Slade, Mrs Joanna

Singer

Collection date: Aug 1904

Area: Somerset - West

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Mrs Joanna Slade of Minehead (1848-1926): age 56, 2 songs on 8 Aug 1904 + 1 on 15 Jan 1906: Joanna sang a version of 'Banks of Claudy' (FT272 Roud 266) and this was surprisingly the only time Sharp collected the song in England (he did find one version in USA). Click on vwml link above. This song about a sailor returning to his true love was popularised particularly by the Copper family. It appeared in many broadsides in the 19th century and Joanna supplied a full set of lyrics to Sharp (FW378). Her choice of this song takes on added meaning, given her nautical background.

Joanna was Sharp’s first contact in Minehead. She was baptised Joanna Stacey Martin on 21/5/1848 at Minehead church. She was daughter of John & Sarah Martin. John was a mariner. On 20/3/1869 at St Jacob’s Bristol she married William Slade, a sailor, son of James Slade, also a mariner. In 1881 the family were living at Quay St in Minehead (5 children). By 1891 there were another 4 children and 1 more by 1901 (they had 11 children but 3 did die young). They were still living in Quay St (ref RG13/2260 f39 p20). Joanna’s nephew (her husband’s brother’s son) James Slade (b1877) married Alice Sparkes, granddaughter of singer James Vickery in 1904. Joanna probably died Sept qr 1926 aged 78.