1851 –1932
Blacksmith and general labourer
Relatives
Research:
Unmarked grave Thomas Cadwell (1851-1932)
Thomas was born early in 1851 at Crutchmore, a farm in Offley, Hertfordshire.
The 1851 census records him as the fourth child and first son of Thomas Cadwell, a smith born in Ireland, and Charlotte, a straw plaiter, born at Crutchmore. Also in the household were another smith and an apprentice smith, both described as “servant”, ie employees.
In 1856 his mother died and his father remarried by the end of the year to Mary Ann Barford, a local woman. They married in Marylebone, London, perhaps because of the short time elapsed between Charlotte’s death and Thomas snr.’s remarriage.
In 1861 the family were living at “The Smith’s House” in Offley. Thomas jnr.’s eldest sister was a bonnet sewer and her two younger sisters were plaiters. Living so close to Luton there would be plenty of work producing plait for the hat industry. Thomas was a “scholar” and he had three younger brothers and a younger sister.
In September 1870 the family must have had an unpleasant time when Thomas snr. was put in debtors’ prison.
The gaol record shows that he had been born in Galway, was 5 foot 9 inches tall with brown hair and eyes (which may give us a clue as to his son’s appearance) and could read and write. The unpaid debt was for £6 4s 6d and he was committed to gaol for fourteen days. After paying the debt and costs he was released.
By the time of the 1871 in April census the family was living in Park Street, Luton and Thomas jnr. was working as a blacksmith with his father. He had five younger brothers and two younger sisters. Thomas snr. was employing another smith, so presumably he was doing fairly well again.
Thomas jnr. moved to St Albans where he found work as a blacksmith and in the 1881 census he was recorded as still single and lodging in the St Peter’s district.
In 1889 he married Jane Haddow from Little Brickhill. They were to have no children.
The couple moved to Berkhamsted and in 1901 were living at 52, High Street. Thomas was employed as a blacksmith. They were still at the same address ten years later when Thomas was described as a “Blacksmith labourer,” and in 1921 when 70 year old Thomas was described as a general labourer doing casual cleaning jobs at Berkhamsted School
Circumstances must have forced them to move to Nugent House, 241a, High Street (effectively the workhouse) because, at the time of Thomas’s death in June 1932, this was his address.
He was buried 6 June 1932 aged 82. Jane survived him until 1937 and was laid to rest with him here.