Thomas Edward Bladon, born 1836 was the eldest child of William and Sarah Bladon, a dairy man of Kings Heath. His father William was the uncle of Thomas Edward the lamp manufacturer. Other children of William and Sarah included Mary Ann Bladon the head mistress of Mosley National School, William my great great grandfather and George who carried on the dairy business until 1915 when he died.

Thomas Edward married Ann Robbins in 1858 at Edgbaston and they lived in Bath Row Birmingham the same road where Thomas Edward’s grandparents lived after they moved from the countryside to Birmingham in 1830. Thomas was at this time a butcher and brewer of ‘The Bee Hive Inn’ 47 Bath Row. In 1869 and 1874 12 pounds and 16 pounds of beef were stolen from the shop according to a report in the Birmingham Post.

The following entries from various sources (trade directories, census, and parish register) show the following:-

1859 – 47 Bath Row, retail brewer
1860 – 47 Bath Row, butcher and brewer
1861 – 47 Bath Row, butcher and brewer
1863 – Bath Row, butcher
1865 – Bath Row, butcher
1867 – Bath Row, butcher
1870 – Bath Row, butcher
1871 – 47 Bath Row, butcher
1873 – Bath Row, butcher
1879 – 4 Cromwell Street, butcher
1881 – 23 Grosvenor Street West, butcher

Thomas Edward died in 1891 at 179 High Street, Aston of cirrhosis of the liver. He left his wife Ann £421

Ann continued the businesses, assisted by all her children. She is in the trade directories as follows:-

1891 – 191 High Street, Aston, butcher
1894 – 256 Witton Road Aston, butcher
1900 – 191 High Street Aston Newtown, butcher
1901 – 191 High Street Aston, butcher

She died on 4th November 1903 at her daughter Lillian Amelia Moore’s residence 6 Braithwaite Road Sparkbrook of chronic bronchitis. Ann’s will states she was still of 191 High Street Aston and had Butchers businesses at Ladypool Road, Balsell Heath Road, 234 Soho Road, 191 High Street Aston and The Farmers Supply New Heath Lane. She left £5339 5s 4d

The children of Thomas Edward and Ann are listed below along with their occupations

William Henry
He became a butcher and his businesses were at
1881 – 23 Grovesnor Street West, butcher
1884 – 53 Cox Street West, butcher
1886 – 72 Cox Street West, butcher
1891 – 47 Lancaster Street, butcher
He died 8 months after his father, age 32 at 47 Lancaster Street of sober pneumonia and exhaustion.

Catherine Emma
She assisted in the business after her marriage to John Taylor and died at 191 High Street Aston in 1905. On the 1901 census Catherine is assisting in the business with her mother and 2 brothers at 191 High Street Aston.

Annie Louisa
She also helped in the business until her marriage in 1903 age 39
1901 – 191 High Street Aston, assistant in businesses
1904 - 189 Balsell Heath Road, butcher

Thomas Albert
He was another butcher and also went by the name Albert
1891 – 12 Lodge Road, butcher
1898 – 23 Parade, butcher
1900 – 269 Coventry Road Small Heath, butcher
1901 – 269 Coventry Road, butcher
He is not with his family on the 1911 census in Smethwick. I also can’t find a death for him. His wife is described as married on the 1911 census

Lillian Amelia
She married Frederick Moore a tailor, though he appears to have become a butcher later

Ellen
Married James Phillips a cycle maker

Walter
He was also a butcher and his son Walter Edward became one as well after serving in the First World War
1891 – 191 High Street Aston, butcher
1898 – 36 Warstone Lane
1901 – 189 Balsall Heath Road, butcher
1902 – 189 Balsell Heath Road, butcher
1911 – 410 Lodge Road, butcher
1917 – 189 Balsell Heath Road, butcher

James Edward
He died young and left £3982 5s 1d to his widow. His businesses were at
1891 – 191 High Street Aston, butcher
1898 – 154 Balsell Heath Road
1900 – 154 Balsell Heath Road
1901 – 191 High Street Aston, butcher
1911 – 293 Coventry Road, butcher
1915 - 293 & 348A Coventry Road, butcher
He died in 1913 age 37 at 293 Coventry Road of chronic interstitial nephritis

Leah Catalina
She married Walter Hunt, a butcher
1901 – 191 High Street Aston, assistant in business
1911 – 191 High Street Aston

William Thomas
Son of William Henry and after his father’s death was brought up by his grandmother Ann. He left £1023 13s at his death
1901 – 191 high Street Aston, butcher
1910 – 122 Balsell Heath Road
1911 – 189 Balsall Heath Road, butcher
He died in 1920 age 35 at 189 Balsall Heath Road of bronco pneumonia and cirrhosis of the liver. He had also served in the First World War as an RASC butcher, which may have had some affect on his health. His widow remarried and it appears they carried on the business as in 1939 Bladon butchers 189 Balsell Heath Road. William had 2 surviving daughters.

Leah Catalina
Daughter of William Henry she married William Henry Edmunds a butcher

If anyone recognises this family, please contact me