William Allchin (1823-1905)
William Allchin (1823-1905), founder of William Allchin
1823 Born in Merton, Surrey, the son of William Loader Allchin and his wife Sarah
1849 Married in Northampton to Martha Young (1825-1894)
1881 Living at 27 Newland, Northampton: William Allchin (age 58 born Merton), Mechanical Engineer employing 47 men and 8 boys. With his wife Martha Allchin (age 56 born Northampton) and their six children; Elizabeth Allchin (age 28 born Northampton); Ebenezer Allchin (age 23 born Northampton); Sara Allchin (age 21 born Northampton); Edith Allchin (age 16 born Northampton); Loader Allchin (age 15 born Northampton); and Florence Allchin (age 14 born Northampton). Also three cousins Brown. Two servants.[1]
1901 Living at 21 Wast Park Road, Northampton: William Allchin (age 78 born Merton), Mechanical Engineer - Employer and Widower. With his daughter Elizabeth Allchin (age 48 born Northampton) and son Samuel J. L. Allchin (age 35, Mechanical Engineer - Employer. Also one visitor. Two servants.[2]
1905 July. Died.
1905 Obituary [3]
At Weston Favell Rectory, whither he had gone in the hope that change of air would benefit his health, there occured on Thursday the death of Mr. William Allchin, governing director of Messrs. Allchin's, Ltd, the well-known Northampton agricultural engineering firm. Some five years have passed since Mr. Allchin was forced, through failing health, to give up actual work in the business. He was never thoroughly well afterwards, so that his demise now, at the advanced age of 83, could not altogether termed unexpected. The funeral takes place at Northampton next Tuesday.
Conservative in politics, but Nonconformist in religion, Mr. Allchin was never a public man. His energies and affections he divided between his family, his place of worship, and his work. He died in the character of one of those stout but not obtrusive under-pillars of the state, without whose steady strength the constitutional edifice could never attain great heights.
Born in London, he came to Northampton with his father in 1834. Those were days in which sons were early put to their professions, and at the age of 12 William Allchin commenced under his father at Hogg and Grundy’s, whose iron foundry then stood in Commercial-street on the site now occupied by Messrs. Ratcliffe and Jeffery’s brewery.
His active mind saw possibilities in Canada, and when he reached his 21st year crossed the Atlantic to try his fortune in "Clear-sky Land." After some years of work there, however, he returned to England. Various enterprises occupied his energies until 1847, when he laid the foundation of the present splendid business.
Three sons and five daughters remain to mourn the loss of affectionate father, and the Providence Chapel, of which he was deacon, will miss Mr. Allchin’s death the support of one whose help never failed it in life.