Cycle of Poverty.

Taken from "A Social History of Britain. The nineteenth century by Robin Nonhebel"

The food on which most labourers depended was bread, and wheat prices which had averaged well below 50s a quarter before 1790, reached 126s by 1812. This inflation was caused by wheat shortages which occurred for two reasons. First, harvests in Britain were poor between 1793 and 1815, and secondly the wars with France made it more difficult to import wheat from Europe when these bad harvests took place. With population rising and less bread available, prices inevitably soared.

In the growing industrial towns of northern England, there was also extreme poverty. This was caused by fluctuations in the trade cycle. The cotton and iron industries were increasingly relying on foreign countries to buy their goods. Huge orders were placed for British goods by Europeans and Americans whose own countries had as yet no large industries. But foreign demand was never constant; a bad harvest would reduce the income of an agricultural country and so she would be unable to afford to buy so many British manufactures.

Large cotton firms therefore in towns like Manchester and Bolton would employ thousands of workers when demand was high; but when there was a slump in demand employers would reduce production thus dismissing workers or placing them on short-time. The industrial working-class were at the mercy of such fluctuations. They might be in work for a few months but then unemployed for a similar period, and their wages were so poor that they found it impossible to save for hard times. When a slump occurred over a long period, their misery became acute as was the case in the years after the end of the Napoleonic wars and between 1836-42.

Unemployment and low wages undoubtedly caused much poverty in both town and country. It should be remembered though that sickness, injury, old-age and bereavements also caused great distress. What might be called a "poverty cycle" affected many families. A worker and his wife might obtain jobs in a factory town and for a time as long as they remained in employment, manage to live fairly comfortably. Then with the birth of children, their living standards would decline since more food and clothing had to be purchased. As their children grew up they might be able to add to the family income if fortunate enough to find menial jobs and so prosperity would return. But when the children left home to start their own lives and when the wife grew too old or perhaps too ill towork, the worker would find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. Destitution would be the inevitable result of old age and failing health.

Michael Clapham

There is another Clapham family in Darwen. I think he is Thomas's older brother but we need Thomas's christening to prove the link : same parents. Two of Thomas's children have names which would suggest possible family link - Joshua and Michael.

1841 census
HO107,503,4,1
Blackburn Darwen 34
Water Street

Michael Claphan 35 Carter
Alice 35
Catherine 15 worker C. factory
Ann 10 worker C. factory
Alice 9
Joshua 7
Betsey 1
Jane 1

From Parish Online Clerk site
christening for Michael

St.James - Darwen Chapel
1 Jan 1807 Michael Clapham son of Joshua Clapham + Alice (abode - Pickop Bank)

marriages at St. Mary Blackburn
12 Dec 1805 Joshua Clapham + Alice Becket
*Alice was a widow

18 Aug 1832 Michael Clapham (weaver) + Alice Bibby

Catherine and Ann probably from before the marriage to Alice. Could they be sisters to Michael? children from previous marriage? Alice Bibby's child?

1851 census
HO107,2261,138,15
Blackburn Darwen 2d

Michael Clapham 35 coal dealer born Yates Bank
Alice 49 born Blackburn
Alice 19 weaver by p? born Blackburn
Betty ? born O. Darwen
Jane 12 born O. Darwen
Mary 8 born O. Darwen
James Bibby father 83 or 85

Birth 1840 Betty Clapham Darwen Blackburn D/3/51
Birth 1840 Jane Clapham Darwen Blackburn D/3/51
It looks like Betty and Jane were twins!
Birth 1842 Mary Clapham Darwen Blackburn D/6/50
Death 1844 Joshua Clapham age 9 Darwen Blackburn D/5/39

1861 census
RG9,3108,24,42
Blackburn Darwen 1
2 Wood St.

Alice Clapham 57 born Chadworth
Betty 21 cotton weaver born O. Darwen
Mary 19 cotton weaver born O. Darwen
Richant (female) 9(m) born O. Darwen
Robert Haslaw boarder 27 cotton weaver born Longworth
Jane 21 cotton weaver born O. Darwen

Death 1860 Michael Clapham age 54 Darwen Blackburn D/19/51
Birth 1860 Rachel Ann Clapham Darwen Blackburn D/32/55
Death 1862 Rachel Ann Clapham age 1 Darwen Blackburn D/21/8
marriage 1860 Jane Clapham + Robert Haslam Darwen St Peter Blackburn CE27/1/322

Thomas Clapham

Looking at Ada's grandfather - your great great grandfather Thomas Clapham.

I have not found his christening yet.
Born about 1809.
From the census - born either Pickup Bank or Tockholes.

Possible marriage.
4 Sep 1828 Thomas Clapham weaver + Betty Feilden
St. Mary's Blackburn
possible witness James Harwood.

possible death for wife
1862 Betty Clapham age 56 Darwen Blackburn D/21/12
possible death
1881 Thomas Clapham age 72 Darwen Blackburn D/47/42


The family of Thomas Clapham + Betty
using Online Parish Clerk
Lanc BMD
census info.

