A "Kairos" Moment

If Shakespeare knew "small Latin and less Greek," my knowledge of the latter language is best described as minuscule.  I do, however, know two Greek words, "kairos" and "chronos," both of which mean time, but in very different ways.  "Chronos" is the regular pattern of time from minute to minute, hour to hour and so on, in other words routine time.  "Kairos," however, refers to historic moments because what happens is life changing.  In a family history, it's hard to imagine a more "kairos" moment than emigrating more than 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean as the Winders did in 1891-92.

The Majestic - ship taken by Mary Ann and the Winder children to the United States 

As far as I know, nothing was ever recorded or passed on about that experience so all we can do is speculate.  In the case of James R. and Mary Ann, it was a conscious decision, most likely a joint one so whatever doubts or anxiety they experienced, it was at least part of doing what they thought was best.  For James W., Edith, Elsie and Florence, it was a different situation.  At six and three respectively, Elsie and Florence were probably too young to know what was going on and the move most likely had limited impact.  In the cases of Edith (10) and especially James (13), it could have been a very difficult time.  Both of them had to have had friendships and other relationships which were about to be irrevocably severed.  James was in his last year of school and may very well have been thinking about where he was going to work in Worcester. It's possible they experienced harsh words from peers who were staying in Worcester and saw the Winders leaving a form of rejection or abandonment.  No matter how positive they may have felt about the impending move, it had to have been a major adjustment.

James Winders (underlined in red) listed on the Majestic's passenger list 

It appears James R. went first, possibly as much as five months earlier.  That left Mary Ann, a single parent with four children, to manage the family affairs, make whatever arrangements remained for the move as well as working full time.  Most likely the Winders didn't own their home so there was no real estate transaction to worry about.  Decisions did, however, have to be made about what to take to America and how to dispose of the rest.  Some of the latter items may have gone to Mary Ann's family and/or James' mother, although it's also possible they needed to sell their furniture to raise money for their new home in Trenton.  Finally it was time to go and in early May of 1892, Mary Ann, the four children took their eight suitcases boarded a train in Worcester heading towards Liverpool.

Mary Ann and daughters on Majestic's Passenger List 

Once in Liverpool, they boarded the Majestic, which was to be their floating home for the week long voyage across the Atlantic.  Exploring the ship along with the adventure of an ocean voyage may have appealed to James and Edith.  One hopes for their sakes, but especially for Mary Ann and the two little ones, it wasn't too rough a passage.  In any event on May 19, 1892, the Majestic reached New York harbor.  As they were taken from the pier to the immigration center on Ellis Island, they may have marveled at the relatively new (1886) Statue of Liberty.  Although not as impressive as the statue, the three story immigration facility was even newer, having opened on January 1st so the Winders were among the 450,000 people who passed through Ellis Island during its inaugural year.  Without any language barrier (at least theoretically) and a father and husband already in the country, the Winders probably passed through Ellis Island relatively quickly and took a ferry to Hoboken or Jersey City.

Original wooden buildings at Ellis Island which were brand new when the Winders arrived there

It's pleasant to imagine a family reunion when the ferry docked, but James R's job plus uncertainty about the exact time of arrival may have made that impossible.  With or without James, Mary Ann and the children eventually boarded a train for the last leg of their journey to Trenton.  While New Jersey was no where near as heavily settled 121 years ago, the landscape was more cluttered than the area around Worcester.  Throughout the train ride, Mary Ann, James and Edith must have been filled with anticipation and questions.  Would they like this new country?  What was Trenton like?  How did it compare to Worcester?  James and Edith probably also wondered how difficult it was going to be to make new friends with James also concerned about where he would find work.  Once they finally arrived in Trenton, they went to their new home, most likely a temporary arrangement at 41 Southard Street where James R was boarding.  Perhaps they even went by the new electric trolley cars,  traveling at what seemed to some the excessive speeds of 18-20 mph.

 Trenton, New Jersey 

How did Trenton compare to Worcester?   First of all, their new home's 1890 population of 57,458 was about 1/3 greater than Worcester's 42,908 total in 1891.  Interestingly both cities would take part in a national election in 1892 with Grover Cleveland unseating incumbent Benjamin Harrison as President while back in England, William Gladstone was winning his last term as British Prime Minister.  Whether it was national politics or local events, the Winders would have greater news access in Trenton with its two daily newspapers, compared to the more limited offerings of Worcester's weekly papers.  If sports news was of interest to the Winders, they had exchanged cricket, football (soccer) and quoits for base ball (two words in the 19th century).

