(1) UK national census returns
(2) Church registers of St. Michael, St. John and Holy Trinity, Coventry
Our family followed the tides of economic fortune, as they ebbed and flowed across the life of the city. Parish registers and census returns tell us of their participation in two major industries of the period — weaving and watchmaking. The following table tells the story. Note that, by 1891, Sam Miles had switched to the more lucrative trade of publican. However, to the end of his days, he kept a small workshop where he would potter about with watches.
| 1813 | Samuel Litchfield (father-in-law to Charles Miles) |
watch maker |
| 1838 | Charles Miles | weaver |
| 1843 | William Hopkins (father-in-law to Sam Miles) |
weaver |
| 1851 | Charles Miles | hand loom ribbon weaver |
| his wife Sarah | weavers harness maker | |
| his daughter Emily (12) | filler of silk | |
| his son Charles (10) | harness maker | |
| William Hopkins | hand loom weaver | |
| his wife Mary | hand loom weaver | |
| his son William (15) | hand loom weaver silk | |
| 1870 | Sam Miles | watch maker |
| 1883 | Sam Miles | watch finisher |
| 1891 | Sam Miles | licensed victualler |
| his daughter Annie (13) | spinner silk | |
Sources:
(1) UK national census returns
(2) Church registers of St. Michael, St. John and Holy
Trinity, Coventry