John Thacker 1850-1898

Shopkeeper.  'A kind and indulgent husband and father, a warm-hearted and lovable friend, and a man of strict business integrity.'

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Facts

Date   Event   Source
4 Jun 1850   John Thacker was born in Sharnford, Leicestershire, the ninth child of John Thacker (37), framework knitter, and Hannah Thacker, formerly Ellis (35). No record of his baptism has been found.   Birth certificate - John Thacker
30 Mar 1851   On the night of the 1851 census, the 9-month-old John was living with his family in Sharnford. His father was a farm labourer. There were 3 older sisters and 2 older brothers in the house, in addition to his mother and father; also William and Maria Langton, presumably friends. (Maria Cheyney was born in Sharnford in 1831-32 and married William Langton in 1850.) Two paternal uncles were also living in the village - Richard Thacker, grocer and tallow chandler, and family, and Benjamin Thacker, framework knitter, and family.   Census



(Parish register - St Helen's, Sharnford; BMD index)
18 Oct 1851   His brother Stephen was born at Sharnford, and baptised 3 weeks later, on 9 Nov 1851. At the christening, the father gave his occupation as 'sexton and labourer'.   IGI; Parish register - St Helen's, Sharnford
Btwn 1851-53   The family moved from Sharnford village to Leicester city.    
23 Aug 1853   When John was 3, his younger brother, Stephen, died suddenly at the age of 22 months. The coroner's inquest concluded that death was due to convulsions caused by irritation of the bowels. He was buried at Leicester Cemetery.   Death certificate - Stephen Thacker; register - Welford Road Cemetery
(11 May 1855   Maria Langton was buried at St Helen's, Sharnford, aged 23. See 1851 census, above.)   Parish register - St Helen's, Sharnford
27 Oct 1857

   When John was 7, his 19-year-old sister, Jane, died of mitral disease of the heart, with which she had been ill for a year. She was buried at Welford Road.   Death certificate - Jane Thacker
24 Dec 1857