Modern view of 41 Southard Street (right side of building).  James R. boarded here in 1891 and the whole family may have lived here temporarily in 1892

Mary Ann and the children, especially Mary Ann, had probably had enough traveling for a while, but they certainly weren't isolated in Trenton.  All told there were 13-15 daily trains to New York and Philadelphia, similar to the 13 trains from Worcester to London, but both American cities were closer than their British counterpart.  While population, communications and travel differences were all important, of far greater significance were cultural differences and economic issues which we will look at in the next post.

At School and Play - the Winder Children in Worcester

In addition to working at Royal Worcester Porcelain, James and Mary Ann spent their last 13 years in England raising a family.  James W. Winder (1878), their first born, received all of his formal education in Worcester while next in line, Edith (1882), probably attended school for six years before the family's departure for the United States.  At the other end, it's safe to say Florence (1889) didn't attend school in Worcester and that third born, Elsie (1886) at most had two or three years of infant classes.  Other than some odd or part time jobs, it's unlikely any of the children worked in Worcester so their lives in England are centered on their education and other childhood activities.

James William Ricketts Winder about 1881

While there may have been family outings to parks or the countryside, it's safe to say the streets of Worcester were the Winder children's primary playground.  Danger from cars and other motorized vehicles wasn't a problem, but they had to be watchful for horse drawn vehicles.  Like children ever since there have been children, Victorian urban youth used their imaginations to transform an ordinary street into a play ground.  Lamp posts became cricket stumps for impromptu matches played with a piece of wood for a bat and a ball made of paper and string.  Similarly sidewalks shared with pedestrians became the scene of games of tag, leapfrog, blind man's bluff, hop scotch and jump rope all of which were popular with Victorian children.

Edith May Ricketts Winder and James William Winder about 1883

From what we know about the Winders, indoor activities most likely began and ended with music.  Pianos became affordable during the second half of the 19th century and singing in multiple forms was, no doubt, part of long winter evenings at home.  James and Edith learned to read in Worcester and there was no shortage of reading material which varied greatly in quality.  Apparently aptly named were the "penny dreadfuls" which offered drama and excitement in serial form at an affordable price.  James was probably well acquainted with the "Boys of England" stories which featured "upwardly mobile heroes" in stories of "patriotism, violence and adventure."

Some of the content in the "Boys of England" stories apparently raised some Victorian eye brows which led to the "Boys Own Paper," adventures written and edited so as not go glorify criminals.  At the higher end of the spectrum were books that remain juvenile classics today such as Treasure Island, Little Women, and Tom Brown's Schooldays.  James and Edith may have been a little young for these books, but I'll admit to a fantasy of James R or Mary Ann reading Treasure Island aloud to their children, a scene repeated in Wayne, New Jersey some 50-60 years later.  Although an American book, Little Women, was especially important because it made women's lives of "great moment."  Tom Brown's Schooldays was also a ground breaking work as it popularized the school story.

Victorian Infant School Alphabet

If Tom Brown's Schooldays was of interest to the Winder children especially James, it was the kind of schooling he would never experience.  By the 1880's school was mandatory for all British children through the age of 10.  Most children started at 3 for two or so years of infant school.  Some children began at 18 months in what was obviously a day care like environment.  With Mary Ann's parents running a pub and James' mother and father operating a shop, each of the Winder children probably spent some of their early years with their grandparents while James and Mary Ann worked.  After two-three years in infant school, children ages 5-7 were grouped by ability for further schooling in anticipation of an exam which would evaluate their fitness for the first standard or grade.

Victorian Writing Lesson

All told there were six to seven standards grouped by age although students had to pass an exam to advance to a new standard.  These exams were more than a means of evaluating student knowledge since test results along with attendance determined the level of government funding.  By the time James and Edith were in school, the curriculum had been broadened beyond the three "R's" to include geography, history, object learning, singing and needle work.  Interestingly singing was a grant subject, that is a source of funding based upon test results.  Handwriting was taught for the right hand only.  Although my mother was educated in 20th century Trenton, she had a similar experience as she was forced to learn to write with her right hand even though she was naturally left handed.

