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Hi - just trying to find a W E Gibson Bootmaker & Retailer (UK)

only other clue - a relative of above E M Atkins alive 1898

Bit vague - but if anyone has spare time to look I would be grateful

Other than England - no other clue

Just looked closely at a photo and the man is wearing a sash with Independant order of Manchester unity - which may narrow the search down to Manchester?

found this census has the name Gibson and atkin

William E L Gibson
England and Wales Census, 1901
Name
William E L Gibson
Event Type
Census
Event Date
31 Mar 1901
Event Place
Darwen, Lancashire, England
County
Lancashire
Civil Parish
Darwen
Ecclesiastical Parish
Over Darwen St Cuthberts
Sub-District
Darwen
Registration District
Blackburn
Residence Note
Hollins Grove Street
Gender
Male
Age
64
Occupation
COTTON WEAVER
Relationship to Head of Household
Head
Birth Year (Estimated)
1837
Birthplace
Darwen, Lancashire
Schedule Type
92
Page Number
16
Household
Role
Sex
Age
Birthplace
William E L Gibson
Head
M
64
Darwen, Lancashire
George B Gibson
Son
M
17
Darwen, Lancashire
Betsy Atkins
Daughter
F
30
Darwen, Lancashire
William Atkins
Son-In-Law
M
26
Swansea, Glamorganshire
Ethel A Atkins
Grand Daughter
F
1
Manchester, Lancashire
William G V Gibson
Grand Son
M
0
Darwen, Lancashire

birth to go with above census
aptism: 28 Aug 1836 St Peter (formerly Holy Trinity), Over Darwen, Lancashire, England
Will. Ellis Levi Gibson - Son of Rebecca Gibson, Single Woman
Abode: Spring Vale, Over Darwen
Baptised by: W. Dodge, Curate
Register: Baptisms 1829 - 1852, Page 70, Entry 553
Source: LDS Film 1526204

in 1891 he was a cotton maker

Jonsey -

where did you find these names?

They can't just have appeared out of thin air!

Is E M Atkins male or female?

Hi all, what it is - I have found a photo album with old photos in, there is one with a guy stood in front of a shop with the shop title Bootmaker W.E.Gibson & retailer on the shop sigh above the shop, the photo under it shows the guy with his family and he has a sash on that says Independent order of Manchester unity on it, the album has a dedication at the front which says E. M. Atkins with fondest love Xmas 1898, what I wanted to do was try to trace the family and reunite the album with the descendants, cause I know if it was mine I would love to have the photos back, I know it is a long shot but it would be great to do it.

if i could post photos on here I would

Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Oddfellows_Manchester_Unity


From what you say, Jonsey, there's nothing to say that E M Atkins was a relative of W E Gibson.

What are the other photos of? Could it be an album of (say) Manchester-related photos which just happens to contain one of the Gibson family, or does it seem to be an album of Gibson-related photos?

If you contact the Oddfellows archive through their website, they might be able to give you info re W E Gibson:

https://www.oddfellows.co.uk/contact/

https://www.oddfellows.co.uk/contact/

Worth having a read about the Odd Fellows - the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity was established at a later date. A distant relation who emigrated to New Zealand in the 1860's was a member over there, can't establish if he started here or not though, they said records would have been kept locally and without knowing which "lodge" he might have belonged to .......... Bit like the Freemasons which you may have heard of -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Fellows

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Oddfellows_Manchester_Unity

ArgyllGran may I send you a couple of the photos for you to see, there is a shop photo, a family photo and a wedding photo that are all the same man

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Jonsey -
yes, by all means send the photos.

As GG says, Mr Gibson may not have lived anywhere near Manchester, nor even the UK!

ArgyllGran - very true - I am getting carried away with the idea of getting the photos back to the family!

Photos received - thanks!

Well, (for the benefit of other helpers), the inscription on the flyleaf of the album reads -
E M Atkins
With fondest love from "Bert". Xmas 1898.

Then there's a wonderful photo of the front of Gibson's shop, with a man in a long white apron standing at the entrance (Mr Gibson ? Possibly aged in his 40's). The shop doorway and windows are covered (well, not entirely - there's plenty of clear window to let customers see the boots and shoes) in posters and other advertising matter.
"Hand-sewn boots repaired. Best leather and workmanship guaranteed"
"All kinds of repairs done on the premises by competent workmen"
"Little Duke - the aristocrat of boys' footwear."
"Dr Nelson's Loofite Medicated Socks"
"Nugget boot polish"
"Strong school boots".
"Depot for Bee Hive boots and shoes."
"Cherry Blossom Boot Polish".

