1851 On the day of the census the 30th of April Johann GEBHARD lives at 132 Islington Birmingham; under the same roof are Johann’s sister Lischen, Johann’s brother-in-law Thomas ISLIP plus Thomas & Lischen’s 2 children Gertrude ISLIP and Lischen Marion Gebhard ISLIP. Johann’s future wife Elizabeth ISLIP is listed as a visitor on the night that the census is taken 30th March 1851. Therefore Johann and Elizabeth knew each other for at least 2 years before they married and probably longer – I would guess that it’s very likely that they met at the above mentioned marriage of 1847.
In this year Birmingham’s St. Martin’s market opens in Jamaica Row.
1852 Johann GEBHARD is a Tailor at King Edwards Road (Kelly’s Directory).
Napoleon becomes Emperor in this year.
1853 On Monday the 21st of March Johann Jacob GEBHARD is married to Elizabeth ISLIP at St. Martins in the Field (this is the church that overlooks Trafalgar Square) this is only 29 days before the birth of their son (I have a copy of the marriage certificate, Johann gives his father’s name as being Martin GEBHARD a Gardener). Johann was 33 years of age. Johann and his wife Elizabeth went to Germany where their son Johann Martin GEBHARD (but usually known as Martin) is born in Mainz on Tuesday 19th of April; why Germany for the birth and why Mainz and not Frankfurt?; perhaps Germany was chosen for the birth because in this year there was a Cholera Epidemic in Birmingham and they didn’t want the child to be born in Birmingham because of this.
1854 Crimean war begins.
New Street Railway Station opens.
St. John’s Church Ladywood completed.
1855 The GEBHARD family lives at 187, Camden Street Hockley; daughter Marie Katherina GEBHARD born there 7th February 1855 (birth certificate).
1856 Crimean War ends.
1858 Johann & Elizabeth Gebhard’s second daughter Elizabeth GEBHARD is born.
1858 Johann GEBHARD a Tailor at 275, Bellbarn Road (Kelly’s).
1860 My Great Great Grandmother Alice Maud GRETTON is born in Birmingham (daughter of James GRETTON and Mary Ann YERL).
Abraham Lincoln is elected U.S. President this year.
1861 On the day of the census the 7th of April the Gebhard family lives at 57 Vittoria Street, Hockley; Johann & Eliza and their children: - Martin aged 7, Marie Katherina aged 6 and Elizabeth aged 3 (1861 Census).
I have discovered that this property was built in 1851 for the BRAGG family who were buckle-makers. The corner and the rear of the property (where the manufactory was) were both rebuilt in 1910, however, if you go there today the left hand side of the building which is marked 55-57 and the inside with its wooden staircases have not been altered i.e. it’s the same as when these ancestors lived there 146 years ago! If you are in the area do go to Vittoria Street and have a look (the Jewellers Arms is O.K. for a glass of something afterwards, or the Rose Villa Tavern, they are both relatively unspoilt).
1861 Johann and Elizabeth’s last child Johanna Agnes GEBHARD is born on 14th November at 57, Vittoria Street, Hockley.
1862 Johann Jacob GEBHARD has a Tailors Business at 14, Belmont Row; his brother-in-law Thomas ISLIP lives at number 15 in the same street (Kelly’s).
1864 to 1866 Johann Jacob GEBHARD is a Tailor at 138, Sandpits Parade (Kelly’s).
1865 Antiseptic surgery is introduced.
1866 Johann Jacob Gebhard’s niece Lischen Marion Gebhard ISLIP (aged 18) is married to Charles Frederick SMITH (aged 21) on the 23rd of June at St. Bartholomew’s at Edgbaston (more commonly known as Edgbaston Old Church).
1867 Johann Jacob GEBHARD lives in Spring Hill (1867 Burgess Roll – it does not, however, give a specific house number).
1867 to 1869 Johann is a Tailor & Draper at 36, Bath Street off Loveday Street (Hulleys & Whites Directory).
1871 On the day of the census the 2nd of April Johann GEBHARD and his family live at 30C Hospital Street (1871 census); they would move to 30B Hospital Street and Johann finally moved to 67 Hospital Street.
Stanley meets Livingston this year.
1872 Johann Jacob GEBHARD is a Tailor at 30B, Hospital Street (Kelly’s).
1873 Blondin famous for walking on a tightrope over Niagara Falls does the same at Edgbaston Reservoir to the delight of thousands of onlookers!
1874 On the 5th of September Johann’s daughter Marie Katherina GEBHARD aged 19 is married to George Dean MORRIS at Birmingham Register Office (she gives her address as 30B, Hospital Street; George’s address is 53 Summer Lane).
1876 Johann Jacob GEBHARD still a Tailor at 30B, Hospital St. (Whites).
1878 Johann’s son Johann Martin GEBHARD (but always known as "Martin") a Commercial Clerk & part-time Violin Player is married to Alice Maud GRETTON ("Annie") on the 21st of December at St. Saviours in Saltley. Johann Jacob GEBHARD has property at Sherborne Place, Albert Road, Aston.
1879 Martin & Alice’s first child Martin James GEBHARD (my Great Grandfather) is born at 109, Rupert Street, Aston on Tuesday the 15th of July.
1880 Frederick GEBHARD (son of Martin & Alice Maud) is born on 23rd November at 6, Trafalgar Road, Aston.
1881:- On the day of the census the 3rd of April Johann Jacob GEBHARD is still at 30B, Hospital Street, now living not with his wife but with Catherine PEARCE a widow 20 years younger than Johann (1881 Census); Catherine PEARCE was born in Painswick, Gloucestershire, her maiden name was BIRT.
Martin GEBHARD "Senior" & Alice (nee GRETTON) live at 5 Scott Street Duddeston.
Eliza GEBHARD (Johann’s wife) and the two daughters Elizabeth (aged 23) and Agnes (aged 21) are living at 35, Belgrave Square Erdington (1881 Census).
At 39 Princess Rd. Balsall Heath (a property owned by Wilhelm Conrad Gebhard) are: - Mary Stokes married aged 53, born Ludlow, her daughter Louisa Stokes aged 17 born Birmingham and an Anne PEARCE aged 12 born Birmingham – a coincidence? (1881 Census).
The Birmingham Council House is opened.
1882 Birmingham gains its first electricity supply.