The Cadmans of Bulkington by Mavis Bowns
The Cadman family through the generations were weavers,
mainly ribbon weavers. I assume they left Coventry to go to Bulkington for the
ribbon weaving. In the 1841 Census they were living and working in Workhouse
Lane. Thomas Cadman, born 1824, was a silk weaver but in the 1881 census his
occupation was recorded as a “licensed victualler”. By 1891 he was recorded as
once again being a weaver.
My grandmother Hannah, born 16th May, 1858 was the daughter of Thomas and Mary (nee Whetstone) Mary died in 1862 presumably from weakness after the birth of her youngest son, another Thomas.
Regretfully, I never asked my mother very much about her parents but one thing she did say about Hannah was she had had a very hard childhood as she had had three mothers.
Gt. Aunt Mary in the photograph was Hannah’s older sister.
Hannah married my grandfather Henry Smith in August 1878.
Henry Smith, born 30th April 1854 was the son of John and Elizabeth (Wilkes) a widow (nee Parkes). When they married Elizabeth already had a son, William. This is the Uncle Bill in the photographs. I have had different members of the family saying they can remember Gt. Uncle Bill and Aunt Sally (his wife) and always with affection. I imagine that Grandfather Henry’s childhood was much much happier than Hannahs.
Henry was the first member of the Cadmans and Smiths who could read and write.
Before his marriage he lived with his parents and half brother Bill first of all at 24 Nuneaton Road, Bulkington and then in Coventry Lane, Bulkington.
On his marriage to Hannah they lived at The Green (now known as the Square). They later lived in Leicester Street. As their family grew Grandfather Henry kept pigs at the bottom of the garden, like most people did. He also grew all his own vegetables and in the end had three allotments. The photograph of him is as the entrance to his pig sty.
Henry and Hannah had twelve children altogether, only the youngest, Winifred, not surviving childhood.
Henry died in 1920. During the late 20’s a new house in Arden Road was being built - bought by Uncle Harry, for his mother. Unfortunately she died just before she moved in. Uncle Sid, Aunt Bessie and Aunt Doris moved in and rented it from Uncle Harry.
Emma - trained as a mental nurse at Derby. Married a soldier and travelled to Ireland and India with him. He died tragically. Shooting himself whilst climbing a fence.
Harry - went into service. At one time he worked for the Duke of Buccleuch in Scotland
And a family story is that he held the very young Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on his lap
(The recently deceased Queen Mother). He became a chauffeur and lived and worked in London. He did a lot with Stocks and Shares and as already mentioned bought the
House at Bulkington for his mother.
Oliver - I didn’t know Uncle Oliver but he went to South Africa to live and believe he did very well for himself He came back to this country and lived in the Isle of Wight.
JOHN CADMAN b. 1722 was born in Coventry and he married his wife Elizabeth at Coventry St.John on the 15th August 1744. All their children were born at Bulkington as were the next four generations.
The most infamous of John’s descendants was his grandson, another JOHN. b. 1771. He was sent to the Worcester county gaol to await sentencing for horse stealing, in 1 797. He was sentenced to death but he was reprieved before the judge left the city and was ordered to be transported
He arrived in New South Wales. aboard the Boswcll in May 1798 but although he was transported for life he made good and eventually became a Government Coxwain.
