Acock’s Green Star v Blackthorn- The Paulins and Football, 1881

Birmingham Daily Post, 12 December 1881, page 6

Acock’s Green Star v. Blackthorn – This match was played on the ground of the former club at Acock’s Green, on Saturday last. The captain of the home team won the toss, and elected to play uphill with the wind. After the kick off the ball was taken at once to the visitor’s fortress, and shots were repeatedly made at their goal, with without success. The Blackthorn then managed to get the ball down the field, and took a shot at the Star goal, but the ball hit the crossbar, and the home team succeeded in repelling the attack. Up to half time the game then was very equal, no goals being obtained by either side. Upon change of ends the Star soon took the ball to their opponent’s goal, and Stevens, from a well-judged shot, scored the first goal for the Acock’s Green Star. On recommencing the game, the home team continued to menace their opponents’ stronghold, and during a scrimmage Pauline nicely headed the ball through the Blackthorn posts for the second time. The visitors then tried hard to equalize matters, but were unsuccessful. No more goals being obtained by either side, victory rested with the Acock’s Green Star by two goals to none, after a very pleasant game. Acock’s Green Star: Goal, Adams; back F Pauline; half-backs, Jenkins, Gardiner, and Parsons; forwards, Langley, Grice, EA Pauline (Captain), Neale, Bradburn, and Stevens. Blackthorn: Goal J Phillips; backs W Phillips and Elliot; half-backs, Trout, Chapman and Blaymires; forwards, Smith, Taylor, Day, Fieldhouse and Large (Captain).

October 7, 2019 0

14 Oakleigh Park Drive, Leigh-on-Sea, c1911

And we come to a letter, undated, written by Ernest Paulin, with the return address of 14 Oakleigh Park Drive, Leigh-on-Sea. The house is probably the fanciest of the homes of Ernest and Emma Paulin. It still however conforms to the other homes, row housing, late 19th century, narrow. The difference lies in the windows on the first floor, and the slight portico.

September 26, 2019 0

Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, c1911

Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, no date – approx. 1911

[Note at the top of the first page]

You will have to excuse my penmanship. I over write myself when I get hold of a pen. I cannot make it travel fast enough to convey my thoughts.

14 Oakleigh Park Drive, Leigh on Sea E

Dear Fred,

You will be pleased to know that your letter + handsome enclosure came as an absolute God-send. I was just about on my beam ends – I did not lose my position with the Oliver Coy and there were no contributory reasons for me not being there now as far as hard work and a very hard man who came into the coy 5 years ago + took up the position of Treasurer (His Mother having put £1,000 into the business) are concerned. He is a Welsh socialist + has spent most of his time in Indian + knew nothing whatever about the business. The first thing he did was to try + learn + his (after a time) objective victim next was Mr Harding our then General Manager who was drawing too much salary – sic- I was at this time responsible for the Railways + Gov’t offices + Depts + of course felt uncomfortable too. At any rate he managed to get rid of Mr Harding. But he lost his head + no doubt there were contributory reasons for his going. The next blow I had was about two years ago when another £1000 of Davies’ money went into the concern + a buying agent from India came home bankrupt + (the man) Davies put him on my beautiful Railway a/cs so that he could deduct £1 a week from his retainer towards the liquidation of his debt.

[2]

Now, of course, there was nothing left for me but the Gov’t Depts which I pursued with a finish that even surprised myself + disgusted the swine Davies as he couldn’t quite feel the ropes. Soon I went until the first quarter of this year+ when he saw what business I had done, said that the Govt’ business didn’t pay. This is after taking all my lovely Railway contracts + handing them over to a protégé that didn’t have to go over the 11 years of hard work to keep going. I had my gov’t business in such perfect order. St M Staty Offices – Military = Naval + Civil Services that the Gov’t authorities asked the Coy to reduce the price of the machine with a view to a permanent contract. This Davies did + I had already one of the finest years business in front of me that I have ever had made solid. That meant that Davies discovered that he could save £250 in giving me 3 months notice with the privilege of taking up a minor position or rather losing my comm-n on the gov’t business as it was so splendidly tied up for them. That the cold blooded socialist comes in and said well we can do without a gov’t man for a year at least. So I did the hardest 3 months + the most successful ever I did since I have been pushing Oliver’s. Of course that absolutely killed his avaricious prig + meant me walking out with almost a broken hear. Consider working 11 years selling Typewriters + keeping

[3]

A growing home together + then to find that the only mistake you made was that you did your work too conscientiously + thoroughly. But if I had have had £1000 Davies would never have been in a position that he chuckles in to day.

