Marsden Brothers

Discussion in 'Forum: Saw Identification and Discussion' started by ray, Dec 14, 2010.

  1. ray

    ray Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    671
    The story begins about a year or so back, when Val Marsden, posted on the forum that she was looking for a Marsden saw as a gift for her fathers 87th birthday. Henry Melton Marsden is Val's great-grandfather.

    I spotted a Marsden Brothers saw on ebay and bought it remembering the request.

    The saw that turned up had a broken handle and heavily rusted, and someone had drilled out the holes and put in odd saw screws.

    I cleaned it up and machined up some new saw screws, to fit the oversized holes. Cleaned up the teeth, and it cuts nicely.

    My son Josh, got inspired and made a box for it.. this will be presented to Val's father this Christmas.. (Assuming I can get it in the post in time!)

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    Lined it with some blue felt..

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    The saw will I hope become a family heirloom of modest sorts, and in memory of Henry Melton Marsden.

    I have done some searching for information on Henry Melton Marsden, it would appear he had a hard life. The Sheffield General Cemetery has the following graves.

    Alice Melton MARSDEN
    Infant, 15 Red Hill Terrace
    age: 10m, buried: 25 Sep 1855

    Edith Melton MARSDEN
    Daughter of Henry Melton Marsden,Sawmaker, 139 Broomhall Street
    age: 4m, buried: 24 Jan 1858

    Sarah Ann MARSDEN
    Wife of Henry Mellor Marsden, Saw Manager, 17 Upper Hanover Street
    age: 46, buried: 22 Dec 1875

    Henry Milton MARSDEN
    Saw Manager, Shrewsbury Hospital
    age: 83, buried: 10 Aug 1906

    ** the transcription errors are Melton is variously transcribed as Milton and Mellor.


    He identifies himself as a "Saw Manager" in 1875, so I would hazard a guess he was managing a saw making operation of some sort rather than making saws. It's possible he was working for another saw maker. Maybe even "Marsden Brothers", although it's probably not likely.

    He had two daughters die aged 4 months, and 10 months, and his wife died early aged only 46, must have been hard.

    The last directory entry (1898) for Henry Melton Marsden is a Fargate address which was shared by at least 12 other small tradesman and he died in poverty in 1906

    So this saw is dedicated to the memory of Henry Melton Marsden, whether he had a hand in making it or not.

    I wish him well wherever he is.

    Regards
    Ray
     
  2. lui

    lui Most Valued Member

    Messages:
    77
    Hi Ray,

    Nice saw and a very touching story, I'm sure it will be really appreciated.

    lui