Bristol Potters - W

Research by Reg Jackson

WHITE Thomas

Born c1852 in Bristol (81C).

1881	Lodging at 1 Taylors Court, Temple parish (29) (81C).

WHITE William

See the Potteries List section for the Redcross Street Pottery and the Baptist Mills Pottery.

Redcross Street Pottery

The Pottery had previously been operated by Joseph White II and James White I before their move to the Baptist Mills Pottery. Joseph White II was William White’s brother.

1841-50

William White ran the Redcross Street Pottery.

It is known that throughout this period the Pottery, plant and equipment were still owned by Joseph White I.

The Pottery was advertised for sale in 1851, presumably following the departure of William White to America, as one of his children was born in New Jersey in 1851. The Pottery was taken over by John Ellis II, although it was still owned by Joseph White II until at least 1854.

Baptist Mills Pottery

On his return from abroad, and certainly by 1860, William White had a share in running the Baptist Mills Pottery with his brother Joseph White II and James White II.

Born c1821 in Bristol, the son of Joseph White I, the father of William Joseph Abraham Summers White and the brother of Joseph White II and Henry White (41C).

1839-47	Redcross Street, St Philip’s parish (HTPR).
1841	Asher Lane, Redcross Street, St Philip’s parish (20), living with his wife Ann (22) not born in Bristol and children (41C).
1841	William White, Redcross Street, black and Rockingham tea-pot manufacturer, Staffordshire warehouse (MD).
1842	William White, Redcross Street, black and Rockingham tea-pot and stone jug manufacturer, Staffordshire warehouse (MD).
1843-45	William White, Redcross Street, black and Rockingham tea-pot, stone jug and fire clay chimney pot manufacturer, Staffordshire warehouse (MD).
1846-49	William White, Redcross Street, black and Rockingham tea-pot, stone jug and fire clay chimney pot and tobacco pipe manufacturer, Staffordshire warehouse (MD).
1846-51	Rich’s Buildings, William White (owner John Rich) House £10 [void in 1845 and 1847] Rich’s Buildings, William White (owner James White) House & Pottery £26 [noted as void and owned by James York in 1852] (Consolidated Rates)
1850	William White, Redcross Street, black and Rockingham tea-pot, stone jug and fire clay chimney pot, and tobacco pipe manufacturers, china, glass and Staffordshire ware rooms (MD).
1851	15 Mar. ‘To be let, with immediate possession, that old established pottery, Redcross Street, carried on successfully for upwards of thirty years by Messrs Joseph White & Sons, the kilns and all the working utensils being in good condition, with dwelling-house, and good stabling on the premises; warehouses and workshops, plentiful supply of water, a mill, and every convenience. Worthy the attention of those in the above line of business. Up to the present time there has been a good wholesale and retail Staffordshire ware and glass trade successfully carried on’ (Bristol Mercury).
1851	24 May. ‘Redcross Street Pottery to be let or sold, with immediate possession, comprising dwelling house, workshops, horse mill, including utensils, kilns, warehouses, stabling and every convenience; well supplied with water. The pottery, with a wholesale and retail Staffordshire ware and glass trade, has been successfully carried on for upwards of thirty years by Joseph White and Sons. Rent, £50 per annum. Apply on the premises, or to Joseph White, senior, Prospect Place, Baptist Mills, Bristol’ (Bristol Mercury).
1851	He was living in New Jersey, USA, when his daughter Emma was born (61C).
1857	He was living in Lisbon, Portugal, when his daughter Rose was born (61C).
1861	Potter, 6 Ashfield Terrace, Ashley Road, St James’s and St Paul’s parish (44), living with his wife Ann (44), born in Bruton, Somerset, and children (61C).
1865	28 Oct. Noted as a potter when his son W.J.A.S. White (27) a potter of Passage Street married Amelia Bevan (PPR).
1866	16 Jun. ‘Died April 28, after one day’s illness, Mr William White, late of the Redcross Street Pottery, aged 48’ (Bristol Mercury).
1869	26 Dec. Noted as a potter when his daughter Emily Jane White (22) of Pennywell Road married Henry Wright (PPR).
1871	His wife was a widow (71C).
1876	13 Nov. Noted as a potter, deceased, when his daughter Rose Mary White (19) a machinist of Alma Street married Fred Clement (HTPR).
1882	10 Sep. Noted as a potter, deceased, when his daughter Sarah Ann White (27) of St Philip’s parish married Samuel Earp (PPR).
	Children: William Joseph Abraham Summers, bapt 13 Jan 1839 (HTPR); Alfred George, bapt 11 Apr 1841 (HTPR); Henry John, bapt 14 Dec 1845 (HTPR); Emily Jane, bapt 5 Sep 1847 (HTPR); Emma, born c1851 in New Jersey, USA (61C); Sarah Ann, born c1855, married 10 Sep 1882 (PPR); Rose Mary, born c1857 in Lisbon, Portugal, married 13 Nov 1876 (61C, HTPR); Richard, born c1860 in Bristol (61C)

