Solomon Tredwell
Solomon Tredwell (1823-1859)
1823 Born the son of William Tredwell, railway contractor, and his wife Elizabeth
1841 Solomon Tredwell, railway contractor, age 15 living in Reigate[1]
1846 Solomon Tredwell, railway contractor, married Alice Pickering in Leeds[2]
1851 Living at High Field, Leekfrith, Staffs: Solomon Tredwell (age 28 born Bredgar, Worcs.), Contractor. With his wife Alice Tredwell (age 28 born Brampton, Cumb.) and their daughter Alice Tredwell (age 2 born Leek). Also his mother-in-law Martha Pickering (age 54 born Macclesfield). Also listed are John Pickering (age 19 born Brampton); Robinson (Pickering) (age 20); Richard Augusti Barck (age 28) William Pickering (age 25 born Brampton), Contractor; Edward Pickering (age 23 born Brampton), Contractor; and E. M. Pickering (age 1). Five servants.[3]
1859 November. Awarded the contract for construction of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway
1859 November 30th. Within fifteen days of landing in India, Solomon died. His wife, Alice Tredwell, took over the contract and appointed Messrs Adamson and Clowser to manage the contract for her in her absence, as she returned to England. This arrangement was to last seven years.
1859 November 30th. Died in Back Bay, Bombay, India.
1860 Probate granted to his brother William Tredwell of Handsworth, Contractor for Public Works.
1864 Memorial.[4]
A brass, bearing a full length portrait the size of life, and executed for the widow of this distinguished man, is now in the galleries of the Messrs. Burke and Co., Warwick House, 142, Regent Street. The likeness has been well preserved, and the costume is of the present day, partly hidden by a robe. The figure stands in a canopy, richly relieved with blue and the background is closely dispered. The arms and monogram take a perspicuous place at the top, and are relieved by their proper colours. Two crests fill the upper corner, and a viaduct and tunnel the lower. The scriptual texts which surround the whole are divided by the immortal crown, the cross, and inverted flambeaux.
It is designed to cover the tomb at Bombay, and it is said will inaugurate the introduction of brasses Into India. The tomb is of Indian marble, with panels of red polished granite and Carrara marble mouldings. The brass bears the following Inscription:
"Solomon Treadwell, Esquire, of Highfield House, Leek, county of Stafford, England, who died at Delmont Bungalow, Khandalle, 30th November, 1859, aged 36, and was interred December 1, at Bombay, only one month after his arrival in that country to under take the completion of that stupendous work known as the Bhore Ghaut Incline, but it pleased God to call him home whilst yet in the prime of his days, and with his best energies and talents devoted to the good of his country. His chief life-influencing motive was to serve God and keep His Commandments; which is the first duty of man."
The material of which the brass is composed is that which was used in the thirteenth century, termed Latten, or Cullen (a contraction of Koln or Cologne) consisting of a mixture of copper and tin, resembling brass, but more durable and costly.