Biography of Frank BARRATT
[Ref. P.524]
Profile
Sweet factory
Index for BARRATT
Biography of Frank BARRATT
[Ref. P.524]
Sweet factory
Index for BARRATT
Frank Barratt was born at 9 Albert Place in Shepherdess Walk, Hoxton New Town, Middesex on 23 May 1856. He was the fifth of the thirteen children born to George and Sarah Barratt.
The census of 1861 shows the family now living at 9 & 10 Shepherdess Walk in Hoxton, Middlesex where his parents had started their confectionery business. When the census was taken in 1871, the family were at 30 & 32 Shepherdess Walk. The confectionery business that his father had started was expanding and George now worked there with his elder brothers and sisters.
Frank was still living at 30 Shepherdess Walk when, on 7 December 1876, he married Clara Hogarth. She was a daughter of John William and Sarah Hogarth. Daughter Clara Elizabeth was born in 1877.
When the census was taken in 1881, the family were living at 26 Oxford Road in Canonbury, Middlesex. Son George Osborne was born in Wood Green in 1883. The 1891 census records the family at 1 Wood Green Villa in Tottenham where they had 19 year old servant Elizabeth Tavener.
By 1901, Frank and Clara had moved to 111 Mayes Road in Wood Green which was close to the sweet factory. Kelly's Directory for 1902 confirms the address.
Frank had a fertile mind and is credited with inventing equipment relating to production in the factory. He is also said to have invented a means of a person with one arm to be able to put on a coat. In 1905, he and his brother George William together with John William Esser formed the Esser-Barratt Repeating Arms Company Ltd with designs for a range of weapons. However, trials of the rifle were unsuccessful as it overheated with rapid fire and the company abandoned the project. Among his other brainwaves was a device which enabled a one armed person to put on a coat unaided.
Frank's wife Clara died on 14 November 1906. The 1911 shows Frank still at the same address, employing servant Elizabeth Mary Turner. The photograph above of Frank comes from a placard showing famous confectioners.
Frank was 58 years old when, on 20 April 1914 at St.Michael-at-Bowes parish church, he married Elsie Joyce Wheaton who was 25 years younger than him. She was a daughter of Charles Robert and Jessie Wheaton. Daughter Elsie Doreen was born the following year.
The census of 1921 shows the family living at Ashridge in Chase Road, Southgate, Middlesex. In the household was French citizen Cécile Pouzene who was the nursery governess, cook Edith A Grace and parlourmaid Ellen Kelsey. The census return was completed by Frank himself and his writing is in very neat script. In the column for occuption, he colourfully describes himself as "Manufacturer of confectionery - All kinds of sweets".
Frank passed away at home at Ashridge on 18 October 1928 and was buried at Highgate Cemetery. Probate on his estate of £462,294 5s 5d was granted in London on 8 February 1929.