Biography of George Osborne BARRATT
[Ref. O.60]
Profile
Sweet factory
Index for BARRATT
Biography of George Osborne BARRATT
[Ref. O.60]
Sweet factory
Index for BARRATT
George Osborne Barratt was born in 1827 at 21 Portugal Street in Westminster, Middlesex on 16 September 1827 and was baptised at St.Clement Danes on 1 November the same year. He was one of the five children of William and Sarah Barratt's ten children to survive childhood.
According to the census of 1841, George was still living in Portugal Street with his parents and sister Eliza.
In 1848, George formed a partnership with his brother James John as pastry chefs, working from home at 9 Albert Place on City Road in Shoreditch. George was quite innovative and found success with a half-baked brandy snap biscuit.
On 18 February 1849, George married Sarah Peterson at St.Clement Danes parish church. She was the eldest daughter of William and Maria Peterson of Lewisham. George and Sarah's daughter, Elizabeth Sarah, was born at 9 Albert Place in Shoreditch on 2 December 1949.
The census of 1851 shows George, along with his wife and daughter Elizabeth, at his in-law's home in Burnt Ash Lane, Lee, Lewisham, Surrey. That census also recorded that George was a Pastry Cook and it is known that he was quite talented and creative.
Son George William was born in Shoreditch in 1851. The partnership with James John was dissolved by mutual agreement on 19 April 1852 and that was reported in Perry's Bankrupt and Insolvent Weekly Gazette on 24 April. Jane Eliza was born in 1853 then Edward William in 1854 and Frank in 1956. Son William Frederick arrived in 1858 but died the following year. Julia was born in 1959 but died the following year which is when Albert was born.
George moved to 9 & 10 Albert Place in Shepherdess Walk, Hoxton where he started manufacturing sweets, initially producing just a few pounds of sweets each day. He was assisted by his wife also employed a female sugar boiler whilst he went out in a pony and trap to find outlets to sell his produce. Business grew rapidly so George bought up adjacent properties in order to expand. The census taken in 1861 shows the family still at 9 & 10 Albert Place, Shepherdess Walk with all the children present with the exception of Elizabeth. Also recorded were servants Phoebe Church, Rose Dirro and Betsy Minter as well as apprentices Charles Moss aged 14 and James Knight aged 15.
Daughter Maria Louisa was born in 1862 and Harrietta the following year. By 1864, the business occupied premises on both sides of Shepherdess Walk. Daughter Elizabeth K was born in 1865. Around 1866, George and his family moved to 32 Shepherdess Walk in Hoxton, Middlesex. Daughter Margaret was born there in 1867. Around 1868, George's eldest son, George William, took over his father's rounds whilst George himself travelled more widely around the country, continuing thus for the next twenty years. Daughter Ada was born in 1870.
The census of 1871 found the family still at 32 Shepherdess Walk. Eldest daughter Elizabeth Sarah was not there as she had married and moved away, also William Frederick and Albert were not present. George was described as a master confectioner. Also on the premises were servants Mary Ann Newall and Elizabeth Minter as were shopwoman Mary Ann Adlington and apprentice Thomas Herbert.
The factory had no more space available to expand by 1880, so a property in Mayes Lane in Wood Green was purchased and construction of a new manufacturing works commenced. By the time the census of 1881 was taken, George and Sarah had moved to Japan House in Mount Pleasant Road, Hornsey, Middlesex. Daughter Margaret was the only child of theirs with them. Also present were housemaid Harriett Pattenden and 19 year old cook Mary Harvey. A directory from 1882 confirms George's address at Japan House. By 1884, the sweet factory was employing about 500 people. It later became apparent from George's Will that he purchased property in various parts of London. Some were houses where members of his family lived whereas others were rented out such as Grange Terrace in Wood Green.
The 1891 census shows that George and Sarah were now living at 175 Stroud Green in Upper Holloway, Middlesex. They were alone apart from housemaid Harriett Albion and cook Emily Bygrave.
George and Sarah celebrated their golden wedding with a series of events at the sweet factory over a period of six days days in February 1899, all of which were comprehensively reported in local newspapers. The arrangements were elaborate and generously included many of the company employees.
The whereabouts of George has not been found in the 1901 census but it is known that he was gradually reducing his involvement in the business from about this time and finally retired the following year.
George's wife Sarah passed away on 4 September 1905 and was buried at Highgate Cemetery.
After many years of illness and several operations, George died at his home at Holly Mount, 42 Crouch Hill in Middlesex on 3 October 1906, as a result of cancer of the liver. The funeral cortege from his home on 6 October was routed to pass the sweet factory and he was buried with his wife at Highgate Cemetery. He left an estate worth £153,830 11s 3d, much of which comprised a vast amout of property around London. At the time of his death, the number of employess at the sweet factory had reached 2000 and they produced 350 tons of sweets per week, making Barrat's the largest confectionery manufacturer in the world. George's four sons, George William, Edward William, Frank and Albert continued to run the business, George being the chairman.