > Best wishes & merry Christmas to all, > > Mike Gould > Leicestershire (having been born in Bristol and made the reverse trip to > ancestor John !) >