>>A Thomas Kilby (Thomas (I)) was recorded in the 1841 census as a gun barrel maker in Steelhouse Lane (no detailed address given), Birmingham. He was born in 1816, but where is not known (not in Warwickshire). He lived with his wife, Amelia (b.1811) and sons, George (b.1836) and Thomas (II) (b.1838 ).
Also recorded in the 1841 census at Court 3 Mount Street, Birmingham, was a clockmaker named Thomas Kilby. He was born in 1810 (not in Warwickshire) and was married to Emma (b.1811). They had a son named Thomas who was born in 1840. These two families appear to have been related and it seems that Thomas (hereinafter referred to as Thomas J Kilby) became a gun barrel maker in Thomas (I)'s business.
In the 1851 census Thomas (I) was recorded living at Court, 11 Steelhouse Lane, but he appears to have worked from Court 12 Steelhouse Lane. By this time another son, Alfred had been born (in 1850).
Between 1856 and 1861 Thomas (I) died but Amelia, with the help of both George and Thomas (II) aged 23 and 21 respectively, continued the business under the name A C Kilby & Sons (recorded as such in 1859).
In 1871 Thomas J Kilby was living at 18 New Thomas Street. He was married to Sarah (b.1843 nee possibly Newbrook) and at that date they had a son named Albert Edward (b.1870). Amelia and her sons, George and Thomas (II), appear not to have been recorded in any further censuses, and it seems likely that they sold the business to Thomas J Kilby and moved away from Birmingham. From the mid-1870s to about 1890 the business, still named Thomas Kilby, was located at 11 & 12 Steelhouse Lane.
In the 1881 census Thomas J Kilby was recorded living at 243 Park Road, Aston. In addition to his son Albert Edward, another son named Thomas had been born in 1872 (hereinafter referred to as Thomas J II), and a further son, Archie, was born in 1883, all were barrel makers working in the family business.
Albert Edward married Amy Elizabeth in about 1890, they lived at 59 Lodge Road, Aston Manor.
In the mid 1890s the firm moved to 128 Steelhouse Lane, this may well have been when the firm began selling guns under their own name. By 1901 Sarah had died and Thomas J Kilby was a widower living with Archie and three daughters. Thomas (J II) had married Emily, and they lived at 5 Nelson Road. Thomas J Kilby, Thomas (J II) and Archie all described themselves as gun barrel filers (damascus barrels had been superceded by mass-produced steel barrels) but they could probably have also accurately described themselves as gun makers. Albert Edward was probably still working for the firm but no evidence of this has been found.
The firm was recorded up to 1922, then again from 1936 to 1940, but who owned and ran the business in its later years is not known.<<
Me thinks to be Salopian's derviations?????
Serbus,
Raimey
rse