   Charles Milsom was born in Bath on 8 May 1800 to parents Henry Milsom and Mary Ann Pope. His baptism took place at St James Church, Bath on 30 May 1800 and 23 years later on 19 November 1823 he married his bride, Hannah Cole, at the same church. Mr
Charles Milsom was the founder of the firm C Milsom & Son, and was born in
October 1800. From an early boyhood he was trained for the musical
profession. It was as a boy chorister that he went to Aldbourne, a
village in Wiltshire, to sing in the Parish Church on the occasion of the
opening of the New Organ, when he made the acquaintance of those who afterwards
became his first customers, and whose patronage of the firm C Milsom & Son
was the beginning of that large connection which the firm has established in
the County of Wiltshire. In 1824, Mr Milsom succeeded his brother-in-law, Mr John COLE, as Organist of St.Jame's Church, which office he held until 1832, when he was appointed Organist of the Bath Abbey. On his retirement from the Abbey in 1840, he was presented with a testimonial consisting of a Purse of Gold and Silver Salver with the following inscription:- "Presented with a Purse of Gold to Mr Charles Milsom by the Rector, Clergy and Inhabitants of the City of Bath, as a testimony of their respect of the zeal, credit and ability with which he filled the office of Organist of the Bath Abbey Church for upwards of seven years" - 22nd June 1840. Mr Milsom was a great promoter of Music in Bath, and there are those who still remember the charming and attractive concerts given by the Harmonic Society, of which he was a prominent member, and with which are connected the well-known names, MILLER, BIANCHI-TAYLOR, and PYNE. Mr Milsom also took a great interest in public affairs, being an ardent politician and a great lover of his native town. For many years he represented the Ward of Bathwick in the Town Council, and soon after his retirement from business in 1866, he was made a Justice of the Peace. He died August 4th 1880, in his 81st year whilst living at 10 Darlington Place, Bath, Somerset |