Reference
Z1411/1/1
Title
Negative of the apprenticeship indenture of Thomas Balmforth.
Date free text
Original 26 July 1856, negative c.1930s
Production date
From: 1856 To: 1940
Admin/biog history
Thomas Balmforth was born in Huddersfield in 1839. His obituary in the Luton News of 15th March 1906 p5 column 2 reads as follows:
Death of Mr Thomas Balmforth - By the death of Mr Thomas Balmforth, which took place at his residence in St Albans on Wednesday of last week, Luton loses a gentleman who may very fittingly be described as the pioneer of the important engineering industries which are annually adding to the prosperity of the town and carning for this locality a high reputation amongst the industrial centres of the South. It is over a quarter of a century since Mr Balmforth first came to Luton from his native town of Marden, near Huddersfield. He already possessed a considerable acquaintance with mechanical engineering, and, equipped with this knowledge and an excellent capacity for business he rapidly made progress in the small business he established and carried on in Mill Lane. At first he devoted his energies to the general work of an engineer, and amongst other things experimented with bicycles, but is was not long before he turned his attention to the boiler making industry, and in so doing laid the foundations of what today is a local industry of considerable importance. To write Mr Balmforth's history from that date until recent times would be to recount the growth and development of the firm now known as T Balmforth and Co Ltd. Mr Balmforth was not a man who courted municipal honours; he never appeared prominently in any of the public functions of the town or sought a seat on the Town Council; he was content to remain in the background and devote his energies to business. How well he did so need not be told. Two years ago, principally on account of advancing age, and a painful affliction from which he suffered, he decided practically to retire from business. It was then that the firm was turned into a company and Mr Balmforth went to reside at St Albans. Recently his malady - diabetes - took an acute form, and on Sunday week his medical advisers decided that amputation of a leg was necessary. The operation was performed but Mr Balmforth never recovered from the shock and died as already stated. He was 68 years of age. He is survived by his wife, but leaves no children. The funeral took place at Huddersfield on Monday, and was attended principally by the relatives of the deceased gentlemen. The firm of Messrs T Balmforth & Co Ltd was represented by Mr Kitchen one of the managing directors, and as an additional mark of respect to the memory of the deceased the local works were closed from mid-day. A large number of wreaths were sent by sympathisers and firends at Luton, Harpenden and St Albans."
On the 1851 census Thomas appears with his parents and siblings in Huddersfield. On the 1861 census he appears to be living with a wife called Mary and a six month old son George. Mary and George appear to have died probably in 1865 and 1862 respectively and by 1871Thomas is living with his wife Harriet and nephew James Balmforth in Bradford Road, Huddersfield. By 1881 Thomas and Harriet, their adopted daughter Louisa Schofield, an apprentice and a boarder are living in Mill Street Luton. In 1891 Thomas, Harriet, Louisa and a servant are living in Shakespeare Road, Harpenden. Finally in 1901 Thomas, Harriet, a visitor and a servant are in St Peters Rural, St Albans.
Scope and Content
Thomas Balmforth to be apprenticed to Ebenezer Thornton and James Brooke, whitesmiths of Huddersfield with the permission of his father Joseph Balmforth of Hill House, weaver, Huddersfield from the 28th March 1856 for three years. Joseph to provide food, drink, clothing, lodgings and medical care. 1st year 7s/week, 2nd year 8s/week, 3rd year 10s/week. Signed by mark by Joseph and by Thomas Balmforth, Ebenezer Thornton and James Brooke.
Level of description
item