Genealogy Chat

My grandfather John Charles Clapson was an apprentice printer in Maidstone Kent in 1870. After qualifying he moved to West London, (Ealing , then to Acton), and worked on a newspaper . He became a compositor and then a proofreader. I would love to know which newspaper he worked for . He must have been a Trades Union member but I cannot trace him through the archives I have so far unearthed. Has anyone any ideas please ?

this john is older

John Charles Clapson
England and Wales Census, 1911
Name
John Charles Clapson
Event Type
Census
Event Date
1911
County
Middlesex
Parish
Acton
Sub-District
Acton
Registration District
Brentford
Gender
Male
Age
52
Birthplace
Maidstone, Kent
Record Type
Household

Thanks malyon - in fact that is almost certainly my grandfather, b.1857 in Maidstone. I have most of his details but would like to know more about his working life, character etc :-)

Brian, if you haven't already tried them, contact The Modern Records Centre at The Library, University of Warwick. They hold some of the archives of NATSOPA, the usual union for compositors, and also for the London Society of Compositors. They may be able to help or point you to someone who can.

Good luck :-D

EDIT Forgot to put the details. Postal address is Modern Records Centre, University Library, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL. Tel: 02476 524219
Email: [email protected]

Natsopa. Do not think that they existed in the timeframe of this thread. "When I was a lad" they were regarded with some distain by comps.

Your rellie was probably considered a comp from when he finished his time.

By any chance do you have his binding papers? (Likely to have been signed by his father - who would have paid the master the agreed fee.)

Thank you Suffolk Vera and Inky 1 for your replies. A few years ago I hired a researcher to go through the archives at the Modern Records Centre , but she didn't come up with anything.
I do have my grandfathers binding papers ( didn't know they were called that incidentally) and a document granting him the freedom of the city of Maidstone, which apparently (?) was accorded to all successful apprentices . I can track him on the censuses until he settled down with my grandmother in Acton 1901. Although he came from a line of artisans and farmers I think he must have been a bit scholarly - he left a lot of books and his 3 great grandchildren are all now doing literary studies at top universities.. I keep wondering what sort of guy he was , where he worked etc .

The rest of Malyon's 1911 census:

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census
23 Stirling Road Acton, Acton, Middlesex, England

John Charles Clapson Head Single Male Compositor 52 1859 Maidstone Kent
Mary Ann Gray Housekeeper Widow Female - 49 1862 Pigglesham Essex
John Charles Clapson Son - Male - 9 1902 Chiswick Middlesex
Charles Edward Clapson Son - Male - 7 1904 Acton Middesex
Henry William Clapson Son - Male - 5 1906 Acton Middlesex
Joseph Arthur Clapson Son - Male - 3 1908 Acton Middlesex
Violet Beatrice Gray Stepdaughter Single Female Joiner 16 1895 Acton Middlesex
Dorothy Hilda Gray Stepdaughter - Female - 14 1897 Acton Middlesex

Name: John Charles Clapson
Death Age: 73
Birth Date: abt 1858
Death Date: abt 1931
Burial Date: 23 Mar 1931
Burial Place: Ealing, Middlesex, England
Cemetery: Acton Cemetery
Interment Number: 18508
Grave number: G18/r

Suggest you check if there is a local history/heritage centre in the Ealing/Acton area. If so, it may have data on any local newspapers that used to have their works nearby.
That will not tell you anything about him. But should give an idea as to the sort of business he might have been employed by.

Good idea Inky 1 , thank you. :-)

Another longshot - though you may have already considered this:-

Could his collection of books have been related to his employment? How many of them have the printer company's name? If so, were many printed by the same company?