My sickness you refer to was an absolute break down which lasted me several weeks. The disappointment + the brutal treatment I have recd gradually grew on me after the last six months terrific work that I had to keep very low. I was examined by two specialists in Nerves + Neither would prescribe for me, other than complete rest, fresh air + cheerfull coy. You use the word sick Fred I do not like it – everybody can work themselves to a standstill + not be sick.

With your great kindness in the monetary way I cannot thank you too much for what has been a rarity for a long time a letter from you; but what a surprise and a blessing the contents. My family are all well in health thank goodness + Emmie sends her kind love and as far me I can only subscribe myself. Your loving + very thankfull brother

Ernest A. Paulin

Hope your family are all well

I want you to understand that it was no personal fault of mine that I took the 3 months notice. I had done too much + tempted Davies to steal.

September 24, 2019 0

Ernest Paulin and the Oliver Typewriter Co, 1899

Ernest Alfred Paulin worked for the Oliver Typewriting Company in Birmingham in 1899 as a commission salesman.

For more about the company look here: Wikipedia

or here: oliver typewriters

In trying to find out what the typewriter Ernest used, I think it was this one…..

which dates from 1896, and was manufactured in the US. They didn’t start making them in the UK until the 1920s.

September 22, 2019 0

129 Ilford Lane, Ilford

Next home in the google mapping of the family of Ernest and Emma Paulin is 129 Ilford Lane, Ilford. From the letter written in February, where I got this address, the family had moved here from their home in Leigh on Sea. The neighbourhood has changed a bit since they lived there, and now has a bunch of shops attached to the fronts of all the buildings. Were they there when Ernest lived there? Not sure, probably not. If you take away the shops on the front of the buildings, you have the same kind of housing that they had lived in before. Row houses, narrow one window on each floor.

September 20, 2019 0

Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 1912

Letter from Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 12 Feb 1912

129 Ilford Lane, Ilford

12/2/12

My Dear Fred

I received your very nice letter with contents that arrived just a I was absolutely stumped. I have not been able to go out for several weeks now. I get chill upon chill until I am reduced to a skeleton + a very bad chest. Since moving to Ilford from Leigh I have not had one single week’s comfort, my usually usefull muscles seem to cry out that I have given them their share and give way to the colds. We had a ten days very severe frost as perhaps you may have read the cough I generally suffer from burst out with such ferocity that I have not dared to go out since except for a little while yesterday + I m making up arrears of correspondence

[2]

Severely indoors to day. I did hope to make a start somewhere this week but shall have to stew for another few days I suppose.

You know it isn’t nice when they seem to come for the rent the weekly bugbear + you do not happen to have it handy.

Just fancy you having care of Mr Mesher all these years it was a surprise to me. You must feel relieved now that you have done all you could for him + he now at rest.

Your oldest son is in the motor line Eh” and doing well too, I do hope he will follow in his Father’s footsteps. I need wish him no surer road to success.

I heard that you were about to retire some time ago and as you say I am the first to shout congratulations. Hat it all you have worked hard enough for a rest and it is a blessing

[3]

You lost no precious time in taking it. I was always afraid that you would stick at it too long.

The first day up in the City I shall give Mr Sutherland of the Ocean I Co a call + I am very much obliged for your kindness in sending me his card.

I had a short note from Harold yesterday to inform me that MY SON as he calls it was safely born to them on the 18/1/12 and everything satisfactory.

“Weight at birth 9 ½ lbs. Got a chest like a bull and 1’9” long (not 21” mind you) face like its mother (just fancing only a few hours old) Harold must have become an expert) but it has a Paulin head + limbs ah” ah”

You can just imagine the way he was in when sending the glorious news. I suppose George Ernest (that’s his name) marks

[4]

The 1^st step in the 4^th gen of a little known but illustrious family.

Dad + Mother, whom I hope continue well in health will be a little bit proud of the “Great Grand”: Eh” I can just imagine dear old Mother’s flush of pride. God bless her and her prayer of thanksgiving to be alive to assume the new jewel to her coronet.

It is pouring with rain from the NE + bitter again today.

If I could keep warm enough a sufficient time to get rid of this wicked cough, I do not think I should take long getting into my old form again in the meantime I am doing my best.

Haven’t heard of George or Bert for years suppose no news etc.

Kindest Love Fred + best wishes, Emmie sends love to Cissie

Your affectionate Brother

Ernest

[Note that Ernest died in November 1912 of Tuberculosis]

September 18, 2019 0

22 Britannia Road, Ilford – 1908

And the moves for the family continued – I have a letter addressed 22 Britannia Road, Ilford. I knew that they lived here from at least 1906, because I had read the files for my great-aunt Hilda [Hilda Louise Paulin Curtis], who attended Cleveland Road School nearby. I did research at the Ilford public library in 2008 and the school records that they had. Grandad [Norman Frederick Paulin] also attended that school.

