George Lloyd was one of the three men who instigated the setting up of the Warwickshire Natural History and Archaeological Society (WNHAS) in 1836, which led to the opening of what is now Market Hall Museum.
Early life
George Lloyd was born in Albrighton, Shropshire in 1804, the son of the Reverend Thomas Lloyd and his wife Ann. He gained his MD at Edinburgh University in 1826, and his MA in 1833.
On 30th August 1827, George married Rachel Biddle, by licence, at Donnington in Shropshire. The presiding cleric was Joseph Dale, the husband of George’s older sister Jane. The groom’s profession is described as “of St Mary’s Hall, Oxford.” In Quaker birth records Rachel Biddle is recorded as being born in Birmingham on 1st February 1795, to John Biddle, a chemist and Elizabeth Biddle.
A year later in 1828, in Donnington, Rachel Lloyd gave birth to Thomas George Biddle Lloyd. In the baptism records George’s occupation is listed as “Dr of Medicine, Edinburgh and Student of St Mary’s Hall, Oxford.” In 1833 their daughter, Rachel Elizabeth Lloyd, was born in Donnington.
Making his way to Warwickshire
The family do not appear in the census of 1841, but we know George Lloyd was in Warwickshire by then because of his activity in the setting up of the WNHAS in 1836. In the 1851 census the family are living at Stankhill House, in Budbrook and George is described as MD and Gentleman. He is 47 years old, his wife Rachel is 57 and their daughter Rachel Elizabeth is 17. By this time their son, Thomas, is 22 and listed elsewhere in the census as a border at Rochester in Kent, with the profession of Civil Engineer.
Moving on to the census of 1861, George Lloyd aged 57, is now living in Dudley Road in Birmingham and his profession is MD and Glass Manufacturer. His daughter, Rachel Elizabeth, is 27 and his older sister Jane, a widow of 67, is also living with them. Although George was born in Albrighton, his sister was born in Wellesbourne. It appears that Rachel Lloyd died in 1855. Looking through Birmingham Directories there seems to have been a Glass Manufacturing company referred to as Biddle and Lloyd going back to 1808. Cross referencing George Lloyd’s given addresses and other details, in censuses and Trade Directories it would appear George came into the glass manufacturing business through wider family and marriage in the mid-1850’s.
Active member of the society
George Lloyd was a collector of plant specimens, many of which he donated to the WNHAS. He was an active member of the society from 1836, as an Honorary Curator and Honorary Secretary for many years until he moved to London shortly before his death in 1889.
As part of the Unlocking Collections project, a group of volunteers researched some of the individuals who contributed to the Warwickshire Natural History and Archaeological Society. Research was undertaken at Warwickshire County Record Office.
Comments
Add a comment about this page