WHITE William Daniel

Born in 1833 in Stapleton, the son of Joseph White II and brother of Joseph Augustus White (PPR, 51C).

1851	Potter (thrower and turner), 2 Lower Ashley Road, St Philip’s parish (18), living with his parents Joseph II and Elizabeth White and siblings (51C).
1858	He left Bristol for the Pacific and the gold fields in the far west of America (Collard, E. 1967. Nineteenth-century pottery and porcelain in Canada. Montreal, McGill University Press, 254).
1861	Pipemaker master, employing 5 men, 7 women, 2 girls and 2 boys and a carrier employing 10 men and 3 boys, 1 Brookland House, St Philip’s parish (28), living with his wife Mary Ann and daughter Marion (aged 8 mths), born in St Philip’s parish, his brother Frederick James White and Christiana Veale (21), general servant (61C).
1861	15 Aug. Noted in a mortgage as a railway carrier, etc. (BRO 01789(7)).
1879-80	Pipemaker, living at 26 Wade Street, St Philip’s parish (WD).

WHITE William Joseph Abraham Summers

Born in 1839 in Holy Trinity parish, he was the son of William White I and the father of Henry J. and Frank White II (HTPR, 91C, 01C).

1861	Potter, 6 Ashfield Terrace, Ashley Road, St James and St Paul parish (23), he was living with his parents and siblings (61C).
1865	28 Oct. Passage Street (27) the son of William White, a potter, he married Amelia Bevan (25) of Passage Street, the daughter of James Bevan, a builder (PPR).
1871	Potter, 20 Canning Street, St Philip’s parish (32), living with his wife Amelia (30), born in Bedminster, and children (71C).
1881	Potter’s fireman, 89 New Twinnell Street, St Philip’s parish (42), living with his wife Amelia (40) and children (81C).
1891	His wife was a widow (91C).
1891	12 May. Noted as a potter, deceased, when his son Alfred Theodore White (20) a haulier of 8 Byron Terrace married Rose Emma Higgins (JBPR).
	Children: William Albert, born c1867 in St Judes (71C), Henry James, born c1868 in St Philip’s parish (71C), Alfred Theodore, born c1870 in St Philip’s parish (71C), Thomas, born c1872 in Bristol (81C), Frank, born c1877 in Bristol (81C), Eva (aged 7 wks), born c1881 in Bristol (81C), Ada (aged 7 wks), born c1881 in Bristol (81C)

WHITEWOOD (or WHITEHEAD) Isaac

1771-86	Potter, Avon Street; wife Mary (Wesleyan Membership Lists).
1772	24 Apr. ‘Isaac Whitehead, earthenware maker – letters to be left at the Post office’ (FFJ).
1774	17 Oct. He became a free potter because of his marriage to the daughter of Thomas Bragg, heel maker (F, G).
1774 & 1781	Potter, St Philip and Jacob parish (P).
1783	He was noted as a Wesleyan and a potter (Kent 1976, 115).
1784	A potter, living in Avon Street with his wife Mary (Kent 1976, 115).
1785-87	Red potter, Avon Street (BBD, BD).

WHITSON George

Born in Scotland, the father of William Whitson (41C).

