Sculptor working at Woodbridge in Suffolk, during the early 19th century. He was working for Pulham and Sons, a firm of Victorian landscape gardeners and terracotta manufacturers, run by 5 generations of James Pulmans until it ceased trading in 1939. The firm invented a form of artificial rock, Pulhamite.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, adds that Obadiah Pulham was born on 24 July 1803 in Woodbridge, Suffolk, the fifth of the six children of William Pulham (1770-1917) and Amy Pulham née May (1769-1860). On 2 October 1803 he was baptised in the Woodbridge Quay Meeting House, where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth.
His five siblings were: John Pulham (1788-1865); William Pulham (1790-1865); James Pulham (1793-1838); Lucy Pulham (b.1795) and Jeremiah Pulham (1806-1838).
On 4 March 1832 he married Elizabeth Yorke Sellwood (1809-1841) at St Mary's Church, Whitechapel High Street, Whitechapel, Middlesex (now Greater London), where in the marriage register he is shown as a bachelor and his wife is described as a spinster. They were both listed as living within the St Mary's parish.
They were to have four children: William Jasper Pulham (b.1834); Elizabeth Mary Pulham (1834-1910): Lucy Ann Pulham (1836-1879) and Mary Ann Pulham (b.1838) and when the first two were baptised on 15 June 1834 in St Dunstan's and All Saints Church, Stepney, Middlesex (now Greater London), he was shown in the baptismal register as a plasterer. When Lucy Ann Pulham was baptised on 15 October 1836 at St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, Middlesex (now Greater London), the baptismal register showed the family living in Leonard Street, Shoreditch and gave his occupation as a plasterer. Their fourth child, Mary Ann Pulham was baptised on 7 January 1839 in All Hallows Church, Tottenham, Middlesex (now Greater London) the register showing the family living in Tottenham and that his occupation was a plasterer and modeller.
His wife died in 1841 and 22 April 1845 he was remarried to Sophia Martin née Coller (1804-1854) in St Mary's Church, Whitechapel High Street, where in the marriage register he is shown as of full age, a widower and a plasterer, living in John Street, Whitechapel, the son of William Pulham, a shoemaker, whilst his wife was described as of full age and a widow also residing in John Street, the daughter of John Coller, a watchmaker.
Electoral registers in 1846 show him listed at 19 Branch Place, Shoreditch.
In the 1851 census he is shown as aged 46 years and a clerk of works at a building, living at 19 King Street, Mile End Old Town, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his wife and his daughter Mary Ann Pulham - a scholar. Electoral registers in 1853 show his address as 19 King Street, Dog Row, Mile End Old Town.
He was shown in the 1871 census as aged 66 years a widower and a sculptor living in Castle Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
His death was registered as aged 77 years in the the 1st quarter of 1880 in the Woodbridge Registration District, Suffolk. Probate records confirm that he was a sculptor and modeller who died on 10 January 1880 in Woodbridge, Suffolk. His will was proved on 17 February 1880 by one of his executors, Leonard Bailey of 43 Nelson Street, Hackney Road, Middlesex, a cabinet maker. His personal estate was listed as under £100.
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