The Morgan Family
The Morgan ancestral line that has been verified in our family tree extends back over 270 years and for 9 generations, although one of the associated branches extends back over 350 years and over 12 generations! Whilst the Morgan’s have been rooted in Preston from the earliest research, other branches of the family have descended on Preston primarily from the Lancaster area, Chester, and Westmorland.
All branches of the family have basically been manual workers over the years.
This is the story to date:
Thomas Morgan (b 1738 d 1818) is the “earliest identified Morgan” in the family tree. Details of Thomas's birth and his marriage to his wife Ann are not known, but Thomas and Ann had 6 children between 1769 and 1779, all christened at St John's, Preston, with their son William (b1776) providing the ancestral link.
Ann died in 1805, aged 66, and was buried at St John's, Preston on 10th February 1805 - giving an implied birth year of 1739.
Thomas died in 1818, aged 79, and was buried at St John's, Preston on 21st March 1818.
William Morgan (b 1776 d 1848) was born on the 9th October 1776 and was christened at St John's, Preston on 12th October 1776. He was the only son of Thomas and Ann Morgan (having 5 sisters, 2 of whom died in infancy).
William married Mary May on 27th February 1797 at St John’s, Preston, and they had 8 children between 1797 and 1817, all of whom were christened at St John's, Preston with the exception of their youngest child, Margaret, who was christened at the Church St Unitarian Chapel, Preston in 1817. Their son Thomas (b1803) provides the ancestral link.
William's occupation was given as a Weaver at the christening of his son Joseph in 1813.
Mary Morgan died in 1830, aged 52, and was buried at St John's, Preston on 9th December 1830. The family were living at Walker St, Preston at the time.
At the time of the 1841 Census William was living in Friargate, Preston with his son John – William's occupation being as a Labourer.
William died in 1848 (still living in Friargate at the time of his death) and was buried on 11th January 1848 at St John's, Preston.
Thomas Morgan (b Preston 1803 d Preston 1861-1871) was born on 30th December 1803 and was christened at St John’s on 18th March 1804.
Thomas married Rachel Smith (b1804) at St John’s on 4th June 1827, their only known child being William (b 1828).
At the time of the 1841 Census Thomas, Rachel and William were living at Maudland Bank, Preston – Thomas being employed as a Millwright.
At the time of the 1851 Census Thomas and Rachel were living at 5 Higginson St, their grandson Thomas – the rest of Thomas’s family were in Hill St. Thomas was still employed as a Millwright.
At the time of the 1861 Census Thomas and Rachel were living alone at 1 Ann St, neither Thomas nor Rachel having a recorded occupation.
At the time of the 1871 Census Thomas had died – Rachel, by now a Widow, living at 116 Friargate with her son and daughter-in-law, William and Elizabeth.
Rachel died in 1874, aged 69.
William Morgan (b Preston 1828 d Preston 1874) was the only-known child of Thomas and Rachel Morgan, and was christened at St John’s on 25th April 1828. Unsurprisingly William was living with his parents at Maudland Bank at the time of the 1841 Census.
He married Elizabeth Nicholson (b Shap 1821) on 20th June 1848 at St John’s, Preston. At the time of their marriage, William was living in Bushell St and Elizabeth was living in Hill St. William and Elizabeth had 6 children between 1846 and 1860 – all sons – Thomas (b 1848) providing the ancestral link. (nb their first child William was born 2 years before his parents’ marriage).
Elizabeth Nicholson was the illegitimate daughter of Ann Nicholson (nee Wharton), christened as Elizabeth Wharton on 25th December 1821 at Shap, Westmorland - the parish register recording that Elizabeth was “the illegitimate daughter of Ann Wharton of Shap, Servant in Husbandry”. Ann Wharton had married William Nicholson in 1818 but William had died in 1819, so Ann was a widow at the time of Elizabeth’s birth but for some reason reverted to her maiden name for Elizabeth’s christening. Ann and Elizabeth had moved to Preston by 1825, at which time Ann married John Kendall at St John’s, Preston.
At the time of Thomas’s birth in 1848, the family was living in Bushell St and William’s occupation was as a Tinplate Worker.
At the time of the 1851 Census William (a Tin Plate Worker) was living as a Lodger in Blackburn whilst the rest of his family were living in Preston. Elizabeth is recorded as the Wife of the head of the household at 16 Hill St, along with their sons William and Joseph and Elizabeth’s 2 half-sisters Sarah & Ellen Kendal (wrongly described as sisters-in-law in the Census) – their son Thomas was residing with his grandparents at the time of the Census. Elizabeth’s occupation was described as a “Sluker’s Wife” – it’s not altogether clear what a Sluker was!
At the time of the 1861 Census William and Elizabeth were living at 129 Friargate with their 6 sons. William’s occupation was as an Iron Plate Worker, as was that of his his 2 eldest sons William (15) and Thomas (12)!
At the time of the 1871 Census William and Elizabeth were living at 116 Friargate with 3 of their sons and Rachel, William’s mother - William was employed as a Tinplate Worker and Brazier.
William died in 1874, aged 45.
At the time of the 1881 Census Elizabeth, by now a Widow, was living at 20 Hill St with 2 of her sons – James and Charles, both Painters.
Elizabeth died in 1885, aged 63.
Thomas Morgan (b Preston 1848 d Preston 1899) was the 2nd-eldest of the 6 sons of William and Elizabeth Morgan – he was born at Bushell St at 3.30pm on the 24th December 1848 and christened at St John’s on 12th August 1849. Unsurprisingly he was living within family groups at the time of the 1851 and 1861 Censuses – with his grandparents at 5 Higginson St in 1851, and with his parents at 129 Friargate in 1861: he was employed as an Iron Plate Worker in 1861.
