Thursday, October 1, 2009

Children of Joseph Bishop & Sarah Barnes. 1. Joseph Bishop



Joseph Bishop was the first child born to Joseph Bishop and his wife Sarah Barnes. He was born in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, in 1805.
Joseph remains a conundrum to me...his life story is a fascinating one of highs and lows, and certain events which occurred in his life require opinions to be made as to his character and moral fibre.I have the "facts" before me as presented to a court of law in one of these situations, but still find it impossible to make a decision as to what sort of a man Joseph Bishop was. That he was a proud, well-educated man is beyond doubt. He was also ambitious and took risks and chances in his financial life that generally succeeded but which let him down at the very end.He found love and happiness in his first brief marriage, and must have regretted his second marriage right up until his last breath on earth.
I have no details about the schooling and education of Joseph Bishop and his brothers, but Joseph in particular was a very well educated man. I have evidence of letters written by him, and his turn of phrase was certainly one of a man who had been well-schooled.
There is an entry in a 1839 Cambridgeshire Directory for "Joseph Bishop, Market Place, Whittlesey, Ironmonger, Tallow Chandler and Grocer". There is also a separate entry for J. Bishop, Market Place,agent to York and London Insurance.
I haven't been able to locate Joseph Bishop in the U.K 1841 census, but in the 1851 Census he has established himself as a Master Ironmonger at Market Place, Whittlesey.

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