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| Lincolnshire hoop back Windsor side chair stamped MARSH of Sleaford, with 6 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher with 6 bobbin turning WS 83 |
I was fortunate to acquire this little gem of a chair from an antique shop in Grantham , clearly signed: MARSH SLEAFORD. I have written a few words about him at WS 29. Other chairs by him appear in Dr B D Cotton's The English Regional Chair (1990). We are all fortunate in the fact that not only did he sign a good number of his chairs but also that he made them so sturdy and elegant. James Marsh was already living in Sleaford in 1822 when his sister Sophia was born, he got married in 1836 and his first child was born there on 30th May 1841 and in due course two more daughters were born in 1843 and 1845 (Elizabeth and Emma) Sophia's death was announced in the local paper on the 20th August 1843 . Imagine the parents' joy in December 1848 at the birth of their son William, only for this to turn to utter sorrow on the death of the baby's Ann on the 10th December, followed a few days later by the infant son on 30th December. The 1851 census shows James living at 65 Jermyn St. Sleaford and working as a chairmaker and surrounded by his family: Ellen (70 ) mother and schoolmistress, Ann(40) sister and dressmaker, Elizabeth (39) sister and dressmaker along with his daughters Ann (11) , Elizabeth (8) and Emma (6). By 1871 it is assumed that James had died ( though no will has been found) as all his female family are still at the same address except for his mother and daughter Ann.
© William Sergeant 2012 and 2020
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