Arnold Priestman (1854)

Born 1854 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Jessie (Thompson) Priestman — married 7 Jul 1880 in Yealand Conyers, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Arnold Priestman, son of John Priestman a textile manufacturer ^[1] was born in the march quarter of 1855, his birth registered in the Bradford registration district ^[2].

In 1871 Arnold, aged 17, was a student at Olivers Mount School, Scarborough ^[3].

Arnold helped other Friends to set up an Essay and Discussion Society in Brdadford in September 1874. Arthur served as the first secretary, and Henry Rowntree as its first president ^[4].

Arnold married Jessie Thomson (born c 1859-60, Kendal, Westmorland) on 7 July 1880 in the Friend's Meeting house at Yealand Conyers, Lancashire. Arnold was 26, his address 412 Camden Road; London and his occupation was "Gentleman", his father was a 'manufacturer', deceased. Jessie (aged 21) was of Arnside nr Milnthorpe, her father, Henry, was the first witness, and the Schoolmaster of Arnside. Second witness was Richard Batt, "a Manufacturer of Hazel Grove" [a suburb of Stockport, Manchester, Lancashire] ^[5].

In 1881, Arnold and Jessie were living at 91 Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, Middlesex, London. Arnold's occupation was Painter's assistant. They had two servants ^[6].

Arnold was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts, and exhibited there 26 times from 1888 ^[7].

In 1891 Arnold and Jessie and their daughter Gwendoline (aged 9) were living in Bradford. Arthur's occupation is Artist Painter. They had a housekeeper and a domestic servant ^[8].

In 1901 the family were living at 3 Walmer [first letter indistinct] Villas, Manningham [indistinct] Bradford. Also in the household were his sister-in-law Lillian Thompson, his nephew Henry R Thompson, a cook and a housemaid. Arnold's occupation is Artist Sculp. He was working from home ^[9].

On 7th January 1907, Arnold accepted an invitation to become a member of the United Arts Club ^[10].

In 1911 Arnold and Jessie were still at 3 Walmer Villas, Bradford. ^[11]

Arnold's nephew, Bernard Priestman, painted his uncle, sketching at an unknown date - the portrait is in Cartwright Hall, Bradford Art Gallery ^[12].

Arnold died on the 4th March, 1925, leaving almost £20,000 to his widow. His address was still 3 Walmer-villas, Manningham ^[13]. Arnold's death was registered in the Bradford District of Yorkshire in the March quarter of 1925 ^[14]. He died suddenly from a stroke whilst playing golf at the Hawksworth Golf Links ^[15].

Research notes

"A Friends First Day School opened in Bradford in March 1850, on the initiative of mill owner John Priestman. He and his partner James Ellis had already established a Ragged School in a building near the Soke Flour Mill" ^[16]

Not found in 1861 census on FreeCEN, Family Search or Ancestry 11/7/2020

"after leaving school, as expected of him, he went to work at his father’s mill. But finding no interest in the textile industry, he began to travel. His travels took him to Japan, where he became friends with an American artist working there. Watching the artist, Arnold realized this was a career direction for him too."^[17].

"On his return to Britain, he was tutored privately by the artists Charles E. Holloway and Henry La Thangue, but rapidly developed his own style. He painted mainly Yorkshire landscapes in oils, although he travelled widely and painted scenes in the Lake District, Suffolk and in Europe; the sky often became the principal theme in his work."^[18]

"Arnold was a successful artist in his lifetime and his work was exhibited at the Groupil Gallery and Grosvenor Gallery, London, as well as at the Dudley Gallery, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, and Royal Academy, Royal Hibernian Academy, Royal Scottish Academy, and Royal Society of British Artists, who elected him a Member in 1891. Arnold also represented Britain in the 1912 Venice Biennale. He also exhibited in the USA, at Pittsburgh. His picture, ‘The Estuary’, was selected for exhibition at the International Exhibition in Rome in 1912, as part of the British art collection assembled for the show.^[19]

"He was an active member of the Royal Society of British Artists and served for a while on the Council of the Yorkshire Union of Artists. He was also a member of Bradford Art Club and Imperial Arts League. His work can be found today at Northern England public art galleries in Bradford, Blackpool, Stockport, the Wirral, and at Leeds "^[20].

Sources

1. ↑ https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/a87fd974-c353-4979-9c3c-c6e5621ee30d
2. ↑ https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=ZP9rsa4zNxH5p7IsUpAWew&scan=1
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZG7-PQJ : 24 April 2019), Arnold Priestman in entry for Thomas Walton, 1871.
4. ↑ http://www.hullhistorycentre.org.uk/research/research-guides/PDF/Researching-Yorkshire-Quaker-History.pdf
5. ↑ Lancaster : Quakers : Register of unspecified type : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5c066aeef493fd907c9444ed : viewed 11 Jul 2020) marriage Arnold Priestman to Jessie Thompson 07 Jul 1880
6. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27Z-X781 : 13 December 2017), Arnold Priestman, Hornsey, Middlesex, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 22, Piece/Folio 1379/12, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,587., original viewed on Ancestry
7. ↑ https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/search/exhibition-catalogues?all_fields=Arnold+Priestman
8. ↑ Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.Original data - Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1891. Data imaged from The National A
9. ↑ Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.Original data - Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 1901. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England. The National Archive
10. ↑ handwritten letter https://primo.getty.edu/permalink/f/mlc5om/GETTY_ROSETTAIE2182224
11. ↑ Class: RG14; Piece: 26801 Source Information Ancestry.com. 1911 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG14, 1911.
12. ↑ https://images.app.goo.gl/Ks3fb977Xgy6VMSa6
13. ↑ https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/
14. ↑ https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=DS1bgnii4qRN891SlzLlSg&scan=1
15. ↑ https://www.notjusthockney.info/priestman-family/
16. ↑ http://www.hullhistorycentre.org.uk/research/research-guides/PDF/Researching-Yorkshire-Quaker-History.pdf
17. ↑ https://www.notjusthockney.info/priestman-family/
18. ↑ https://www.notjusthockney.info/priestman-family/
19. ↑ https://www.notjusthockney.info/priestman-family/
20. ↑ https://www.notjusthockney.info/priestman-family/