Empson, blanket weavers of Witney.

[stephensaffin]

I'v been following leads left by a deceased relative who wrote down all he knew of the family history. He stated that there was a link to the 'Early' family, a famous name in the history of Witney's blanket weaving history. We know that Mary ann brooks is the daughter of solomon brooks and mary ann weaver of Hailey Mills near witney, and that solomons father is william brooks and his wife is Susannah Empson (b.1768) daughter of James Empson (b.1737 d.1815) and Elizabeth Hicks(d.1770). I know there exists a will of a james Empson (d.1769) that passes the business on to his wife Ann and son Thomas, and Thomas passes the business onto the Early family on his death. Can any one help in finding the links from the Brooks to the 'Early' family??

Sincerely,

Stephen Saffin.

[Mutley]

Have you tried?
http://www.
oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/

Find the History and Heritage Search section. If not contact them.
I believe they hold the records of the Witney Blanket Weavers which every weaving business had to join or they were fined.

[Coromandel]

Hello Stephen

I live in Witney and have done a lot of research on the blanket industry in general and the Early family in particular so was very interested to see your query.

There is an Empson/Early marriage: on 15 Feb. 1792 Martha Early married James Empson at Witney St Mary, by licence. I believe that this Martha was the daughter of Thomas Early & Elizabeth (Dean) baptised at Witney St Mary in 1767. She and James had four children baptised in Witney between 1792 and 1804. I haven't discovered what happened to her husband, but Martha is probably the Martha Empson, widow, who married John Hollings at St Marylebone in 1815 (she is referred to as 'Martha Empson otherwise Hollins in the will of her brother, Thomas Early).

However, I don't think this explains the business connection your relative mentioned. The business that passed from the Empsons to the Earlys was a very particular and interesting one: the role of contractor with the Hudson's Bay Company. Here's a quote from 'The Blanket Makers 1669-1969' by Alfred Plummer and Richard E. Early (published 1969 by Routledge & Kegan Paul):

'There is no definite detailed information on the transactions between the [Hudson's Bay] Company and the Witney manufacturers until 1737, when we find James Empson of Witney, blanket maker, taking orders from the Company. During the next thirty years Empson seems to have become one of their principal contractors for the supply of blankets and duffles. He died in 1769 and in March of that year a Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company had before them a letter from his widow, Mrs. Ann Empson, 'requesting to Succeed her late Husband in that branch of business'. This request was granted, and Widow Empson in partnership with her son, Thomas, trading as Ann Empson and Son, supplied blankets to the Company until her death in 1778. Thereafter, Thomas Empson continued to supply the Company until he died in 1805'.

there is a footnote here referring to documents from the Hudson's Bay Archives: I can give you the reference numbers if you want to follow these up.

If I remember correctly, John Early was one of the executors for Thomas Empson, so he may well have been the one who wrote to the Hudson's Bay Company to tell them of Thomas' death and (I am imagining now!) suggesting that he might be an appropriate successor. Certainly the Earlys went on to supply blankets to the HBC. A book by Harold Tichenor on the history of 'point blankets' has a chart showing known suppliers. I don't have my own copy but know where I can find one! I will check it later this week for the date of the Earlys' takeover of the contract.

I could go on about the Earlys ad infinitum but had better stop there. I am not so well up on the Brooks family but have not found any family connection between them and the Earlys.

By the way, there is no such thing as "Hailey Mills": I think this is probably a reference to New Mills, Hailey.

Hope this helps!

Jane

[Mutley]

I found a reference to a man named Jamie Everitt, he wrote a piece called “Witney and the Industrial Revolution”
Sadly, I cannot find it on the internet.

But below is an interesting quote from it and would explain two manufacturers getting together on a business basis.

The blanket industry in Witney was confined to quite a small geographical area and the small number of factory owners were either related or on friendly terms with each other. This encouraged a good working relationship which often led them to sharing bigger orders. One of the biggest and most famous blanket factories in Witney, owned and run by the Early family, managed to get a large order from the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1805 which they shared amongst the other manufacturers in Witney.

[Coromandel]

I've just been trying to find the 'Witney Blanket Story' website, but it doesn't seem to exist any more: another victim of County Council cuts I expect.

I found this version on the Wayback Machine:

http://
web.archive.org/web/20071008071853/http://www.witneyblanketstory.org.uk/WBP.asp?navigationPage=Introduction

Some links don't work but there's still a lot to explore.