Thomas Morgan married Alice Ball (the daughter of William and Margaret Ball (nee Hardacre)) at English Martyrs RC Church, Preston on 28th January 1871 – both “of Preston” according to the parish register. Alice (born 3rd January 1848 and baptised “Isabella Alice” at St Augustine’s, Preston on 9th January 1848) was a Catholic (up to this point in time, all the Morgan’s and their spouses and families had been CofE).
Thomas and Alice had 9 children between 1871 and 1890, their youngest son Thomas Charles providing the ancestral link.
At the time of the 1871 Census, taken shortly after their marriage, Thomas and Alice were living at 7 Grosvenor St with Alice’s widowed mother Margaret (an Annuitant) and 2 of her sisters, Margaret and Isabella. Thomas was a Bread Baker, Alice was a Cotton Weaver. Alice’s mother, Margaret (Hardacre), had been born in Lancaster in 1805 and married William Ball on 7th November 1829 at Samlesbury – the family were living in Over Darwen at the time of the 1841 Census, but had moved to Preston by 1848 when Alice was born. William died in 1850, and Margaret continued to live in Preston until her death in 1892 (aged 86) – Margaret lived with various of her children throughout her time in Preston, but always with her daughter Margaret. Margaret jnr remained unmarried until her death in 1910.
At the time of the 1881 Census Thomas and Alice were living at 32 Duke St East with 6 of their children, and with William Ball, Alice’s nephew. Thomas’s occupation was as a Baker, Alice was a Housekeeper and all the children (excepting baby Elizabeth) were Scholars – presumably at St Augustine’s School, which was just across the road!
At the time of Thomas Charles’ birth in 1890, the family was living at 42 Queen St (The Flying Dutchman Inn) with Thomas snr’s occupation given as Bread Baker (Journeyman).
At the time of the 1891 Census Thomas and Alice were still living at 42 Queen St (The Flying Dutchman Inn) with all their 9 children – for the first time since her baptism an official record names Alice as “Isabella Alice”. Thomas’s occupation was now as a Beer Seller, Alice and their 6 eldest children were all working in different jobs in the cotton industry, also living in the household was Thomas’s brother, Charles.
Alice died in 1892 and is presumed to have been buried at St Augustine’s – unfortunately the parish registers are missing for the early 1890’s, but the Parish Notice Book for 3rd April 1892 asks for prayers for “Alice Morgan - lately dead”. Her civil death registration was made in the name of “Isabella Alice Morgan”.
At this time there were 2 very young children in the family (Joseph aged 4, and Thomas Charles, aged 2) and their elder sisters took the maternal responsibility.
Thomas died in 1899 and was buried at St Augustine’s on 27th August 1899 - leaving Joseph and Thomas still young enough to need parental care.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the sisters Elizabeth and Isabella were living at 31 Duke Street East, with Joseph and Thomas Charles (aged 10) – Elizabeth, Isabella and Joseph were all Cotton Weavers.
It is believed that one of Thomas Charles’s sisters emigrated to Canada after she was married and continued to send gift parcels to Thomas Charles’ family until the 1960’s.
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Thomas Charles Morgan (b Preston 1890 d Preston 1951), the youngest son of Thomas and Alice Morgan, was born at 42 Queen St (The Flying Dutchman Inn) on 14th May 1890. His parents both died before he was 10 years old, and Thomas Charles was brought up by his sister Elizabeth. Unsurprisingly Thomas Charles lived within the family group at the time of the 1891 and 1901 Censuses – with his parents at 42 Queen St in 1891, and with his sisters at 31 Duke St East in 1901.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Thomas was living in Barlow St with his brother Joseph and his family, and was employed as a Creeler.
Thomas Charles Morgan married Ada Whiteside at St Augustine’s on 22nd May 1915. At the time of their marriage Thomas Charles was living at 17 Gorst St and was employed as a General Labourer; Ada was living at 8 Sizer St and was employed as a Cotton Weaver. The witnesses to the marriage were William and Mary Jane Morgan – Thomas’s brother and sister-in-law: Ada’s religion was CofE and therefore it can be assumed that her relatives would not have been able to act as witnesses at an RC Service in those days.
Ada, the daughter of Walter and Eliza Whiteside (nee Taylor), was born at 93 Brougham St, Preston on 14th August 1890, but had moved to 19 Cold Bath St by the time of the 1891 Census. At the time of the 1901 Census Ada, aged 10, was living with her family at 14 Cold Bath St. At the time of the 1911 Census, Ada was still living with her family at 8 Sizer St, and was employed as a Weaver.
Ada’s school attendance record was as follows (presumably measured in half-days!):
1895: St Peter’s Infants: 127 attendances
1896: St Peter’s Infants: 372 attendances
1897: St Peter’s Infants: 304 attendances
1898: St Peter’s Infants: 2 attendances
1898: Christ Church Girls: 283 attendances : Admitted January 10th 1898
1899: Christ Church Girls: 380 attendances
1900: Christ Church Girls: 113 attendances : Left April 3rd 1900
1900: St Peter’s Mixed: 257 attendances
1901: St Peter’s Mixed: 358 attendances
This information is recorded on Ada’s “Half-time Labour Certificate” dated 13th September 1902 – it seems that children aged 12 or over were permitted to work half-time provided that they had made at least 300 school attendances for 5 preceding years…..
Thomas Charles and Ada Morgan had 3 children, Alice, Joseph and Winifred, with Alice (b1917) providing the ancestral link.
Pictured on the left is Thomas Charles Morgan – date and uniform unknown, but believed to be prior to his WW1 service.
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Pictured right are the 3 Morgan children,
Alice standing with Winifred and Joseph seated.
