Reuben Hallam
Reuben Hallam (1818–1908), also known as Wadsley Jack, was a carver, cutler, musician and author, from the Wadsley district of Sheffield, England, who wrote in the Sheffield dialect. He is best known for the autobiographical work Wadsley Jack; or, the Humours and Adventures of a Travelling Cutler.
Reuben Hallam | |
---|---|
Oil portrait by W. Lindley | |
Born | 1818 |
Died | 1908 (aged 89–90) |
Nationality | United Kingdom |
Occupation | |
Home town | Wadsley, Sheffield, England |
Wadsley Jack..., and its sequel Wadsley Jack's Married Life, were each serialised in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph in 1865 and 1866 respectively, prior to publication in book form.[1]
In various decennial censuses, Hallam is listed as:
- 1851 a teacher of singing
- 1861 a spring knife cutler
- 1871 a spring knife cutler
- 1881 an artist (as are three of his children)
- 1891 a weighman
- 1901 a spring knife cutler
He also worked as an organist, orator and singer.[1]
His portrait,[2] in oil on canvas, by W. Lindley, is in the collection of Museums Sheffield.[3] Another portrait of Hallam, by Willis Eadon, was exhibited at the August 1888 Sheffield Society of Artists' exhibition.[4] The Sheffield Daily Telegraph's unnamed reviewer wrote that "it shows evidence of rather clever treatment in bringing out a strong individuality".[4] Reviewing the same exhibition, The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent referred to Hallam as "a local celebrity".[5]
A pub in Wadsley, The Wadsley Jack, formerly The Star, was renamed in his honour.[6]
Works
- An Introduction to the Art of Singing. 1849.
- Wadsley Jack; or, the Humours and Adventures of a Travelling Cutler. London: John Holmes, Oxford Street. 1866.
References
- Law, Graham. "British Library Newspapers: Literary Serialization in the 19th-Century Provincial Press" (PDF). Gale Primary Sources. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- Accession number K1913.158
- "Reuben Hallam (1818–1908)". ArtUK. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- "Sheffield Society of Artists [Third Notice]". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 27 August 1888.
- "Sheffield Society of Artists [Concluding Notice]". Sheffield and Rotherham Independent. 28 August 1888.
- "The Wadsley Jack". Retrieved 22 September 2017.
External links
- ArtUK discussion of the Lindley portrait
- T'Days ov Ahr Fathers newspaper article by Hallam, in dialect