1841	Turner, Glass House Court, Temple parish, living with his wife Frances and children William (15) a potter, George (8) and Robert (2) born in Scotland (41C).
1849	24 Jul. Noted as a potter when his son William, a potter, of Harris’s Yard, Temple parish married Dinah Dabbes (TPR).

WHITSON William

Born c1826 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of George Whitson (41C, 51C).

1841	Glass House Court, Temple parish (15), living with his parents George, a turner, and Frances and siblings (41C).
1849	24 Jul. Harris’s Yard, Temple parish, the son of George Whitson, a potter, he married Dinah Dabbes, a widow of Temple Backs, the daughter of James Hackney, a labourer (TPR).
1851	Sun Street, Shelton, Staffordshire (35), living with his wife Dinah (30), born in Hanley (51C).

WHITTON Edward

Born c1850 in London (Middlesex) (81C).

1881	Terracotta moulder, 4 Strawberry Lane, St George (31), living with his wife Anne (21) born in Hemel, Hertfordshire and children (81C).
1891	His wife was living with her children at 33 St Oswalds Road, Lambeth, London. Edward was not recorded in the census (91C).
	Children: Anne E, born c1872 in Hemel, Herts (81C); Edward, born c1875 in Reading, Berkshire (81C); Jane, born c1878 in Middlesex, London (81C); Ellen, born c1881 in St George (81C); Edward, born c1885 in Lambeth (91C); Evey, born c1886 in Lambeth (91C);Charles, born c1890 in Lambeth (91C)

WHITTUCK (WITTICK) Charles Joseph

Born c1803 in St Philip’s parish (71C).

1851	Landed proprietor, 8 King Square, out parish of St James and St Paul (48), living with his wife Jane (50), born in Selwood, Somerset (51C).
1867	14 Sep. He was described as a director of the Victoria Pottery Company (Bristol Mercury).
1871	Independent, 8 King Square (69), living with his wife Jane (70) (71C).
1881	Living on income, widower, 8 King Square (73) (81C).

WHYMARK Frederick

Born c1891 in Fishponds, the brother of Lily Whymark (11C).

1911	Potter’s labourer, 137 Causeway, Fishponds (20) (11C).

WHYMARK Lily

Born c1894 in Fishponds, the sister of Frederick Whymark (11C).

1911	Dipper pottery, 137 Causeway, Fishponds (17) (11C).

WICKETTS Henry

Born c1846 in Bristol (61C).

1861	2 Providence Court, Guinea Street, St Mary Redcliffe parish (15), living with his parents John and Mary Wicketts, a ship carpenter, born in Bideford, Devon (61C).

WIDLAKE Thomas

1833	14 Jul. Living in Little Paradise on the baptism of his son Edwin Henry. Wife Ann (JBPR).

WILCOX Charlotte

Born c1853 in Bristol (81C).

1881	32 Great Ann Street, St Philip’s parish (28), the wife of Edwin, a general labourer (81C).
1891	No occupation, 32 Great Ann Street, St Philip’s parish (42), living with her husband Edwin and children (91C).

WILCOX John Hilhouse

See the Potteries List section for the St Philip’s Pottery 5.

It is not known when the Pottery was established, but certainly before January 1816 when the Wilcox, Cook and Cole partnership was dissolved.

Pre 1816

Wilcox, Cook & Company ran the St Philip’s Pottery 5.

This was a partnership of John Hilhouse Wilcox, Thomas Homans Cook and John Cole. This may have been the potter John Cole I, who ran the St Philip’s Pottery 6. The partnership was dissolved in January 1816.

1817-18

John Hilhouse Wilcox ran the St Philip’s Pottery 5

The Pottery was advertised for sale in January 1819 and seems to have closed from that date.