Thomas Charles Morgan enlisted in the 4th Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on 27th January 1917, at which time he and Ada were living at 11 Ashworth St. Thomas served as a Private soldier and saw service on the Western Front. Although he enlisted in the 4th Bn, subsequent records show that his overseas service was in the 1/5th Bn. The date of Thomas’s embarkation to France is not clear from the surviving records, but by the autumn of1917 he was serving with 1/5th Bn in Belgium in the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as the Battle of Passchendaele). Following this the Battalion moved to the south of Cambrai and subsequently took part in the Battle of Cambrai which commenced on 20 November 1917. Initially successful (to the extent that, at home, church bells rang in celebration), the Battle took a turn on 30 November with an overwhelming counter-attack by the German Army. The 1/5th Bn War Diary for 30 November reads:
Heavy German bombardment along whole of front followed by a strong flank attack. Front line Coys surrounded, nothing definite known as to what exactly happened. Enemy seen approaching GLOSTER RD from direction of SHERWOOD DR in great numbers at about 8am. Battn HQ made stand in GLOSTER RD until 8.30am. Seeing themselves out flanked on both sides by the enemy they were forced to withdraw to Fourteen Willows where they dug in.
Casualties:
3 Officers wounded
2 Officers wounded and missing, 16 Officers missing
2 ORs killed, 27 ORs wounded, 384 Other Ranks missing
To put the total British loss into some context some 6,000 soldiers were taken prisoner in the German attack on 30 November - one of these was Thomas Morgan, who was also wounded in this action.
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It can be readily understood that the fact of so many men being missing in action on a single day would cause difficulties of knowing what had happened to these men, and where they were! These difficulties were very apparent in Thomas’s case!!!
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The precise details of Thomas’s injuries are given as “Gun Shot Wound Head” and “Disordered Action of the Heart” in his discharge paperwork (in 1919) when it was recorded that he was no longer physically fit for war service! There is no record of where he received medical treatment in the time immediately following his capture, but records show that on 16 Feb 1918 he was in the POW camp at Altdamm (near modern day Szczecin in Poland) and was subsequently transferred to the POW camp at Schneidmuhl (modern day Poznan) some 150 miles further east. His place of capture was given as Villers Guislain, Cambrai.
Whilst Thomas was in captivity from 30 November, the British authorities initially regarded him as Missing, and presumably Ada would have been informed to this effect. The records show that Thomas was declared to be dead on 27 December 1917, when Ada was informed of this “fact”. Ada subsequently applied for a widow’s pension on 3 Jan 1918 – remember that she had a 6-month old baby (Alice) at this time.
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However, news of Thomas’s capture eventually emerged… the War Office Daily List of 31January 1918 records Thomas’s status as a “Casualty, Wounded and prisoner of war in German hands”, with his War Office “Death Record” noting that he was, indeed, alive and a POW on 28 March 1918.
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Following the Armistice, Thomas was repatriated 4 Jan 1919 according to the War Office Daily List described as a “Released Prisoner of War from Germany arrived in England”.
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It would appear that Thomas had a period of recuperation on his return, not unreasonably! He subsequently received his discharge due to wounds received on 20th June 1919, for which he was awarded the Silver War Badge.
The POW Camp at Altdamm
The POW Camp at Schneidmuhl
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The photo on the left shows Thomas Charles Morgan during his recuperation in WW1 following being wounded in action. He is pictured in front of the “Ward No 1” notice in the back row, wearing the cap. The photo on the right shows the return of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment to Preston – taken at Market Place on 12th June 1919, 8 days before Thomas Charles’ demobilisation.
Thomas and Ada pictured in 1938 Thomas and Ada – believed to be pictured in the 1940’s
with Thomas’s sister and her husband
Thomas and Ada’s son, Joseph, worked at Horrockses in Preston before WW2, but volunteered to join the Royal Navy shortly after the outbreak of war. He was serving as a Signalman at the time he volunteered to join Commander Crabb’s “Underwater Working Party” in Gibraltar in the winter of 1942/43, and was the first rating to be accepted. Thus Joseph became a member of an elite unit, a diver whose work involved underwater mine clearance, often searching and clearing ship’s hulls of explosives. Joseph served in this unit throughout the rest of the war. He died in 1946, the cause of death was pneumonia - believed to be related to his wartime diving experiences. The story of Joseph’s wartime diving experiences has been re-told in the book “Commander Crabb” and in the film “The Silent Enemy”.
Pictured left:
Members of the “Underwater Working Party in action during the war.
Pictured right: Joseph Morgan
The photo on the left shows Thomas Charles at work in Preston (on the right of the picture)
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The photo on the right shows Ada Morgan pictured at Southport in the 1960’s.
Thomas Charles died on 6th February 1951 at 2 Gt Townley St, the cause of death being Pulmonary Oedema and Coronary Thrombosis. Thomas Charles’s occupation at time of death was as a Municipal Labourer.
In her later years Ada moved from Gt Townley St to live with her daughter, Alice, in West Park Avenue, Ashton.
Ada died on 23rd July 1976 at 16 West Park Avenue, the cause of death being Cerebral Thrombosis and Arteriosclerosis.
Alice Morgan (b Preston 1917 d Euxton 2004) was born on 7th July 1917, the eldest of 3 children of Thomas Charles and Ada Morgan, the family living at 11 Ashworth St at the time.
Left:
Alice pictured at the time of her
21st birthday.
Right:
Alice (middle of back row)
pictured in the early-1940s with
Sharoe Green Hospital staff
Alice married Arthur Strettle on 25th June 1949 at St Augustine’s RC Church, Preston, she was living at 176 London Rd, and was employed at the time as a Laundress.
