Hi All

 

I wish to thank those who have sent me information about these 2
individuals.

 

The information I hold is fairly comprehensive however there is a gap in the
history of Joseph Fell

 

This is again from one of my future books. Members of the list may want to
keep this as Fell was a premier figure in mining circles in the late 19th
Century.

 

Quote:

 

Joseph Fell was born in 1849; his father was also named Joseph Fell and was
from Pitchford in Shropshire, which is about five and half miles south east
of Shrewsbury. Fell senior had moved to London and gone into service, it’s
very likely that he had previously been in service at Pitchford Hall, a
famous historic stately home. He appears in 1827 at the age of 21 as servant
of a Chelsea pawnbroker, a Mr Thomson. By 1837 he had taken employment at
the Bank of England in Threadneedle St, by 1841 Bank records show him as a
Second Parlour Door Keeper at a salary of £140 per year, and by 1855 he was
promoted to First Parlour Door Keeper at a salary of £160 per year. He
remained with the bank until 1870.

Young Fell lived at the bank along with the rest of the family. In 1861 he
was 12 years old and described as a “Scholar”, I feel that it was important
to Joseph Fell senior that his son could read and write, and this was to
prove a very wise investment. That both he and his father had the full run
of the building is of no doubt as in that year he was discovered on the
banks roof together with some others when a catapult was fired into the
offices of Britannia Life Assurance across the street. In view of the
meteoric rise to riches it is highly likely that the Fells were using
insider information from the bank, to trade stocks and shares. The Bank of
England also acted as a commercial bank like any other well into the 20th
century.

It is interesting to note that this only half a mile away from East India
Avenue (Leadenhall Street) where R.B.Fastnedge had his office.

 

By 1871, Fell the younger was living at Bartholomew Close, Blackfriars, and
described himself as a “Share Dealer”. Also living there was a 12 year old
servant Charlotte Nobes. He was married to Marion F Fell by whom they had a
daughter Beatrice, but later that year his wife died.

His father also had his own house, complete with a live in servant.

By 1875 (Company share register) at the age of only 26 he had moved to a
larger house Idmiston lodge. 37 Idmiston Road, Forest Gate London

According to the 1881 census he had 2 domestic live in servants, Katherine
Parish and Sarah Gardiner, and had re-married in 1875 to Alice M Fell, age
26. He had also another daughter who he had named after his previous wife,
she was aged 11. He must have remarried immediately his wife died, basically
what one could call a fast mover.

A rapid rise such as this so early in life could not have been accomplished
without external capital, this obviously points to R.B.Fastnedge and a
possible deal quite early on whereby Fell was supplying insider information
about stock issues from the Bank of England to Fastnedge in return for a
substantial cut of the profits. It’s very likely that the whole thing
started maybe from a chance meeting between the various parties. The
background of the Fells was obviously living in service; it’s therefore also
likely that it was Fastnedge who introduced Fell the younger to mining.

In 1872 Fell published his investor guide by which time he would have only
been 23 years old. In the following year Talybont Silver Lead Mining Company
had a general meeting where Fell proposed a dividend of six pence a share,
the motion was carried regardless of the fact that the business wasn’t
making any money.

 

ENDS

 

Now as can be seen the Fells had no money in the early 1860s, on the other
hand Fastnedge undoubtedly did. He was the son of a Farm Steward who very
likely worked for a rich landowner and just like the Fells moved to London
to make his fortune. I have little doubt that Fastnedge had some money from
the start. However, the ascent of the Fells is pure supposition on my part,
and as such not really good enough.

 

So there we are, the missing link in Roy’s future book, “possibly”,
“probably” etc, as I say not really good enough.

 

It’s a long shot, but can the list keep me in mind if you ever hit upon
anything.

 

Very kind regards

 

Roy