The house is really like all their other houses – I swear they are all cookie-cutter!!!

September 16, 2019 0

Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 1908

Letter from Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 6 Dec 1908

22 Britannia Road, Ilford

6/12/1908

I thought that I would send you just a word or two with the “Ole” fashion Xmas card.

Because sometimes the writing means more than the card. Nevertheless, when you have nine years “trying to sell typewriters and a pen in your hand about once a month.” Criticism is barred. I nearly danced a “Reel” when I read the official announcement and I am indeed thankfull that you are still better off.

I hope that Bert will prove trumps, George must + will. Of course, I got news sometimes from the Dad + Mother and there

[2]

Is generally something of interest.

It seems hard sometimes that I quite alone here; but I feel sure I could do better out of this Foggy City – It is hard work. But I am not grumbling Fred, am not actually starving + with Gods blessing and the health that is necessary (which I have made a serious study of, since starting a new life back in the old country) I hope to see some of my family once more.

Nothing pleases me better than to hear that your years of hard plodding, thoughtfull life, are an almost assured success. I wish with all my heart that I could shake hands with you, otherwise, than on paper.

[3]

Business generally is very bad. The present government seem to indulge in fractional party politics, or “Locking up suffragettes”

I don’t know whether you ever see the ½ Mirror I send to Dad every day. Would you like it?

Just one more look at your handwriting. It will only cost gone 2c. Please.

Every Xmas I miss awfully away from our Family circle

Ernest

[4]

You will be pleased to know that Harold (who is 21 next March) is doing very well in his 3 years engagement in Weir Scott + Co, Valparaison. He started at £150 a year, with an increase of £10 during the 3 years and good prospects of a continuance of advantage after.

It is a pleasure to send his thanks for getting with the firm, and a further pleasure to know that his employers here feel the same as myself.

Rene + Grace are working now, in a large general supplies stores in Ilford here, and are very proud that they can pay for their own clothes. Hilda + Norman are at School. Norman is learning draughts fine.

September 14, 2019 0

Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 1899

Letter Ernest Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 18 Oct 1899

[Typewritten]

“Hillside” Farquhar Road, Moseley

Oct’r 18^th 1899

My Dear Fred

I will not attempt to express how thankfull I was to receive your kind enclosure, coming as it did unexpected and just at a time when any pecuniary assistance was more than usually valuable. I should like to have some good news from you and am looking forward to your promised next.

I wrote to George a week or two ago, which letter you might have seen, lettering you know that I have taken a Commission job on the introduction of a new typewriter, the “Oliver” on one which I am writing this short note; as there are thirteen typewriter agencies in Birm’m most of them with a ten years start or more you can imagine that there is not much in it but hard and disappointing work; when I tell you that it has taken me nine weeks to draw £4 you can fairly calculate the up the hill job it is. Nevertheless I have every confidence in the machine and eventually may be better; of course during the disastrous cycle boom here every body was in the cycle trade & every one had typewriters, so now that scores of the mushroom companies are gone, the market is glutted with typewriters of various degrees of perfection and price and these naturally very much handicap the sale anything new, and will do so for some time to come; but “Nil Desperendum”

You may tell the Dad that Red Cliffe House matter is concluded and that by to-morrow at latest I shall forward to him all the particulars of the transaction and hope he will found my stewardship of his interest satisfactory. As my letter to the Dad will be somewhat lengthy

-over-

[2]

I can embody any further items of interest in it, which no doubt the Dad will permit you to peruse. If you could have witnessed the relief that your kindness brought into our almost proverbially empty house, I feel sure that it would have amply repaid you for your kind thoughtfulness. I hope you and yours are well and that Piercy’s trip to Dawson will prove lucrative. Permit me to again express the hope that you kept on the near side of the Klondyke business and that your usual care and tactical discretion will leave your transactions well on the right side.

Emmie wishes me to convey her sincerest thanks to you and the little kiddies, who of course benefitted by your kindness have reminded me several times not to forget Uncle Fred’s present and tell him that now we have got new boots, we are going to school again and they will black their boots every morning and see how long they can make them last.

With kindest love and a hope that I shall get some news from Victoria again shortly,

Your affectionate Brother

Ernest

September 12, 2019 0

Farquhar Road, Moseley – residence

And so the google searches for family addresses continues. Today I present Farquhar Road in Moseley, Birmingham, where Ernest and Emma Paulin lived in October of 1899. I don’t have the house number, just the name “Hillside” which doesn’t work in google maps. So here is a street view of the road, which again features the same kind of late Victorian row housing, narrow, and two stories.

September 10, 2019 0