1)ALICE CLAPHAM
born 5 July 1829, christened 4 Oct 1829 Over Darwen Lower Chapel Independent
parents Thomas Clapham and Betty Fielding
possible death 1847 Alice Clapham age 17 Darwen Blackburn D/7/75

2)JOSHUA CLAPHAM
born 3 Dec 1830, christened 26 Jan 1831 Over Darwen Lower Chapel Independent
parents Thomas Clapham and Betty Fielding
married 1850 Joshua Clapham + Esther Harwood St Mary Blackburn CE12/13/1
death 1883 Joshua Clapham age 52 Darwen Blackburn D/49/90
death 1886 Esther Clapham age 58 Darwen Blackburn D/53/80

children
Thomas Clapham he married Abigail Ann Smith
Betsy Clapham she was still alive in 1901
Janet Clapham she married James Fielding- children Betsy Fielding and Doris Fielding

1881 census
RG11,4203,6,8
Blackburn Darwen 1
3 Radford St

Joshua Clapham 50 cotton weaver born Darwen
Esther 51
Thomas 29 musician
Betsey 21 cotton weaver
Janet 10 cotton weaver

3)JOHN CLAPHAM
born 19 Jul 1832 Christened 5 Sep 1832 Over Darwen Lower Chapel Independent
parents Thomas Clapham and Betty Fielding
married 1859 John Clapham + Ellen Beckett Darwen St Peter Blackburn CE27/1/214
death 1900 John Clapham age 67 Darwen Blackburn D/74/41

children
John Thomas Clapham he married Eliza Fish.
Thomas Clapham - missing in the 1901 census

1881 census
RG11,4204,60,47
Blackburn Darwen 6
12 Peel St.

John Clapham 47 cotton weaver born Pickup Bank
Ellen 45 cotton rover
John T. 8 born Darwen

4)FIELDEN CLAPHAM
born 22 Sep 1834 christened 17 Nov 1834 Over Darwen Lower Chapel Independent
parents Thomas Clapham and Betty Fielden
wife no. 1
1853 Feilden Clapham + Mary Townsend St Mary Blackburn CE12/17/104
Death 1854 Mary Clapham age 18 Darwen Blackburn D/13/44
wife no. 2
1856 Fielden Clapham + Mary Leach St Mary Blackburn CE12/20/90
death 1885 Feilden Clapham age 51 Darwen Blackburn D/52/79
death 1895 Mary Clapham age 63 Darwen Blackburn D/66/74

children
Betsy Clapham missing on 1901 census
Ada Clapham

5)THOMAS CLAPHAM
born 11 Nov 1836 christened 4 Jan 1837 Over Darwen Lower Chapel Independent
parents Thomas and Betty Fielding.
married 1856 Thomas Clapham + Sarah Harwood St Mary Blackburn CE12/19/498
death 1884 Thomas Clapham age 48 Darwen Blackburn D/51/55

1881 census
RG11,4204,7,8
Blackburn Darwen 5
253 Bolton Road
SPINNERS ARMS BEER HOUSE

Thomas Clapham 43 Beer seller born Pickup Bank
Sarah 49 born Pickup Bank
James 21 Inn Assistant born Darwen
Betsy 18 cotton winder born Darwen
Thomas 73 father widow no occupation born Pickup Bank

children
Thomas Clapham married Sarah Marsden had two children, Sarah was widowed and remarried Edwin Askew. Miranda Clapham and Elsie Clapham.
James Clapham died age 21
Betsy Clapham married Robert Shorrock but was widowed.

1881 census
RG11,4203,23,40
Blackburn Darwen 1
252 Bolton Rd.

Thomas Clapham 24 Grocer born Darwen
Sarah 25 cotton weaver born Darwen

6)JAMES BRIGGS CLAPHAM
registered 1839 Darwen Blackburn D/3/19
death 1860?

7)MICHAEL CLAPHAM
registered 1841 Darwen Blackburn D/5/20
married 1860 Michael Clapham + Jane Kirkham Registrar Blackburn RM/25/77
death 1879 Michael Clapham age 38 Darwen D/44/81
widow Jane remarries
1880 Jane Clapham + John Kay Registrar Blackburn RM/75/15

children
Fielding Clapham married Jane wood. children Florence, Sarah and Jane
John Thomas Clapham married Nancy Alice Holmes children Arthur, Bessie Louisa and Alice?
Betty Clapham married Ernest Smith
Alice Clapham

1881 census
RG11,4204,9,12
Blackburn Darwen 5
327 Bolton Rd.

Jane Kay 39 cotton weaver born Darwen
Fielding Clapham 16 cotton weaver
John S. Clapham 14 cotton weaver
Betty Clapham 5
Alice Clapham 3

8)ROBERT CLAPHAM
registered 1844 Darwen Blackburn D/18/94
death 1852 Robert Clapham age 7 Darwen Blackburn D/11/46

9)BETTY CLAPHAM
registered 1847 Darwen Blackburn D/12/26

10)ALICE CLAPHAM
registered 1853 Darwen Blackburn D/20/95
marriage 1872 Alice Clapham + James Ainsworth Darwen St Peter CE27/2/458

There are two couples
1881 census
RG11,4195,83,2
Blackburn Blackburn 76
19 Salford

James Ainsworth 32 Grocer + Tea Dealer born Over Darwen
Alice 28 born Yale + Pickup Bank
Thomas 8
Betsy 2

OR
RG11,4186,6,8
Blackburn Blackburn 30
63 Audley Lane

James Ainsworth 29 cotton weaver born Over Darwen
Alice 28 cotton weaver born Pickup Bank

Seeking your great grandmother??

"Oh Mary Mary quite contrary....


Well, Jimmy yesterdays research was a salutary lesson in the pitfalls to be found in assumptions. I have joined this wonderful group on the Internet who all help each other out researching family history in the Darwen area. So with many thanks to Charlotte, Anne and Glenn the following mystery has a 'suitable' explanation :- note it is not absolutely proven and when the relevant church records have been chased up may be incorrect. But it is nice to at least have a theory before diving into the parish records.