To list but a few!

There's no house/shop number, unfortunately. There's a flat above the shop, and to the right there's a window with a lace curtain.

The next photo Jonsey has sent shows a family group.
The same moustachioed man, this time without apron, and wearing a dark jacket and waistcoat, lighter trousers, and white shirt (celluloid collar?) and dark tie. He has a white handkerchief in the top pocket of his jacket, and a flower in his buttonhole. He's wearing a very fancy sash diagonally across his chest. It has the initials I O F P G on it, and a picture of a large shield supported by two people, one holding a cross. At the bottom of the shield there are words, which I can't make out. Below the shield picture there's a large 8-pointed star, and a tassel.

Also in the photo are (presumably ) his wife, wearing a long, high-necked, long-sleeved dark dress with a big lace collar and scarf (jabot?), and six daughters of varying ages. Four youngish ones with their hair long, and two older ones with their hair up. All wearing their Sunday best.

It's obviously a special occasion. The parents are sitting on chairs, and the daughters are standing. The photo seems to have been taken in a corner of the back-yard of their house (maybe behind the shop ?). Brick building with a window with lace curtain, a wooden door (outhouse ? shed?) to the left, and possibly the house door to the right, at right angles to the window wall.


The last photo is of a wedding group, and looks older than the previous one.
Probably the same man, with his bride, in a garden, with various relatives grouped around them. Three women in long, high-necked, long-sleeved, light-coloured dresses and big hats - at least two of them carrying flowers. Three men, two standing and one sitting. One looks as if he might be old enough to be the father of one of the bridal couple. The other two look more like brothers or brothers-in-law. The seated man has two small children on his knee - a girl and another child which could be either male or female. Standing at the other side of the photo are two more children - a boy in a sailor suit, and a small girl.

Going by the look of the shop and the back-yard, they could well be in England, and could well be Manchester or other industrial town.
BUT could equally well be somewhere else which had brick buildings! The shop is double-fronted, with the door set back in a porch, The windows and doorway have curved tops, and the porch has a diamond patterned tiled floor.

Unfortunately, no clues as to exactly where in any of the photos.
No prices visible anywhere on the shop, so no clue re currency.

Re Nugget Boot polish:

"Prior to 1903, shoe polish was not well known as a purchasable product, nor was it particularly sophisticated. While sales were not especially high, a few brands, like Nugget, were available in England during the 1800s."
https://www.blancoandbull.com/boot-cleaning/boot-polish-history/

https://www.blancoandbull.com/boot-cleaning/nugget-polish/


Dr Nelson's Loofite socks were made in England, but sold elsewhere too:

Messrs. John Morgan Davis & Sons, 278 Bishopsgate,
London, E.C, have appointed W. R. Everett, Ltd., of Cape
Town and Johannesburg, as agents in the South African
Union for " Hernicura " trusses, Dr. Nelson's Loofite socks,
and their other specialities.
(Article dated 1914)
https://archive.org/stream/b19974760M1899/b19974760M1899_djvu.txt

So -

from the album and photos, we can't tell if E M Atkins was a relative of the Gibsons or not.

"Bert" probably was, I'd guess.
But because of the inverted commas, "Bert" may have been the nickname of a female, for all we know.

We can't tell how long before 1898 the photos were taken. The clothes, etc, certainly look Victorian, but that covered a long span.
The wedding photo must have been taken at least 15 years before the family group with the sash, judging by the possible ages of the older daughters.

We can't actually tell if the man in the photos was W E Gibson or not - the shop may have kept the name of a previous owner. Or maybe the man was the manager and not the owner.

We don't know where the shop was - I'd guess England, but maybe not.

I don't think we're much further forward, unfortunately!

No idea if related or not- I'll try and look into it later if I get more time, but there is this add in 1920:

Cambridge Independent Press - Friday 08 October 1920

Bootmaker. Retailer. Repairer
W. E. Gibson
The Viscount Boots and Shoes for boys and Girls
Girls.

DEMAND CREATED the merit of the goods. Many people know what they want when shown them.

THE VISCOUNT, All-Leather Footwear, well known and highly appreoiated for price and quality, economy and comfort. Appeal to all parents with’ children.

A GOOD RANGE of LADIES' FOOTWEAR in stock, at prices to suit all. from 6s. 6d. to 60s. per pair.

