Obituary of Arthur Stead Midgley (d.1894)

This obituary was printed in the Bucks Herald on 28 April 1894.

We regret to announce the death, which took place on Friday, 20th April of Mr. A.S. Midgley of this town. Until visited by illness, Mr Midgley was one of the most busy and useful men in the district. For about twenty years he was managing clerk to the firm of Messrs. Willis and Willis, solicitors, his insight into magisterial and poor-law routine was thoroughly to be depended upon. He was secretary to the Floral Society from its commencement down to three or four years ago; secretary to the Oddfellows Lodge for its first few years, and secretary to the Gas Company in succession to the late Mr Grace; also for some years secretary and correspondent to the United Parochial School Committee. He was in his time one of the best cricket players in the town, and took a great interest in the game.

This photograph of the Midgley family must have been taken shortly before Arthur Stead Midgley died in 1894; it shows his wife and 8 children listed in the 1891 Census, + Edward Robert ("Bert"), who was a grocer's assistant in Henley in 1891 (he later moved to Thrapston, Northants).

1891: Census
High Street [now no.79]

Arthur Stead	Midgley	head	married	51	Secretary to Gas Company	b. Sicklinghall, Yorks
Sophia Burrows	Midgley	wife	married	42		b. Watlington, Oxon
William Norris	Midgley	son	single	23	Solicitor's clerk	b. Watlington
George Arthur	Midgley	son	single	21	Ironmonger's assistant	b. Winslow
Sarah Jesse	Midgley	daughter	single	18		b. Winslow
Stanley Walter	Midgley	son		14	Solicitor's clerk	b. Winslow
Sidney Richard	Midgley	son		12	Scholar	b. Winslow
Charles Henry	Midgley	son		10	Scholar	b. Winslow
Donald Frank	Midgley	son		8	Scholar	b. Winslow
Harold Morley	Midgley	son		3		b . Winslow

1881: Census
Buckingham Road [now no.32]

Arthur Stead	Midgley	head	married	41	Solicitor's Clerk	b. Sicklinghall, Yorks
Sophia Burrows	Midgley	wife	married	32		b. Watlington, Oxon
William Norris	Midgley	son		13	Solicitor's clerk	b. Watlington
George Arthur	Midgley	son		11	Scholar	b. Winslow
Edward Robert	Midgley	son		10	Scholar	b. Winslow
Sarah Jesse	Midgley	daughter		8	Scholar	b. Winslow
Kathleen Sophia	Midgley	daughter		6	Scholar	b. Winslow
Stanley Walter	Midgley	son		4	Scholar	b. Winslow
Sidney Richard	Midgley	son		2		b. Winslow
Charles Henry	Midgley	son		6m		b. Winslow
Sarah	Norris	mother-in-law	widow	71	Baker's widow Blind	b. Watlington
Anne	Faulkner	servant	unm	17	General Servant	b. Great Horwood

1871: Census
Horn Street

Arthur S.	Midgley	head	married	31	Solicitor's General Clerk	b. Sicklinghall, Yorks
Sophia B.	Midgley	wife	married	22		b. Watlington, Oxon
William N.	Midgley	son		3		b. Watlington
George A.	Midgley	son		1		b. Winslow
Edward R.	Midgley	son		9m		b. Winslow
Frances E.	Yeulet	servant	unm	17	General Servant (domestic)	b. Dimbery Hill, Beds

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Additional notes by David Noy, Arthur Stead Midgley's great-grandson

Arthur Stead Midgley was born on 25 July 1839 at Sicklinghall, Kirkby Overblow (near Wetherby), West Yorkshire, where his father Robert was a grocer (previously a husbandman). The name Stead came from his maternal grandmother Esther. He was still living with his parents Robert and Elizabeth (who was also née Midgley) in 1861, when he was recorded as a brewer's clerk. His older brother Edwin was a teacher at Wisbech then, and got a teaching job at Watlington, Oxon., c.1862. Arthur followed him there to work as a solicitor's clerk. He married Sophia Burrows Norris (b. 26 Sep 1848), whose father was a baker at Watlington, and moved to Winslow as clerk to the solicitors Willis & Willis in 1869.

Apart from the activities listed in the obituary, Arthur Midgley was also involved with the Congregational Church (of which his granddaughter Jean Midgley was the last deacon when it closed in 1989). He was presumably a strong Liberal as a son who died as a baby in 1886 was called Ewart Gladstone Midgley. Kelly's Directory of 1891 lists him as Deputy Superintendent Registrar for Winslow.

According to the probate record, Arthur Midgley's effects were valued at £180 1s 6d. His executors were his sons George and William. The latter, known as Will or Willie, followed his father in working for Willis & Willis and in many local government and community activities. He was the secretary of Winslow United Football Club when it was founded in 1891, and a well-known local poet. He is the central figure in the back row of the photo above.

Anyone interested in the Midgley family is welcome to contact d.noy at btinternet.com.

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