Finding Mr Wright

Yes, I imagine they must have built over the garden and the vinery at some time. Have you found where it is on a map at all. John Yardley, father to Margaret did finish up with property on the west side, they do a lot of swapping around if property ! Conveyance by lease and release, and exchange of property, by which John Yardley of the City of Coventry, Alderman, and Katharine his wife conveyed to Richard Lander of the same, blacksmith, all those 3 messuages on the south side of Much Park Street near the Newgate, which Edward Fairbrother, clothier dec., father of said Katharine and Mary, did mortgage to William Keyling and Christopher Lander, butcher, in trust for John Yardley to attend the inheritance, and received in exchange the messuage and appurtenances on the west side of Much Park Street late in possession of John Cleavely from whom Richard Lander purchased it, 7th and 8th September 1710.

Another strange one. In 1867, there was an auction of all the newly purchased furniture and fittings on the premises of 126 Much Park Street which were furnished expressly for Major Heneage. Regardless of expense. Heneage was a major of the 8th Hussars.

Hmmm, these names don't match up with the Herbert gallery records at all. Though I never was sure if the pre-war numbering matched up with the post-war. The A B Herbert I can find seems connected to a general who I think owned the property that later became the Nave's Post Yard. It was adjacent to an area called Trickett's Orchard. It was to the north of my mystery house and Broad Yard, formerly the Coach and Horses, formerly the Black Bear.

The name of Abraham Burbury Herbert keeps cropping up in the newspaper. Again there is father and son with the same name. The father died in 1847 and the son in 1907. The son was a magistrate, Attorney and Solicitor. At his funeral James Marriott was a mourner. A lot of cases in the newspapers that he presided over also included an E Philips. Could he be a contender? He was living in New House, Keresley on the 1861 census.

I think it's likely. I meant A B Herbert in my previous post but my H for B correction didn't stick, sorry. That the Herberts, the Marriotts and the Philips all knew each other isn't a surprise. The bigwigs in business, charity, money lending, executors in wills and council members all seemed interconnected at each generation. Trying to work out how or even which property was which is almost impossible. Below is the stretch in question. At the bottom it starts with the Green Dragon/the Bell. That could be accessed from either sides and the yard north of it was called Bell Court. That pub was probably part of the pub chain from early on. The frontage were some of those that now sit on Spon Street. The north side of Bell Court was a weaving business. Then our mystery house, behind which the brewery was built. It's the front part that I think was Ashleigh House. The driveway widens and becomes a small road then the front garden and the next plot become the brewery's new offices. Next to the front garden is a two story jettied building with long rear extension. That may have been part of the mystery house ownership or something separate. It may well have been a silk weaving business and may have been the Charles Adams property that is regularly mentioned. Next up is a group that was originally the Coach & Horses/Black Bear but it may only be the most southerly building that was the Inn. The rest includes coach houses, stables, a very large malt house and several other buildings. The building on the north side of the gateway was another silk weaving business. That ends up in the Bray family. Next is the Knave's Post Yard, with two properties at the front and a small terrace at the back. What had been the garden was shared between the Coach & Horses plot and what was called Trickett's Orchard. That garden could also be accessed from a garden top left conneced to Earl Street.

What map is that one, Helen?

A copy of a photocopy of the board of health. With bits written on.

Aris’s Birmingham Gazette. Post copied from topic John Whittingham, horticulturalist on 14th Dec 2022 10:52 pm

I've copied Anne's clipping from the John Whittingham topic because it mentions him being settled in a large Much Park Street house, previously occupied by a counsellor Wheeler and we're back to 1770. Only about 30 years left to bridge.

I'm beginning to be convinced that it wasn't a Mr Wheeler but lawyer (as in counsellor at law) Francis Wheler, who moved to Whitley in 1768. His wife Jane died 2 Dec 1761 and three of his kids died - Abel was born on 12 Dec 1755 and died on 15 Aug 1756; Mary was born on 26 Dec 1756 but died on 19 Jan 1756; Catherine was born on 30 Dec 1758 and died on 24 Aug 1760. They were all buried in St. Michael's Girdlers' Chapel. He had another daughter Jane baptised 23 Jun 1754 who married Henry Hood in 1774. If this is the right man, were the kids born while he was living at Much Park Street?

For those of you who have done family history research, can you tell me if there are records of where people were born or living between 1740 and 1770? Not just 'Coventry' but the actual ward/street? I know that there were no censuses before 1800 and no birth certificates before 1837 but I'm trying to find out where the Wheler family was living before they moved to Whitley. I've got the birth and death dates. I've got where they were buried in St Michael's but not where they resided. I'm not asking for people to do the work for me but if you know what resources there are out there it would be great. Post copied from topic Family history resources on 2nd Jul 2023 9:14 pm

Helen, if you search on Google books, advanced search and search for Wheler Coventry it comes up with a book called The Herald & Genealogist. There is a bit about a Wheler family in Coventry and it does mention Whitley. It is very difficult to find addresses that far back unless they are mentioned perhaps on Coventry Collections where I found my Yardleys at the Bastille Mill and gate and Google books if perhaps they were landed people. I will have a look on my IGI microfiche when I have a minute. PS There are mentions on Coventry Collections Good luck Post copied from topic Family history resources on 2nd Jul 2023 9:15 pm

Thanks Anne. I know that he buys the land at Whitley in 1768ish but it's where he was just before that, that I'm interested in. I shall check out the book. The Herbert may well have what I'm looking for but that's something for a visit... The book is already useful as it refers to Wheler as 'Counsellor Wheler' and indicates that he was at the 1745 rebellion assizes. Champion again Anne

Update, I've now found a reference to a Much Park Street property transferring to Charles Adams from a surgeon Bradford Wilmer but before him, John and Charles Whittingham and before that Francis Wheler. That's certainly a file worth exploring. From Anne's link to the book Herald and Genealogist that Francis was regularly referred to as 'Counsellor Wheler' and that he was involved in the 1745 uprising assizes. Might he have met Thomas through the course of his work? Maybe in London. Between 1712 and 1720 there was a lawsuit - Thomas Wright et al v Coventry corporation over the handling of the Thomas White Charity. Far too early for Wheler to be involved but colleagues of his might have known Wright well. I can't find any evidence that Wheler was involved with the Thomas White Charity though. Francis married Jane Smith on 18^th Sep 1753. The last known date of the property in Thomas Wright's possession was October 1742, but maybe up to 1748 when he may have died, there's still a gap to 1770 when the Whittinghams took possession. Could Francis Wheler have bought the house in 1748? He'd have been about 28. So tantalisingly close.

Helen, I have taken this from a book called Warwickshire Worthies, it is from the memoirs of the life if Samuel Romilly. This appears in several books if you search for it on Google books. It seems that at the time of writing Francis Wheler was quite an elderly man. It does give an incite into the person he was.