GENTLEMEN’S FOOTWEAR of quality and durability, prices from 20s. upwards. Lines that can repeated and relied on.

FOOTBALL BOOTS, SLIPPERS, PUMPS, NURSERIES, RUBBERS. POLISH. LACES, etc.

Post Orders receive prompt attention.

Hinders’ Foot Supports, Shoe Trees, etc.

W. E. GIBSON (Discharged Soldier),
30, Bridge Street, Cambridge.
Student of Cordwainers Technical College, London,
Late Grenadier Guards, 25 years’ service.
STALL, MARKET HILL, EVERY SATURDAY.
-----------------------------------------------

If you use Google on street view, there are still shops on Bridge Street. I think number 30 is a chinese restaurant.
------------------------------

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar

GIBSON Walter Edward of 30 Bridge Street, Cambridge died 26 December 1933 Probate London 4 May to William Lancaster Robinson cycle repairer and Emma Maria Robinson (wife of said William Lancaster Robinson) Effects £286

(William L Robinson married Emma M Gibson 1901 Kent)

From that Cambs. reference, wondering if below?...

Chris :)

GIBSON Walter E Cambridge Petty Sessions 1927-1928 CD/CB/PS/03

https://www.cfhs.org.uk/index.cfm?tag=1

(Super Search)


British Army Service Records 1914-1920 Transcription (Find My Past)

First name(s) Walter Edward
Last name Gibson
Age 21
Birth year 1872
Birth town Bottisham
Birth county Cambridgeshire
Service number 4615
Regiment Grenadier Guards
Unit / Battalion 5th Battalion
Year 1893
Series WO 363


(has details of below on it)

Marriages Dec 1900 (>99%)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Gibson Walter Edward Godstone 2a 394
Wiltshire Florence Louisa Godstone 2a 394


Marriages Jun 1912 (>99%)
----------------------------------------------------------
Atkins Clara Gibson Godstone 2a 480
Gibson Walter E Atkins Godstone 2a 480


Baptism
County Cambridgeshire
Place Bottisham
Church name Holy Trinity
Register type Parish Register
Register entry number 486
Baptism date 05 May 1872
Person forename Walter Edward
Person sex M
Person abode Bottisham
Father forename Edward
Father surname GIBSON
Father occupation Labourer
Mother forename Elizabeth


County Cambridgeshire
Place Bottisham
Church name Holy Trinity
Register type Parish Register
Register entry number 254
Marriage date 23 May 1864
Groom forename Edward
Groom surname GIBSON
Groom age full age
Groom condition bachelor
Groom abode Bottisham
Groom occupation Labourer
Bride forename Elizabeth Sarah
Bride surname HARRISON
Bride age full age
Bride condition spinster
Bride abode Bottisham
Groom father forename Edward
Groom father surname BRADWELL
Groom father occupation Labourer
Bride father forename William
Bride father surname HARRISON
Bride father occupation Labourer
Witness Benjamin WHITE
Witness Sarah GIBSON


GIBSON, WALTER EDWARD (HARRISON)
GRO Reference: 1872 M Quarter in NEWMARKET Volume 03B Page 565


Edits (both Marriages on below)

All Surrey, England, Church of England Marriages, 1754-1937 (Ancestry)

1939 Register

Gibson Household (7 People)

30 Bridge Street , Cambridge M.B., Cambridgeshire, England


Clara Gibson 27 Apr 1888 Female Leather Goods Shopkeeper Widowed 51 1
?
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.

Jack L Gibson 13 Jul 1906 Male Repairer Bootmaker Single 51 3
Eric Gibson 30 Jul 1908 Male Repairer Bootmaker Single 51 4
?
Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.

Mavis A Gibson 12 Dec 1920 Female Unpaid Domestic Dut Single 51 6

Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
1 Edith Villa's William Road Caterham, Caterham, Surrey, England

Walter Edward Gibson Head Widower Male Soldier 38 1873 Bottisham Cambs
Rose Louise Gibson Daughter - Female School 10 1901 Caterham Surrey
Edward Herbert Gibson Son - Male - 8 1903 Caterham Surrey
Vera May Gibson Daughter - Female - 6 1905 Caterham Surrey
Eric Gibson Son - Male - 2 1909 Caterham Surrey
Clara Atkins Housekeeper Single Female Housekeper 23 1888 Caterham Surrey
Joanna Suttle Visitor Married Female - 41 1870 Bottisham Cambs

So he married his housekeeper