Left:
Alice and Arthur’s marriage
also pictured are (l to r):
Winifred Spaven (nee Morgan) - Alice’s sister
William Strettle - Arthur’s brother
Thomas Charles Morgan
Berenice ? - a family friend
Right:
Alice and Arthur pictured together
in the 1970s.
Alice and Arthur had a single daughter, Christine (b1950) and following their marriage they lived at 54 Oxford St, moving in later life to West Park Avenue, Ashton and, ultimately, Staveley Place, Ashton.
Alice died 2nd November 2004, and Arthur died on 8th March 1992 – both were cremated at Preston Crematorium, with Alice’s ashes being interred at St Mary’s, Euxton on 20th November 2004.
Ancestors of Elizabeth Nicholson
Whilst Elizabeth’s male ancestry is pretty much unknown, her female ancestry can be traced back, via her mother Ann Wharton, through generations of the Langhorn family in and around the Shap area of Westmorland.
George Langhorn (b ???? d 1706) is the “earliest identified Langhorn” in the family tree. His birth date is unknown, but he married in 1671 to Jennet (surname unknown) at Shap.
George and Jennet are known to have had 4 children in the period 1670 to 1679, their son Richard (b1676) providing the ancestral link.
George Langhorne is present in the 1674 Westmorland Hearth Tax returns - in the "Shappe Ward: West", the date of the Survey being 12th Jan 1674.
George died on 23rd March 1706 at Shap, Jennet died in 1696.
Richard Langhorn (b Shap 1676 d ????) was the son of George and Jennet and was christened at Shap on 21st October 1676.
Richard and his wife Mary (surname unknown) are known to have had 3 children in the period 1703 to 1711, their son John (b1711) providing the ancestral link.
John Langhorn (b Bampton 1711 d ????) was the son of Richard and Mary and was christened at Bampton on 5th July 1711.
John married Elizabeth Horne (b Shap 1720) on 10th November 1741 at Bampton.
John and Elizabeth are known to have had 5 children in the period 1742 to 1750, their son Thomas (b1746) providing the ancestral link.
Thomas Langhorn (b Shap 1746 d ????) was the son of John and Elizabeth and was christened at Shap on 9th October 1746.
Thomas married Ann Parker on 19th December 1771 at Shap.
Thomas and Ann (also known as Nancy / Nanny) are known to have had 7 children in the period 1773 to 1789, their daughter Mary (b1777) providing the ancestral link.
The Shap parish register records Thomas’s occupation as a Husbandman (of Kemphow) at the time of Mary’s christening in 1777.
At the Westmorland Quarter Sessions held on 2nd November 1771, the following is recorded:
Recognizance: Thomas Langhorn of Shap, badger, John Parker of Kemphow, yeoman, and Robert Walker of Hosgill Hall, farmer, for appearance of Thomas and good behaviour towards William Langhorn of Shap, badger.
A “recognizance” was a pledge, and this seems to be a case involving Thomas (and possibly his future brother-in-law John Parker?), relating to his treatment of his brother William.
At the Westmorland Quarter Sessions held on 28th July 1777 at Appleby, the following is recorded:
Recognizance: Thomas Langhorn of Kempholm, badger, Joseph Teasdale of Keld, yeoman, and Mary Langhorn of Lowther, spinster, for appearance of Thomas and good behaviour towards his wife Ann.
This case seems to involve Thomas and his sister Mary, relating to his treatment of Ann – at this time, their daughter Mary was less than 5 months old – but whatever the problem was, it seems to have been resolved as they had 4 more children after this date!
Thomas certainly seems to have had some problems with his family relationships!
Thomas Langhorn is present in the 1777 North Westmorland Window Tax returns - in Kirkby Thore.
In the 1787 Constable’s Census of Westmorland for Shap Parish, Thomas and family are present in the return for the Constablewick of Rosgill and Sleddale – the family being Thomas, Nancy, 3 sons and 3 daughters (the children are un-named). Thomas’s occupation is described as a “Badger” – which could have been one of:
1) A Licensed pauper - who wore a badge with "P" on it and was restricted to working a defined area (origin of "Badgering"); or
2) A Corn Miller or Dealer; or
3) An Itinerant food trader
Mary Langhorn (b Shap 1777 d ????) was the daughter of Thomas and Ann, born at Kemphorn, and was christened at Shap on 25thFebruary 1777.
Mary married John Wharton on 12th November 1796 at Kirby Thore, the parish register recording that both were “of the parish of Kirby Thore”.
John and Mary are known to have had 6 children in the period 1797 to 1808, their eldest daughter Ann (b1797) providing the ancestral link.
The family seems to have been living in Kirby Thore until 1805, according to parish registers – although Ann was christened in Shap, the parish register records John as being a Husbandman of Kirby Thore; their next 4 children were all christened at Kirby Thore. Their youngest child, Thomas, was christened in Shap, the son of John, a Badger of Shap…. In the same way as Thomas Langhorn in the previous generation, John Wharton had moved from being a Husbandman to a Badger, so it may be that in these cases being a Badger meant being a Licensed Pauper.
John died at some point before 1817, as Mary had an illegitimate child, Jonathan, in 1817 – the Shap parish register records the christening of Jonathan Wharton on 18th May 1817, the illegitimate son of Mrs Mary Wharton, Widow.
Mary was still alive at the time of the 1841 Census, living in Shap and recorded as being of Independent Means (the description “Pauper” has been crossed out!) and living with her son John Wharton (aged 35) and her sister Ann Langhorn (aged 60) – both of these being Agricultural Labourers.
Ann Wharton (b Shap 1797 d ????) was the son of John and Mary and was born on January 10th 1797 – she was christened at Shap on 22ndJanuary 1797, although the family was living at Kirby Thore at the time.
