William Tesseyman was termed as Hull’s oldest businessmen in his obituary in 1919. He died at the age of 91 whilst still working.
William Tesseyman was born in Fish Street, Hull in 1828. He was the eldest child of George and Mary Ann Tesseyman. He worked as a currier (leather curer) in his father’s business that his father had started in 1817. The family business premises were initially on Bowlalley Lane, but later transferred to The Land of Green Ginger, at its junction with Manor Street.
William married Elizabeth Sarah Hart in 1851. The new family lived at Ocean Place. This was situated at the beginning of Anlaby Rd. They were living there with their 7 children. Sadly, two of them died in childhood, Alice, aged 4 months in 1865, and Elizabeth, aged 6 years, in 1866.
He was an active member of the Hull Masons, and became a Worshipful Master of the Humber Lodge. In the 1870’s, after the death of his father in 1871, the family moved to 335. Beverley Road. A public house called The Bevvy Hotel now occupies the site.
William’s wife died aged 68 in 1901 and he died in 1919. William, his wife Elizabeth and their two daughters are buried in Hull General Cemetery, along with other members of the family.
The business continued under the leadership of his sons.
The family headstone no longer exists. The East Yorkshire Family History Society recorded the inscriptions on the headstone.
Bill Longbone has had a long relationship with the Hull General Cemetery. He is an active member of the FOHGC and manages the work of the volunteers on the site. His biographical sketches of some of the people buried in the cemetery are one of the highpoints of the success of the Facebook site.
Wasn’t he a relative of yours Pete Lowden?
Was he? My great great grandfather was a currier but did not own a shop or the like. No, I don’t have a Tesseyman in the family but I’ll have a look as I seem to have forgotten about my family tree for a while.
All the stories post for us to read are always fascinating.