   Two months later, on Christmas eve, his 17-year-old sister, Mary Ann, died in Leicester Infirmary of diarrohea caused by ulceration of the bowels.   Death certificate - Mary Ann Thacker
13 Jun 1858   Just over a week after John's 8th birthday, his father, now working as a framework knitter, died of TB, aged 45. The family were living at 76 Russell St, Leicester.   Death certificate - John Thacker
22 May 1859   11 months after his father's death, his mother married John Doore, a 48 year old framework knitter.   Parish register - St Margaret's, Leicester
7 Apr 1861   By 1861, the 10-year-old John was living at 14 Neale St, Leicester, with his mother (who was working as a seamstress) and his step-father. His education was over, since he was now described as a framework knitter winder.   Census
1 Oct 1868   At the age of 18, he was married by banns at St Margaret's church to Louisa Lewitt Newton, shoehand, also aged 18, of Wilton Street, Leicester. His address was Birstall Street, and his occupation shoe finisher. While John signed the marriage certificate, Louisa left her mark. The witnesses were William Thacker (his brother) and Eliza Simpson (not known).   Marriage certificate
Jan-Mar 1869   The couple's first child, Annie Louisa, was born, 3 to 6 months after the wedding.   BMD index
27 Jun 1869   Annie Louisa was christened.   Parish register - St Margaret's
7 Oct 1870   Their second child, George, was born at 105 Birstall St, Leicester.   Birth certificate - George Thacker
2 Apr 1871   By 1871, John was a boot finisher living at 15 Syston St Leicester.   Census
30 Mar 1872   His son, George, died aged 1, of smallpox ('variola; not vaccinated').   Death certificate - George Thacker
Abt Jul 1872   His third child, William, was born [ref not located]   Death certificate says he died age 7m
20 Feb 1873   His son William died, aged seven months, of inflammation of lungs. The family address was now 30 Willow Street. John's occupation was still shoe finisher.   Death certificate - William Thacker
Jul-Sep 1874   His fourth child, Arthur James, was born.   BMD index
2nd 1876   His fifth child, John Albert (Jack) was born.   BMD index
Jan-Mar 1878   His sixth child, Ada Gertrude was born.   BMD index
Oct-Dec 1880   His seventh child, Edith was born.   BMD index
3 Apr 1881   The 1881 census described both him and Louisa as shoe hands living at 30 Willow St.   Census
6 Dec 1881   His mother died suddenly, aged 67. An inquest was held. The Coroner concluded that death was from 'natural causes; faintness'.   Death certificate - Hannah Doore
1882   At the age of 32, John established his own business - probably a small shop at 2 Palmerston St (see 1887 below). He was (according to later Company literature) 'a sound, practical salesman'.   Company booklet, John Thacker Ltd
Jul-Sep 1882   His 8th child, Horace, was born.   BMD index
Oct-Dec 1884   His 9th child, Lizzie, was born.   BMD index
29 Jan 1885   Lizzie died of 'atrophy' at Palmerston St aged 4 months.   Death certificate - Lizzie Thacker
Jan-Mar 1887   His 10th child, Clara Lynda, was born. The family's address at this time was 2, Brunswick Terrace, Palmerston St.   BMD index; White's Directory
23-30Jan1888   The family's surviving unchristened children were all christened.   Parish register - St Luke's, Leicester
15 Nov 1888   His 11th and last child, William Ernest, was born at 2 Palmerston Street. John's occupation was now Grocer 'Master'.   Birth certificate - William Ernest Thacker
22 Jun 1889   His uncle, Richard Thacker, grocer of Sharnford, died aged 78 of 'senile decay'.   Death certificate - Richard Thacker
3rd qtr 1889   His eldest daughter, Annie Louisa (20), married James Burrows, a labourer's son, later managing director, John Thacker Ltd.   BMD index ; Company booklet, John Thacker Ltd
20 Apr 1890   William Ernest was christened.   Parish register - St Luke's, Leicester
(29 Nov 1890   His uncle, Benjamin Thacker, was buried at Welford Road aged 76.)   Welford Road register
5 Apr 1891   At age 40, he was describing himself as a grocer, living at 2 and 4 Palmerston Street.   Census
1892   The following year, he appeared as 'Grindery Dealer and Shopkeeper' of 2 Palmerston Street.   Wright's Directory
Oct-Dec 1894   His eldest surviving son, Arthur James (20), married Mary Emma Wells.   BMD index
1896   By 1896, he was 'Emery and Sandpaper Manufacturer' with the business address 77a Gladstone St and home address 66 Erskine St. (From the clock tower in the middle of Leicester, go down Humberstone Gate (440 yards), and turn L into Wharf Street: first on R is Erskine Street and second on R is Gladstone Street.)   Wright's Directory; Leicester Street Guide
19 May 1896   His will was drawn up.   Will - John Thacker
1898   His business address was now 5 Shenton St (Albion Works) and his home address 358 Humberstone Rd.   Wright's Directory
1898   'A kind and indulgent husband and father, a warm-hearted and lovable friend, and a man of strict business integrity... His business unquestionably one of the largest of its special class in the country.'   Shoe and Leather Record
Mid-May 1898   He displayed symptoms of serious internal trouble. While the doctor told the family it was incurable stomach cancer, John was kept in ignorance, being told he had a stomach ulcer.   Shoe and Leather Record
2 Jul 1898   He died early on Saturday morning about a month after his 48th birthday. ('The end was a painless one.') The death certificate recorded his address as 358 Humberstone Rd and his occupation as 'Sandpaper and Emerypaper Merchant and Shoe Mercer'. The cause of death was recorded as a 'malignant gastric ulcer'.   Shoe and Leather Record; Death certificate - John Thacker
6 Jul 1898   He was buried at Leicester Cemetery (Welford Road, plot CM 703) 'in the presence of a large assembly of mourners'. The headstone [which was still there in 2002] was inscribed 'Not gone from memory, or from love, /But gone to our Father's home above'.   Shoe and Leather Record
(9 Sep 1898   He left £4704 15s 10d.)

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