SELLERS, DIXON AND MIDGE HOLE MILL

[Stanley]

The original black text below is taken from OGFB web site. The alterations are to make it agree with the details in Frank Sellers (1880-1961) red note book.
JOHN SELLERS 1792. (BROTHER GEORGE 1794) 
Born London, died 1882. Orphaned at 5 and 7 years of age, were sent by some persons to an uncle who lived in Barrowford, Lancashire. One story says they tramped it all the way with all their worldly possessions in a small box, brass nailed and covered with cowhide measuring about 8" x 8" x 16". John was apprenticed to hand loom weaving. He married and moved to Barnoldswick where children came to the family circle until there were 11 and their parents All of them were engaged in the domestic duties in their home of producing cloth which their father took to Colne market. This journey from London by these small children no doubt was undertaken with a party of people or carriers who were coming to Colne, at that period, the principal marketing centre for all the cloth produced in the Craven district and right up to Wensleydale. Their father [the brother’s] was probably a cloth agent in London selling for the Colne merchants and they probably were stricken by small pox or some of the other virulent diseases of that period. One story says the boys spent some time in a Free Mason School or orphanage. Certainly both boys could read and write, which at that period was a rare thing unless they came from well to do parents. 

The other child, earned his living as a man by bookkeeping for the farmers around Barrowford and Blacko . Buying eggs and taking them in a wheelbarrow to Burnley market. He used to live on Blacko Moor, but always hid any money, as there were too many robbers about, only taking from his little store when transacting a deal. He emigrated to America at the age of 80 and opened a school for farmer’s children teaching them to read and write. 

EZRA SELLERS 1831 - 1896 
Was the 7th Son of John Sellers, spent his boyhood helping the family occupation of hand loom weaving. Married early, he and his wife started married life on 8 looms in Bracewell's Mill, Barnoldswick from there he moved to Howarth where he managed a small water powered weaving mill. Unfortunately, it was burned down one day whilst he was at Bradford market. He was out of work, so moved with his now young family to Colne where he struck up an acquaintance with W. White, the founder of the loom making firm of that name, who at that time was engaged making weft forks which were only then coming into general use. White’s business began in two cellars formerly used for hand loom weaving. Marshall Sellers, elder brother of Ezra, had, at that time, a small water power weaving shed situated on the border of Lancs. and Yorks. between Foulridge and Barnoldswick containing 24 looms making wincyettes. Marshall Sellers died from a chill and Ezra was asked to take over the business but had no money how could he off 25/- a week as a cloth looker but such faith in him had another[?] older brother, who had no children, that he lent him the money to take over the business. But after a time the waterman who looked after the reservoirs that supplied the mill with power died and Ezra Sellers could not get on with the successor who wanted too much ‘palm oil’. So he began to look out for other premises and in 1882 moved into a portion of Holme Mill, Nelson, where they increased their looms eventually to about 160. His eldest son John going to Manchester on market days seeking commission weaving. At this period Ezra 1884 would be 53 and John his eldest son 25 years old. John had 3 children at that time, Bertha, Frank and Hannah. It was on one of these business journeys that one day he called in T. W. Rice, cotton manufacturer’s office soliciting commission weaving and there came into contact with T. W. Rice Junior, then a young man of 32. His father owned Croft Mill, Chorley with about 400 looms engaged in coloured goods manufacture. This mill, owing to the keen competition and more efficient and better and more modern machinery and very acute trade depression then existing in the cotton trade caused by the increased nationalistic policy of especially France by departing from a nearly free-trade policy to tariffs which completely reversed the policy of the previous 20 years.

[note at end of article: John Rice, b 1789. T Wilde Rice, b. 1820. Same name with two more birth date, (son and grandson?) 1851 and 1882. Children of John Sellers 1792: Elizabeth, James, Marshall, William, Charles, Ezra, Richard, Thurza, Alice. 

At this point Frank's notebook continues, it appears that all this text was written at the same time.

This especially affected manufactured goods, this was in 1881, and had a depressing effect on the Lancashire cotton trade again. In 1892 the French government became full blown protectionists again with a disturbing effect on the cotton trade.

In Germany the liberal tariff remained in operation till 1879 when there was a change in policy he(?) made a moderate increase in duties which tripled the customs revenue and at he same time took steps to avert retaliation by a series of commercial treaties in which they made full use of their prestige acquired by Germany in 1871.
Average duty in France during period 1881-1914 34%
Germany 25%
Russia 131%

Here there is a line ruled across the page and a new section begins

1925
Since the way the tariffs or scale of duties were substantially increased in 1925 this shook the confidence of Englishmen in the infallibility of Free Trade principles. In 1923 Protection was a definite issue in the elections, but the electorate were unconvinced, but during the next 12 years when the slump in world trade gradually developed and reached bottom.
A 33% anti-dumping duty was imposed on a number of articles such as fabric gloves, lace, wrapping paper, gas mantles etc. Colonial Preferences were granted in 1925 duties on silk and ??? thus making considerable [ is there a word missing – perhaps inroads?] into the British Policy of Free Trade.

There is then a separate note in a different hand which adds:

Moved from Nelson in 1886 to take charge of TW Rice's Mill.

This note is signed M.A.V. presumably Mabel A Vere, Frank's younger sister 1885-1980(?)


Tony Nixon 19th Oct 2010 tony@dudleyandtony.co.uk

[Stanley]

Bumped. The mill referred to between Foulridge and Barlick is Midge Hole on County Brook.

[Stanley]

Where else would you find this information? Worth a read as it ties in with our local history.