George Starbuck Jr. (1834 - 1914)

Born 5 Jan 1834 in Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Died 1914 at about age 79 in Birkenhead, England

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Biography

George was born about 1834. He was the son of George Starbuck and Elizabeth Swain. He passed away in 1914.

He married Arabella Cavanagh of Melbourne, Australia, on October 14, 1857.

George Starbuck established the first tramcar manufacturing business in Britain at 227 Cleveland Street, Birkenhead. It was incorporated as George Starbuck and Company on 12 September 1871.

It was re-registered one year later as Starbuck Car and Wagon Company Ltd., on 6 November 1872.

In 1876 the Birkenhead Street Railway ordered 7 new trams from the local, but internationally famous tramcar manufacturer, the Starbuck Car & Wagon Company, located not far from the present transport musem, in Cleveland Street. This building still exists and there is a plaque on the building noting its previous importance.

The tram has a back to back seat on the roof called a "Knifeboard Seat", this type of top deck seat lasted until around 1886 when the design of top decks changed and the more familiar transverse garden seat became more or less standard.

The tram was usually pulled by two horses, but would be worked by a stud of about twelve horses worked in rotation. You will see the tram is fitted with slatted blinds, very common for for this time, used to keep the sunlight off the passengers. It is very ornately decorated with ornamental mirrors in the lower saloon. The tram is meticulously decorated and lined out.

The tram was sold in the 1890's to the Birkdale and Southport Tramway Company, it is possible that the directors of Birkenhead United Tramways, Omnibus & Carriage Co Ltd (which by 1899 the old Street Railway had become) were the same, namely the Busby family.

The tram ended its days as a lamp store in a coal yard in Southport and then in the 1970's became the first exhibit in the new Steamport Museum in Southport.

In the late 1980's British Horse Tram enthusiasts took on the task of restoring the tram over a four year period and then sold the tram to Wirral Borough Council, the present owners. It is now in the care of the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society.

The tram is the oldest double deck tram in mainland UK. The oldest double deck tram in the world is housed in the Brussels Transport Museum and was made, also by George Starbuck, in 1869. Another remarkable survivor.(https://www.mtps.co.uk/7.html)

After Liverpool started to construct a tram system in 1869 a number of the early horse cars were supplied by George Starbuck and Company of Birkenhead. George Starbuck's works at Cleveland Street was the first 'tramcar manufactory' outside the USA and in addition to Liverpool, supplied cars to many other cities in England and abroad.

In 2005 after almost 150 years after production began, a special commemorating plaque was placed on the former Starbucks Works which still stand today. The ceremony was organised by Lewis Lesley, lately a professor of engineering at Liverpool's John Moores University (http://home.clara.net/ronsmith/tram/starbucks.htm).

Children

1. Alice Starbuck, born August 8, 1858, in Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts^[1]. On January 9, 1884, Alice, age 25, married Frederic Macdonnell Evanson, age 24, son of Charles Evanson, at St. Anne, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQSZ-W6G)
2. Herbert Starbuck, born March 18, 1862; he was christened on March 24, 1864, at Claughton-cum-Grange, Cheshire, England (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQWD-BB6)
3. Walter Starbuck, born April 1863; he was christened on March 24, 1864, at Claughton-cum-Grange, Cheshire, England (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQWD-BBN)
4. Lil(l)ian Starbuck, born 1865, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England; christened on December 7, 1865, Claughton-cum-Grange, Cheshire, England (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2X9D-2T4) (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQW6-9T5). She married Thomas Henry Andrew, age 47, widowed, on June 14, 1897, at St. Catherine, Tranmere, Cheshire, England (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DYVQ-QPD?i=800&cc=1614792) (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3FY-376); the Banns of Marriage was registered on May 16, 1897 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XM9-M51?i=1158&cc=1769414)
5. Agnes Mary Starbuck, born January 1868; she was christened on October 16, 1871, at St. John, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F32Y-6Z1)
6. Florence Starbuck, born September 1869; she was christened on October 16, 1871, at St. John, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F32Y-68S)
7. Mabel Starbuck, born 1872
8. Harold Starbuck, born November 28, 1873, christened on May 30, 1878, in the Parish of Birkenhead.^[2]
9. Hilda Frances Starbuck, born March 25, 1878, christened on May 30, 1878, in the Parish of Birkenhead. Her parents, George and Arabella Starbuck, were living on 33 Ball's Road, Claughton, Cheshire, England
10. Gerald Cavenagh Starbuck, born August 23, 1879; christened on October 31, 1880, in the Parish of Birkenhead. His parents, George and Arabella Starbuck, were living on Ball's Road, Claughton, Cheshire, England

