Eli Gadd (1883 - 1933)

Born 1883 in Rowley Regis, Staffordshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Christina (Harrison) Gadd — married 3 Aug 1909 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

Died 5 Jun 1933 at about age 50 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Helen Gadd [send private message]

Biography

Eli was born in 1883 at Blackheath, Rowley Regis, Staffordshire, the son of Samuel Gadd and Ann Maria Jones.

In the 1891 census Eli was living with his parents and siblings at 13 New St, Attercliffe in Sheffield, Yorkshire. He was aged 8 years.

From the Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 30 June 1896, Pg 3 [in part] - MEETING OF THE DAY SCHOOL AID ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Sheffield Church Elementary Day School Aid Association was held yesterday afternoon at the Cutlers’ Hall …
The chairman then presented certificates for good attendance to the following children: - [list included] Eli Gadd, Attercliffe (Mixed)

In 1901 the Gadd family was living at 134 Industry Rd, Attercliffe, Sheffield. Eli, aged 18, was working as a wheel fitter.

Eli Gadd married Christina Harrison on 3 August 1909 at Christ Church, Attercliffe, Sheffield. Their marriage certificate recorded Eli was a bachelor aged 26 and a painter. His father was named as Samuel Gadd, a rivet maker. Christina was a spinster aged 27. Her father was named as David Harrison, an engine xxx. At the time of their marriage Eli was living at 25 Thames Rd and Christina at 50 Ouse Rd. Their witnesses were Lily Starmer and Wilfrid Harrison. Christina signed with her mark.

In the 1911 census Eli and Christina were residing at 25 Thames St, Attercliffe. Eli, aged 28, was working as a house painter. Christina was aged 29. They had two boarders living with them, Sidney Harrison, aged 21, a general labourer at the steel works and George Tissington, aged 24, also a house painter.

A newspaper article appeared in the Sheffield Evening Telegraph dated 20 September 1918, Pg 3, regarding the Police Court case against John Thomas Hallam in relation to a number of charges. The following only includes the parts of the article that refer to the charges with concern to Eli Gadd.
The prisoner then appeared to come in contact with a Mr. Eli Gadd, a painter at Vickers, with whom the prisoner worked for a short time. He got on the "soft side" of Gadd, who allowed him to remain in the house whilst he and his wife went away on a week’s holiday. He then visited certain moneylenders, representing that he was Mr. Eli Gadd, and produced rent books and borrowed the money from each of them, and signed the promissory note in the name of Eli Gadd.
On the charge of forgery, Miss Chloe May Jones, a bookkeeper employed by Mr. Goldblum, of Fargate, gave evidence as to prisoner representing himself to be Mr. Gadd, and said he was a householder. He said that the reason he wished to borrow the money was that he wished to go to see his wife, who was suffering from consumption at Bridlington. He produced the rent-book in the name of Gadd. The house was visited the next morning by another clerk, and £15 was advanced to the prisoner.
Eli Gadd, 12, Cross Myrtle Road, said that he had known the prisoner from childhood. He wanted to come and lodge with him in August, but witness said he could not take him in because they were going on holidays. The prisoner persuaded witness to allow him to stop in the house whilst witness was on holidays. Some time after coming back from holidays papers came to the house which led him to believe that money had been obtained in his name, and he communicated with the police.
Detective-sergeant Milner said that when he arrested the prisoner he said that he had been a fool, and that he had several papers that belonged to Gadd.
Bertram Bloom, residing at Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, but carrying on business as a money-lender in Winter Street, Sheffield, told how the prisoner came to his office on the 14th August, and applied for a loan of £15. He said his name was Gadd, that he was a painter, and produced a national registration card and a card to show where he was working in the name of Gadd. Witness went to Cross Myrtle Road and saw the house and the furniture, which the prisoner represented were his. He obtained a loan of £15.
Hallam was committed for trial at the Assizes.

Eli and Christina had one daughter named Christina born on 9 December 1919.

Eli Gadd died on 5 June 1933 aged 50 years.

From the Sheffield Independent dated 6 June 1933, Pg 1 - BANDSMAN DIES. CHILDREN’S SERVICE COLLAPSE. While taking part in the service at High Hazels Park, yesterday morning, a Sheffield man, Eli Gadd (54), a painter, of 59, Clipstone road, Attercliffe, Sheffield, collapsed and died. Mr. Gadd was playing in the Darnall Working Men’s Club Brass Band, accompanying the scholars of Attercliffe Parish Church in their singing, and he had just taken up his instrument to play a hymn when he collapsed. He was taken to a neighbouring public-house and treated by St. John Ambulancemen, but he died before the arrival of the ambulance. The widow, Mrs. C. Gadd, told a “Daily Independent” reporter that her husband had been a member of the Salvation Army since his early childhood. She was at the Army Citadel at Attercliffe, Sheffield, when she was informed of the death of her husband. Yesterday morning Mr. Gadd had been cheerful and had said that it was going to be a great Whitsuntide. This is the third successive Whitsuntide during which some mishap has befallen the family. Last year Mr. Gadd was ill in bed, and the year before the only child, a girl of 13, was in the hospital. [Photograph as shown]

Eli was buried at Tinsley Cemetery on 10 June 1933 [Grave IB 80].

Christina Gadd died in 1934 aged 52 years. She was buried with her husband on 18 September 1934.