Joseph Packwood was baptised at Rushden on 4th July 1795, son of John and Elizabeth. He became Parish Clerk of Rushden, and married Elizabeth from Irchester in about 1820, their son William being born in 1823.
William became a bricklayer's labourer, but he left Rushden in the early 1840s. He was soon in Lancashire, and there he met and married Phoebe Burton in 1847. Their first five children were born in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and after William's mother had died, the family returned to Rushden in about 1859 and they all lived with his father, Joseph, Phoebe being housekeeper to her father-in-law.
William and Phoebe's eldest son William [II] was born at Skelmersdale in 1855 and he became a bricklayer and he founded a business as William Packwood, builder and contractor. William senior died in 1894 and his wife Phoebe died in 1906.
William [II] married Frances Mary Crosby in June 1884, and two years later their son William Crosby Packwood was born. William Crosby joined his father in the business and it was re-titled about 1918 as 'William Packwood and Son'. Frances died in 1907 and William [II] died in 1933.
Two invoices - from a bundle stored on a 'spike' (a traditional way to keep receipts) for work for Mr Joseph Knight, shoe manufacturer, at Rosemount, Irchester Road
William Packwood and Son traded at 80 Newton Road.
This invoice tells us that William Packwood & Son were: Builders, Plumbers, Painters & Decorators
Coal Merchants, Gas, Electric Light and Bell Fitters
Contractors of H.M. Office of Works.
An invoice dated 1937 - for removing a fireplace and redecorating the Front Room
