Jedediah Strutt
Jedediah Strutt (1726–1797) was a hosier from Derby, England.
Strutt and his brother-in-law William Woollat devevloped an attachment to the stocking frame, that allowed the production of ribbed stockings. Their machine became known as the Derby Rib machine, and the stockings it produced quickly became popular.
Later they worked with Richard Arkwright to perfect his design for the spinning frame, an improvement over the spinning jenny. The device eventually became known as the water frame because a water wheel was used to power it.
Family
Strutt was the second son of William Strutt of South Normanton and Martha Statham of Shottle, Derbyshire, England. In 1755, he married Elizabeth Woollatt. They had five children before Elizabeth's death in London in 1774. In 1781, Strutt married again, to Ann Cantrell, the widow of George Daniels of Belper. There were no children from this marriage.
Jedediah and Elizabeth's children were:
- William (1756–1830), who married Barbara Evans, daughter of Thomas Evans (by his second wife), and who invented the Belper stove.
- Elizabeth (1758–1836), who married William Evans, son of Thomas Evans (by his first wife).
- Martha (1760–1783), who married Samuel Fox.
- George Benson (1761–1841), who married Catherine Radford, daugher of Anthony Radford of Holbrook.
- Joseph (1765–1844), who married Isabella Douglas, daughter of Archibold Douglas.