I turn again to my maternal side this time and back to researching life in the 19th century. The subject is my 5x great grandfather Thomas Thorpe, ancestor of my mother’s grandmother Gladys, and not someone whose memory lasted in our family despite a long and notable story. I became interested in Thomas thanks to a census entry which listed him not only as a glove manufacturer but also a Primitive Methodist Vocal Preacher. Finding a photograph of him shared online really helped to bring him to life.
It can be more difficult to feel connected to ancestors from further back in time, but Thomas lived his life less than 10 miles from where I live now and there are echoes of his endeavour and liberalism that still remain. The skill in textiles was certainly passed down through the generations – I’m told Gladys was an accomplished seamstress.
This is another quite lengthy piece, partly because there was a lot to cover, but also because I enjoyed exploring the wider context of Thomas’ life in Bulwell throughout the 1800s.
We Are The Balls 