Today’s train to Edinburgh is passing through
Sheffield. This is where the Barratt
name comes from. George O. Barratt was a
“grinder” in Sheffield (famous for its steel), and fell in love with Elizabeth
Cottam from about 30 miles away. Dan
says that 30 miles was not so far in those days because of the railroads. Elizabeth Cottam was from a fairly well-to-do
business family, and there seems to have been some family discontent with the
pairing.
That may have been the reason that George and Elizabeth left
for America. George Albert Barratt, my
grandfather, was born in the US. He
recalled being taken back to England for a visit when he was around 12 years
old, and being seen as an unruly American boy.
George A. Barratt married another Elizabeth in Holyoke
Mass. Elizabeth Bretchschneider’s father
was Max who came from Saxon in Germany.
“Edge tools, files, steel” was written in very faded letters
on an old low brick building viewed from the tracks. “English Pewter Company” and “Steel,” were written on subsequent buildings. Perhaps George O. worked there. Dan has located a photograph of his home –
still there. Clearly the railroad,
tunnels, and station are original – I expect that George passed along these
same tracks.
These days Sheffield is a city of ½ million. As the “Lonely Planet” says, “the ‘Sheffield
Steel’ stamp on locally made cutlery and tableware now has the cachet of
designer chic.” And, who knew, Sheffield
is host to the World Snooker Championship.
I did not know we would pass directly through, but am glad
to have had a glimpse from the tracks.
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