Ann married William Nicholson on 8th June 1818 at Shap – Ann’s name being recorded as Agnes in the parish registers. The Banns for the marriage are for William Nicholson, of Morland, and Agnes Wharton. The parish register records the marriage of “William Nicholson of the Parish of Morland and Agnes Wharton of this Parish, by Banns”.
William and Ann’s daughter, Mary, was christened on 19th April 1819 at Shap – William was described as a Labourer of Shap.
William Nicholson died in 1819 and was buried at Shap on 6th July 1819, aged 25.
The widowed Ann Wharton had an illegitimate child, Elizabeth Wharton in 1821 – this child was Elizabeth Nicholson, the ancestral link! Elizabeth was christened as Elizabeth Wharton on 25th December 1821 at Shap - the parish register recording that Elizabeth was “the illegitimate daughter of Ann Wharton of Shap, Servant in Husbandry”. For whatever reason, Ann reverted to her maiden name for Elizabeth’s christening.
Ann and her daughters had moved to Preston by 1825 (whilst it’s certain that Elizabeth moved, it is only presumed that Mary also moved), however, and Ann was once again using the “Nicholson” surname: Anne Nicholson married John Kendall on 10th March 1825 at St John’s, Preston (by Banns) – the parish register recording John as a Bachelor and Ann as a Widow, and both “of this Parish”. John and Ann had 5 children between 1825 and 1837.
At the time of the 1841 Census the Kendall family lived in Friargate, with Elizabeth (Nicholson) being given the Kendall surname – John and Ann’s birthplace is given as “Not Lancs”, whereas all the children’s birthplaces are given as “Lancs”, notwithstanding the fact that Elizabeth was born in Shap! John’s occupation was given as a “Provision Dealer”. Also living with the family was Ann’s brother Jonathan Wharton, aged 25, of Independent Means, birthplace “Not Lancs”.
It may be speculated as to whether John Kendall knew Ann Wharton before they moved to Preston – a John Kendall was born in Morland in 1802, so it’s not impossible that John and Ann knew each other in Westmorland and moved to Preston together – perhaps John was also Elizabeth’s “unknown” father, but if this was the case it seems likely that they would have called her Elizabeth Kendal rather than Nicholson (although her surname is given as Kendal in the 1841 Census!) - it’s probable that we will never know!
The Preston Directory for 1841 contains an entry for John Kendal, Provision Dealer of 26 Friargate.
John and Ann are presumed to have died at some time during the 1840s, although no definitive records can be found. The 1851 issue of the Preston Directory does not contain an entry for John Kendal, Provision Dealer, and neither John nor Ann is present in the 1851 Census living in Preston. The fact that John and Ann’s unmarried daughters Sarah and Ellen were living with the newly-married Elizabeth Morgan (nee Nicholson) supports the likelihood of John and Ann both being dead at this point in time.
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Ancestors of Ada Whiteside
Ada’s ancestry is pretty straightforward - with no missing parents, or suchlike – and basically separates into 4 family groups: Whiteside; Vickers; Taylor; and Birkenhead. With the exception of the Vickers family, these families have their roots in the Garstang / Lancasater area.
The Whiteside’s
Richard Whiteside (b ???? d ????) is the “earliest identified Whiteside” in the family tree. His birth date is unknown.
He married Catherine Robinson (b 1803) on 29th January 1825 at St Helen’s, Garstang, by Banns, and both “of this Parish”.
Richard and Catherine had 3 sons between 1826 and 1831, their youngest son Thomas (b 1831) providing the ancestral link. According to later Census records all 3 sons were born in Scorton – the first 2 sons were christened at Shireshead (a Presbyterian Chapel close to Scorton), Thomas at the Wesleyan Chapel in Garstang, the registers for which identify Richard’s occupation as a Spinner and Thomas’s birthplace as Scorton, Lower Wyresdale.
At the time of the 1841 Census the Whiteside family, headed by a widowed Catherine was living at Pyrmont Works, Catterall – Catherine was a Winder and her eldest son William was a Piecer, so this seems to have been some sort of cotton mill.
Richard clearly died at some time between 1831 and 1841, but he does not appear in the various Garstang burial records for the period, or the civil registration records of 1837 – 1841.
At the time of the 1851 Census Catherine and the family are living at Calder Vale, a hamlet within Barnacre - a village close to Garstang, with Eliza Hardacre, an orphan aged 5, and Isabella Wallace, a Lodger. Catherine's eldest son, William, was recorded as a widower aged 24 - he had married Jane Woodacre in 1848 (Jane being the mother of an illegitimate daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1846) and Jane had died in 1850: consequently it seems highly probable that Eliza Hardacre was, in fact, William's step-daughter Eliza(beth) Woodacre.
Catherine Whiteside died in 1855 and was buried on 23rd February 1855 at St Helen’s, Garstang – she was described as being “of Barnacre with Bonds”, aged 52.
Thomas Whiteside (b Scorton 1831 d Preston 1898) was the youngest son of Richard and Catherine, born on 5th November 1831 and christened at the Garstang Wesleyan Chapel on 4th December 1831. Unsurprisingly Thomas was living with his family at the time of the 1841 and 1851 Censuses – at Pyrmont Works, Catterall and Calder Vale, Thomas being employed as a Mule Spinner in 1851.
Thomas married Sarah Vickers (b Chester, 1837) on 23rd October 1858 at St John’s, Preston. At that time Thomas was a Loomer living at Brougham St, Preston and Sarah was a Nurse living at Higginson St.
Thomas and Sarah had 6 children between 1859 and 1878, with their eldest son Walter (b 1861) providing the ancestral link.
Their first child, Elizabeth, was born in 1859 and was christened on 16th October 1859 at St Peter’s, Chester – her parents were “of Garstang”, with Thomas’s occupation being a Factory Operative.
