Part Two

By 1851 John and Mary Worrall's two sons, Thomas and David, had married and were living with their wives and families in King Street near to their parents. Daniel and his wife and family had left London and returned to live just round the comer from the family in Cannon Street, Willenhall, as his father's health was failing. John, the youngest son, was still living at home with his parents, and according to the 1851 Census a grandson, John, who was eleven years old and an errand boy was staying with them. 

Unfortunately I have been unable to trace the parents of grandson John, but in 1895 he and his sons founded a lock factory in The Crescent, Willenhall. Also living with them were two apprentices, one being John Hunt who was with them in 1841, and the labourer, Benjamin Littleton. John Worrall was listed as a Rim lock maker in Kelly's Directory for 1851. Rim locks made by the early craftsmen were very ornate with delicate designs engraved on polished brass. He died in the September leaving his widow, Mary, as head of the business for more than two decades. She became a locksmith working with her sons, and when the grandsons were old enough they also learned the trade. In the Kelly's Directory for 1860 Mary was listed as a Rim lock maker. When John's widow, Mary, was listed in Jones Iron District Directory 1864/5 she came under the title of 'Lock Makers Various' and it seems that she had expanded the business by producing a larger range of locks. Maybe this was due to Daniel's influence as he could have increased his knowledge of locks during his time in London.

Daniel's son, Thomas, married Mary Ann Rutter on the 13th June 1859, at Holy Trinity Church, Short Heath, Willenhall., and in 1861 they were living in Russell Street with their baby son, George, who was my grandfather. Mary Ann's father, James Rutter, was a Key Maker in Chapel Green according to the 1833 Bridgen’s Directory of the Borough of Wolverhampton. He was also listed in Whites’ Directories for Staffordshire for 1834 and 1851. Like the lock makers, they also had their factories in the backyard. In 1860, according to the Kelly's Directory, he was filing keys in King Street. The 1861 Census shows James Rutter and his family living next door to John Worrall and his wife, Mary. Thomas and Mary Ann Worrall had quite a large family, but I will include only two of their sons because George, their eldest son was my grandfather, and Thomas because at one time they were in a partnership together. George was born in 1860 and Thomas in 1867. In 1871 when they were living in Raglan Street, Thomas was a Knob Locksmith and George would have been learning the trade.

Two pictures of Walsall Street, Willenhall, where John Worrall junior and his sons made locks in 1835. The one on the left was taken in 1925 and the one on the right in 1930.

Fifth Generation

George (1860-1919)
born in
Willenhall

Thomas (1867-1927)
born in
Willenhall

In 1861 Mary Worrall was living alone in her house in King Street, but in 1871 her sons David and John and John's wife Mary were with her, and Thomas, with his wife, were living nearby. Her grandson, Daniel, (fourth generation) with his wife and family had also moved into King Street. Thomas and nephew Daniel were Dead Locksmiths, but Daniel and his youngest son George, who were still living in Cannon Street, were Rim Locksmiths.

Four generations of the Worralls lived very near to King street and were all employed in the family lockmaking business. Lying off the Walsall Road is King Street, which leads to Chapel Green. Left of King Street is Cannon Street, and on the right is Russell Street. Thomas and Mary Ann lived with their family in Raglan Street, which was just off Church Street, but it no longer exists.

Daniel (third generation) died in 1877, (a year before his mother) and afterwards his youngest son, George, moved to London where he was employed as a locksmith. When Mary died in 1878, at the age of 85, at 9 King Street, Willenhall, her second son, Thomas, became head of the business. He was listed in the 1880 Kelly's Directory of Staffordshire as a Locksmith at 9 King Street, Willenhall. However, in 1881 Thomas was still living at No. 5 King Street with his wife, Margaret, but his brother John, Rim Lock Maker, his wife, Mary, and a lodger, who was also a Rim Lock Maker, had moved into 9 King Street. Thomas Worrall was still living at 5 King Street when he died in 1894.

This is the back of King Street and Cannon Street, where the Worrall family lived and had their lock factory until 1894. These buildings were due for demolition when this picture was taken.

The death of Thomas Worrall in 1894 brought about the end of the lock factory in King Street, and a turning point for some of the descendants of John Worrall. In 1901, John Worrall aged 72, (third generation) was the only surviving son of John and Mary Worrall of King Street, and he and his wife had moved to 9 Chapel Street, Willenhall. Thomas, (fourth generation, and my first great grandfather and the eldest son of Daniel) had died and his widow, Mary, along with three of their children were living at 16 Temple Bar, Willenhall.


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the beginning
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Part Three