The Watchmaker's redemption

There are three generations of watchmakers and confusingly, there is a Henry Lee in each of them. The first generation has Henry Lee (b.1801), the second has two of his sons, Henry (b.1829) and James Lee (b.1823) and the third generation has one of his grandchildren, yet again called Henry (b.1851), whose father was Robert Lee. The last Henry Lee is our great grandfather.

We have the Lee family on the 1841 census at Spring Gardens. Henry is a Spinner (as he was when he married in 1820), the eldest son John is also a Spinner and the other sons are all Piecers. An unremarkable family, typical of many in Bolton working in the cotton industry at that time. By the time of the 1851 census, Henry and Ellen are Watch/Clock makers, together with their son, also called Henry. Another of their sons, James, is a Clock and Watchmaker at 48 Kay Street. The earliest trade directory listing is from Slater's directory of 1843 which records - Lee, Henry, Clock maker, Spring Gardens. What has happened to change this family's fortunes in those few years? Could anyone easily set up as a Watchmaker?

The son Henry then appears in the 1861 census as a Watchmaker living in Burslem, Staffordshire. What caused Henry to move to Burslem? There is a remarkable entry for the 1881 census where we have his brother James visiting him.

Bolton trade directory listings

1843 Lee, Henry, Clock maker, Spring Gardens - Slater's
1845 Lee, Henry, Clock maker, Spring Gardens - Williams
1849 Lee, Henry, Spring Gardens - Mackie's
1851 Lee, Henry, Clock & watch maker, 134 Spring Gardens - Slater's
1853 Lee, H & son, 38 Ashburner Street, Watch & clock maker - Whellan & Co
1855 Lee Henry, 3 Newport st Slater's
1861 Lee, Henry, 96 Spring Gardens, Watch & clock maker
1865 Lee, Henry, 134 Bradshawgate
1871 Lee, Henry, 134 Bradshawgate, Watchmaker
1874 Lee, Henry, 134 Bradshawgate, Watchmaker
1876 Lee, Henry, 134 Bradshawgate, Watchmaker
1877 Lee, Henry, 134 Bradshawgate, Watchmaker
1881 Lee, Henry, 134 Bradshawgate, Watchmaker
1885 Lee, Henry, 134 Bradshawgate, Watchmaker
1887 Lee, Henry, 134 Bradshawgate, Watchmaker (house "Little Oak", Turton Road)
1896-98 Lee, Henry, 134 Bradshawgate, Watchmaker
1899-1901 Lee, Henry 13 Lomax Buildings

1849 Lee, J, Kay Street, Little Bolton - Mackie's
1853 Lee, James, 48 Kay Street, Little Bolton - Whellan & Co
1861 Lee, James, 58 Great Moor Street, Watchmaker
1865 Lee, James, 58 Great Moor Street, Watchmaker
1871 Lee, James, 61 Great Moor Street, Watchmaker
1874 Lee, James, 61 Great Moor Street, Watchmaker
1876 61 Great Moor Street is occupied by George Watts, Watchmaker & Jeweller

Henry Lee was trading in Burslem, Staffordshire between 1861 to 1881

The elder Henry Lee is mentioned in a Lancashire Life article and in some Lists and Notes of Bolton Clockmakers.

An example of Henry Lee's work is on display at Smithills Hall museum. Bolton museum have only a basic record which cites "Grandfather clock made by H. Lee, Bolton, 1840. White dial with brass hands, and face decorated with four "maidens" of differing ethnicity." The clock with the author and a close up image the clock face.

The Market Hall Clock, Bolton

We have a draft agreement between Henry Lee and Bolton Corporation dated 1856 for Henry Lee to build a clock with a face four feet in diameter for the newly constructed Market Hall.

John Barry?

One solution to the puzzle of how Henry started up in watchmaking is afforded by the marriage between John Barry, Clockmaker, and Sarah Lee on 14th August 1811 at St. Peter's Church, Bolton witnessed by Robert Astley and James Orrell. Rogerson's directory of 1818 has: Barry, John, Clock and Watch maker, 34 Bradshawgate and Barry, Thomas, Clock and Watch maker, 125 Bradshawgate. Perhaps Sarah Lee was Henry's sister. Henry may have been helped by John Barry and might even have taken over Thomas Barry's business.

John and Sarah Barry are living in Newport Street on the 1841 census and the 1851 census.

A Staffordshire connection?

The 1851 census for Weston Street, Bolton has a John Parkinson, aged 81 born in Lancaster, Bolton and his wife, Mary, aged 72, born in Stafford, Newcastle upon Lyme. Could this possibly be Ellen's parents and an explanation for her son Henry to set up business in Burslem?