At the time of the 1861 Census Thomas, Sarah and Elizabeth were living at Shays Cottages, Barnacre, with Thomas’s occupation being a Cotton Spinner and Sarah’s “Care of House”.
At the time of Walter’s birth in October 1861, Thomas and family were living at “Calder Vale, Barnacre” and his occupation was as a Self-Actor Minder in a Cotton Mill – Thomas made his mark when registering the birth.
At the time of the 1871 Census Thomas and family were living at 53 Sizer St, Preston – Thomas’s occupation being as an “Engine Tenter at Works”. The family had clearly been living in Preston for at least 2 years at this time, their son John having been born in Preston in 1869.
At the time of the 1881 Census Thomas and family were living at 52 Sizer St, Preston – Thomas’s occupation being as an “Engine Driver in Iron Works”. Visiting the family at the time of the Census was Jennet Leach, aged 58 and a Widower born in Walton-le-Dale. It isn’t known if there is a family connection between Jennet Leach and the Whiteside’s.
At the time of the 1891 Census Thomas and family (by now including only 3 of their children) were living at 2 Sizer St South – Thomas’s occupation being as an “Stationary Engine Tenter”.
Thomas died in 1898.
At the time of the 1901 Census the widowed Sarah and 2 of her children were living at 4 Sizer St South.
Sarah died in 1905, aged 68.
Walter Whiteside (b Caldervale 1861 d Preston 1941) was the eldest son of Thomas and Sarah, born on 10th October 1861 at Calder Vale, Barnacre). Walter was living with his family in Sizer St at the time of the 1871 and 1881 Censuses – a Scholar in 1871 and a Planer in Iron Works in 1881.
Walter married Eliza Taylor (b 1866) on 20th August 1884 at Christ Church, Preston. At the time Walter was a Planer living at 59 Sizer St and Eliza was a Weaver living at 7 Bridge Lane.
Walter and Eliza had 6 children between 1887 and 1900, with Ada (b 1890) providing the ancestral link.
At the time of the 1891 Census Walter and family were living at 19 Cold Bath St, with Eliza’s brother and sister-in-law living with them as Boarders. Walter’s occupation was described as a Metal Planer.
At the time of the 1901 Census Walter and family were living at 14 Cold Bath St -Walter’s occupation was given as an Iron Planer.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Walter and family were living 8 Sizer St - Walter's occupation was as an Iron Planer, Eliza was a Housekepeer, and Ada was a Weaver.
Left:
Walter and Eliza Whiteside
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Right: Eliza Whiteside
pictured in Sizer St, Preston
Walter died in 1941 – Eliza in 1947.
The Vickers’
Sarah Vickers (who married Thomas Whiteside on 23rd October 1858 at St John’s, Preston) was one of 6 children (5 girls and 1 boy) of John and Elizabeth Vickers, of Chester, born between 1825 and 1840. Sarah was christened on 9th May 1836 at St Olave’s, Chester, living in St Olave’s St, Chester at the time. Her youngest sister Mary was christened at St Olave’s on 16thFebruary 1840, the parish register recording her father’s occupation as a Labourer.
John Vickers (b 1793) died in the April-June quarter of 1840, aged 47, the death being registered in Central Chester.
At the time of the 1841 Census the widowed Elizabeth was living with her 6 children at St Olave St, Chester – her occupation being given as a Charwoman. None of the children have identified Occupations, but given that the eldest child (Jane) was 16 it seems unlikely that Elizabeth would have been supporting the family alone.
At the time of the 1851 Census Elizabeth was living with 4 of her children at Common Hall St, Chester – her occupation being given as a Pauper. The elder children (Jane and John) were aged 26 and 18 and employed as House Servant and Moulder’s Apprentice respectively – the younger children (Ann and Mary) were aged 13 and 11 and were Scholars. Sarah was living at Long Edge, Chester, a Scholar aged 14 – in a school of 17 girls (all resident). Presumably this was a Pauper’s School or Charity School of some description: it seems very unlikely that the widowed, pauper Elizabeth could have paid residential school fees!
By 1858, Sarah was a Nurse and had moved to Preston – there is no evidence that any other family members moved to Preston. Sarah returned to Chester (from Garstang) for the birth of her first child, Elizabeth – Elizabeth gave her birthplace as Chester in subsequent Censuses – and she was christened at St Peter’s, Chester on 16th October 1859.
At the time of the 1881 Census Elizabeth was living with her daughter Margaret and her family at 37 Common Hall St, Chester – Margaret (Cole) was by this time widowed herself.
Elizabeth Vickers (b 1806) died in 1883, aged 77, the death being registered in Central Chester.
The Taylor’s
Eliza Taylor (who married Walter Whiteside on 20th August 1884 at Christ Church, Preston) had Irish ancestry in the form of her grandfather George Taylor.
George Taylor (b Ireland 1806 d Preston 1850) is the “earliest-identified Taylor” in the family tree – he married Mary Lawe at St John’s, Preston on 11th September 1824 – both made their mark in the parish register. Mary was the daughter of Robert and Mary Lawe (nee Drape) and was christened at St Mary’s, Lancaster on 27th January 1799 – Robert and Mary had married at St Mary’s, Lancaster on 23rdJuly 1787, their son Robert had been born illegitimate on 18th January 1787, but was not christened until 19th April 1797.
George and Mary Taylor had 6 children between 1825 and 1838, with their youngest child Robert (b 1838) providing the ancestral link.
Parish register entries for childrens’ christenings place the family in Avenham St in 1825 and in Moor Lane in 1831 – George’s occupation being given as a Carder on both occasions. The parish register entry for Robert’s christening describes George as a Flagger of Moor Lane.
