SIXTH GENERATION

92. James William SEAMARKS was born on 19 Nov 1865 in Stagsden. He appeared on the census in 1871 in Bedford Poorhouse. He was living in 1886 in 52 Gwyn Street Bedford. He died in 1951 in Clapham, Bedford. Apprenticed Tailor to J Willison as a Tailor 3/11/1877 5 years

From 1881 Census living with John Wilson as an apprentice Tailor;

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
John WILLISON Head M Male 58 Newton Longville, Buckingham, England Tailor
Eliza WILLISON Wife M Female 51 Lidlington, Bedford, England Tailors Wife
Arthur J. WILLISON Son U Male 16 Hockliffe, Bedford, England Tailors Son
Sydney T. WILLISON Son U Male 9 Hockliffe, Bedford, England Scholar
James W. SEAMARK Apprentice U Male 16 Stagsden, Bedford, England Tailor
Charlotte S. ILLINS Servant U Female 14 Nash, Buckingham, England Servant
Rachel J. ILLINS Visitor U Female 51 Nash, Buckingham, England Chair Woman

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Source Information:
Census Place Chalgrave, Bedford, England
Family History Library Film 1341392
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 1639 / 108
Page Number 14


Bedfordshire Times 1951 - Labour Party Pioneer Dies : Mr J Seamark

A founder member of Bedford Labour Party and its first secretary, Mr James William Seamark, formerly of Hartington Street, Bedford, died at Clapham Hospital on Sunday evening. He was 86.
Mr Seamark was born at Stagsden and moved to Bedford in 1882 when he began business as a tailor. In 1886 he married at Howard Congregational Church a Miss Appleby. He had a long connection with Howard Church at various times holding the office of Secretary of the Band of Hope, Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, Secretary of the Church and Lay Preacher.
A Champion of the Labour cause, he joined the Trades Union Movement in 1888 and in 1892 assisted in the formation of the first Trades Council in Bedford. A tireless campaigner in national and municipal politics, he took a large part in organizing local meetings for Keir Hardie and Ramsay MacDonald.
In 1906 he was elected to Bedford Town Council and so began an association with that body which was to last for 16 years. Upon the formation of the Bedford Labour Party in 1918 he became secretary and in the same year he was appointed a Justice of the Peace.
In 1923 he became Borough Housing Collector and also collector of tolls on the Market. He retired in 1933
The funeral service will take place at Howard Church tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11:30 am

He was married to Ellen APPLEBY (daughter of Joseph APPLEBY and Sarah ROBERTS) in 1886 in Howard Congregational Church, Bedford. Ellen APPLEBY was born about 1863 in Bedford. She appeared on the census in 1881 in Bedford, 16 Dame Alice Street, Nurse to the Brown family. She appeared on the census in 1901 in Bedford, St Peters. Witnesses at Wedding Joseph and Letitia Appleby