My mother, Sarah Matilda Hudson (née Caldwell), was daughter of Samuel Caldwell of Hathern, Loughborough, Leicestershire: 1800 married Thomas Hudson. My father was second son of John Hudson of Blackbrook, Shepshed, Leicestershire, farmer. For the first few years he was farmer, Loughborough. When the first Bobbin-net machine was invented he was one who first learned to make lace on the machine and with John Wootton owned and worked several machines till the smash in the early 40’s. I remember during the bad time he made various kinds of goods on the lace machine and about 1844 made pattern lace of various width. Also worsted and silk mitts and caps with elastic.

Father and his partner were considered good workmen and noted for their ability to turn out well finished work which with the highly complicated machines was very puzzling – when a lad I have heard tell how others would watch and by trickery try to find out their plan, and to baffle which queer locks and latches was put on the doors, and windows nailed, all of us being supplied keys or had to knock before we could get in, and at night the windows were close shuttered.

I remember in the early 40’s a lot of expense was made to try to bring out a new class of goods and others knowing of this tried to get in the shop. One man by some means got his head in to look around and one of the framesmiths seeing him pinned his head by one of his ears to the doorpost with a chisel he was working with. When he was set at liberty, he told him next time he would lose his head and bundled him downstairs.

During the bad times, machines which had cost hundreds of pounds were sold for old iron. Father, still working a lace machine, opened a grocers shop and was getting a very nice trade together, being a new neighbourhood, when his landlord gave him notice to quit, coming into the shop himself. Father took a house opposite but another shop being opened near; what was a living for one would not keep three, so with the lace trace bad and getting on in years, he found it hard work to keep things going, and illness made things worse, and after 18 months of failing health he died March 7, 1854, two months before I left home. Dear Dad, I have often thought of his many fondnesses.

My father’s former partner had bought a new machine and no steam power being available at Loughborough he removed his machine to Nottingham, I going to work the machine father and I had been working. When the new machine was ready I was given the job. Mother joined us at Nottingham. My father’s partner being a bachelor, having lived with father for over 30 years, they being like brothers, with mother to keep house, and he and I lodging with her, which we did till I married and he married Mother. My wife having a home ready, all I had to do was merely to change houses.

John Ashby, the father of my wife Elizabeth, was a joiner and cabinet maker, Hyson Green, Nottingham. His father, William Ashby, also a joiner, he was one of John Wesley’s Local Preachers and much respected. He used to often leave home in the early hours of Sunday morning, travel many miles and preach 3 times and get home often not till time to begin work on Monday: his family rarely saw him from Saturday until Monday breakfast. His wife Sarah was a woman of rare piety. His son William unfortunately took to drink, which was his ruin. He also was a joiner and of great ability. He left one daughter who was married to Joseph Archer, a Cork Cutter, and it is remarkable that the wife of William, her sister, and his daughter, all lived together separated from their husbands.