At the time of the 1841 Census George, Mary and 4 of their children were living at Moor Lane (St Peters St), Preston, along with 3 others. George was employed as a Labourer, Mary as a Cotton Miller.
George died in 1850 and was buried at St John’s on 21st September 1850 – the burial register gave his age at death as 48.
At the time of the 1851 Census the widowed Mary was living at 19 St Peters St with 3 of her children, including Robert who was then aged 13 and was employed as an Apprentice to Slater and Plasterer - Mary was a Housekeeper, her daughter Lucy was a Cotton Winder and her son Thomas was a Flagger and Slater (maybe Robert was apprenticed to his brother). There were 4 “Visitors” living with Mary at the time of the Census including her 2 year old grandson (but not his parents!) and possibly Mary’s sister “Elizabeth Morley” (aged 52 and, like Mary, born in Lancaster).
At the time of the 1861 Census the widowed Mary was living at 19 Everton Gardens, Preston with 3 Lodgers – possibly including her sister “Elizabeth Marlow” (aged 62 and, like Mary, born in Lancaster). It should be noted that Betty Law married William Marland in Preston in 1815, so it is possible that this was the “Elizabeth” living with Mary.
Mary’s date of death is not known.
Robert Taylor (b Preston 1838 d ????) was the youngest son of George and Mary was christened on 18th December 1838 at St John’s, Preston. Unsurprisingly Robert was living with his family in Preston at the time of the 1841 and 1851 Censuses (when he was an Apprentice to a Slater and Plasterer).
At the time of the 1861 Census Robert was living as a Lodger at 79 Brookhouse Lane, Blackburn, and was employed as a Flagger and Slater.
Robert Taylor married Fanny Birkenhead (the daughter of John and Ann Birkenhead) at St John’s, Preston on 15th March 1862 – both Robert and Fanny were living in Friday St at the time of their marriage, with their occupations being given as a Flagger and Slater and Weaver. Both their fathers had died, with George Taylor being described as a Slater and John Birkenhead as a Spinner. Robert and Fanny had 7 children between 1861 and 1878, with Eliza (b 1866) providing the ancestral link.
At the time of the 1871 Census the Taylor family was living at 16 Duxbury Street, Blackburn, Robert's occupation being as a Flagger and Slater and Fanny's as a Cotton Weaver - Fanny’s age was given as 30.
At the time of the 1881 Census Robert, Fanny and their 7 children were living at 23 Moor Lane, with Robert and his eldest son (John) both being employed as a Flagger and Slater and Fanny and her two eldest daughters (Mary Ann and Eliza) being employed as Cotton Weavers – the 4 youngest children (aged 3 to 11) being Scholars.
Fanny Taylor died in 1896 (aged 53 according to the Death Registration) – the date of Robert’s death is not known.
Eliza Taylor (b Preston 1866 d 1947) was the daughter of Robert and Fanny Taylor and was christened at St John’s, Preston on 24th June 1866, living in North Road at the time.
At the time of the 1881 Census Eliza was living with her family at 23 Moor Lane, she was aged 14 and was employed as a Cotton Weaver.
Eliza Taylor married Walter Whiteside on 20th August 1884 at Christ Church, Preston.
The Birkenhead’s
Randal Birkenhead (b 1729 d Force Forge, Levens 1818) is the “earliest-identified Birkenhead” in the family tree. Randal's birthplace and early life are currently unknown - his marriage being the first-documented life event.
Randle Birkinhead, an Iron Refiner, of Standish, married Elizabeth Houlcroft, of Standish, at St Wilfrid's, Standish on 4th August 1759. "Randol & Betty" Birkenhead of Duxbury had 3 children (Thomas, Catherine and Nanny (Ann)) christened at Coppull Parish Church between 1760 and 1763. Within the following 2 years the family moved some 50 miles from Duxbury to Levens, Westmorland - Randal working at the Force Mill Forge, Levens. This would clearly have been a considerable distance for a family to move in the mid-18th Century, and the reason for this move isn't known but it is possible that an "Iron Refiner" would have been a specialised-enough occupation to justify a 50-mile move 250 years ago! Living in Duxbury it is probable that Randal worked at Birkacre Forge which was in the immediate vicinity. Force Mill Forge was part of the Levens Hall estate and the then owner (Catherine, Countess of Suffolk and Berkshire) agreed a lease of Force Mill in 1760, giving permission for its use "as a forge for refining and working iron." Perhaps there was some connection between the owners/landowners at Duxbury and at Levens that enabled Randle's move (?).
Birkacre Forge Force Mill Forge
The following is an extract from the memoirs of the English poet Thomas Gray, a section of a journal written in 1769 describing a Lakeland tour that Gray took in that year - in it he describes the surroundings and the operation of Force Mill Forge:
Randal and Elizabeth lived at Force Forge, Levens for the remainder of their lives - they had 3 children christened at St Peter's, Heversham in the years 1765 to 1769, the ancestral link being via his youngest son William, born in 1769. In addition to these 6 children Randal had at least one more son, John, who died in 1779 - it is not known where or when John was born.
Elizabeth died in 1773 and was buried at St Peter's, Heversham on 19th April 1773 - leaving Randal with a young family to look after. It seems likely that the family care would have been undertaken by his daughter Ann (Nanny) who would have been aged 10 at the time: Ann was unmarried when she died, aged 41, in 1803 at Force Forge.
Randal died in 1818, aged 89, and was buried at St Peter's, Heversham on 3rd May 1818.
William Birkenhead (b Force Forge, Levens 1769 d Wheelton 1839) the son of Randal was christened on 25th December 1769 at St Peter's, Heversham.