[Coromandel]

I believe they hold the records of the Witney Blanket Weavers

Yes, the records of Witney's Company of Blanket Weavers (granted its charter in 1711 and wound up in the 1840s) have been deposited at the county record office along with much material from Earlys (a mixture of business records and family history). The catalogue for this collection (B1) can be explored via the Heritage Search website.

The court books of the Company of Blanket Weavers are wonderful: I was thinking about transcribing them one day, but may never get around to it. Extracts were published by Alfred Plummer in the 1930s in his history of the company. I am sure the Empsons are mentioned in that book too, but don't have my copy to hand.

P.S. A little bird tells me that another batch of records from Earlys is eventually destined for the record office.

[Coromandel]

Strange coincidence . . . I was tidying up at the museum in Witney today and came across a copy of Thomas Empson's will, which I didn't know was there!

It is among some notes about the Hudson's Bay Company made by a local researcher. It isn't the original will, but a photocopy of a copy written out in a register (probably at the county record office). Here's what it says (I have omitted a few repetitive bits as indicated by the ...):

I Thomas Empson of Witney in the County of Oxford Blanket Weaver of sound & disposing Mind Memory and understanding Do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following First I will order and direct that all my just Debts and Funeral Expences shall be paid satisfied and discharged Also I give and devise unto my Sister Susanna Empson All that my Messuage or Tenement Messuages or Tenements and Premises with the Appurtenances situate and being in Witney aforesaid To hold to her my Sister for and during the Term of her natural Life And from and immediately after her Decease I give and devise the said Premises with the Appurtenances unto John Early the Elder of Witney aforesaid Blanket Weaver and Edward Batt the Younger of Witney aforesaid Surgeon and their Heirs In Trust nevertheless that they . . . shall as soon as conveniently may be after the Decease of my said Sister sell and dispose of the said Premises . . . for the best price and most Money they can . . . and after retaining to their own use and uses all such Costs Charges and Expences as they shall or may be put unto in and about such Sale Do and shall pay and divide the Money arising thereby . . . amongst my Nephew and Neices [sic] John Empson (son of my late Brother John Empson) Ann Dolley Susanna Dolley Sarah Dolley and Elizabeth Dolley . . . Also I give unto my said Sister Susanna Empson my Pew in the Church and all my estate and interest therein And also the sum of Three Hundred Pounds to be paid to her by my Executors hereinafter named within six Months next after my Decease Also I give and bequeath unto my said Sister all my Household Goods Brewing utensils Plate Linnen China and Books Also I give and bequeath my said Nephew the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid . . . within twelve months next after my Decease Also I give and bequeath unto my said Nieces the said Ann Dolley Susan[na] Dolley Sarah Dolley and Elizabeth Dolley the Sum of one Hundred Pounds apiece to be paid . . . within twelve Months next after my Decease Also I give and bequeath unto William Cosins the Sum of five guineas . . . All the rest and Residue of my Goods Chattels Stock Effects Estate and Estates . . . I give devise and bequeath unto the said John Early and Edward Batt In Trust nevertheless that they do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my Decease collect in sell dispose of and reduce the same into ready Money And [besides expenses] take . . . thereout the Sum of Five Guineas each . . . And as to the Residue of the Monies arising thereby . . . after payment of the before mentioned Legacies do and shall pay and divide the same equally unto and amongst my said Nephew and Nieces share and share alike . . . and I do hereby appoint the said John Early and Edward Batt executors of this my Will . . .

The will is dated 28 March 1799, signed by Thomas Empson and witnessed by Wm Macey [of] Witney, Jno Luckett and Geo Hathaway.

Probate was granted at Oxford 7 June 1805 to the executors John Early and Edward Batt.

As you can see, it was Thomas' relatives who were to be the main beneficiaries. The estate was left to John Early and Edward Batt in trust, i.e. they were trustees.

An index to Oxfordshire probate records of 1733-1858 includes various entries for Witney Empsons:
- a will for Ann Empson, widow, 1789
- a bond and commission for Henry Empson, widower, 1788
- a bond for James Empson, bachelor, 1789
- a will with codicil for Martha Empson, widow, 1810
- a will for Susanna Empson, spinster, 1813
- a will for Thomas Empson, blanket weaver, 1805 [the one given in full above]
- a bond and commission for William Empson (date not stated in index)

The 1769 will of James Empson which you mentioned in your first post was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC): you can download a copy from the National Archives' 'Documents Online' service for £3.50.