Victorian Inkwells

School days ran from 9-12 and then 2-4 with students going home for dinner during the two hour noon break.  This was probably done to facilitate working class schedules since men (and women) would come home for the big meal of the day at that time.  School vacations took the form of two weeks at Christmas and Easter, six weeks at harvest time plus Whitsunday Monday and Tuesday.  In addition Thursdays were reportedly half days.  Discipline was reportedly very strict and enforced by severe corporal punishment which apparently didn't stop boys from being boys as the below article indicates.

Article from Worcester Journal of April 6, 1889 illustrating the boys at St. Peter's School's capacity for mischief

Direct provision of education was not considered a government responsibility until late in the Victorian period so alternative providers  met most of the need.  Since about 1810 one of the largest was the Church of England which funded schools from a combination of sources including the results based government funding mentioned earlier and fees charged to the families.  Education was not free in England until after the Winders left so James and Mary Ann paid school fees for James and Edith both of whom attended St. Peter's Church of England School in Worcester.  Contemporary newspaper accounts indicate the school was highly regarded, earning an "excellent" rating in 1889.  By 1891 as the Winders were preparing to make their exit, there were 900 children in the school and a cornerstone had been laid for a new building.  Over crowding  in the existing facility was attributed to "excellent management and teaching."

James W. Winder and "The Boy's Complaint - Worcestershire Chronicle, March 1, 1890

Although the evidence is limited both James and Edit appear to have been good students.  In 1891 Edith received a prize for punctual and regular attendance while her older brother was recognized both for attendance and drawing.  More importantly from James' standpoint, he was twice chosen to perform before an audience something Victorian teachers reserved for their "brightest" students.  As part of an 1890 program, James recited "The Boy's Complaint" and shared in a reporter's accolade that "the recitations were given with remarkable intelligence."

Edith Winders' attendance award - Worcester Journal, February 7, 1891

A year later in what was, intentionally or not, a farewell performance, James played a leading part in an operetta called "The Congress of Nations" presented by the boys of the school at a public hall in Worcester.  In addition to a chorus of 300 boys and 70 others dressed in the costumes of various nations, the operetta featured James Winder, who along with Philip Miles "divided" the role of the professor.  Once again James performance was highly praised to the point he and some others "received special marks of approval from the audience and were loudly "encored."

James Winders in "The Congress of Nations" - Worcester Journal, January 24, 1891 

One hopes James, Mary Ann were present along with three proud grandparents.  James at that point was 13, well past the school leaving age of 10, but still in school in one of the high standards.  Skilled workers tended to keep their children in school to 13-14 before it became mandatory.  It seems fairly certain James and Mary Ann were trying to help their children have as much education as possible.  It is to be hoped that whatever else James learned at St. Peter's School, he understood the importance of being flexible because he and his sisters were about to be highly tested in that regard.

Introducing Mary Ann Hudson (the younger)

From her birth in 1858 in Worcester, to her death some 86 years and 3000 miles later in Trenton, Mary Ann Hudson was a city girl.  The oldest of James and Mary Ann Hudson's four daughters, she was the third consecutive generation named Mary Ann.  The newest Mary Ann spent at least part of her early childhood next door to or living with her grandparents, Joseph and Mary Ann Allies, which could have facilitated some kind of child care until she turned three.  At that point our ancestor most likely started school in the infant class of an "official" school or in a more informal "dame" school. The former was a 19th century combination of day care and pre-school while the latter was more baby sitting in nature.

Infant Class in a Victorian school about 1900

British law at the time required children to stay in school until age 10, a regulation the authorities had difficulty enforcing because even a child's wages were often badly needed by many struggling families.  Mary Ann appears to be fortunate as on census day in April of 1871, she was still listed as a scholar at age 12.  That was about to change, however, for on June 10, 1871 Mary Ann began work as a paintress at Royal Worcester Porcelain.

Drawing of China painters at work

As noted in the last post, both Mary Ann's mother and grandmother were china burnishers which connections may have helped the youngest Mary Ann get started on a more promising "career" path.  Burnishing, described in the last post, sounds like a lower level position than paintress and it may be that while they worked at lower levels in the pottery factories, both Mary Ann Hudson (Allies) and William Winder looked for better positions for their children.  James R. Winder, it will be recalled, began work as an apprentice mold maker rather than in a laboring position.

