in the New Road, where the concern is still
carried on James Carpenter, the patentee, was a keen man of business, and
distinguished for great decision of character. His daughter Harriet
married James Tildesley, who became a partner in the business. Carpenter
died in 1844, and Tildesley in 1876, and the concern has since been
carried on by the two eldest sons of the latter in partnership, James
Carpenter Tildesley (who is now permanently invalided, and of whom more
anon), and Clement Tildesley. Mr. Clement Tildesley, who, like his
brother, is a county magistrate, still lives at Summerford House, where
he was born.

Mr. Rowland Tildesley, solicitor, and Clerk to the Willenhall Urban
District Council, is the fourth son of James Tildesley.

James Tildesley's eldest daughter, Louisa Elizabeth, married William
Henry Hartill, surgeon, and J.P. for the county of Stafford, who died in
1889; his second daughter, Emily, married John Thomas Hartill, J.P.,
surgeon, who filled the office of President of the Staffordshire Branch
of the British Medical Association in 1885, and again in 1907.

With these few biographical details of Willenhall's chief inventor we
pass on.

Other local patents in this branch of industry on the Register are:--

No. 8543--13th June, 1840--Joseph Wolverson, locksmith, William Rawlett,
latch maker, both of Willenhall. "Locks and latches."

No. 8903--29 March, 1841.--James Tildesley, of Willenhall, factor, and
Joseph Sanders, of Wolverhampton, Lock manufacturer. "Locks."

No. 10611--15th April, 1845.--George Carter, of Willenhall, jobbing
smith. "Locks and latches.

No. 12604--8th May, 1849.--Samuel Wilkes, of Wednesfield Heath, brass
founder. "Knobs, handles, and spindles for the same, and locks."

[There are patents in the name of Samuel Wilkes, at Darlaston,
ironfounder, in 1840, for hinges; and for vices in the same year. In
1851, Samuel Wilkes, of Wolverhampton, iron founder, took out a patent
for hinges. In 1845, Samuel Wilkes, of Wolverhampton, brass founder,
took out a patent for kettles. The Wilkes' family hereabouts are
manifestly as ingenious as they are numerous.]

At the present time there are some 90 factories and 143 workshop
employers in Willenhall, besides nine factories and 47 workshops in the
Short Heath district. The most important firms in the lock trade are
Messrs. Carpenter and Tildesley, H. and T. Vaughan, William Vaughan, John
Minors and Sons, J. Waine and Sons,