Joseph Pitman (buried 1895)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Pitman
First name: 
Joseph
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
244
Born: 
5/10/1818
Died: 
00/00/1895
Buried: 
08/04/1895
Occupation: 
Cloth Manufacturer; Lecturer;
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
NWS
Cemetery row: 
1
Cemetery plot: 
17
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
No
Headstone description: 
Sandstone shaped as a Gothic Window
Headstone inscription: 
totally erased

Life story

Life story

Joseph, born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, was the son of Samuel and Maria Pitman. He was the sixth of their eleven children. Samuel was a Weaver/Clothier, born in Taunton. Joseph's older brother was Sir Isaac Pitman, who invented Pitman shorthand.

In 1839 Joseph married Sarah Booth, in Bradford, Yorkshire. Sarah was from Bradford, daughter of Thomas and Martha Booth. In 1841 they were in Mill Street, Bradford, with one-year-old daughter, Marion Melissa. Joseph was a Clerk.

They had moved to Rillington, North Yorkshire by 1851. Joseph was a Banker's Clerk. By then they had two daughters and two sons, and a House Servant. (Joseph and Sarah went on to have 10 children altogether.)

By 1861 Joseph was a Cashier and Accountant in a Sewing Cotton Mill, in Meltham Mills, in  West Yorkshire. (An aside... Meltham Mills was later home to David Brown Tractors, which provided the DB of Aston Martin DB in James Bond Films)

Their eldest daughter, Marion, at 20, was a Teacher of Vocal Music.

From the Huddersfield Chronicle of May 1863:

Haydn's Oratorio "Creation," was given on Saturday evening last in the Dining Hall, Meltham Mills, followed by selections from Handel's "Israel in Egypt." The soloists, band, and chorus, numbered upwards of 100 performers. The principal soloists were Mrs. Sunderland, Miss Marion Pitman, Messrs. Schofield, Inkersall, and Hinchcliffe. Mr. Iles of Leeds ably led the band, and Mr. Joe Perkin conducted. The old soloists fully sustained their well known reputation. Miss Pitman achieved quite a success, and agreeably surprised the audience, who manifested their appreciation by a hearty and genuine round of applause. Sacred music evidently suits her better than secular. There was a large and respectable audience.

(Sadly, Marion died, aged 28, in 1868.)

Joseph and family were still in Meltham in 1871. They had one Domestic Servant and children Henry, Pauline and Clarence living with them in 1871. Henry was a Clerk in a Cotton Mill.

Sarah died in 1873.

In 1874, in Meltham Mills, Yorkshire, Joseph married Amelia Fossick, nee Birchall. She was the daughter of Alfred and Mary Birchall, and was born in Leeds. She had been married before, to William Fossick, in 1858, but he died in 1867.

In 1881, in Meltham, Amelia, and step-daughter Pauline, were described as Lady on the census return. Joseph was a Cashier at a Cotton Thread Works, and Henry was a Book-keeper at a Cotton Thread Works.

By 1891 Joseph and Amelia, with Pauline, were living at Sandown, in Byron Road. (They were in Sandown by 1885.) Joseph was described as a retired Cashier. They had one female Domestic Servant.

In 1901, Amelia, with Pauline and Henry, was still living at Sandown. Amelia and Pauline living on their own means, and Henry a Retired Cashier, at 46.They had a local Domestic Servant, Jessie Greenfield, aged 20.

Burial researcher: 
Jackie Rooney

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
05/10/1818
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Sarah
Spouse one last name: 
Booth
Marriage one date: 
00/00/1839
Marriage one address: 
Bradford, Yorkshire, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
00/00/1895
Age (at time of death): 
76
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Obituary

Worthing Gazette 10 April 1895 DEATH OF MR. JOSEPH PITMAN - Phonographers in all parts of the kingdom will learn with regret of the death of Mr Joseph Pitman, so long and so honourably associated with the movement to spread a knowledge of the incomparable system of shorthand which his elder brother, Sir Isaac Pitman, has given to the world.  The subject of this brief and imperfect notice was born on the 5th October, 1818, at Trowbridge, in Wiltshire, in the same house as his brother Isaac. Their father, Mr Samuel Pitman, was at one time overseer in a cloth factory, and afterwards entered into business as a cloth manufacturer himself. Leaving home a the age of eighteen, Joseph associated himself a little later with Mr Thomas Allen Reed, now head of the firm of Reed and Co., Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane, and probably the finest practitioner of the art of shorthand that this country has ever seen. Together they travelled in various parts of the country, ceaselessly endeavouring, by means of lectures and classes. to bring into favour the system of shorthand which Isaac Pitman had then lately published.  They were met occasionally by Isaac, and all three strove to popularise the cause which has since made such phenomenal advances.  Mr Reed has placed on record, in a pleasant pilgrimage in the society of Joseph Pitman.  Worthing was not included in the round of travel. For about four years Mr Joseph Pitman was actively engaged with Mr Reed in the work thus outlined in the preceding extract, and afterwards he went to Meltham, in Yorkshire, where for 

