Yeovil people
george giles
Glove Manufacturer
George Giles was born in 1849 in East Coker, the son of thatcher David Giles (b1821) and Margaret née Chester (b1826). In the 1851 census David and Margaret were listed living in East Coker together with George aged two and two-month-old Lucy Ann. In the 1861 census George was living at Goar Knap with his grandparents; Joseph Chester an agricultural labourer and his wife Ann, a laundress. 12-year-old George listed his occupation also as an agricultural labourer.
In the spring of 1868 George married Elizabeth Ricketts at Yeovil. They were to have six children; Flossie born 1875, Frank born 1880, Frederick born 1882, Catherine known as Kate born 1884, Lily born 1888 and Matilda known as Ida born 1890 and Rosie born 1892. While there is no mention of George in the 1871 census, Elizabeth was living with her parents, John and Elizabeth Ricketts, and two younger brothers in Middle Street. Her father John was listed as a glover.
Neither George, Elizabeth nor any of the children are to be found in the 1881 census, the whole family were living in South Street by the time of the 1891 census. George gave his occupation as 'glover dresser' and both Elizabeth and their daughter Flossie aged 11 were listed as 'glover machinists'.
In 1889 George Giles and his partner Frederick Clothier, a glover and father of four-times Mayor of Yeovil Sidney Clothier, formed a company called Clothier Giles with a factory in Addlewell Lane next to Dodham Brook. The company was, to a degree, self-sufficient in that the raw leather was processed under George's supervision and the finished gloves were produced under Clothier's supervision in the same premises. The company specialised in the manufacture of grain and suede gloves as well as general suede products.
Elizabeth died in the autumn of 1893 aged 46 and George remarried in 1896. He and his new wife, Sarah Jane known as Jenny, had a daughter Edna Irene born that same year. In the 1901 Census George was living with his wife and six children and a servant at 'Elmsleigh', The Park. He gave his occupation as glove manufacturer. In the 1911 census George, now aged 63, Sarah Jane aged 50 and Edna aged 15 were living at Dorset Villa, 117 Sherborne road with a single domestic servant. George listed his occupation as 'Glove Manufacturer, Leather Glove Factory'.
George Giles died at the age of 78 on 19 August 1927 at Weymouth, Dorset. He was buried in Yeovil. Sarah Jane died in 1939.