Another view of China painters at work, note that in both the drawing and the picture, the painters are all male

 Paintresses and painters typically began training at 13 and started by learning  drawing and the "manipulation of colors and the action of fire."   Mary Ann worked at Royal Worcester for over 20 years and was a full fledged china painter in 1891.  Tracing inherited talents is speculative at best, but I can think of a number of later generations with significant artistic talent and Mary Ann may be one source of that talent.

Birdport Street as James and Mary Ann would have known it

Six years after starting work at Royal Worcester, when she was 19, Mary Ann married James Ricketts Winder.  The most logical conclusion is that they met at Royal Worcester.  Another possibility is that Mary Ann's father met James at an Ancient Order of Foresters meeting and encouraged him to visit the family.  There is, however, no evidence James belonged to the Foresters before his marriage and the work connection remains the most logical explanation.  The marriage took place at the Countess of Huntingdon or Birdport Street Chapel, one of the major non-conformist congregations in Worcester.  Originally I thought the Hudsons were "chapel," but Mary Ann's parents and at least two of her sisters were married in the Church of England, suggesting the Winders were the non-conformists.  The fact that William Winder and Mary Ricketts were also married in a "chapel" supports this possibility.

Countess of Huntingdon Chapel where James and Mary Ann were married in 1877, now a concert hall

For Mary Ann. growing up  a woman in Victorian England, the ideal was to be a wife and mother.  Throughout the last 25 years of the Victorian era that goal became harder and harder for women to realize.  By 1900 there were a million more women than men in England, respectable working positions for women were limited and, even when available, women received lower pay for similar work.  Mary Ann, her mother and her grandmother were probably fortunate to live in a city like Worcester as a thriving pottery industry had better job possibilities for women.

Announcement of James and Mary Ann's marriage in the Worcester Chronicle, October 13, 1877, note that both of James' initials are incorrect

Marrying did not, however, necessarily make life any easier for Mary Ann, as she continued to work at Royal Worcester in addition to taking on many household responsibilities.  No matter how "liberated" James might have been by Victorian standards, it seems likely domestic management fell primarily to Mary Ann.  Without going into the details of past posts, it should also be noted that in the Victorian household, cooking, cleaning etc was both more time consuming and physically demanding than today.  The all day nature of doing laundry is just one example.

Child bearing was also expected of new couples and Mary Ann and James first child, James William Ricketts Winder, was born on July 15, 1878 at Kingston Terrace in Worcester.  Childbirth was probably safer in urban Worcester than in rural Arley Kings, but the experience was still difficult and dangerous at least by modern standards.  Over the next 11 years, Mary Ann and James had three more children, all girls, Edith May Ricketts Winder (1882), Elsie Ricketts Winder (1886) and Florence May Winder (1889).  Of interest is the fact that the first three children have their father's mother's maiden name as part of their name.This may have been a Victorian era type of hyphenated name which was passed on until it stopped, for whatever reason, with Florence.

Mary Ann and son James about 1879-1880 - one of the earliest surviving pictures of the Winders

In any event Mary Ann combined  family and a career and as a china painter was probably paid reasonably well.  In April of 1892, she resigned from Royal Worcester, not to stay at home (at least not in Worcester), but to prepare for a transatlantic voyage which about a month later would find Mary Ann and the four children at the newly built Ellis Island immigration facility in New York harbor.  At some point in the prior six months, James had gone on ahead to find work and look for a home for his young family.  For that period, Mary Ann was a Victorian single parent, working, taking care of four children and preparing for the move to the United States.

Royal Worcester Porcelain Works in 1891, not long before Mary Ann left her job

How did Mary Ann feel about leaving Worcester and, more importantly, her family?  We can only hope that the decision to emigrate was a joint one, believed in equally by husband and wife.  Mary Ann was making by far the biggest sacrifice in terms of family.   As far as is known, James only surviving relative was his mother, who would ultimately join them in the United States.   Mary Ann, on the other hand, left behind both parents, three sisters and four nieces and nephews.  The fact that Mary Ann made at least four trips to England between 1895 and 1914 demonstrates she was close with her family.  Only 34 in 1892, Mary Ann would spend the vast majority of the next 50 years, not only in a new city, but also in a new country.