I was looking for Ada's mother (your great grandmother) we have seen from the census returns that Fielding (or Fielden) Clapham was married to a Mary, born about 1832 at Pickup Bank.
Using Lanc. BMD we find there are two marriages



1853 Feilden Clapham + Mary Townsend St Mary's Blackburn CE12/17/104

and 1856 Fielden Clapham + Mary Leach St Mary's Blackburn CE12/20/90.


On the 1851 census there was a Mary Townsend born 1836 at Pickup Bank daughter of John Townsend + Alice (HO107,2261,9,16 Darwen 1a) and I was trying to convince myself that a Mary Leach born 1836 also at Pickup Bank daughter of Thomas Leach and Nanny might also be a contender (HO107,2261,7,11 Darwen 1a).



With such an unusual forename as Fielding it was highly likely to be the same person (hehe assumption here.... I just can't help myself) so looking for the demise of the first wife again on Lanc. BMD



Death 1854 Mary Clapham age 18 Darwen Blackburn D/13/44.

This tied in very nicely with Mary Townsend born 1836. Poor wife number 1 Mary.


Now we were left with Mary Leach. Going back to the census in 1871 a William Yates FATHER IN LAW was living with Fielding and Mary. Here began my manic search for MARY YATES. First I searched high and low for a marriage between a Yates and a Leach thinking Mary Yates could have married a Leach before she married Fielding. Then I convinced myself that perhaps the Leach had been a mistake. I WAS going to find Mary Yates in the 1841 census as a child in the Pickup Bank area.


Now I had not been able to find Thomas Clapham and his family in the Pickup Bank area, I had even searched for his neighbours from the 1851 census in the 1841 census. Now I could not find a Mary Yates in Pickup Bank. In fact I could not find PICKUP BANK I was convinced it had disappeared. In fact I was making an elementary mistake. I was searching for it in the Blackburn Parish when all the time in the 1841 census it was hiding in the Whalley Parish. And I was sending off SOS's saying I could not find any of the people that others were so kindly finding and I was sat Poe faced before my unhelpful computer getting more and more frustrated. Grrrrrrrrrr.....


Anyways I sheepishly acknowledged my own shortcomings and eventually found all the people I had thought vanished forever. Particular thanks to Charlotte for finding the family of Thomas Clapham.


Mary Yates aged 19 born Pickup Bank had been located in 1851. Living at Oswaldtwisle with a William Yates age 41. Details below :-
*note it was a particularly difficult very faint to read page

************************************************

1851

HO107,2260,242,11

Blackburn Oswaldtwisle 2h


John Yates 51 Stone Dresser born Yate Bank

Nancy 50 born Eccles Hill

Peggy Lee 18 sister? born Pickup Bank

William Yates widow 41 handloom weaver born O?

Mary Yates 19 power loom weaver born Pickup Bank

Anne ? 14 power loom weaver born Oswaldtwisle

Jane ? 12 loom tenter born Oswaldtwisle


But Mary Yates on the 1841 census was still proving to be elusive. Where was she? In desperation I gave up seeking a Mary or a William, I thought lets look at John. So in went John Yates born 1800 in Lancashire and guess who popped up MARY LEACH !!!!!!!! that will teach me (no it won't).

*********************************************
1841

HO107,509,27,10

Blackburn Oswaldtwistle 10

Jackson Height.


William Yates 35 silk weaver

Alice 30 calico weaver

Ann 4

Jane 2

Betty 4m

(single line)

John Leach 12

Mary Leach 9

(single line)

John Yates 40 quarryman

Nancy 40

*******************************************
From this information then using familysearch site.


marriage William Yates + Alice Leach 6 Dec 1835

St Mary's Blackburn

Batch No. M007086


and submitted entries with no church details

John Leach 28 Jul 1828 Pickup mother Alice Leach

film no. 0453802

Mary Leach 2 Dec 1832 Pickup mother Alice Leach

film no. 0453803

*********************************************
So in conclusion Jimmy it looks like your Great grandmother was Mary Leach and your Great great grandmother Alice Leach.



(Big exhaled breathe)

Fielden, Fielding, Feilding ????

What is in the spelling of a name?

I asked the advise of this wonderful group on the internet, as Feilden/Feilding was a particular interest in the Clapham line. This lovely reply seems to explain it. Another instance where local knowledge can be so so important in the study of local history.

***************************************************
Re: Fielden or Fielding

I think it was a peculiarity of the Lancashire dialect which felt compelled to turn any word ending in "EN" into "ING". My Holdens were routinely recorded as Holding and at school I was called Holding, even though my name was Holden! I also remember my dear old aunties talking about going out into the "garding" to do some weeding, and how very impressed they were at the Coronation when the Queen rode in a Golding coach! In short, I never dismiss any particular variation of spelling and I never expect consistency even within the same family.

Marjorie

(Marjorie also wrote that there were 18 different spellings in one name she is researching, as well as the initial letter being replaced M for an H)

Thank you Marjorie.
***************************************************
Other people in the group also sent useful answers too.

So, I am still unsure which is the correct name for Ada's father - Fielden or Fielding. If you are lucky there will be a signature on his marriage certificate, that will tell us what he called himself.

Another problem with this Clapham line is the Betty/Betsy confusion.

Sad story from Darwen.

