The Richardsons of Bessbrook. Ulster Quakers and the linen industry, 1845-1921

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  • Name Faith & ethnicity

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Scholarly work on the Richardson family as business people to the early 1920s, prior to decline, dealing with their family businesses of James Nicholson Richardson Sons & Co; Richardson Brothers & Co; and Bessbrook Spinning Co. Leading personalities covered include James Nicholson Richardson, 1846-1921, and John Grubb Richardson, 1813-90. An important theme is the influence of Quaker faith on business performance. Chapters include: 'Early days of family business, 1795-1839'; 'James Nicholson Richardson Sons & Co'; 'Flax, famine and Bessbrook, 1833-50'; 'Ulster's linen trade, 1833-45'; 'The setting up of Bessbrook, 1845-50'; 'Bessbrook and Ulster's linen industry, 1850-59'; 'Bessbrook in a time of boom, 1860-70'; 'Crisis and consolidation, 1870-80'; 'Organisational intelligence, 1880-90'; 'Survival and reconstruction, 1890-1900'; 'Surging ahead in troubled times, 1900-24'. Appendices [pp192-216] include much financial analysis of the business and also a 'List of [Ulster] flax spinners with power looms attached'. Includes an abridged family tree descending from William Richardson, b1654.