We had a lovely day out with friends yesterday, having a picnic in the grounds of Kingston Lacy NT near Wimborne, Dorset. We left home a bit earlier than needed, as there was a car boot sale en route! So glad we did!
I found this fabulous photo, it’s rather large, I’m trying not to buy large, but sometimes you just have to! After having a quick look on Ancestry when we got home, for more details of Mary, I found her birth, marriage in Somerset and then her death in Reading, my home town. What a coincidence! and there was more!

Meet Mary Isaac, who was born into a Quaker Family from Somerset, and went on to marry William Palmer & have three sons that became the Palmers of the famous Biscuit makers Huntley and Palmers of Reading, Berkshire.

Here’s a brief family history of her:

Mary Isaac was born on 10 June 1785 in Sturminster Newton, Dorset her parents were William Isaac and Elizabeth Clark, below is the record of Mary’s parents marriage on 27 Jul 1774 in Somerset. Quaker Records and most Non Conformist records are wonderful to read, so much detail.

This document below is Mary Isaac’s marriage to William Palmer on 29 April 1812 in Longsutton, Somerset.

 

 

Mary and William had four children during their marriage. George 1818-1897. then Samuel 1820-1903. Then a daughter Mary Owens 1822-1844. Lastly William Isaac 1824-1893. Sadly William died in 1826, so never got to see the success of his sons.

Mary died on 21 December 1880 at Kendrick House, Reading, Berkshire, at the age of 95.

I have as usual compiled a small Public Tree for the family, direct link here: Isaac & Palmer Family Tree

This is a Timeline below of Huntley and Palmers Biscuit Company from their Website, with a direct link here: Huntley and Palmers

1822
J. Huntley & Son biscuit bakery opens in London Street
1832
Joseph Huntley junior opens tin making and ironmongery shop (later Huntley, Boorne & Stevens) opposite the bakery
1841
George Palmer becomes Thomas Huntley’s partner. He was a distant cousin and a fellow Quaker. The business is renamed Huntley & Palmer
1842
Eight agents are appointed across the country to sell Huntley & Palmer biscuits. George was ambitious and wanted to rapidly expand the business
1846
A new factory opens in a former silk works on Kings Road employing 41 men and boys

Despite the successful move to the new factory in 1846, Thomas Huntley was increasingly concerned about rising costs which were not being met by profits. At the same time George Palmer wrote to Thomas Huntley complaining that he was not taking his fair share of responsibility. In 1847 George Palmers brother, Samuel, was brought into the firm to run the new London Office.

1851 William Isaac Palmer, the youngest brother of George, became factory manager at a salary of £200 per year.
1857
Thomas Huntley dies
1857
William Isaac and Samuel Palmer join George as partners. Business renamed Huntley & Palmers
1861
London Street shop closes
1865
Joseph Leete becomes continental representative
1867
H&P receives Royal Warrants from Leopold II of Belgium and Napoleon III of France
1878
H&P awarded a first prize at Paris Exhibition
1898
Becomes a private limited company and renamed Huntley & Palmers Ltd
1900
Awarded two first prizes at Paris Exhibition
1911
Huntley & Palmers provided ordinary and specially made emergency biscuits to the ill-fated British Antarctic Expedition to the South Pole, led by Captain Scott
1914-18
H&P makes army biscuits and artillery shell cases during World War I
1918
H&P buys Huntley, Boorne & Stevens, tin box makers
1918
King George V visits factory
1921
H&P forms Associated Biscuit Manufacturers Ltd with Peek Frean of London
1923
Huntley & Palmers opens a new factory at La Courneuve, near Paris
1924-5
The company exhibits at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, in London
1926
Edward, Prince of Wales, visits the H&P factory in Reading
1937
A new office building opens in Kings Road, Reading
1939-45
H&P makes army biscuits during World War II
1955
A new branch factory opens at Huyton, Liverpool
1960
W. R. Jacob of Liverpool joins Associated Biscuit Manufacturers Ltd
1969
Biscuit production of Huntley & Palmers, Peek Frean and Jacobs reorganised as Associated Biscuits Ltd.

Here is more information about the three brothers from the H & P Website: From the late 1840s George Palmer devoted more time to public service. He became a councillor in 1850 and argued for better sanitation and public recreation grounds for the people of Reading. In 1857 he was elected Mayor for the town. On the day after his election over-enthusiastic supporters fired off the old cannon that stood on the mound in Reading’s Forbury Gardens, blowing out most of the windows in the vicinity!
In 1878 George Palmer became a Member of Parliament for the Liberal party. He was nicknamed the ‘silent member’, although he did make a few contributions to debates. In his maiden speech he supported a bill to grant women the right to vote – however, seven years later, for reasons which are unknown, he had changed his mind on this issue!
George died in 1897 just before his eightieth birthday. London Road was lined with 5,000 employees as the funeral cortege passed by.
William Isaac and Samuel Palmer
George’s younger brother, William Isaac, died in 1893. During his lifetime he had donated much time and money to good causes and, on his death, his benefactions and promises of funds were found to exceed his assets. His brothers therefore had to help out from their own resources.
In 1887 Samuel Palmer fell sick and never really resumed work. He officially retired in 1898 and died in 1903 aged 82. If you want to know more do take a look, click on link above, about the family and also the next generation of Palmers.

I found this amazing large group photo with description, of the Palmer Family on a Public tree on Ancestry, it is from the H & P Website, isn’t it a cracker!

 

 

“Mary mother of the Palmer Brothers, is the elderly lady in the bath chair. George Palmer and wife Elizabeth Palmer (nee Meteyard) to Mary’s right. George William Palmer standing between them in the second row. Robert Meteyard is on the far left with the white beard. Samuel Palmer (1820-1903) is the gentleman holding the chequered rug and his wife Mary Jane Palmer (nee Marsh) is beside him. Alfred Palmer is the young gentleman sat on the ground with the top hat. William Isaac Palmer is stood behind Alfred holding his lapel. The Palmers often held Garden Parties at the home of George Palmer and senior or long standing staff were often invited“.

Are you a descendant of Mary Isaac? Do get in touch if you are.

Till next time then…………