I was browsing on the excellent site : cottontown and came upon this sad story.

http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?LANGUAGE=eng&pageID=3070

1826

I was looking through some second hand books which I bought last month, this book opened on a particular page which I thought was relevant. We are going back to the time of Joseph Cooper. In 1826 he was about 17. In 1831 when he married he was a weaver but in the census he was a labourer. (Note for Sheila -Christopher Steele was born in 1811 in Salford but by 1841 was living in Blackburn so he was living through this too).

The book is "The Skilled Labourer 1760 - 1832" by J.L. Hammond and Barbara Hammond published in 1919.
***************************************
The Destruction of Power-Looms in 1826

The year 1826 was a year of unprecedented financial panic and disorder with an epidemic of bankruptcies. The weavers suffered acutely in the general distress, and by this time they were very sensible of the competition of the power-loom. In the misery of starvation the populace in April vented its anger on the new machinery, destroying in three days over one thousand power-looms, and doing more than £16,000 worth of damage in the districts round Blackburn and Bury. How far the attack was arranged beforehand is doubtful ; Mr. Fletcher's informant 'Alpha' sent him news of meetings where delegates discussed the repeal of the Corn Laws, the destruction of public granaries, the destruction of power-looms, and the destruction of yarn packed for export : it was further recommended at one of these meetings 'that those who had relatives serving in the Army should sound their Inclination, as to injuring the People, in case of any Tumult.'

The actual outburst seems to have been unexpected, for the poor appeared to be bearing the prospects of starvation with laudable equanimity. '....It is certainly very different now (for the better), ' wrote Major Eckersley from Manchester, 'from 1819 and 1820, when Politics were mixed up with the distresses of the People.' The increase in Poor Rates, he mentions, is 50 per cent., and in addition some thousand pounds a week were distributed in voluntary contributions. At Blackburn, 14 thousand persons out of a population of 26 thousand were kept from sheer starvation by provisions bought out of public subscriptions, but from the inadequacy of the relief grave fears of dysentery were entertained. 'The demeanour of the afflicted poor,' wrote the Vicar of Blackburn in an appeal published in the Blackburn Mail, April 5, 'at this time of unparalleled distress has been such as to recommend them effectually to our respectful consideration, and continued bounty. With very few exceptions none of them have transgressed the bounds of propriety, or shewn a spirit of insubordination to the laws of their country. To their praise be it spoken, there have been no symptom of discontent, disaffection, or sedition....They have trusted in Providence ; and God's servants will not desert them.' Their trust in Providence gave way before the end of the month and, as we shall see, they transgressed the bounds of propriety in a serious fashion.

On Monday, April 24, a mob met at Henfield at the crossroads to Blackburn, Burnley, Whalley, and Haslingden. They first destroyed the power-looms at the different factories round Accrington and then went on to Blackburn. By the evening not a single power-loom was left standing within six miles of Blackburn. In conflicts with small bodies of soldiers sent to protect the mills two or three men were killed and several seriously wounded.

On Tuesday little was done beyond an attack on some powerlooms at Haslingden. On Wednesday, April 26, the work of destruction spread along the banks of the Irwell down to Bury. At Rawthenstall, Long Holme, Edenfield, Chadderton, Summerseat, mills were entered and power-looms destroyed. At Chadderton in an affray with the soldiers seven rioters were killed and many wounded. With the destruction of Mr. Hutchinson's factory in Bury the activities of the rioters in this part ceased. The excitement, however, had spread to Manchester, and on Thursday, April 27, a mob, after attacking several power-loom factories which were successfully defended, managed to set fire to Mr. Beaver's factory in Jersey Street and refused to allow the firemen to extinguish the fire. On Friday Manchester was the scene of a carnival of disorder in which shops were sacked 'and the number of street robberies committed was such, as, in broad day, and in the centre of a great town, was never before heard of.' It was not surprising that Sir John Byng wrote to say that the alarm among the owners of factories was greater than any he had ever known ; arms were distributed to them for self-defence, and an attack on Messrs. Johnson and Brooke's factory in Manchester on May 3 was successfully repelled.

Things quieted down, mot because trade improved - on July 9 Sir J. Byng reported that the two last Tuesdays had been the worst markets since the Exchange was built - but because the appetite for disorder in an English crowd is soon sated. The punishments appointed by law for the offences committed in April were inflicted at the August Assizes at Lancaster. Compared with the punishments inflicted on the Luddites they were mild. 66 persons were charged with offences varying from rioting to the destruction of machinery. 10 persons received the death sentence but none were executed, all being transported for life instead. 33 others were imprisoned for terms varying from 3 to 18 months.

The cotton weavers never recovered. Those who wish to follow the melancholy history of the evening of their trade can find the conditions described in the Poor Law Commission Report of 1834, where it is pointed out that whereas under the Speenhamland system of parish allowances the agricultural labourer, knowing existence at any rate assured, fails to exert himself, the weaver whose parish relief is calculated on what he could earn by piece-work, if industrious, is stimulated beyond his powers, and hence is noted for his 'lean and hungry look.' In the Reports of the Select Committee on the Handloom Weavers' Petitions in 1834 and 1835 can be read the account of their last dying efforts, aided by Fielden, to obtain from Parliament a minimum wage. Their miserable plight in 1840 is described by the Commission on Hand-loom Weavers.

Ada Clapham's family.

The Clapham's were only a small group in Darwen.
Here is the census informtion from Ada.

