George Weaver

GEDCOM Note

Occupation - Shoemaker

The story below came from a local paper at his time

The Boy
J. D. Turner
YEARS ago - in your great grandfather's time - if a youth had been walking on a certain sunny September day along the road from Birdwell towards Long Ashton Church and had reached the top of the steep lane known as Yanleigh Lane, he might have seen a man and woman with a little boy coming from the direction of Dundry.
The boy-he was sturdy for his age of twelve years was holding, tight, his mother's hand, knowing that he was about to leave her and his home for many a long year. His father carried a corded box containing a spare suit of clothes for Sunday wear, some shirts and oyher useful articles. His, mother had made him a cake and them were other goodies for him in the box. He was a brave boy, but his heart sank a little when they reached the top of the lane and walked towards Bristol-past where the Post Office is now-and entered a shop on the left hand side at the foot of the hill. The shop is still there and you can see it for yourself - the oldest of all the shops in Long Ashton, with bow fronted
double windows. It has a quiet old-world air of comfort and usefulness. Over the shop was a sign-"Cordwainer" Thomas Davies-Shoemaker"
On the 29th day of September 1837, being the first year of the reign of good Queen Victoria, Thomas Davies the boy and his father, had signed their names to a deed of apprenticeship, and because of that fact they had met at the shop. The deed bound the boy to serve Thomas Davies faithfully for nine years, his secrets keep, his lawful commands everywhere gladly do, his goods not waste, nor lend them unlawfully to any. To do no damage to him, nor, see to be done by others, but to his power tell or forthwith give warning to him of the same.
He was not to commit fornication - or contract matrimony during the nine years or play at cards, dice tables or any other unlawful games, neither buy nor sell, haunt taverns or playhouses, nor absent himself from his master's service day or night unlawfully, but in all things behave himself towards him as a faithful apprentice. You may not find it easy to understand all this any more than the little boy did at the time.
Thomas Davies on his part bound himself on the signing of the deed by the boy and his father and the payment by the latter of £5, to teach and instruct and cause to be taught and instructed the boy in the Art of a cordwainer or boot and bus maker. Also to find hint sufficient meat, drink, shoes and aprons, and-except in sickness-lodging during the nine years. Other necessaries were to be found by the father.
The boy was not to be paid anything until the sixth year. when he was to receive 6d per week and then Is.Od. per week for the last three years.
The name of the little boy was George Weaver. He wrote what is known as 'a good hand.' His signature to the deed shows firmness and character even at that early age. He served his master faithfully, and was regular in his
attendance at the Long Ashton Sunday School and Church.
On the 27th July 1842 he received, as a reward for study and good conduct. "The Biblical and Theological Dictionary"
edited by Samuel Green. sold by Whereat bookseller, Bristol, and on the 19th January 1845, a Bible, for continued good conduct and for reciting from memory a chapter of the Gospels. George Weaver became his own master and carried on the business of a cordwainer /shoemaker in Bristol for many years. He held through life the good opinion and respect he had won at his Church and Sunday School, and died, full of years, at the age of 78.

The Mother
The BOY (see March number) was blessed with a good Mother woman of fine. Christian character-who had him constantly in her thoughts. He had left her and his home in 1837, at the early age of twelve years. It was natural that she should feel his absence and look forward to his return.
She had been busy for many weeks, before parting with him, in cutting out and in plying her needle in the making of his clothes and underwear. Such work was not unusual in the cottage homes of the time. The packman Johnny Fortnigh was depended upon for supplies. Mothers baked their own bread and cakes and, if a pig was styed, in due time pickled the pork and cured the hams, The use of the modern was not for them. The spinning wheel still ran its useful round, domestic candles were made the tinder box was in use and thirsts were assuaged by home brewed drinks. Cash was scarce but they were spared the present day inducements and opportunities of spending it. The family relied more on the contributive physical skill and work of its members to supply the wants of the home it may be fairly said, perhaps, that this phase of English life and the apprenticeship system helped in the spread of useful practical knowledge in the building up of sound minds and bodies and in the making of character. The Master, Thomas Davies to whom the Boy was apprenticed had struck out in the deed, after undertaking to keep him (which he dlid) in meat, drink, shoes and aprons, the words " and other necessaries lie caused to be inserted therein the name of the Father as responsible for them. This meant that, during the nine years of the apprenticeship, the Mother, with an increasing family, worked to keep her son suitably clothed and in good hap. But there was joy in the making and in the thought that he would wear the work of her hands. It kept him in touch with her. After 1846, when he had served his apprenticeship, George Weaver, a boy no longer, urged by the spirit of adventure and with the courage to face the world, walked the countryside from town to town to Scotland, There were Trade Guilds in those days. He would report himself to the local Guild, show his Deed of Apprenticeship and references and get temporary employment as a cordwainer or shoemaker. He remained in Scotland for some time, then made his way to London and finally to the West Country and to his Mother. The Mother under the date of 7th April, 1853, had written from Felton "when you get to Leaden write immediately and if you cannot come home at I will endeavour to come and see you if I walk all the way. Your Father and myself join in our united wishes for your present and future happiness and that every blessing may attend you is the sincere prayer of your affectionate Mother," Maria, Weaver". In her later years she lived at the Post Office, Dundry. Three generations have served the community there in the office of postmistress - her daughter, her granddaughter and (now) her great granddaughter. Her great great grand daughter is living in the same premises.

According to 1861 census, George and wife Harriet living in Wales with 2 daughters who died.

According to 1901 census, George aged 75 staying at 14 Sims Alley, Bristol and working from home as shoe maker