Enter the Hudsons

The marriage of James R. Winder and Mary Ann Hudson on October 11, 1877 brought together two families relatively new to Worcester.  Unlike the Winders however, the Hudsons didn't follow the country to city migration pattern so typical of Victorian England in the last half of the 19th century.  In fact, James Hudson, Mary Ann's father, was born on June 13, 1838 in Birmingham, one of England's largest cities.  According to the birth certificate, William Hudson, James' father, was a day laborer, a none too financially rewarding occupation, suggesting the family moved to Worcester in search of better job prospects.  In any event, by 1851, the Hudsons were living in the Bromley buildings in St. Martin's parish in Worcester.  All told there were six of them, William and Frances, along with four children, James, John, Thomas and Sarah.

James Hudson's 1838 Birth Certificate

William was now employed as an ostler (a horse stable hand) while at 13, James was bringing in some income as a glover, a major Worcester industry.  James may have gotten more from his job than weekly pay as six years later on April 19, 1857, he married Mary Ann Allies, daughter of Joseph Allies (sometimes spelled Lies), also a glover.  Based on the signatures or lack thereof on the marriage certificate, plus census listings it appears Mary Ann had some formal education while James had little or none.  At 19 Mary Ann was a young wife and she quickly became a young mother about two months later with the birth of Alfred Edward Hudson.

Marriage Certificate of James Hudson and Mary Ann Allies 

Adjusting to marriage and parenthood at such young ages (James was only 20) would have been difficult under the best of circumstances, but the young couple soon experienced one of life's worst tragedies when their small child died only a few months later.  Displaying a resiliency like the Winders and Ricketts, James and Mary Ann rose to the occasion to raise and provide for a family.  Within a year, a daughter (our ancestor) was born and named Mary Ann, the same name as both her mother and her grandmother.  The new Mary Ann Hudson was the first of four girls born to the Hudsons as Matilda (1861), Ellen (1863) and Agnes (1865) followed in regular order.

1861 Census showing both the Hudson and Allies families beginning eight lines from the top, note that in this case the name is spelled Lies

By 1861 the family was living on Warmstry Slip in Worcester either with or next door to Mary Ann's parents.  Located on the Severn River and named for the boat slip for the Warmstry China factory, the area was probably not one of Worcester's best locations.  A decade later the Hudsons had moved to St. Andrew's parish, a part of Worcester where the Winders once lived and, although probably a step up from Warmstry Slip, still not a very desirable location.

China burnishers at work

Both James and Mary  Ann worked with Mary Ann following in her mother's footsteps as a china burnisher most likely at Royal Worcester Porcelain while James worked as a sawyer.  When china ware came out of the enamel kiln, the gold was a dull color.   The china burnisher wiped the gold areas with a moist abrasive powder called "silver sand" and then rubbed it with a blood stone or agate burnishing tool.  At the end of the process, the china had a "beautiful bright appearance."

Blood stone burnishing tool 

While the job title burnisher suggests what's involved, sawyer is even a more literal description of someone who saws wood.  My guess is sawyers were less skilled than carpenters, basically cutting wood into the numerous sizes and shapes needed for construction and building applications.  Daughter Mary Ann is listed on the census as a scholar at age 12, suggesting her parents had sufficient income so their daughters didn't leave school at 10, the earliest permissible age.  Mary Ann did start working shortly after the census day, but, as we shall see, she was able to wait for a more promising occupation.

James apparently also had time to do more than just work as in the late 1870's, he and brother John were members of Court Sylvan and Pride of the Park Chapter of the Ancient Order of Foresters.  This friendly society offered its members a means to put money away in case of illness or disability.  If the organization sounds familiar that is because James R Winder was also a member after his 1877 marriage. The two brothers were also about share something else - a new occupation.

Worcester Chronicle - June 5, 1880 describing James' run in with the authorities

Like the Winder family, the Hudson's clearly wanted to upgrade their economic and social status.  While William and Mary Winder chose to become green grocers, both John and James Hudson became licensed victualers or pub landlords, a licensed victualer is simply someone licensed to sell alcohol.  On May 3, 1880 James purchased the license to the Crown Inn in the Tallow Hill section of Worcester and found out fairly quickly that his new profession was closely monitored. That same month he was charged with selling brandy to a woman outside of legal opening hours.  Fortunately the complaint was dismissed since the sale was for medicinal purposes.   This may or may not have been the truth, but the Victorians believed brandy could be used effectively for such purposes.  In any event, pub keeping was a step up in status for the Hudsons, moving from working class to what could be construed as lower middle class.

