“No number of sightings of white swans can prove the theory that all swans are white. The sighting of just one black one may disprove it.”
Karl Popper: Philosopher and Scientist
WILLIAM FULFORD (1786-1847)
BREWER/ VICTUALLER/ PUBLICAN:
THE BLACK SWAN, 8 BROMSGROVE ST, BIRMINGHAM
The above Black Swan is not the original on the same site c. 1801. Building plans for the Black Swan Pub above were submitted in 1885. The pub was closed in the 1970’s and later demolished. The licenseur between 1827-1849 was William Fulford (1786-1847) followed by son George (1821-1891) from 1849 until 1855. The pub employed an ostler an incorporated a stable block. This information and other photographs can be accessed via the reference midlandspubs.co.uk.
Courtesy: Mikejees photograph @1970, Birminghamhistory.co.uk
Courtesy: Birminghamhistory.co.uk
The Black Swan was on the on the coach route and provided overnight stays.
PARENTS:
JOSEPH FULFORD (1751-1806) and ANN(E) ‘WILSON’
(10/6/1753-3/5/1792) were the parents of Brewer, Publican, Victualler, William Fulford (1786).
WILLIAM FULFORD 1786/1790/1
BAPT 31/12/1786 Solihull
SIBLINGS:
William was brother to Thomas (1783), John (1785-1859) and Richard (1789-@1847) (see separate entries).
Courtesy: Family search
BREWER/PUBLICAN
William’s (1786-1847) occupation is “Brewer” on his son William’s (1821) baptism record in 1823. William was working as a brewer within the Fulford/Holt Brewery at that time.
By 1827, William (1786-1847) was landlord/licensee of The Black Swan Public House and Inn, 8 Bromsgrove St. This was a role he continued until his death in 1847, a time span of twenty years.
MARRIAGE TO JANE ‘BARKER’ (1792-1823)
17th JUNE 1817 ASTON JUXTA
William (1786) age @ 30/1 married Jane ‘Barker’ (1792-1823) on 17th June 1817.
CHILDREN:
William and Jane had 3 children,
Mary Ann (1817) B.28/9/1817, Christened 17/3/1818 St Martins
George William (1821-1891) B.6/1/1821 C. 25/1/1821 D.15th May 1891)
William (1823-1823), CHRISTENED 14/4/1823 ST MARTINS.
“WILLIAM OF WILLIAM ‘BREWER’ & JANE, Hill St
BURIED 15 JULY 1823 ST MARYS. ADDRESS CROSS ST
JANE’S (1792-1823) DEATH
Wife Jane (1792-1823) died on Holt st, aged only 31 on the 20th October 1823, in the same year of the death of their son William. Jane’s death on Holt street further links William (1786-1847) to the Fulford/Holt brewery.
Courtesy: Family search
1841 CENSUS
BROMSGROVE ST, THE BLACK SWAN
William aged 50, ‘Publican’ living with George aged 20 at the Black Swan together with two servants and four comedians !
Courtesy: Family search
WILLIAM’S DEATH (1786-1847)
Died 5/11/1847; age 59
Buried 12/11/1847; St Mary
GEORGE WILLIAM (1821-1891)
Son George (1821-1891), aged 28, succeeded his father William 1786, as landlord/ publican of The Black Swan, 8 Bromsgrove St in 1849 ,
married Louisa Hubbard 1823, daughter of cordwainer Richard Hubbard, on 23/8/1844 in Birmingham and according to midlands pubs continued as the publican for another six years until 1855.
George William (1821-1891) and Louisa Hubbard 1825 had four children. At the 1851 Census the family resided in St Martins.
William Born 7/4/1846 Bapt 6/10/1848
Richard 1849 (christened 27/4/1853) St Martin,
George 1851 (christened 27/4/1853)
John 1853 (christened 11/4/1853)
1851 Census 8 Bromsgrove
George 28 ‘Victualler’
Louisa 25 wife
William 4 1846
Richard 2 1849
Courtesy: Family search
EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA ?
It is unclear what happened to wife Louisa and their children but records indicate that George William (1821-1891) emigrated to Australia and married Mary Ann ‘Sheady’ (1827-1891) on the 8th February 1853 at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, Kilmore, Victoria, Australia. This time frame does not fit with George operating the Black Swan until 1855 or George and Louisa christening baby John in April 1853 !
Courtesy: Find a grave
According to Ranger123’s Family tree on GENEANET.org, George (1821-1891) and Mary Jane had the following children;
Elizabeth (1853-1933),
John William (1853/7-1941), (of previous marriage) ?
Thomas James (?),
Mary Ann (1858-1928),
George Henry (1862-1926),
Catherine J. Auhl (1863-1946) and
Mary Jane (1868/77-1951).
George William (1821-1891) died on the 15th May 1891, at 74 years and was buried in Wodonga Cemetery, Victoria, Australia where he had lived for @ 50 years.
His occupation was noted as ‘Farmer’, ‘Bullock carrier’ on his death certificate. Probate 30/6/1891 Melbourne Victoria.
Son, George Henry Fulford (1862-1926), died on the 17th February 1926 and was buried in Wodonga Cemetery, Victoria Australia.
Daughter Catherine Auhl (1863-1946), (born Fulford), married Gustaf Adolph Auhl and died on the 20th August 1946 (aged 81 years). She was buried in Albury Pioneer Cemetery, Victoria, Australia.
WHAT HAPPENED TO LOUISA AND THE CHILDREN AFTER GEORGE EMIGRATED TO AUSTRALIA AND MARRIED MARY ANNE SHEADY?
1861 Census
By 1861, 2 of the children, George (10) and John (2) were living with their grandmother Jane Hubbard who was a widowed Charwoman.
Head Jane Hubbard 64
George 10
John 2
RICHARD
1861 Census
Richard age 11 was at school.
Courtesy: Family search