Rushden Research Group: John Cave at Rushden Cottage

John Cave & family

John Cave

Jane Cave

John Cave was born on April 21, 1820 at Bencroft Farm, on the Bedford-road.

He married Miss Jane Warren from Irthlingborough on 29th January 1846. Jane was born on the 8th July 1822, daughter of Timothy Warren of Irthlingborough.

Northampton Mercury, 31 January 1846Â Jan. 29, the Baptist Meeting, Irthlingborough, by the Rev. John Trimming, John Cave, of Rushden, to Jane Warren, of Irthlingborough.

John and Jane had nine children: Mary 1847, Paul 1850, Amos 1852, Elias 1855, Eliza 1857, Frederick 1859, Arthur 1861, Emily 1863, and Deborah 1867. The four eldest boys all trained as clickers.

The family first lived at the Higham Road end of High Street. They moved further along the High Street, perhaps after the first factory fire. Son Elias was killed when one of the walls fell on him as he looked over the ruins.

Following the fire, John built a fine new works in High Street, and by 1881 he was employing 26 men, 16 boys, and 39 girls. The factory was subsequently extended, in 1898 and a grand Social was held in celebration.

The last child, Deborah Florence, died on 24th November 1892 aged 25 years.

Wellingborough News, 20th May 1882

PROPERTY SALE—"Rushden Cottage," with its extensive grounds, the property of the Hon. C. W. Fitzwilliam, M.P., for several years in the occupation of Mr. H. W. Currie, and at present occupied by Mr. Campbell Praed, was put up for sale by auction by Messrs. Stafford and Rogers, on the 11th inst., at the Wagon and Horses Inn, Rushden. The "Cottage," stabling, and 6,640 square yards of land, were bought by Mr. Cave for £1,600; a tool and store house, overlooking a portion of the grounds, being bought by Mr. Higgins for £71. Lots 1 to 4, containing 1,231 yards, were bought by Mr. G. Denton for £152; lots 5 and 6, 780 yards, by Mr. H. Skinner, for £86; lot 7, 535 yards, by Mr. C. Sanders, for £56; lots 8 to 11, 1,220 yards, by Mr. Cave, for £165; lots 12 and 13, 675, by Mr. Cox, for £58; lots 14 and 15, 642 yards, by Mr. W. Spencer, for £57; lots 25 and 26, 556 yards, by Mr. Edwin Knight, for £69. The remaining lots, covering over an acre of ground, were withdrawn. Lots 27 and 28 were afterwards privately bought by Mr. G. Perkins, for the Rushden Tradesmen's Club, for £91; and lots 5, 6, and 7 were subsequently re-sold to Mr. Cave. Two cottages in Duck-street, the property of Mr. C. Praed, were sold at the close of the above auction to Mr. John Wood, for £200. The auction was a fairly spirited one, the auctioneers being evidently well satisfied with the results.

Rushden Cottage (rear)
Photograph by Mr H Sartoris in 1861

Rushden Cottage - behind the trees

The Cave family moved to Rushden Cottage in 1882. The property was owned by Charles Fitzwilliam and in 1882, when he sold much of his property in Rushden, it was sold and John bought the house with a large parcel of land.

Pictures taken in the garden c1885

John Cave and his sons c1900

There was a coach house and stable in Alfred Street, where later, Amos Cave started the Waterproof Leather Company.

The Palace: Extract from a newsclip:-

The manufacturers, the Cave family, erected other works in nearby College-street. One member of the family was a partner in the Palace undertaking, and, at his instigation, a coat-of-arms in tiles—which had been on a wall at his old home—was laid in the entrance hall......

John Cave was also a deacon of the Old Baptist Church for 23 years, and was church treasurer for most of that period. His wife, Jane, pre-deceased him, in March, 1897, John dying in 1904 aged 82 years.

The resting place of John and Jane
in Rushden Cemetery

A disasterous fire at their factory in High Street in 1901 was the largest seen in Rushden. Following this, another factory was erected in College Street.

John Cave & Sons Ltd

John Cave

John & his sons 1889

Obituary 1904