WILLIAM ROSS HEDGES                                       

Chemist and Druggist

1829 – 1922 

William Ross Hedges was born in Brocklesby, Lincolnshire and baptised there on 3^rd May 1829 the son of William Hedges and Margaret nee Ross.

At the time of the 1851 Census William was working at 7 Dale End Birmingham as assistant Druggist to John Yeomans a Chemist and Druggist.  The 1861 Census has William, still at 7 Dale End, but now Head of household a Chemist employing 1 apprentice and 1 porter.  In 1901 William, still working at the age of 72, is a Wholesale Chemist. 

William married on 11 July 1867 at St. Mary’s, Warwick to Barbara Phoebe Ashwin and the following year they baptised their first son William Ross.  It appears he did not follow his father into the business of Chemist and Druggist but was, according to the 1901 Census, a Carpenter and Paperhanger. 

William Ross junior died on 22^nd February 1922 aged 53 years and, less than a month later, on 16^th March, William Ross senior died aged 92 years.

The Hedges and Son, chemists, Birmingham whose patent medicines stock book 1881-96 is held at the Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine manufactured or produced many medicines and tinctures etc. but also Hedges Snuff, which is still in production today.