 Picture taken in 2000 of 1 Alston Villa, Stanley Road, the Hudsons retirement home

By the time the Hudsons took over the Crown Inn, daughter Mary Ann was a wife and mother living on her own with James R. and their young son, James W., born in 1878.  Pub keeping had at least ended her mother's days as a china burnisher, neither mother nor daughters Ellen and Agnes had occupations listed on the 1881 census, suggesting the Crown Inn was  family operation.  James continued working as a sawyer so the family had multiple sources of income.  

Death Certificate for Mary Ann Hudson 

James operated his pub at least through 1896, but by the 1901 census, he is listed as a retired pub owner.  As noted previously few Victorians could afford to retire and interestingly, James brother, John, also retired from his pub.  It's not clear exactly what James actually owned as a contemporary newspaper article suggested that James owned a license, but not the land and building.  After vacating the Crown Inn, James and Mary moved to the new and relatively nearby Alston Villa homes which still exist today.  The Crown Inn was renamed the Crown and Anchor during the 1930's, became a private home during World War II and was subsequently torn down.

Death Certificate for James Hudson 

Mary Ann's three sisters married with Matilda (Watkins) and Agnes (Hardman) having two children apiece while Ellen married, but if she had children none were living in 1909.  Mary Ann Hudson died on February 12, 1904 of pneumonia at the age of 64.  James lived on until 1909 dying on June 13th of chronic Bright's disease at 71.  James' affairs were complicated enough that he had a will made up about three months before his death.  In it he left 100 pounds (about $500) to each of his eight grandchildren with the net balance of his estate to be divided among his four daughters.  One personal effect mentioned is his wife's watch and chain which went to Mary Ann Winder now living in the United States suggesting it may have had their common name engraved on it.

First page of James Hudson's will - notice that the four grandchildren are listed as Winders while his daughter, Mary Ann is listed as Winder

However the probate accounting of the will indicates a different result than what James intended showing a gross estate of 3604 pounds ($18000), but a net value of only 690 pounds ($3450), meaning that he died with liabilities of about 3000 pounds.  If correct, and there's no reason to believe it isn't correct, the eight grand children would have divided the 690 pounds for about 86 pounds ($430) each while Mary Ann and her three sisters got nothing.  This just adds to the confusion of how James could have retired and made a will out three months before he died without really taking into account his debts.  One possibility suggested by a genealogist in Worcester is that James invested the proceeds of the license sale into the Alston Villa homes financing the balance with a mortgage.  He and Mary Ann could have then used the rental income to finance their retirement and he may have believed the properties were worth more than they proved to be.  It's a mystery which most likely will never be resolved, but the most valuable thing James and Mary Ann Hudson left their heirs was not money, but their example of raising and providing for a family.

Taking a Break

Winder family history will be taking a break for a few weeks.  Hopefully around 9/15, but no later than 10/1, we'll resume with the story of Mary Ann Hudson (James R Winder's wife) and their four children, both in England and the United States.  Thanks for reading.

Last Things

How much the loss of James' income effected William and Mary is questionable.  In addition to the downward trend in prices, there is other evidence suggesting they were in a position to absorb the loss.  Based on the 1871 census, the Winders had three sources of income; William's pension, his wages at Royal Worcester Porcelain and the income from their shop.  At some point after 1871, but prior to 1881, William moved up the wage scale at the pottery by becoming a slip maker.  Slip is simply clay mixed with water and other materials, for example, bone, which the potter uses to make china ware.

Royal Worcester Porcelain Works about 1890

Exactly how much of a promotion this was for William is not clear.  If slip making in Worcester was similar to Trenton, then the slip maker was the one skilled worker in the department.  His role was to know the "secret formula" for the slip.  Supposedly the slip maker confirmed the quality of the slip by crunching it between his teeth!  It's also possible, however, that the census listing was short hand for unskilled workers who weighed the ingredients on a scale (based on instructions from the slip maker) and then shoveled it into large tubs fitted with rotating paddles.  After adding water, some combination of men, horses and steam stirred the slip which was then passed (by hand or machine) through sifting devices and magnets to remove rubbish and metal.  Slip kilns or filter presses next forced the water from the mixture, leaving the end form of the slip which was then aged for up to 12 months.