1891
RG12,3415,12,17
Blackburn Darwen 19
could not read address

Mary Clapham widow 59 born Darwen
Betty 27 cotton weaver
Ada 18 cotton weaver

************************
1881
RG11,4207,67,62
Blackburn Darwen 18
40 Tythe Barn St.
Fielding Clapham 46 overlooker in cotton mill born Pickup Bank
Mary 48
Betsy 17 cotton weaver
Ada 8 born Darwen

***********************
1871
RG10,4189,156,19
Blackburn Darwen 20
7 Corperation St.

Fielding Clapham 37 overlooker in cotton weavers born Pickup Bank
Mary 34 cotton weaver
Betsey 7

**********************
1861
RG9, 3111,50,14
Blackburn Darwen 17
Yate + Pickup Bank, Scholes Fold

Fielding Clapham 26 cotton weaver born Yate + Pickup Bank
Mary 29 cotton weaver
**********************

1851
HO107,2261,13,23
Blackburn Darwen 1a
Yate + Pickup Bank, Treacle Row

Thomas Clapham 44 Powerloom weaver born Pickup Bank
Betty 44 silk weaver
John 18 powerloom weaver
Fielding 16 powerloom weaver
Thomas 14 powerloom weaver
Michael 10? errand boy
Robert 6?
Betty 4
James 12

**********************************

Mary Ann Holden

I was intrigued by the birthplace of Mary who married George - PORTSMOUTH so I had a look at the census. This would be an interesting family to investigate, but I am afraid it is beyond me.

1891
RG12,3414,132,15
Blackburn Darwen 18
19 Perry St.

Lawrence Holden 53 Sergant Instructor born Darwen
Ann 42 born Ireland
Mary A. 20 cotton weaver born Hants. Portsmouth
Elizabeth 18 cotton weaver born Ireland
William 17 labourer in cotton mill born Ireland
Lawrence 10 born Darwen
Blanche 8 born Darwen
Oscar 6 born Darwen

**********************************

1881
RG11,4204,104,22
Blackburn Darwen 8
50 Tockholes Rd

Lawrence Holden ? born Over Darwen
Ann 34 born Ireland
Ellen Ann 14 cotton weaver born Canada America
Mary Ann 10 born Hampshire
Eliabeth 8 born Ireland
William 7 born Ireland
Lawrence 6m born Over Darwen

The handwritting was particularly difficult to read - I could not make out Lawrence's age nor his occupation.

Update on the Richardson family.

I am sorry about cutting you off on the phone this morning Jimmy. Mornings are not a good time - on a late start which Joseph had this morning I am straining at the bit waiting for the taxi to come and then dashing up the road to catch the bus. Other mornings are an early start - up at 6 to get Joseph ready. And of course, like this morning when I want the taxi to come early - he has to come late.

From the information you gave, I have found the death registration of your grandmother in 1945 she was 74 this gives us a birth year about 1871.

I think the two marriages we are looking for are :

1891 Arthur Richardson + Mary Jane Haworth
Darwen St. Cuthbert Blackburn CE19/1/269

1892 George Henry Richardson + Mary Ann Holden
Darwen St Peter(formerly Holy Trinity) Blackburn CE27/5/27

George was Arthur's older brother.

1901 census details for George.
RG13, 3921, 95, 16
Blackburn Darwen 13
27 Tythe Barn St.

Geo. H. Richardson 31 Tea Travellor own account born London
M.A. 30 cotton weaver born Portsmouth
Nora 5 born Darwen
Annie 3 born Darwen

*****************************************

Census details for MARY JANE.
1901
RG13,3922,6,3
Blackburn Darwen 17
115 Goborne Ter.?

Arthur Richardson 28 Tea Merchant Grocer Employer born Lancaster
MARY J 29 born Darwen
John W. 9
Rhoda 7
Jane 6
Margaret 4
Ellen 1

************************************
1891
RG12,3414,20,33
Blackburn Darwen 13
14 Heys Lane

John Kirkam 46 cotton spinner born Darwen
Rachel 46
MARY JANE 20 cotton weaver
Benjamin 19
Ralph 9?
James 4

It would appear in 1891 that she was known as MARY JANE KIRKHAM. She is described as daughter and not step daughter.

marriage
1871 John Kirkham + Rachel Haworth Blackburn Registrar, Blackburn RM/49/94

*******************************************
1881
RG11,4206,18,30
Blackburn Darwen 13
14 Heys Lane

John Kirkham 36 cotton weaver born Darwen
Rachel ?? cotton weaver
MARY J HAWORTH 10
Benjamin Kirkham 9

again Mary is described as daughter.
******************************************

1871
RG10,4190,95,46
Blackburn Darwen 25
Lower Darwen
Cup?

Ralph Haworth 53 general labourer born L.Darwen
Ellen 44 born Pick Bank
Mary 27 cotton weaver Low. Darwen
Rachel 25 cotton weaver Low. Darwen
Rhoda 23 cotton naper Yates Bank
Alice 18 cotton winder Yates Bank
Robert 15 cotton weaver Lower Darwen
Henry 13 cotton weaver
Jane 8
James J. 6
MARY JANE grand daughter 6 m.

(places at the end are birth places, where none is given assume it is as the above, I am too lazy to keep typing them out).

We can see from this that Ralph Haworth's family moved about. And that Mary Jane had an aunt Rhoda and an aunt Jane names she used for her own daughters.

We need to look at the marriage certificate to see if there is anything in Mary Jane's father's space. Although this is often not of any use. The box may be empty, or have the mother's name or a made up name. Also we need to try to find a christening although this too will probably not be of much help. It is possible that John Kirkham was Mary Jane's father.

