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Robert Hall 1769 to 8 January 1845
HAL00070
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Newcastle under Lyme
1769
Robert Hall, son of James and Elizabeth (nee Astley) Hall (HAL00060), was
born in 1769. There was a Robert Hall who was baptised at St Giles, Newcastle
under Lyme on 5 February 1769, but his father was shown as William Hall (PR).
1791
Robert Hall married Catherine Eldershaw
(1763 to 1838) on 10 July 1791 at Newport, Shropshire (MR).
Robert Hall was a hat manufacturer and merchant in the iron
market.
The most notable industry in Newcastle during the 17th and 18th centuries
was the making of felt hats. As early as 1570 a hatter, Richard Norton, is met
with and another in 1612, John Riggs. The existence of hatters presupposes that
of feltmakers, of whom, in the 17th century, there
was a considerable number as may be gathered from parish register entries. Late
in the century the trade encountered difficulties because 'servants and others
of inferior quality' had ceased to wear felt hats; at that time (1699) it was
stated that there were numerous master hat-makers in the town who each employed
nine or ten journeymen and many other persons, i.e. feltmakers,
in producing the materials for hat making. Despite temporary setbacks the hat
industry continued to flourish. At a borough election in 1734 out of 436
burgesses on the roll 159 were described as hatters. In the late 18th century the number of hat manufacturers totalled 27, while
in 1822 out of 1,000 householders in the borough, 307 were described as hat
manufacturer, feltmaker, or hatter. In the early 19th century machinery was introduced, in particular a carding machine and a blowing machine for
the separation of short and coarse hairs from the wool or nap. The latter was
the invention of James Astley
Hall, a native of Newcastle and one of the chief hat manufacturers. Although in 1844 the chief manufacture of the town was still described
as that of hats which were prepared for the finishers in London, the growing
popularity of the silk hat for the upper and middle classes and of the cloth
cap for industrial workers brought about a decline in the demand for felt hats.
By 1850 the number of hat manufacturers in Newcastle had fallen to nine and 40
years later there were only two. By the early 20th century
the local manufacture of hats had ceased. The fact that in 1836 there were
three straw-hat makers and in 1851 twelve may indicate an attempt to establish
an alternative, though short-lived, headgear industry of a very different kind. (A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 8.
Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1963,
Newcastle-under-Lyme: Economic history and social life and Anon. Hist. Sketch Newcastle, 10; Newcastle Register of Electors, 1840
and 1845 (copies at Inst. of Hist. Research, London)).
He became a freeman of Newcastle under Lyme.
1792
Their daughter, Mary Ann Hall (HAL00079)
was baptised on 19 August 1792. She died on 30 August 1792.
1793
Their son, James Astley Hall (HAL00080)
was baptised on 10 July 1793.
1795
Their son, John Eldershaw Hall (HAL00081)
was baptised on 3 January 1795. He died in 1805.
1796
Their son, Robert Hall (HAL00082) was
baptised on 14 June 1796. He died in 1797.
1799
Their son, Phillip Hall (HAL00083), was baptised on 3
November 1799.
1801
Their daughter, Caroline Hall (HAL00084) was baptised on
6 June 1801.
1802
Their daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Hall (HAL00085) was
baptised on 12 September 1802.
1806
Their daughter, Catharine (later Catherine) Hall (HAL00086) was
baptised on 18 September 1806.
1809
Their son, Henry Hall, was born on 23 December 1809 and baptised
on 10 February 1814.
1841
1841 Census – Brunswick Street,
Newcastle under Lyme
Robert Hall, 70, born 1771 in Staffordshire
Catharine Hall, 25, his daughter
Elizabeth Shaw, 20
Sarah Wallbank, 15
1845
Robert Hall died on 8 January 1845, aged 76. He was buried at St
George, Newcastle under Lyme,
on 15 January 1845 (DR).