Drawing of slip room of the type where William Winder worked

How much William's wages changed by his new responsibilities depended on whether he was a skilled slip maker or another laborer in the room.  From what we know about William, it's not hard to visualize him either being entrusted with a "secret formula" or simply providing steady and responsible physical labor.  Either way his wages probably increased to some degree.  There was a downside to slip making, however, as it was described as an "unwholesome occupation" due to the "dense aqueous vapor" produced by boiling the slip in the kiln.  Sufficient exposure usually led to chronic bronchitis and few men could work past 60.

Photo of slip room at Royal Worcester Porcelain

By the date of the 1881 census, William and Mary were still living on Northfield Street with Mary's occupation listed as shop keeper.  The shop may have also functioned as a form of day care for their first grandchild, James William Winder born two years earlier.  The Winders also had a lodger, possibly occupying James' old room and providing some additional income.  Unfortunately, to date, no record of William has been found for the next 10 years.  By February of 1891 the Winders had moved a few blocks to Southfield Street and there William died on February 25, 1891, perhaps, not surprisingly, of chronic bronchitis.  Since William died before the 1891 census, we don't know if he was still working or had chosen/been forced to stop working because of ill health.  While Victorian working men seldom had the option to retire, the combination of a military pension and some rental income might have been sufficient for William to have enjoyed some well earned leisure.

William Winder's Death Certificate

What can be said of William Winder's life?  While we know nothing of his early years, it would be hard to create a life in fiction like his was in fact.  At a time when moving from the country to the city was a big step, William traveled half way around the world and beat the odds by coming back again.  While his exact role and responsibility is unclear, he married a young woman with two small children and was the father and husband in a difficult and challenging environment.  At the time of his death, his widow was financially independent and his son and family were making their own way in the world.  Perhaps in considering their own future, James and Mary Ann found courage and fortitude in William's example.

Section of 1891 British Census showing Mary Winder (number 144 on left) "living on own means" with two boarders and 12 year old grandson, James W. Winder

When William died, Mary lost more than her husband of almost 30 years as William's military pension died with him.  By that point, however, Mary couldn't have been doing too badly financially as the 1891 census states she was "living on own means"  It's an unfortunately vague statement which reminds me of references in Victorian novels to woman with money (capital) of their own.  That would hardly seem the case here so its hard to understand what "own means" is in this context.  A further clue is provided by the census, in 1891 Mary has two lodgers compared to one in 1881.  Also living with her is grandson, James William Winder, suggesting at least one additional room in the home.  Five years later, Mary's name appears in the Kelly's Directory of Worcestershire, still on Southfield Street, on a list of people with apartments to rent.

Portion of a page from the Kelly's 1896 Directory of Worcester showing Mary Winder (highlighted) of 42 Southfield Street with apartments to rent

What this suggests is that Mary and William owned a building on Southfield Street and rented out some of the space.  Property ownership by working class people was, however, very rare which makes this logical probability, less likely.  Another possibility is that Mary was a sort of on-site rental agent, who lived free in exchange for rental management responsibilities.  Like many things about William and Mary, it's unclear, but it seems Mary had financial means after William's death.

Also surprising is Mary's decision to stay in Worcester rather than accompanying James, Mary Ann and the children to the United States.  As far as we know, she had no other family in England although she probably formed many relationships during her 30 years in Worcester.  Also present in Worcester were the Hudsons, parents and siblings of James' wife, Mary Ann.  Interestingly at least three time in the 1890's, Mary Ann and some of her daughters returned to Worcester, presumably to visit her own family as well as Mary Winder.

Page from 1901 Trenton Directory showing Mary Winder living at 331 Rutherford Avenue with son James R and grandson, James W. 

In any event in 1899, Mary Winder (Ricketts) left England and joined her son's family in Trenton.  Perhaps not surprisingly for the Winders, there is no record of her arrival at Ellis Island.  Mary was 64 at the time, but to date no information has been found indicating whether the move was a form of retirement or because of  illness or incapacity of some kind.  Her name does not appear in the Trenton newspapers during the period, but she was listed in Trenton city directories as William's widow.  Finally on February 14, 1910, Mary died at the age of 75, less than two months before her son.  In perhaps a final example of the Winders ability to fly below the radar, there is no record her death was ever reported to the local authorities even though the obituary and funeral were reported in the Trenton newspapers.

Mary Winder's obituary from the Trenton Evening Times of February 15, 1910.  Her age is incorrectly listed as 70, she was 75 at the time of her death.