When following up the Haworth family, spelling is important. This name was variously spelt - Howarth, Howard, Howorth etc. The Haworths seem to be a very old Lower Darwen family. They are numerous. Again this makes it difficult to unravel the different strands.

Note to oneself.

William Cooper.
I have not finished his family. I am finding the Cooper family very difficult to unravel.
I have not found his parents - tho. one possibility in Turton. I would like to know if there was any connection between Darwen and Turton about 1800.
Difficulty too, with daughter Ruth, two possible Ruth Coopers for marriages.

Complicated Ruth.

We have one last Simpson to do. Mary's baby sister Ruth. Mary was 18 when she was born in 1829. In 1836 she was 7 when big sister Betty married William Cooper.
In 1853 when she was 24 she married, Ruth Simpson + Jonathan Duxbury St. Mary Blackburn CE12/16/251.

I think she was widowed in 1855.
1855 Jonathan Duxbury age 28 Darwen Blackburn D/14/50

I have not found an exact death for sister Betty (Cooper) but Ruth married her husband.
1856 William Cooper + Ruth Duxbury St Mary Blackburn CE12/20/13

*********************************************
1861 census
RG9,3108,54,21
Blackburn Darwen 2
8 Bk Bolton St.

William Cooper 44 Engine tenter born Darwen
Ruth 32
Jas. 22 cotton weaver
Hannah 19
Ruth 17
Jane 14
William 12
Simpson 4
Ellen 7
Benjamin 1 day
Ellen Simpson 73

Was Ellen age 7 the daughter of Ruth or Betty? (There are two registered for 1853, Ellen Duxbury and an Ellen Cooper)

Death 1862 Jane Cooper age 15 Darwen Blackburn D/21/64

**********************************************
1871 census
RG10,4188,35,10
Blackburn Darwen 8
3 off Astley St

Wm. Cooper 55 fireman
Ruth 48
Ruth 27 cotton weaver
Ellen 17 cotton weaver
Simpson 14 cotton weaver
Elizabeth 7
***************************************
1881 census
RG11,4208,48,10
Blackburn Darwen 23
3 Barton St

Wm Cooper 65 engine tenter born Darwen
Simpson 25 cotton weaver
Elizabeth Jane 17 cotton weaver
***************************************

Possible deaths.
1873 Ruth Cooper age 44 Darwen Blackburn D/35/49
1882 William Cooper age 66 Darwen Blackburn D/48/56

Mary Simpson/Eccles

Mary Simpson, eldest daugher of James born 1847.
Possible marriage
1872 William Eccles + Mary Simpson Darwen St John Blackburn CE139/1/216

1881 census
RG11,4207,123,57
Blackburn Darwen 20
28 Bonney St.
William Eccles 34 Foreman joiner born Darwen
Mary 33
Hannah 8
James 6
Melita M. 3

*******************************************
1891 census
RG12,3415,67,30
Blackburn Darwen 21
28 Malta St.
William Eccles 44 Foreman joiner born Darwen
Mary 43
Hannah 18 cotton winder
James 16 joiners appren.
Melida 13 cotton winder
Lydall L. 8 (son)

same page as Primrose Terrace.
******************************************
1901 census
RG13,3921,63,25
Blackburn Darwen 11
James Eccles 26 Foreman joiner born Darwen
Mary mother widow 53
Hannah sister 28 cotton warper
Melita W sister 23 cotton ?
Lyell L brother 18 coal merchants clerk

****************************************
Death 1895 William Eccles 48 Darwen Blackburn D/66/87

There are many Eccles I looked for the unusual names on Lanc BMD
1878 Melita Maud Eccles
1883 Lyell Lytton Eccles

"The Pilkington girls".

We have already seen James' daughter ELLEN SIMPSON living as the adopted daughter of the Pilkingtons in 1871. Well she goes on to marry the 'adopted father' James.

1878 James Pilkington + Ellen Simpson Darwen St John Blackburn CE/139/1/467

1881 census
RG11,4207,120,51
Blackburn Darwen 20
57 Hannah St
James Pilkington 47 Contractor born Darwen
Ellen 30
James 22 (son with first wife) bookkeeper for contractor
Hannah 2

*******************************************
1891 census
RG12,3415,63,21
Blackburn Darwen 21
57 +55 Hannah St
James Pilkington 57 builder + contractor employer born Darwen
Ellen 40
Annie 11

*****************************************
1901 census
RG13,3921,136,1
Blackburn Darwen 15
47 Richmond Terrace
Ellen Pilkington 50 private means born Darwen
Hannah 21

And of interest, Richmond Terrace is at the bottom of London Terrace where your grandparents Richard and Ada were living in 1901. The houses on Richmond Terrace were larger than on London Terrace and now have a nice view. I wonder what they looked out on when the station was there?

*************************************
*************************************

Now Ellen's younger sister Rachel she also married a Pilkington. I have not looked to see if there is any connection between John and James.

1897 John Pilkington + Rachel Simpson Darwen St John Blackburn CE139/3/346

1901 census
RG13,3924,86,19
Blackburn Darwen 34
4 Philip Street

John Pilkington 52 Stone mason
Rachel 42
Margaret J. 27 cotton weaver
Alice 26 cotton weaver
Sarah H 20 cotton weaver
Ellen 2

John Marsden Simpson.

