John Hustler
Encyclopedia
John Hustler was a Quaker wool-stapler
in Bradford, Yorkshire who was largely responsible at the start of the Industrial Revolution
for transforming Bradford from a village to prosperous industrial town. He was the treasurer for the construction of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
and also the chief sponsor of the Bradford Canal
.
By 1752 he gave evidence before a parliamentary committee dealing with the false practices of wool growers and in 1764 was largely responsible for pressing for legislation against closed shop practices of textile workers. In 1777 he was elected chairman of the newly established Yorkshire Worsted
Committee acting as a policing agency to prevent fraud and embezzlement in the industry. He proposed the Bradford Piece Hall and was responsible for opening out Bradford centre and was involved with several turnpikes.
In 1766, following a meeting at the Sun Inn, Bradford which launched the idea of a cross-country canal from Leeds to Liverpool
, he became the chairman and treasurer of the Bradford committee, writing a pamphlet A Summary View of the Proposed Canal from Leeds to Liverpool in 1770 which helped in the successful bid to bring the canal bill into law and was responsible for much of the fund raising. The next year he also raised support for a branch canal to Bradford
which was finished by 1774. He had colliery interests in Bradford and Wigan motivating his efforts.
He married Christiana Hird, a Quaker minister, in 1763 and they had six children, two sons and four daughters. He built Undercliffe House at Eccleshill where he lived for the rest of his life, playing host to itinerant Quaker ministers.
Wool-stapler
A wool-stapler is a dealer in wool. The wool-stapler buys wool from the producer, sorts and grades it, and sells it on to manufacturers.The expression wool-stapler fell out of use during the 20th century, see the external link below...
in Bradford, Yorkshire who was largely responsible at the start of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
for transforming Bradford from a village to prosperous industrial town. He was the treasurer for the construction of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line...
and also the chief sponsor of the Bradford Canal
Bradford Canal
The Bradford Canal was a English canal which ran from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Shipley into the centre of Bradford. It opened in 1774, and was closed in 1866, when it was declared to be a public health hazard. Four years later it reopened with a better water supply, and closed for the...
.
Life
John Hustler was the eldest son of William Hustler of Steeton (d. 11 May 1759) and Jane Jowet (1685–1745) at Apple Tree Farm, Low Fold, Bolton, near Bradford. His parents were Quakers and he was educated at the Friends' school in Goodmanend, Bradford and after an apprenticeship as a sorter and stapler of wool he joined his father and uncle (John) in the leading merchant business in the town.By 1752 he gave evidence before a parliamentary committee dealing with the false practices of wool growers and in 1764 was largely responsible for pressing for legislation against closed shop practices of textile workers. In 1777 he was elected chairman of the newly established Yorkshire Worsted
Worsted
Worsted , is the name of a yarn, the cloth made from this yarn, and a yarn weight category. The name derives from the village of Worstead in the English county of Norfolk...
Committee acting as a policing agency to prevent fraud and embezzlement in the industry. He proposed the Bradford Piece Hall and was responsible for opening out Bradford centre and was involved with several turnpikes.
In 1766, following a meeting at the Sun Inn, Bradford which launched the idea of a cross-country canal from Leeds to Liverpool
Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line...
, he became the chairman and treasurer of the Bradford committee, writing a pamphlet A Summary View of the Proposed Canal from Leeds to Liverpool in 1770 which helped in the successful bid to bring the canal bill into law and was responsible for much of the fund raising. The next year he also raised support for a branch canal to Bradford
Bradford Canal
The Bradford Canal was a English canal which ran from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Shipley into the centre of Bradford. It opened in 1774, and was closed in 1866, when it was declared to be a public health hazard. Four years later it reopened with a better water supply, and closed for the...
which was finished by 1774. He had colliery interests in Bradford and Wigan motivating his efforts.
He married Christiana Hird, a Quaker minister, in 1763 and they had six children, two sons and four daughters. He built Undercliffe House at Eccleshill where he lived for the rest of his life, playing host to itinerant Quaker ministers.