Reference
AU10/65/3
Title
Letter from Andrew Underwood to Peter J.Reader:
- Joseph Abbis a blacksmith in Woburn Street, Ampthill in 1830 (d.1836 aged 64) who married Rebecca Smith at Ampthill in 1795 with the following baptisms: Richard (1796); William (1799); Thomas (born 9 Oct 1804);
- in 18839 the following Abbis family members were blacksmiths in Ampthill: Richard in Woburn Street; Thomas in Dunstable Street; William in Woburn Street;
- Thomas Abbis married Sarah Jakes/Jacques of Steppingley in 1824 with at least eight children ensuing: Thomas (1827), George (1829), Charles (1831 died same year), Charles (1833), Betsy (1835), Joseph (1836), Mary Ann (1839), Sarah (1842);
- Thomas Abbis a blacksmith until 1864 when he is described as a beer retailer in Dunstable Street (maybe a second generation Thomas);
- Richard Abbis disappears from directories after 1850; there were probably two William Abbises as blacksmiths in Woburn Street at the same time, one keeping the George (1847-1871 directories, described as a coachbuilder in 1864); a William also kept the Compasses in Dunstable Street (1864-1877 directories);
- other Abbises include: Albert Ernest, private resident in Arthur Street in 1892; Alfred, coachbuilder in Woburn Street in 1910; Mrs.Caroline at George in 1877; Frederick, coachbuilder and general smith in Woburn Street in 1877, with his executors running the business in 1892; Frederick, blacksmith in Woburn Street in 1910; George, a beer seller in 1862 and a blacksmith in Dunstable Street in 1864;
- a Minnie, daughter of Edwin (blacksmith) and Fanny Abbis of Westbourne Park, London was baptised in Ampthill in 1896;
- Alfred was a member of Ampthill UDC 1904-1918 when disqualified through bankruptcy;
- George, son of Thomas, aged 19 was apprenticed to Samuel Northwood of Maulden as a carpenter and wheelwright in 1849;
- John moved to Ampthill from Hitchin [Hertfordshire] with his wife and five children in 1772, serving as parish clerk and ale taster in 1780s; another John, a blacksmith, as tenant of Lord Holland in 1820;
- Joseph had rented a plot of crown land in 1808;
- a sale of Joshua's furniture was held at Kings Arms in 1866;
- a Mrs.Abbis was living in Brewery Lane when the hosue was sold in 1888;
- Thomas Hopkins first appeared as butcher in Dunstable Street in 1864 and disappears after 1877, his shop was next door to another butcher called Brooks;
- enclosing photographs etc. and with notes made from directories
Date free text
28 Dec 1998
Production date
From: 1796 To: 1998
Level of description
item