Second Generation  

6. Ezekiel Bickham CHESTERMAN [8509] (William¹) was born on 9 Nov 1823 in London England, died on 19 Jan 1891 in 11 St Lukes Road Bath Somerset England at age 67, and was buried on 24 Jan 1891 in Locksbrook Cemetery.

General Notes: In an attachment to an email, dated June 28, 2003, Harold Chesterman states:-

Ezekiel Bickham Chesterman (9 Nov 1823 - 19 Jan 1891)
Born at 35 Bowling Green Lane, Clerkenwell, London. (Source: copy of birth certificate). Apprenticed to "Henry Major of No. 23 (illegible) of Clerkenwell" in 1838 to learn "his Art of Wire Working". (Source: Original Apprentiship Agreement). Partner (Manager) in James Chesterman & Co. Ltd., Bow Works, Sheffield. Lived at 56 Coalpit Lane (marriage certificate) and also Parklane Broomhall Park. 1880 treasurer of the Ecclesall Co-operative Society. 1881 retired to Bath. (Source: page 70 of 'The First 200 Years. A short history of Rabone Chesterman Ltd'). [This appears to contradict Philip George Chesterman's notes which say: "Sept 1875 - All moved to Bath, 15 Sydenham Terrace." See also the date and address on the memorial card for his first wife].

Undated notes left by Judson Tyndale Chesterman include: "My grandfather Ezekiel Bickham Chesterman born 1823 was a 'righteous' hence difficult man. He did not get on with William [ie James Chesterman's son] and left the firm in about 1870 and went to Bath for the sake of his wife's health. In 1863 the dam burst near the works and the factory was destroyed. He did a great deal to build the whole business up again in Pomona Street where it is today. He was a founder member of the Sheffield and Ecclesall Co-op and its first treasurer (Hon) as he was keen on helping his workmen. I think it is the second Co-op in the country. One of his workmen never took a holiday for 63 years, never was late, never walked on a crack in the pavement and always wore the old fashioned top hat with a bowler type crown to it such as Churchill used! These 'little Mesters' as they were called were a really tough and loyal lot.

My Father was born in 1856 and one of his early recollections was the flood which destroyed the works when the night watchman came running in shouting 'Mr. Ezekiel, Mr. Ezekiel the end of the world has come' and the photo of the devastation was one of the first prints to be published in a newspaper in this country."

EBC married twice. His first wife (marriage date 10 June 1848 at Townhead Street Baptist Chapel Sheffield) was his second cousin Ann Greaves Chesterman, daughter of James Chesterman. She died at 15 Sydenham Terrace, Bath on 4 March 1876(Memorial Card). During 1877 he married Eliza Tupman.

EBC died at 11 St. Lukes Rd., Bath. His will indicates that he also owned 7&8 Westmoreland Villas, Oldfield Park, Bath and 30,31,32&33 Dorset Street, Tibet, near Bath. Interred 24 Jan at Locksbrook Cemetery.

In an Attachment to an email received June 19, 2003, Shelagh and Scott Chesterman included the following 1881 Census information:-

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Ezekiel B. CHESTERMAN Head M Male 57 London, London, Middlesex, England Retired Engineer
Eliza CHESTERMAN Wife M Female 52 Exmouth Retired Engineer Wife
Mary J. CHESTERMAN Daur U Female 19 Sheffield
Elizabeth CHESTERMAN Daur In Law M Female 28 High Bickington, Somerset, England
Anna PAYNE Visitor U Female 25 High Bickington Dressmaker
M.Maria ELLIOTT Serv U Female 18 Froome, Somerset, England General Serv Domestic

Source Information:
Dwelling 14 Elm Place Wells Road
Census Place Lyncombe & Widcombe, Somerset, England
Family History Library Film 1341586
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 2435 / 32
Page Number 5

Noted events in his life were:

• Registration: Dr. Williamson's Library Redcross St Cripplegate London England.

• Residence: 15 St Johns Wood Lower Bristol Road, 1876, Bath Somerset England.

• Residence: "Mentone", St Lukes Road, 1889, Bath Somerset England.

Ezekiel married Anne Greaves CHESTERMAN [8508], daughter of James CHESTERMAN [3806] and Ann GREAVES [8507], on 10 Jun 1848 in Townhead Baptist Chapel Sheffield Yorkshire England. Anne was born on 28 Apr 1822 and died on 4 Mar 1876 in 15 Sydenham Terrace Bath Somerset England at age 53. The cause of her death was Phthsis [Tuberculosis].

Children from this marriage were:

+ 8 M    i. Ezekiel James CHESTERMAN [9547] was born on 29 Apr 1849.

   9 M    ii. William Edward CHESTERMAN [17287] was born in Oct 1852 and died on 12 Jan 1854 at age 1.

+ 10 M    iii. George Jesse CHESTERMAN [9151] was born on 27 Mar 1854 in Sheffield Yorkshire England, was baptised on 1 May 1870 in Baptist Church, and died in 1941 at age 87.

+ 11 M    iv. William Thomas CHESTERMAN [9152] was born on 13 Jan 1856 in Sheffield Yorkshire England, was baptised in Aug 1870, and died on 16 Jan 1923 at age 67.

   12 F    v. Sarah Anne CHESTERMAN [17293] was born in Apr 1857 and died on 4 Mar 1859 at age 1.

   13 F    vi. Mary J CHESTERMAN [9154] was born on 4 May 1861 in Catherine Street Sheffield Yorkshire England and was baptised about 1874.

Mary married John Cochrane KEIR [17294], son of Peter KEIR [17295] and Elizabeth COCHRANE [17296], on 7 Sep 1886. John was born on 1 Aug 1852 in Musselburgh Midlothian Scotland, was baptised in Aug 1852 in West Bush Musselburgh Midlothian Scotland, and died on 4 Jul 1907 at age 54.

Ezekiel next married Eliza TUPMAN [8518], daughter of TUPMAN [92605] and Unknown, on 11 Jun 1879. Eliza was born on 7 Jan 1829 in Exmouth Devon England and died on 22 Apr 1914 at age 85.

Noted events in her life were:

• Residence: 15 St Johns Wood Lower Bristol Road, 1876, Bath Somerset England.

• Residence: "Mentone", St Lukes Road, 1889, Bath Somerset England.

• Residence: "Mentone" St Luke's Road, 1892, Bath Somerset England.

• Residence: "Mentone" St Luke's Road [with Miss M A Tupman], 1900, Bath Somerset England.

• Residence: "Mentone" St Luke's Road [with Miss M A Tupman & Miss E Martin], 1902, Bath Somerset England.