Like her husband, Mary lived an exceptional life from her birth in an obscure English village to her death in urban Trenton more than 3000 miles away.  It's unfortunate we know so little of whether what happened to her was by accident, choice or some combination of the two.  Either way the full story of her life demonstrates that whatever adversity she faced, Mary Winder had the strength and the resilience to recover and move on.  Certainly a worthy model and example for her descendants.

Life in Mid to Late Victorian Worcester

What was life like in the second half of the 19th century in Worcester?  Conditions in all Victorian industrial towns were "grimy."  Fires and furnaces fueled by wood and coal were constantly burning, not just to operate machinery in factories, but also for residential heat and cooking.  The result was many "belching chimneys" at a time when work and home were in close proximity.  Coal although still expensive, was more readily available thanks to the railroad which after 1852 also provided milk and vegetables that were of better quality and more affordable.  This also facilitated the Winders new occupation as green grocers.

Picture of Victorian industrial town illustrating the amount of smoke and the proximity of houses to factories

The Winders home on Northfield Street was most likely rented, heated by gas or wood and lit by oil, tallow and paraffin.  Typically the street door would have opened on a living room which served as a parlor and kitchen.  It's not clear if the Winders shop and residence were in the same building, if so, the shop would have been on the ground floor with the residence on the second.

Modern view of houses on Northfield Street

Either in that second floor residence or more commonly on the first floor was the kitchen where Mary cooked either over an open fire or on a small range.  Most of this would have been broiling and frying with the family dependent on a local baker for baking and roasting much like the Cratchits in A Christmas Carol.  In addition to the cooking, Mary probably did all of the shopping, cleaning, mending and washing.  Washing itself was a major operation, both time consuming and physically demanding.

Victorian Cooking Range

In a society where most people worked 10 hours a day and had only 53 days off a year, we tend to think of the Victorian life as all work and no play.  The Winders had a different frame of reference and given the lack of long commutes - evenings, Sundays and the occasional holiday gave them some leisure time or at least more than their predecessors.  At the heart of Victorian entertainment was the music hall which began in England in the early 1850's and by the 1860's there were at least two such establishments operating in Worcester.  Other forms of entertainment such as all male singing groups became popular through music halls which may be where James first witnessed what would become one of his passions.  Of special note were two 1867 visits to Worcester by Charles Dickens himself who did public readings from A Christmas Carol and The Pickwick Papers.  

Worcester Chronicle, April 17, 1867 account of Charles Dickens visit to Worcester just three years before his death.

Sundays were, of course, free of work, but because of strict Sabbath laws and customs most activities were church related.  While we don't know how religious the Winders were, their marriage, as well as that of son James, in a congregational chapel suggests any religious activities were non-conformist, not Church of England.  In spite of the differences between these two Protestant denominations, one historian claims there was little difference between the beliefs of ordinary members.  These included belief in a personal God who was a stern and loving father with Heaven as a "state of future bliss" and Hell for the wicked.  Humans or "man" in Victorian parlance had a sinful nature, but could be saved by God's grace.  Typically congregational chapels held two worship services every Sunday plus a Sunday school, for both children and adults which taught basic skills as well as religious subjects.  Perhaps it's just as well so much time was spent in church since not being able to do anything for enjoyment on their one day off was a source of frustration for many Victorians.  Looking backward, one woman who grew up in the Victorian era recalled that every Sunday afternoon, it seemed like the clock was stuck at 3:00.

1867 Ad for Worcester Music Hall - original is off center

If there was such a community of belief, it became part of popular culture through hymns and hymn singing, not the Bible or the prayer book.  One example is the great Victorian hymn, "Abide With Me," which doesn't express as specific creed, but offers assurance without demands.  Interestingly that was one of the hymns we sang at Ruth Winder Healey's funeral.

Defining time periods as mid or late Victorian is very arbitrary and those who actually lived at the time, may not have even been conscious of much change.  1875 is sometimes chosen as the beginning of the late Victorian period and it does approximate some significant changes for William and Mary.  Just two years later, James married Mary Ann Hudson and moved out on his own.  While today such a transition might be more emotional in nature (empty nest syndrome or in some cases relief), it had a financial impact in Victorian times.  Typically when working class children, especially an only child, moved out, it marked the end of the most financially prosperous period in the parent's lives and the beginning of some financial challenges.  In the next post we'll look at how much this may have effected the Winders.