1780	25 Apr. He was baptised, the son of John and Sarah Wilcox (PPR).
1806	15 Jul. He married Margaret Peach Wathen, aged 17, the daughter of Sir Samuel Wathen, at Stroud (Ancestry website).
1816	Wilcox, Cook & Co., stone ware and tobacco pipe manufacturers, St Philip’s (MD).
1816	13 Jan. The partnership of John Hilhouse Wilcox, Thomas Homans Cook and John Cole (t/a Wilcox, Cook and Company), stone ware potters and manufacturers of tobacco pipes carried on in Cheese Lane was dissolved on 29 Dec 1815 (FFJ).
1817-18	J.H. Wilcox, stoneware potter, St Philip’s (Evans Dir).
1819	11 Jan. ‘To be sold by private contract … all those extensive and truly valuable premises situate in Cheese Lane, in the parish of St Philip and Jacob … The whole immediately adjoining and connected with the Floating Harbour … Lot 4 consists of the cone of a glass house within which are erected two large stone-ware kilns, turning and drying rooms, with every other requisite for carrying out the trade of a stone-ware potter, to any extent. Without the cone is a large yard, stables, sheds, two dwelling houses and counting house, with divers other buildings … For permission to view the premises and for other particulars, application to be made to the proprietor John Hilhouse Wilcox, Esq of Hambrook’ (Bristol Mercury).
1846	Margaret Peach Wilcox married Edward Wilkins in Bristol (Ancestry website).

WILCOX Mathew

1672	10 Feb. He was described as a Bristol potter (A).
1674	12 Jan. He was described as a Bristol Potter (A).
	Apprentices: With wife Ann: William Harding, 10 Feb 1672 (A) James Phillips, 12 Jan 1674 (A). In order to take apprentices in Bristol, Mathew Wilcox would have had to obtain his freedom of the city. The only Mathew Wilcox obtaining his freedom in the sixty years prior to 1671 was one ‘Mathias Wilcockes’, a grocer, who became free on 17 February 1662 (F). It is possible that Wilcox changed his occupation at a later date.

WILD Lilian May

Born c1895 in St George (11C).

1911	Printer at pottery manufacture, 2 New Buildings, Grove Road, Fishponds (16) (11C).

WILD Rosina

Born c1885 in Bedminster (11C).

1911	Printing transferer pottery, 4 Grove Cottages, Channons Hill, Fishponds (26) (11C).

WILDGOOSE Frederick

See the Potteries List section for the Stapleton Road Pottery 3.

It is not known when this Pottery was established. Frederick Wildgoose traded as a brick and tile maker at 3 Easton Buildings, Easton Road, from 1852 to 1853, at 16 Victoria Place, Stapleton Road in 1854 and at 3 Regina Place, Stapleton Road from 1855 to 1856. The first reference to a Pottery was in 1857 at the Regina Place premises.

1857-68

Frederick Wildgoose ran the Stapleton Road Pottery 3.

Around 1865 Wildgoose let his Pottery to Alfred Niblett but that venture was unsuccessful and he seems to have taken back possession of the Pottery. It appears that from 1861 Wildgoose may have also owned a brick and tile yard/pottery on St Philip’s Marsh.

The Pottery appears to have closed after 1868.

Born c1825 in St Philip’s Marsh (51C).

