occupation

Servant, French-polisher, housewife

dates

Born: 1846, Little Tew, Oxon

Married: Walter BRADLEY, 1869

Died: ?

residence

As a child Little Tew, Oxon; moved with parents to Birmingham and lived there for the rest of her life.

submitted by

Elizabeth BRADBURY

Background information

Philadelphia HIORNS was born in 1846, one of eight daughters and one surviving son of Richard and Eliza HIORNS.  Richard’s family had been farmers in Little Tew for at least two hundred years and fought against the enclosures.

Philadelphia should have been a happy country girl but her father lost his farm and became a labourer and later a dealer in Birmingham.  In 1861 the census shows that Philadelphia was a servant but later became a skilled French-polisher.

How sad that she should have to leave the beautiful countryside for the poor area of a city.  She married a cabinetmaker, Walter BRADLEY and they produced nine children. On 30th October 1929 she celebrated her Diamond wedding anniversary and received a message from the King.