William Blaker, my 3x G Grandfather, was born in 1805 in Southampton, Hampshire. The Napoleonic Wars started in 1803 and the town was prospering as a consequence of the soldiers passing through the port. New dockyards were built along the river Itchen in the first half on the 19C and William trained as a shipwright, a trade that required an apprenticeship of seven years.
The Shipwright
Shipwrights built the external structure of ships and most of the internal fittings. They were also responsible for repairs when the ships returned to port.
The main tools of the working shipwright were
- the adze, to trim the timber
- the auger to bore holes in timber and planks. Wooden treenails were driven into these to join them together.
- A large hammer called a mall, to drive treenails in.
- Two-man cross-cut saws and single handsaws. Good sawing meant less work with the adze.
- Heavy axes and hatchets for hewing
- Hacksaws and cold chisels to cut bolts to length.
Iron nails were used to fasten the deck planks. Up until the mid-late 19C ships were built of oak, but as the century wore on ships began to be made of steel and the skills of the shipwright needed to expand.
The Blaker Family
William married Charlotte Eccott on March 17 1831 when he was 26 and she was 28.
They had 15 children together, but only 7 survived to adulthood.
| Name | Degree of Kinship | Born | Died |
| James Blaker | Son | abt 1832 | 1901 |
| William Henry Blaker | Son | 1833 | 1835 |
| George William Blaker | Son | 1835 | 1903 |
| Emily Mary Blaker | Daughter | 1837 | 1881 |
| Charlotte Elizabeth Blaker | Daughter | 27 Sep 1838 | 1909 |
| Eliza Ann Blaker | Daughter | abt 1840 | aft 1860 |
| Fanny Escott Blaker | Daughter | abt 1842 | 1917 |
| Eleanor Blaker | Daughter | September 1842 | 1842 |
| Matilda Jane Blaker | Daughter | 1843 | 1844 |
| Amelia Blaker | Daughter | abt 1845 | 1851 |
| Maurice Blaker | Son | August 1846 | 1846 |
| Kate Blaker | Daughter | January 1848 | 1848 |
| Harry Edward Blaker | Son | 1849 | 1849 |
| Alice Clara Blaker | Daughter | July 1850 | aft 1881 |
| Henry Blaker | Son | April 1852 | 1852 |
Census Entries
1841
In 1841 the family were living in Bevois Street in the Chapel area of Southampton (the census return did not record the house number). The houses were built in 1830 so were quite new. A map of the time, shows the houses have gardens. His eldest son James was 9, George was 5, Emily was 4, Charlotte was 2 and the youngest Eliza was 1. They had already lost a son, William (1833 – 1835). There was also 15 year old Elizabeth Blake living with them as a female servant.
1851
By 1851 the family had moved to the Northam area of the town and were living at 67 Northam Road. His sons James (19) and George (15) were both shipwrights apprentices. As they lived at home it is a reasonable assumption that William was their apprentice master. Apprentice masters got the majority of the wages of the apprentice and this enhanced the family income. The family group at this time also included Emily Mary (14). Charlotte (12), Ann Eliza (or Eliza Ann!) (11), Fanny (9), Amelia (6) and Clara (8 mo).
5 other children had been born and died in the intervening 10 years, Eleanor, Matilda Jane, Maurice, Kate and Harry Edward. Amelia would die later that year.
Between 1842 and 1849 William and Charlotte lost 6 of their children. There were waves of cholera epidemics in Southampton at this time and some of these children may have succumbed in those.
1861
By 1861 the family had moved closer to the docks at 133 Northam Road. Although this part of the town has largely been rebuilt since then and house numbers are hard to identify, we can tell from the census that the family was living near Union Street, as this was the preceding page in the census. The only part of this streetscape left in modern times is the Prince of Wales pub. I expect that my GGG Grandfather drank here!
A map of the area in 1870 can be found on the Southampton City Council site.
It can be seen from the map that they lived close to the Linseed Mills and Artificial Manure works, the Soap and Candle Works, and the Northam Iron works which was next to the actual dockyard, and the river. The smell around there must have been quite dreadful!
The children living at home in 1861 were George (26) who was now a trained shipwright, Charlotte (22) and Fanny (19) – both working as dressmakers, and Alice (11). Also living with them is Charlotte’s 3-year-old daughter Amelia J Blaker, born in Lambeth, Surrey. Charlotte had married Henry Greatourex in January 1860 but it appears was neither living with him, nor had taken his name at this point.
William and Charlotte had also lost another child, Henry, who was born and died in 1852.
1871
In 1871 I can find no record of William Blaker’s family, although there are records for some of the married children.
William died on the 15th November 1874 aged 70. He is buried in the Old Southampton Churchyard. His wife Charlotte and son George William were later buried with him.