1851	Brick maker employing 3 men, lodging at 3 Easton Buildings, Easton Road, St Philip’s (26) (51C).
1852-53	Brick maker and tile maker, 3 Easton Buildings, Easton Road (MD).
1854	Brick and tile maker, 16 Victoria Place, Stapleton Road (MD).
1855-56	Brick and tile maker, 3 Regina Place, Stapleton Road (MD).
1857	21 Feb. A pottery was advertised for sale and this may have been the pottery he purchased, as he was working in Queen Street in 1860: ‘To potters, brickmakers, etc … to sell by auction, at the St Philip’s Pottery, Queen Street, Bristol, on Thursday next, the 26 February … The materials, etc., consisting of oven, recently erected upon an improved principle, slip kiln and conveniences, saggar makers bench and utensils, lathes, jiggers, a quantity of green saggars, moulds and models, several thousand fire bricks, and other articles suited to the trade’ (Bristol Mercury).
1857-59	Brown ware pottery, brick and tile maker, 3 Regina Place, Stapleton Road (MD).
1860	He exported earthenware and red ware to Guernsey and Jersey (PB-EXP).
1860	14 Feb. ‘Stoneware and redware. Wholesale and retail purchasers of the above goods are respectfully informed that the best and cheapest place in Bristol for improved white-glazed stoneware and redware, of every description, is at F. Wildgoose’s stoneware pottery, Queen Street, Castle Street, Bristol. Where a good stock of every description of the above goods is constantly on sale. Flower pots, ornamental vases, etc., at remarkably low prices. Also some good seconds ware at half price’ (Western Daily Press).
1860	4 Jan. It was possibly his premises: ‘To let, a small manufactory for pottery work, with kiln, stove, wheel, drying rack, etc. Low rent. No Taxes. Apply at 40 Milk Street or 10 Pennywell Road’ (Western Daily Press).
1860	26 Nov. It was possibly his premises: ‘To be let with immediate possession. Premises situated in Queen Street and lately used as a pottery. Apply to Mr Hancock, painter, Bread Street, St Philip’s’ (Western Daily Press).
1860-61	Red ware, brick and tile maker, 3 Regina Place, Stapleton Road (MD).
1861	Brick and tile maker, Marsh, St Philip’s (KD).
1861	Brick and tile manufacturer employing 7 men and 4 boys, Regina Place, St Philip’s (36), living with his wife Elizabeth (20) born in St George and his daughter Ann Elizabeth (1) born in St Philip’s (61C).
1862	3 Feb. ‘Flower pots! Flower pots!! Flower pots !!! For sale, at a reduced price, a quantity of the above goods. Also some well made, hard burnt rhubarb and seakale pots, which may be seen and price known by applying at F. Wildgoose’s red ware pottery, St Philip’s Marsh’ (Western Daily Press).
1865	27 Oct. Tolzey Court: Wildgoose v. Niblett. The action was to recover the sum of £20.17s.3d. ‘It appeared from the evidence of the plaintiff that he was the proprietor of a brick and tile yard at St Philip’s Marsh, together with a pottery adjoining, and the defendant entered into a treaty to take to them. A valuer was appointed, the brother of the plaintiff, with the consent of the defendant, and the goods taken were valued at £44 odd. The defendant said he expected a legacy coming to his wife, and would pay the amount when he received that, but he did not receive it nor did he pay for the rent, and a distress for the latter was put in. That distress was paid out, and afterwards the defendant requested plaintiff to take to the business again, promising to make up any difference that might be found between the stock then in the yard and the amount owed. That difference was found to be £18.12s in favour of the plaintiff. There were also six barrows of coal, 4s.6d, and an account for clay and bricks £2.0s.9d, making the total of £20.17s.3d. After several other witnesses had been called in support of the above statements [it was said] the arrangement entered into was that the defendant should pay for the burnt goods as he sold them, and for the rest at the rate of £1.5s a week. There were a vast variety of green goods left, which was spoilt by the unneighbourly conduct of the plaintiff in taking off the roof of the house in which they were kept. Defendant admitted he owed £17, the value of the burnt goods he had sold, but against that he had set-off the value of the green goods remaining when the plaintiff took the premises the second time, over £20. Besides the defendant during his occupation made some burnt goods himself, and these of course he was entitled to sell for himself. The recorder then summed up, and the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, for £15.2s.9d’ (Bristol Times & Mirror).
1868	11 Jan. There is a reference to Wildgoose’s Pottery where a bag had been stolen (Western Daily Press).
1868	Red ware, brick and tile maker, 3 Regina Place, Stapleton Road and St Philip’s Marsh (MD).
1871	Commission agent, 3 Regina Place, Stapleton Road, St Philip’s parish (45), living with his wife Ann (29), born in St George, and children Ann Elizabeth (11), Frederick (10), Florence (8), Henry (4) and Edward (1), all born in St Philip’s parish (71C).
1887	20 Dec. He died in St Marks Road, St George, aged 63 (Ancestry website).

WILDIN Joseph

Born c1882 in Stoke, Staffordshire (01C).

1901	Potter’s packer, 13 York Street, St George (19) (01C).
1911	Earthenware fireman, 32 Balfour Street, Hanley, Staffordshire (29), living with his wife Emma (23) and children Arthur (5) and Marian (1), all born in Burslem (11C).