Researching J Beagles & Co
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:00 am
Hello,
I am a Family Historian and am currently giving some attention to a member of my Tree, namely John Beagles. From census information, I have established that he was the founder of the Postcard Publishing firm J Beagles & Co. The facts I have gathered about him so far are as follows:-
He was baptised at Whaplode Drove, Spalding, Lincolnshire on 11 June 1844, one of 7 children of Samuel Beagles a Butcher and his wife Jane nee Booth.
The 1851 census shows that he was a scholar at (presumably) the Village School, as he was living with his parents in Whaplode Drove. The 1861 census still records him at home, but by now was a Pupil Teacher. This indicates that he was helping to teach younger children at the School.
We then have a large gap to 1881 as an exhaustive search has not located him on the 1871 census and I am wandering whether he may have spent sometime overseas. There must have been something that triggered an interest in Photography. A strange thing for a young man from rural Lincolnshire to take up at this time. Whatever it was, it had happened by 1881 as the census records him lodging at 40 Chippenham Road, Paddington, Kensington, London. He gave his occupation as Photographic Publisher. Looking at the household, it would seem that it was a Lodging House and there is no indication that he was staying there through family connections. Whether pertinent or not, another lodger was an Artist from Middlesex by the name of Fred Cowle.
The 1891 census finds him in Nottingham at 55 Cranwell Street, visiting one Thomas W Stevenson, a 43 year old Printer. Was Stevenson the Printer of John Beagles Postcards – if indeed they were being published at this time.
The last census available is that of 1901. He was now living at 9 Rockley Road, Hammersmith, London . It is known that he died in Shepherds Bush in 1909, so I feel that this was his home address.
Old Phone Directories reveal that he had a phone installed at 9 Rockley Road by 1902 and the entry shows that he was trading under the style of J Beagles & Co, Photographic Publishers. A later phonebook for 1905 records the business at 9 Little Britain, Holborn, London. This entry continues to 1908.
By 1909 the entry had changed to J Beagles & Co Ltd, Postcard Printers and Publishers still at this address. It is therefore clear that the Limited Company was formed either just before or soon after his death. Entries continued until 1936, and the Company was wound up on the 18 July 1939.
I am aware from Google searches that J Beagles & Co published many postcards particularly of Actors and Actresses but also of Street Scenes. I am keen though to find as much as I can about the business. Whilst it is hoped a Will (he never married)may surface that shows who the business was left to, and I hope to be able to track down the Company Registration No. required to obtain the Company records from the National Archives which should answer questions about the Limited Company, there still remains a number of questions.
When did he start publishing Postcards?
Where were they printed and who took the photographs?
How did the business start?
Did John Beagles take photographs?
How big was the concern?
Why did it finish? Impending War? Competition from Picture Post and similar publications?
Could he have taken a daguerreotype photograph of my Great Grandparents – his cousin and her husband c.1895?
Could he have taken local photographs when he started?
I have a photograph of my Grandfather on a Postcard taken in the mid 1880’s (?). My Grandfather lived in the next village at the time, but was entirely unrelated to John Beagles then. I also have a framed picture of my Grandfather's Windmill taken around the same time. Clearly posed complete with a Penny Farthing. Nothing is written on the back.
If anyone who has taken this hobby beyond that of Collector - i.e. has actually delved into the History of those resposible for creating the Postcards in the first place, and can shed some light on the business or can give me some pointers on any bases that I have not thought of, I would love to hear from you.
Even if you cannot assist on the history of the business, it would help immensely if you could look at the back of any J Beagles & Co Ltd Postcards for a Company Registration No. and also if you could between you come up with the oldest known J Beagles & Co Postcard and the most recent.
Whether connected or not, but the obituary (Peterborough Advertiser 28 October 1916) for my Great Grandfather records that:-
".....For many years he was Landlord of the White Swan Inn Midgate (Peterborough), where his wife (John Beagles cousin mentioned above) earned considerable reputation as a theatrical caterer, the principals of the best companies invariably staying there. It was understood that it was here, when travelling in one of the Benson Shakespearian companies Mr H B Irving became engaged to Miss Dorothea Baird, whom he subsequently married....
Can anyone tell me whether that was true?
