52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks:- Week 38. Fun and Games

 FUN AND GAMES

I have noticed that some of my ancestors, after retirement, having continued to work, but in leisurely pursuits.

Both 'Granny Swatridge's' husbands worked as deck chair attendants. Her first husband, William Richard Pitts 1876-1958, at Canvey Island and her second husband Harrison Robert Peter Swatridge, Uncle Bob at Bogner.

But for this weeks post I am writing a short post about a more distant ancestor from my 'Youell' family:-

 The Tatler 1901 'Setting Sail' Southampton Boat Pond 

History of the Boating Lake | The British Newspaper Archive Blog

John Soanes 1821-1898.

John was the eldest son of my 3x Great Grandfather, William Youell's sister Esther, who married Robert Taylor Soanes in 1820. John spent his life in Suffolk living throughout within 5 miles of the coastal resort of Lowestoft.

His occupation for much of his working life was as a hemp dresser, sometimes known as a 'hackler', this job was to seperate the coarse parts of flax or hemp with a hackle, an implement with teeth. 

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Whilst flax and hemp was imported in the UK, the better quality from Russia, cheaper quality from Naples, it is more probable that John worked with hemp grown locally in Suffolk, although the industry was in decine by the 1840's. However a few entrepreneurial families continued to produce high value damask linens. 

Alongside his work as a 'hemp dresser' the census notes that he was also a linen spinner. By 1881 however he had become a rope maker.

All these occupations were likely to have had adverse implications on his health, so it is reassuring that in the last decade of his life he was employed as the caretaker of Lowestoft model yacht pond.

Many years ago, I did find a photo of the Lowestoft Yacht Pond, however gettyimages have put a license on the same image, Therefore the cover photo is of Southampton boat pond, related to an article in the Tatler in 1901, which stated:-

The Joy of Model Yachts

Model yachting is pastime that is growing in favour. Every Briton has an infusion of sea salt in his blood, and if he cannot afford to indulge in the expensive luxury of owning a real racing craft the model yacht offers a very good alternative.

John Soanes, worked at the yacht pond in previous decade, yacht and model boat races were a popular pastime with Victorian men, women and children.

From Lowestoft Journal 1 Nov 1890: Part of Article,

'The Superintendent of the pond - an old veteran sailor'. This does not fit with John's working life. Could this mean this is a different man or did John make up a new persona for his new job?

A letter in the Eastern Daily Press 1st Feb 1890, from Giles Hall, Hon Sec. Serpentine Model Yacht Club, Hyde Park, help authenticate that John Soanes was working at the pond at this time.

'Mr Soanes is the great friend of all the young ones - ever ready with a piece of string or a stick to heal all their little troubles, without though, trouble or recompense: and however early I arrived at the pond all was tidy, sand fresh raked, and water clear of every twig. Yes! the right man is in the right place for once and I trust he is adequately recompensed for his labours.'

Another letter in the Lowestoft Journal, 14th May 1892 from Arthur F M Smith of Upper Holloway, London, regarding upgrades/improvements to the pond, commented.

'On making enquiries of your worthy pond-keeper (who remembered me from my stay last autumn), and upon personally sounding with my stick, I was disappointed to find only 9 inches of water.....'

Both these letters help give insight into the character of John Soanes and it would appear that he was happy with this work.