Mary's nephew, James' youngest son.
He married at 22.
1887 John Marsden Simpson + Eliza Walsh St John Darwen Blackburn CE139/2/330

Children
1888 Hubert Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/96/26
1893 Reginald Walsh Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/107/15

1881 census
RG11,4207,125,61
Blackburn Darwen 20
7 Primrose Terrace.

Rachel Simpson 22 cotton weaver born Darwen
On the census Rachel is over a crossed out James, maybe James lived here before he married Ann then returned to Primrose Terrace after his little adventure at Cat Leach.
John Simpson 15 brother blacksmith

*************************************
1891 census
RG12,3415,151,33
Blackburn Darwen 25
2 Highfield St.
John M. Simpson 26 Blacksmith employer born Darwen
Eliza 25
Hubert 2

*************************************
1901 census
RG13,3924,53,1
Blackburn Darwen 33
20 Highfield St.
John M. Simpson 35 Blacksmith employer born Darwen
Eliza 36
Herbert 12
Reginald W. 7

John was living near Thomas his brother, who appears on the next page living on Starkie St.

Using the Parish online Clerk site, John and Eliza had their children baptised at St. John The Evangelist Church, where most of the Simpson marriages seem to have taken place.
They had another son Ralph who died.

Hubert Simpson c.20 Jan 1889 son of John Marsden Simpson + Eliza 2 Highfield Blacksmith
b.7 Dec 1888
Ralph Simpson c. 20 Sep 1891 son of John Marsden Simpson + Eliza 2 Highfield St Blacksmith
b.14 Aug 1891
Reginald Simpson c. 20 Aug 1893 son of John Marsden Simpson + Eliza 2 Highfield St "
b.20 Jul 1893

Using Lanc. BMD
Death 1892 Ralph Simpson age 0 Darwen Blackburn D/62/79

Thomas Simpson

Mary's nephew. James' son.
He married when he was 26.
Like his father and grandfather he was a blacksmith.

Marriage
1878 Thomas Simpson + Sarah Heley Darwen St John Blackburn CE/39/1/450

1881 census
RG11,4208,82,18
1 Starkie St
Thomas Simpson 28 Blacksmith born Darwen
Sarah 28
James 1
Martha A. Healey sister in law 25 unmar. cotton weaver born Darwen
Margaret J. Healey sister in law 22 unmar. cotton winder born Darwen

on the same page
13 Highfield St.
William H. Cooper 26 Grocer born Darwen
Mary A. 26 born Oldham
(I have not checked who this cooper is yet)
*******************************************

1891 census
RG12,3415,149,29
Blackburn Darwen 25
2 Starkie St
Thomas Simpson 38 blacksmith born Darwen
Sarah 39
James 11
Thomas 9
Ann S. 7
Ellen M. 4
Margaret Helley Boarder 32 Cotton Warper

Interestingly Thomas is down as neither employer nor employed, did that mean he worked for himself?

********************************************
1901 census
RG13,3924,53,2
Blackburn Darwen 33
2 Starkie St.
Thomas Simpson 48 Blacksmith worker Darwen
Sarah 49
James 21 Grocer, shopkeeper
Thomas 19 apprentice blacksmith
Ann S. 17 cotton winder
Ellen M. 14 cotton weaver

****************************************
Children of Thomas Simpson and Sarah Heley.
1879 James Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/74/68
1881 Thomas Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/79/52
1884 Ann Sheard Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/85/69
1886 Ellen Marsden Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/90/99

James Simpson.

Mary was 15 when baby brother James was born, she had already seen two brothers buried. However this one was to live to raise his own family in Darwen. He followed in his fathers footsteps and became a blacksmith. He was 21 when he married in 1847.

1851 census
H0107,2261,208,16
Blackburn, Darwen 2g
Dangerous Corner
James Simpson 24 Blacksmith born Darwen
Ellen 24
Mary 3
Ellen 4m

Marriage 1847 James Simpson + Ellen Marsden Blackburn St Mary CE12/9/380
************************************************

1861 census
RG9,3109,88,24
Blackburn Darwen 7
3 Highfield House
James Simpson 34 Blacksmith born Over Darwen
Ellen 34
Mary 13 cotton weaver
Ellen 10 cotton weaver
Thomas 8
James 4
Rachel 2
Issac 4m
William Cooper Boarder 15 cotton weaver ******

****************************************
1871 census
RG10,4187,151,50
Blackburn Darwen 6
3 Highfield house
James Simpson 44 Smith at Quarries born OverDarwen
Ellen 44
Mary 23 weaver of cotton
Thomas 18 ? factory
James 14 joiner at a builders
Rachel 12 half time and scholar
John M. 5
Ellen 84 Mother. born Sharples.

Where had daughter Ellen gone?
Where had son Issac gone?
Why was the family split up?

RG10,4187,16,26
Blackburn Darwen 1
57 Hannah St.
James Pilkington 37 Joiner + Builder born Over Darwen
Sarah 38
Henry 16 joiner
James 13 bookkeeper
Ellen Simpson 20 adopted dau. unmarried housemaid born Over Darwen.
I did wonder if Sarah the wife may have been some relative, so looked up their marriage
1853 James Pilkington + Sarah Cross Blackburn St Mary CE12/16/434.
I wonder if Ellen's brother James the joiner was also working for the Pilkingtons.
It seems so strange that she is described as adopted daughter.

RG10, 4189, 173,55
Blackburn, Darwen 20
Princes??
John Marsden unmar 36 Farmer 12acres born Over Darwen.
Alice sister 35
Timothy brother 25 quarryman
Issac Simpson nephew 10 born Over Darwen.

These must have been mother Ellen's brothers and sister.

