| Dates | 1804-1844 |
| Lived at | Birmingham |
| Born | 29 Feb 1804, Birmingham |
| Occupation | Glass Cutter |
| Father | William Breedon |
| Mother | Sarah |
| Spouse | Maria Bagot (~1803-1843) m 1825, Handsworth |
| Children | Eleanor (Ellen) 1827-1872 Maria (1829-1872) Thomas (1831-?) William (1833-?) Edward (1837-?) John James (1840-?) |
William Breedon* and Maria Bagot married at Handsworth in 1825. Two years later they were in Birmingham when their first child arrived. They lived in Dartmouth Street where houses were three storey back-to-backs with a cellar, and a shared privy, ashpit and washhouse in a communal court onto which several houses faced. It was here that William and Maria Breedon had six children born over a period of 13 years.
William was a glass cutter, probably working for Union Glass Works just down the street making domestic glassware and plate glass.
Maria died in 1843 of an inflammation of the lungs, William followed 12 months later, dying of a stroke.
*The spelling is variously Breedon, Breedan and Breeden.
The Breedon Children
William and Maria left six children behind: Ellen (17), Maria (15), Thomas (13), William (11), Edward (6) and John James (4). They had little idea of their ages; they were too busy surviving.
Both Ellen and Maria were dressmakers in 1851 with their younger brothers employed as a clerk, saddler, and chain maker. The youngest, John was at school. It appears Maria entered domestic service shortly afterwards. This would have provided a more reliable income as well as lodgings.
Sources & Notes
Marriage: 26/12/1825, St Mary, Handsworth (both made their mark), Anc.
Children’s Baptisms St Philip, Birmingham, Anc: Eleanor b 11/5/1827, bapt 8/6/1827, Maria b 7/5/1829 bapt 13/6/1829, Thomas b 4/6/1831 bapt 1/10/1831, William b 10/3/1833 bapt 30/9/1833, Edward b 28/9/1837 bapt 16/4/1838, John James bapt 20/1/1841.
Life 1841 census William Breedon (35yo journeyman glass cutter), Maria Breedon (35), Ellen Breedon (14), Thomas Breedon (12), Maria Breedon (10), William Breedon (8), Edward Breedon (3), John Breedon (6 months) all born in the county.
Death of Maria (Bagot) Gro 1843 Vol 16 p137 20/11/1843 Henege Street Parish of Aston, Maria Breedon, 40 years, wife of William Breedon Glass Cutter, inflammation of lungs, informant William Breedon. Burial St James, Aston 26/11/1843 Maria, wife of William Breedon, Heneage Street, 40 years (Heneage and Dartmouth intersected), Anc.
Death of William Breedon Gro 1844 Vol 16 p147 William Beedon 17/11/1844 Godwin Street Parish of Aston, 42 years, glass cutter, apoplexy, informant Hannah Hately present at the death. Burial St James, Aston 24/11/1844, Birmingham, Anc.
Children’s lives 1851 census: Dartmouth Street, Aston, Duddeston, Warwickshire – Ellen Breedon (20yo head, single, dressmaker), Maria Breedon 16yo dressmaker, Thomas Breedon 16yo clerk, William Breedon 14yo saddler, Edward Breedon 12yo chainmaker, John James Breedon 8yo scholar, all born Aston Warwickshire. Note census ages are inaccurate in 1841 and less accurate again in the 1851 one.