William Birkenhead married Fanny Simpson on 5th January 1793 at St Wilfrid’s, Halton (nr Lancaster) – the Marriage Banns were published on 16th, 23rd and 30th December 1792. The parish register records both as being “of this Parish”, with William’s occupation being a Forgeman. One of the witnesses was Thomas Watson, William's brother-in-law, who married Margaret Birkenhead at Heversham in 1790. William was the forgeman at Halton Forge and he and Fanny lived there after their marriage.
William and Fanny had 9 children between 1797 and 1814 – all at Halton Forge, with their son John providing the ancestral link.
William and Fanny were still living at Halton in 1818 when William was a witness to another forgeman's marriage at St Wilfrid's.
William's brother Thomas, a husbandman, died at Sedgwick, Heversham, in April 1819 - intestate and childless. His wife, Jane, renounced her Right of Administration of his Estate in papers dated 17th June 1822. In these papers "William Birkenhead of Halton, Forgeman, being the natural and lawful brother of Thomas and one of the next-of-kin" was granted Administration of Thomas's Estate (William made his Mark).
The Birkenhead family moved from Halton to Lostock Hall in the township of Walton-le-Dale some time after this, as numerous references to a number of family members appear in the St Leonard's, Walton-le-Dale parish registers. The "abode" of the Birkenhead family members is variously given as "Bashall's Factory" and "Bashall's Row" - in 1821 William Bashall's Cuerden Green Mill estate had 50 cottages for mill workers (presumably Bashall's Row, which was renamed Ward Street in 1861). Perhaps William was getting too old to be a forgeman in the mid-1820s, perhaps the new cotton mill offered better employment opportunities for the whole family - whatever the reason, the Birkenhead family seems to have moved from central Lancashire to Westmorland and back within 2 generations.
Fanny died in 1827 (living at Bashall's Factory) and was buried at St Leonard's on 16th September 1827.
William died in 1839 and was living at Wheelton at the time of his death - he was buried at St Leonard's on 20th November 1839.
John Birkenhead (b Halton 1805 d Preston 1859) the son of William and Fanny was christened on 28th July 1805 at St Wilfrid’s, Halton, the family living at Halton Forge at the time.
John Birkenhead married Ann Connell on 4th December 1825 at St Leonard’s, Walton-le-Dale. Ann's parents were Thomas and Margaret (nee Charnock) who married at St John's, Preston in 1801. At this time Thomas was a weaver, but he later served in the British Army. He joined the 40th Regiment of Foot on 27th April 1807 - his place of birth on his attestation being given as Darwen, nr Preston - his trade as Weaver. He was wounded at the Battle of Oporto in 1809 (a shot wound in the right arm and side). He served as a Private soldier in the 40th Regiment until October 1815 when he transferred to the 1st Royal Regiment of Veterans and served as a Drummer until his discharge on 24th May 1816 - the reasons for his discharge were given as incapacity of vision due to ophthalmia (conjunctivitis) and from the effects of his 1809 wounds (7 years on??) and also the "Disbandment of the Battalion". Ann was born in 1805 and was christened at St Leonard's Colchester on 10th March 1805 - this date precedes Thomas's attestation to the 40th Foot, which begs the question of what he and Margaret were doing there at that time? Thomas and Margaret had at least 5 more children in Preston following his Army discharge. Thomas died in 1843 aged 62, Margaret died in 1858 aged 77 - implying that both were born in 1781.
John and Ann had 6 children between 1828 and 1845, with their daughter Fanny (b 1841) providing the ancestral link – their other 5 children were all boys!
Their eldest child William was christened at St Leonard’s, Walton-le-Dale in 1828, the parish register recording the family address as “Bashall’s Factory” and John’s occupation being given as a Spinner.
Their next two children were both christened at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Freckleton, the family address being recorded first as Leyland and then as Walton – John’s occupation being given as a Cotton Spinner – it isn’t known why John and Ann had these sons christened at Freckleton – a fair distance from Walton-le-Dale.
Their daughter Fanny was born in 1841 and was christened at St John’s, Preston on 7th February 1841 – the parish register recording the family address as Walker St and John’s occupation being given as a Spinner.
At the time of the 1841 Census (taken in June) the family was living in Walker St, with Fanny’s age being given as 5 months.
In 1845, at the time of their youngest child John, the family was living at 3 Patten St, with the civil registration certificate recording John’s occupation as a Spinner. Ann made her mark when registering the birth.
At the time of the 1851 Census the family was living at 10 Dawson Square in Walker St, with John’s occupation being given as a Hawker.
John died in 1859.
At the time of the 1861 Census the widowed Ann was living with 3 of her children (Fanny, John and William) at 18 Friday St along with William’s son John T. Ann’s occupation was as a Housekeeper, Fanny was a Cotton Weaver.
At the time of the 1871 Census Ann was living as a Lodger at 36 Frank St.
At the time of the 1881 Census Ann was living as a Lodger at 35 Ashmoor St.
At the time of the 1891 Census Ann was living as an Inmate at the Preston Union Workhouse.
Ann died in 1891, aged 85 according to the civil death register.
Fanny Birkenhead (b Preston 1841 d Preston 1896) was the daughter of John and Ann Birkenhead and was christened at St John’s, Preston on 7th February 1841 – the family living in Walker St at the time.
Fanny was living with her family at the time of the 1841, 1851 and 1861 Censuses, at Walker St, Dawson Square and Friday St respectively, being employed as a Cotton Weaver in 1861.
Fanny Birkenhead married Robert Taylor at St John’s, Preston on 15th March 1862.
And finally - a conundrum:
These photographs were contained in a locket found in Alice Strettle’s belongings after her death in 2004: who are this couple? Presumably the photographs are of two of Alice’s ancestors, but who are they?