T. Shires

Name plate. Exhibit at Armley Mill Museum

of Huddersfield

1829 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the Undersigned THOMAS SHIRES and JAMES FIRTH, as Millwrights and Ironfounders, carrying on Business at Engine Bridge, in the Parish of Almondbury, in the County of York, was this Day dissolved by mutual Consent. All Debts due and owing to the said Concern, received by Mr. Jonas Bradley, of Huddersfield, in the said County, Iron Merchant, who is alone duly authorized to receive the same, by a certain Indenture, made and executed this Day. ....'

1837 'HUDDERSFIELD COURT HOUSE - On Tuesday last, Mr. Thomas Shires, iron-founder, Folly Hall, Huddersfield, was brought before the sitting magistrates at the Court House, charged with committing an aggravated assault upon Mr. Thomas H. Broadbent, in the bar of the Pack Horse Inn, whilst reading one of the newspapers. The magistrates fined Shires five shillings and expenses.'

1838 Advert: 'WANTED a good steady Man as GREEN SAND MOULDER; a Person accustomed to making Pipes would be preferred. Also, a MILLWRIGHT, who has been used to making Patterns. Address (Post-paid), to Thomas Shires, Hope Foundry, Engine Bridge, Huddersfield.'

1844 'Mr. Thomas Shires v. the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company.— On Thursday last, an action was tried in the Huddersfield Court of Requests, between Mr. Thomas Shires, a respectable ironfounder, of that town, and the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company. It appeared that, on the 23rd of February, Mr. Shires went by one of the morning trains to Sowerby Bridge, and returned in the afternoon, leaving the omnibus fare from Cooper Bridge unpaid in consequence of the guard not having change for a sovereign. Three days afterwards, Mr. Harrison, the Company's agent in Huddersfield, sent Mr. Shires a letter stating that he had travelled by a down train without a ticket, and demanding 8s. 6d., the full-first class fare from Manchester, with a threat that, if not paid, an action would be commenced against him. Shires paid the amount under protest, and instituted the present proceedings to recover back the overcharge, 7s. 9d. Mr. Shires swore to having paid his fare at Sowerby Bridge, and to giving his ticket at Cooper Bridge. On behalf of the Company, a machine-maker, named Edgar, of Salford, in Manchester, swore that he passed through the gate at the same time that Mr. Shires did, and that he had no ticket, but, as there was no evidence to show that Mr. Shires had travelled by the first-class, the Judge gave Mr. Shires a Verdict for 3s. 9d., throwing the expenses, which were considerable, upon the Railway Company.'

1853 'Charge of Assault. — Mr. Shires and His Cylinder Again. — On Saturday last Mr. Thomas Shires, a respectable iron-founder, at Folly-hall, was charged before J. Armitage and Thomas P. Crosland, Esqs., at the Guild- hall, with committing an assault upon Edward Swallow, a cart driver, from the same locality. Complainant deposed that he went with Frank Marchant on the Thursday week previous to remove a steam-engine cylinder from the defendant's premises ; on trying to affix a chain to the cylinder the defendant came and gave him a blow behind the ear before he was aware of it. In reply, the defendant said the complainant came into his yard cursing and swearing, capering about, and exhibiting the most violent gesticulations, and using abusive language. He (defendant) told him and Marchant they should not remove it until he was paid the £4 18s., which the Judge of the County Court, after two actions of interpleader upon it, had ordered to be paid to him. He did not strike him, and only used such force as was necessary to retain the cylinder until the money was paid ; but he believed that his hand did just come slightly in contact with the side of sis head. Mr. J, I. Freeman said, that with their Worships' permission he would briefly state the history of this unfortunate cylinder. In August last the bailiffs of the County Court went with an execution, in pursuance of an action Marchant v. Drury, to seize the cylinder in question, which had been cast by Mr. Shires, for Drury. Mr. Shires claimed a lien of £23 upon this cylinder, being the balance of the debt due from Drury to him for casting, boring, &c., this same cylinder and other articles. This the bailiffs refused to pay, and Mr. Shires and his son called a posse of workmen and ejected them from the premises. For this the Messrs. Shires were brought before the Judge of the County Court, when the Judge, believing that Mr. Shires had acted under an impression of right, consented to reserve the question of fining him, on his agreeing to submit the validity of his lien to his decision in an action of interpleader. That action took place, and his Honour reduced Mr. Shires' lien, on the cylinder, from £23 to £4 18s. A few days afterwards the bailiffs went and demanded the costs of that action, without first paying him the £4 18s. awarded as his due. and on the court-day following Mr. Shires again appeared at the opening of the court in person, and read a written speech to his Honour : the following is a verbatim copy : — "Sir, the last time I was here you told me that if the men from the court came to my premises I was not to molest them. Since that time they have come and demanded £3 12s. 7d., or my goods, and my son paid them. I neither owed you or your court one penny, and I am. now come, according to your order, to ask for justice, not for a favour, but justice. Good God, we are all complaining about the Russian aggression : it is nothing at all to compare to the injustice you are allowing to be exercised over me." Mr. Freeman continued this speech gave the Judge great annoyance, but after an explanation and apology from Mr. Shires, it was agreed that the action of interpleader should be re-heard. This action took place the following court day, when the Judge again confirmed his former decision. It was after this second decision that Marchant, the execution creditor, and Swallow went in the manner described to take away the cylinder. As soon as he (Mr. Freeman) was made acquainted with Mr. Shires' demur, he went and paid him the £4 18s., and he did not then offer any further obstruction to its removal. The magistrates thanked Mr, Freeman for his explanation, and after reprimanding the complainant for the brutal manner in which he went upon Mr. Shires' premises, discharged the case.'

1857 'Monster Baling Press.— Mr. Thomas Shires has put up a baling press for Messrs. John Haigh and Co., that will hold as much cloth in one bale as will clothe five regiments, 1000 strong each.'

1858: Deaths: 'On Monday week, aged 65, Mr. Thomas Shires, iron founder, Engine Bridge, Huddersfield.'

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