THE REMARKABLE PERIOD OF FORTY YEARS he occupied a responsible position at Meltham Mills.  He never ceased his active interest in all that was calculated to develop and improve Phonography, and to his ingenuity present-day writers owe two of the most highly valued time-saving devices - phraseography and the use of what is known as the half length system.  For sacred music, Mr Pitman had a great love and during his long residence in his Yorkshire home he did much to encourage its study, being for many years honorary choir master at St James's Church, Meltham Mills.  Ten years ago he retired from active business life, and came to Worthing, first taking up his residence in Wesbourne Terrace, and afterwards removing to Sandown, Byron Road. He still preserved his affection for Phonography, and to beguile the time he undertook a little teaching, his first pupil being a young lady who is still living in the town. Mr. Pitman was a man of very gentlemanly bearing and was most kindly and courteous to all with whom he came in contact. For some time past he had been in somewhat enfeebled health, and on the 22nd of March he took to his bed, the cause of death being kidney disease, with complications.  His medical attendant was Mr. G.B. Collet. Mr Pitman was twice married, and his second wife survives him. Four children are still living - one daughter and three sons.  The eldest son, Mr Henry Osmond Pitman, was engaged in business in London, but has been staying at Worthing for some time past for the benefit of his health.  Mr Guilbert Pitman has charge of the London branch, at Amen Corner, of the extensive publishing business of Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons; and Mr. Clarence Pitman conducts the New York Branch. 

THE FUNERAL The funeral of the deceased gentleman took place on Monday afternoon, the obsequies being of a very simple and quiet nature, in keeping with the unostentatious life Mr Pitman had led.  The mourners comprised the immediate relatives of the deceased, including his widow, daughter, and two sons (Mr. H.O. and Mr. Guilbert H. Pitman), Nurse Gilbert, and the servants; others who attended as a mark of respect and esteem being Miss M.S. Hewer, a pupil of the deceased, Mr J. Chaplin, and Mr. C. Fibbens (shorthand instructor, Worthing Technical Education Classes).  The first portion of the service was read at St. Botolph's Church, the Rector (the Rev. E. Lambert) officiating here and also at the graveside, the remains of the deceased being deposited in the pretty little burial ground close by, where he had expressed a wish to be laid.  A number of floral tributes rested upon the coffin, these being the offerings of "his sorrowing widow," "his sons and daughter," Mr Birchall, (Ramsgate), Nurse Gilbert and Jane Scrase, Mr and Misses Isherwood Heywood, Mr and Mrs. M. Harris of Brighton.  The arrangements were efficiently carried out by Mr W.H. Jordan (Messrs. Jordan and Gray). 

Sussex Agricultural Express 13 April 1895 - WORTHING - FUNERAL OF MR. JOSEPH PITMAN On Monday afternoon the remains of the late Mr. Joseph Pitman, whose death, at the advanced age of 76, occurred on Wednesday, were interred at Heene cemetery, the officiating clergyman being Rev. G.C. Battiscombe.  The deceased, who has been a resident of Worthing for the past ten years, was the younger brother of Sir Isaac Pitman, the inventor of phonography, and in is early days he took a prominent part in the propagation of that art by teaching and lecturing in various parts of the country.  He was also the inventor of phraseology and the half-length characters, the importance and utility of which have long been recognised by shorthand wirters. The ceremony on Monday afternoon was of a very quiet character, the mourners being confined to the immediate relatives of the deceased. - Wreaths and other floral tributes were sent by "his sorrowing widow," "his sons and daughter," Nurse Gilbert and Jane Scrace, Mr and Misses Isherwood (Heywood), Mr. and Mrs. George Hewer, Mr. S. Hewer, and Mr. and Mrs. M. Harris (of Brighton). 

Trowbridge Advertiser 4 May 1895 OBITUARY - The Phonetic Journal of April 27, contains the following: The late Mr. Joseph Pitman, whose death took place at Worthing, on April 3, was the eldest surviving brother of Sir Isaac Pitman, and was born at Trowbridge, in Wiltshire, in 1818.  He received his education at the Grammar School of his native town, and subsequently followed the example of his elder brothers Jacob and Isaac, and went through a course of training at the Borough Road College of the British and Foreign School Society, London, and was appointed to a school at Little Horton, Bradford.  When phonography was introduced, he learnt from its inventor, and soon after decided to follow his eldest brother Isaac's example and devote himself to lecturing on and teaching the art.  This he did with success for about four years, after which he received an important position of trust at Meltham, which he filled for upwards of 30 years, down to 1884, and has spent the closing years of his life in retirement at Worthing. He leaves a widow and four children. The funeral too place at Heene on April 8.

Census and miscellaneous information

Miscellaneous information

Advertisement in the Suffolk Chronicle 22 March 1845

 Advertisement in the Suffolk Chronicle 22 March 1845[/caption] Joseph Pitman worked as a cloth manufacturer in a factory where his Father Samuel also worked as an Overseer. At the age of 18 Joseph left home and joined forces with Thomas Allen Reed. Thomas was a practioner of the art of Shorthand (Phonography). Together they travelled the country lecturing on Phonography, which his Brother Isaac Pitman had already published. Isaac sometimes joined his Brother Joseph and Thomas Reed on their lectures but had to abandon travelling and lecturing in order to devote himself to the production of instruction books and other literature. Joseph Pitman and Thomas Reed were together for four years. Afterwards Joseph went to Meltham Yorkshire where he worked at Meltham Mills, and stayed there for forty years. He continued to develop and improve Phonography. He also developed Phraseography, A system of writing two or more words together without lifting the pen. He had a great interest in sacred music and was choir master at St. James Church, Meltham. In 1885 he retired to Worthing, firstly at Westbourne Terrace and then ‘Sandown’ Byron Road. He continued to give private lessons on Phonography.