The Reformer

October 2nd 1841

House/Shop to Let,

Hitchin

BEAVER: A Basket Making Family of Hitchin

Robert Crofts Beaver was the eldest son of George Beaver, a basket maker who was born in Witton, Huntingdonshire, in 1785 and married Amy Crofts at St Mary's, Hitchin on 23 October 1806.  George is listed as a basket manufacturer in the Market Place in the 1823 Pigot's Directory (the earliest available) and the business continued in the family until at least 1882. George and Amy's children baptised at St Mary's were:

• Robert Crofts Beaver (1807-1845) may have taken over the running of the business by 1841, as in the census his father George is simply listed as of "Independent Means" while Robert is recorded as the basket maker at the Market Place. Robert was buried at Hitchin on 1 December 1845.
• George Beaver (born 1809) became a engineering and land surveyor in Hitchin with offices in the Market Place (1866), Brand Street (1878) and Tilehouse Street (from 1882)
• John Beaver (1812-1827) was buried at St Mary's
• Samuel Beaver (1814) (possibly died in infancy?)
• William Beaver (1815-1888) continued the basket making business in the Market Place, where he is listed in 1851, Sometime before 1878 he moved to Swan Yard, and it is last listed in 1882, William dying in Hitchin in 1888.
• Amy Beaver (baptised 1822 but born earlier)
• Ann or Nancy Beaver (born 1823 fron census age)
• Thomas Beaver (baptised 1824) left Hitchin and became a shopkeeper
• John Beaver (baptised 1830) In 1866 he was listed as a basket maker in the Market Place with his older brother William. However he gave up basket making and became a tea dealer and grocer in the Market Place by 1878 and by 1882 was listed at postmaster.