John R G Bland
I am a Family Historian and am currently giving some attention to a member of my Tree, namely John Beagles. From census information, I have established that he was the founder of the Postcard Publishing firm J Beagles & Co. The facts I have gathered about him so far are as follows:-
He was baptised at Whaplode Drove, Spalding, Lincolnshire on 11 June 1844, one of 7 children of Samuel Beagles a Butcher and his wife Jane nee Booth.
The 1851 census shows that he was a scholar at (presumably) the Village School, as he was living with his parents in Whaplode Drove. The 1861 census still records him at home, but by now was a Pupil Teacher. This indicates that he was helping to teach younger children at the School.
We then have a large gap to 1881 as an exhaustive search has not located him on the 1871 census and I am wandering whether he may have spent sometime overseas. There must have been something that triggered an interest in Photography. A strange thing for a young man from rural Lincolnshire to take up at this time. Whatever it was, it had happened by 1881 as the census records him lodging at 40 Chippenham Road, Paddington, Kensington, London. He gave his occupation as Photographic Publisher. Looking at the household, it would seem that it was a Lodging House and there is no indication that he was staying there through family connections. Whether pertinent or not, another lodger was an Artist from Middlesex by the name of Fred Cowle.
The 1891 census finds him in Nottingham at 55 Cranwell Street, visiting one Thomas W Stevenson, a 43 year old Printer. Was Stevenson the Printer of John Beagles Postcards – if indeed they were being published at this time.
The last census available is that of 1901. He was now living at 9 Rockley Road, Hammersmith, London . It is known that he died in Shepherds Bush in 1909, so I feel that this was his home address.
Old Phone Directories reveal that he had a phone installed at 9 Rockley Road by 1902 and the entry shows that he was trading under the style of J Beagles & Co, Photographic Publishers. A later phonebook for 1905 records the business at 9 Little Britain, Holborn, London. This entry continues to 1908.
By 1909 the entry had changed to J Beagles & Co Ltd, Postcard Printers and Publishers still at this address. It is therefore clear that the Limited Company was formed either just before or soon after his death. Entries continued until 1936, and the Company was wound up on the 18 July 1939.
I am aware from Google searches that J Beagles & Co published many postcards particularly of Actors and Actresses but also of Street Scenes. I am keen though to find as much as I can about the business. Whilst it is hoped a Will (he never married)may surface that shows who the business was left to, and I hope to be able to track down the Company Registration No. required to obtain the Company records from the National Archives which should answer questions about the Limited Company, there still remains a number of questions.
When did he start publishing Postcards?
Where were they printed and who took the photographs?
How did the business start?
Did John Beagles take photographs?
How big was the concern?
Why did it finish? Impending War? Competition from Picture Post and similar publications?
Could he have taken a daguerreotype photograph of my Great Grandparents – his cousin and her husband c.1895?
Could he have taken local photographs when he started?
I have a photograph of my Grandfather on a Postcard taken in the mid 1880’s (?). My Grandfather lived in the next village at the time, but was entirely unrelated to John Beagles then. I also have a framed picture of my Grandfather's Windmill taken around the same time. Clearly posed complete with a Penny Farthing. Nothing is written on the back.
If anyone who has taken this hobby beyond that of Collector - i.e. has actually delved into the History of those resposible for creating the Postcards in the first place, and can shed some light on the business or can give me some pointers on any bases that I have not thought of, I would love to hear from you.
Even if you cannot assist on the history of the business, it would help immensely if you could look at the back of any J Beagles & Co Ltd Postcards for a Company Registration No. and also if you could between you come up with the oldest known J Beagles & Co Postcard and the most recent.
Whether connected or not, but the obituary (Peterborough Advertiser 28 October 1916) for my Great Grandfather records that:-
".....For many years he was Landlord of the White Swan Inn Midgate (Peterborough), where his wife (John Beagles cousin mentioned above) earned considerable reputation as a theatrical caterer, the principals of the best companies invariably staying there. It was understood that it was here, when travelling in one of the Benson Shakespearian companies Mr H B Irving became engaged to Miss Dorothea Baird, whom he subsequently married....
Can anyone tell me whether that was true?
John R G Bland