^[3]

Census Records

In 1871, George Starbuck, age 37, and his wife, Arabella Starbuck, age 30, were living in Claughton cum Grange, Cheshire, England. Arabella was born in Australia. Also living in their household were their two sons, Herbert Starbuck, age 9, birthplace Lambeth, Surrey, England, Walter Starbuck, age 7, born in Claughton Cheshire, England, and four daughters, Alice Starbuck, age 12, born in the United States, Agnes Mary Starbuck, age 3, Lil(l)ian Starbuck, age 5, and Florence Starbuck, age 1; the last 3 daughters were born in Claughton, Cheshire, England. Others people listed were Frances Laren, age 27, a cook, Elizabeth Larcombe, age 27, servant, Emma Owens, age 14, housemaid, and Catherine Owens, age 11, under nurse.^[4]

In 1881, George Starbuck, age 47, and his wife, Arabella Starbuck, age 40, managing director of Starbuck Car & Wagon Company, were living in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. Arabella was born in Melbourne, Australia. Also living in their household in Claughton With Grange, Cheshire, England, were their four daughters; Agnes Mary Starbuck, age 13, Lillian Starbuck, age 15, Mabel Starbuck, age 9, and Florence Starbuck, age 11^[5]

In 1891, George Starbuck, age 57, and his wife, Arabella Cavenagh Starbuck, age 50, were living in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. Arabella was born in Australia. Also living in their household were their two daughters; Florence Starbuck, age 21, school teacher, and Lilian Starbuck, age 25, hospital nurse.^[6]

In 1911, George Starbuck, age 77, and his wife, Arabella Cavenagh Starbuck, age 70, were living in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. He was a retired managing director of a tramway company. Arabella was born in Victoria, Australia, of British parentage.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6QT9-DFR?cc=1928860 : 11 November 2022), > image 1 of 1; State Archives, Boston
2. ↑ "England, Cheshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1598-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68N3-1RC?cc=1469935 : 20 May 2014), > image 1 of 1; Record Office, Chester.
3. ↑ "England, Cheshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1598-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHVS-CG7 : 12 February 2018), George Starbuck in entry for Gerald Cavenagh Starbuck, 31 Oct 1880, Christening; citing 135, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1,647,364.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBNG-Y54 : Sat Feb 24 08:22:30 UTC 2024), Entry for George Starbuck and Arabella Starbuck, 1871.
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q272-YGKB : Fri Mar 08 14:45:00 UTC 2024), Entry for George Starbuck and Arabella Starbuck, 1881.
6. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891 , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4S54-P6Z : Thu Mar 07 14:29:55 UTC 2024), Entry for George Starbuck and Arabella Starbuck, 1891)
7. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW3K-K42 : 3 July 2019), George Starbuck, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey

• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BT-W9HV-2?i=532
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.F._Milnes_%26_Co.#Starbuck_Car_and_Wagon_Company

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBNG-Y54 : Sat Feb 24 08:22:30 UTC 2024), Entry for George Starbuck and Arabella Starbuck, 1871.

• "England and Wales Census, 1881", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q272-YGKB : Fri Mar 08 14:45:00 UTC 2024), Entry for George Starbuck and Arabella Starbuck, 1881.

• "England and Wales Census, 1891", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4S54-P6Z : Thu Mar 07 14:29:55 UTC 2024), Entry for George Starbuck and Arabella Starbuck, 1891.

• "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6QT9-DFR?cc=1928860 : 11 November 2022), > image 1 of 1; State Archives, Boston.

• "England, Cheshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1598-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHVS-CG7 : 12 February 2018), George Starbuck in entry for Gerald Cavenagh Starbuck, 31 Oct 1880, Christening; citing 135, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1,647,364.

• "Starbucks All" 1635-1985, A Biographical-Genealogical Dictionary, James Carlton Starbuck

• "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2J3F-2HG : 31 December 2014), George Starbuck, 1914; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.