52 ancestors Week 24 (June 10th -16th ): Handed Down

From Amy Johnson Crow - Do you have a story that's been handed down in your family? Did it turn out to be true (or maybe have just a kernel of truth to it)? Maybe you have something tangible that's been handed down.

For this weeks theme of “handed down” I have decided to go with the Lackey males profession of Boot & Shoe-making. I have 4 generations that were Boot & Shoemakers and therefore they “handed down” the knowledge and profession to the next generation. There maybe others in the family who were also in the trade, but at the moment I have no information on them.

Before I start on my ancestors story, I thought I would share a few lines on Boot & Shoe-making. Shoe-making was one of the lowliest occupations — little better than labouring, and it was the usual employment for cripples or the infirm. Although it was highly skilled and labour-intensive, it was not very profitable. Many village cobblers’ shops competed with the local pub as a meeting place for intellectual discussions.  It was not uncommon for boot and shoemakers to have a second profession.  These usually involved other part time occupations in the leather trade. This appears to be one of the few manual skilled trades where techniques were not generally "handed down" from father to son, though there are a few exceptions – like my family.

On my Dad’s side of the family there was 4 definite generations of Boot & Shoemakers and one of my great grandfather’s grandchildren knew the boot and shoe-making trade, and was a leather merchant until the 1940’s, but he didn’t take it on as a career.

My 3rd Great Grandfather James Lackey born c1815 Saintfield was listed as a Shoemaker on his son Roberts marriage Certificate. To date this is the only link to his profession that I have.

My 2nd Great Grandfather Robert Lackey was born in 1845 Saintfield, Ireland.  He and his wife and eldest 2 children moved from Ireland to South Street, West Rainton, near Durham sometime after the 1871 census, on the 1871 they are at Pittington, Durham not far away.   On the 1881 census Robert is listed as a boot and shoemaker living at “LACKEY’s YARD”.  This was his home and work address.  He worked from the back yard to do his boot and shoe-making. Robert became a master Boot & Shoemaker with an apprentice.

My Great grandfather Gardiner Lackey was born in July 1881.  I am guessing that when he wasn’t at school, he watched his father and older brothers and cousins at work and picked up the trade, as on the 1901 census he is listed as a boot and shoemaker at his father’s yard.  Sadly, he didn’t keep it up as a career as when he married and had children he was working as an overseer at the coal mine.

My Great Uncle Cecil was born in 1904 and he did become the village Boot & Shoemaker part time. He is not listed on any census as doing it, but I have had account from a lady who remembers taking her shoes to him – “I remember going to get our shoes cobbled there as a child 75 years ago”. This was from a forum February 2020, so relates to 1945 roughly when Cecil was the last living there.

Over the years, as Robert’s sons became old enough they were also taught the boot and shoe-making trade.  4 out of 8 of Robert’s sons were listed as shoemakers on 1 census or another.  The 1901 census shows a few of them still living at home and working as Boot makers. Those that also took on the family trade were as follows:

* Thomas Jackson Lackey born 1868, listed as Boot & Shoemaker in 1891 and 1901

*  James Lackey born 1872 listed as Boot & Shoemaker in 1891 and 1901

* John Jackson Lackey born 1876 listed as Boot & Shoemaker in 1901

* Joseph Jackson (Robert’s nephew from his wife’s side of family) born 1858 listed as Boot & Shoemaker in 1881

On Robert’s wife Mary’s death certificate he is listed as a master shoemaker – the highest anyone could get in this profession.  Master Boot & Shoemakers had to know every single process involved in making footwear, from selecting the leather and performing it, to the actual assembly, finishing and treatment of the finished leather shoe and it also meant they had apprentices. 


a previous entry linked to the boot & shoemakers in the family can be found here: https://purplerosefamilytree.blogspot.com/2020/02/following-in-his-fathers-footsteps.html




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