****************************************
1881 census
RG11,4208,87,28
Blackburn Darwen 24
14 Cat Leach.
James Simpson 54 Farmer of 11 acres beerseller and blacksmith born Darwen
Ann 58 born Clitheroe
Ellen Cockohutt servant 24 general servant born Clayton le Moors
Richard Eccles servant 32 farm lab born Darwen

I wasn't sure if this was the right James. The 1870's had not been kind to James. His mother, wife and son all died. Well I am assuming Ellen his wife died - I think the following may be her but the age is not correct and by this time other Simpsons had moved into Darwen.

1871 Ellen Simpson age 84 Darwen Blackburn D/33/38
1875 James Simpson age 18 Darwen Blackburn D/38/2
1879 Ellen Simpson age 37 Darwen Blackburn D/44/35 (age incorrect so may be a different Ellen)

Possible second marriage for James.
1880 James Simpson + Ann Green Darwen St John CE139/2/41

*******************************************
1891 census
RG12,3415,68,31
Blackburn Darwen 21
7 Primrose Terrace
James Simpson 64 Blacksmith (employed) born Darwen
Ann 68 born Clitheroe
Rachel 32 cotton weaver born Darwen

I think James died in 1895.
1895 James Simpson age 68 Darwen D/67/32

I think his son Issac died in 1890.
1890 Isaac Simpson age 30 Darwen D/60/26

To complete Isaac
1881 census
RG11,4208,93,40
Blackburn Darwen 24
2 Princess Farm

Timothy Marsden 36 Farmer 10 acres born Darwen
Alice 43 sister domestic servant
Isaac Simpson 20 carter

Maybe Isaac married before he died?

**********************************
The children of James Simpson and Ellen Marsden

1847 Mary Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/13/29
1850 Ellen Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/17/52
1852 Thomas Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/20/30
1856 James Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/26/76
1860 Issac Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/33/36
1865 John Marsden Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/43/7

Of course the census give us a snapshot of families every 10 years and do not tell us of the children who were born and died between the census. There are other registered births which I have not been able to match up to families. It would be a case of looking for them in church records to find their parents. There were also some Simpson families which passed through Darwen, having a child there before moving on to another town.

Lost children - I have not listed all of them.
Birth 1849 William Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/15/65
Death 1849 William Simpson age 0 Darwen Blackburn D/9/63

Birth 1855 Ruth Simpson Darwen Blackburn D/23/92
Death 1856 Ruth age 1 Darwen Blackburn D/15/29

A mysterious Cooper family.

Looking at the Simpson family in the census.
1841
H0107,503,6,5
Blackburn Darwen 9
Highfield House
William Simpson 50 Smith
Ellen 50
Ellen 15 Cotton weaver
James 14 smith
Ruth 12 cotton corder
William Cooper 25 Engineer
Betty Cooper 20
John Cooper 4
James Cooper 2
Joshua Watson 8

(Using the familysearch site Batch No M007086)
The following marriages took place at St Mary's Blackburn-

25 Dec 1831 Mary Simpson + Joseph Cooper
23 Apr 1832 Margaret Simpson + Joshua Watson (printer)
3 Jul 1836 Betty Simpson + William Cooper

Who was this WILLIAM COOPER? Is there a link to Joseph? I have not found one yet.

It looks like poor Peggy married in 1832, Joshua her son was born about 1832/3 (not found a christening for him yet) and she died in 1837, her son going to live with his grandparents.
Death
1837 Margaret Watson age 22 Darwen Blackburn D/1/21.

The Simpson family.

Starting point.
Just to recap. Your direct line goes back :-
grandfather Richard Cooper + Ada Clapham
greatgrandfather Richard Cooper + Ellen Adcroft
greatgreatgrandfather Joseph Cooper + Mary Simpson

We are going to look at the family of Mary Simpson. What do we know about her? Well, she married Joseph in 1831 in Blackburn. And we know from the census she was born about 1811 in Darwen. Looking on the 1851 census there is only one Simpson family living in Darwen although there are plenty living in Blackburn.

Putting Mary Simpson 1811 in the familysearch site I found the following :
Turton (batch no. P005511)
Mary Simpson christened 20 Oct 1811
parents William Simpson and Ellen.
The parents match the family living in Darwen.

We will look at the 1851 census first because it gives information on birthplace.
Ho107,2261,209,18
Blackburn Darwen 2g
Highfield house.
William Simpson 63 Blacksmith born Gargrave Yorks.
Ellen Simpson 63 born Sharples Lancs.
Ruth Simpson 22 powerloom weaver born Over Darwen, Blacksnape
Jonathan Watson 18 grandson Blacksmith born Tottington

Mary's mother Ellen came from Sharples which is in the parish of Bolton Le Moors, today known simply as Bolton. Again on the familysearch site I found the following marriage.
Bolton Le Moors (Batch no M007151) St Peter
Willm. Simpson + Ellen Booth
26 Aug 1811.
[so Mary was christened less than two months later]

Looking on the Parish Clerk online site, for Turton St Anne Baptism
20 Oct 1811 Mary d. William+Ellen Simpson Darwen
So they were living in Darwen at that time.

What about Mary's father? Well he put Gargrave Yorks for his birthplace.
Again using the familysearch site I found:
Gargrave (Batch No. P007691, 1558-1812)
16 Sep 1787 William Simpson, parents Thomas and Mary Simpson

Possible siblings for William from this batch :
James Simpson c. 2 Apr 1786
John Simspon c. 16 May 1784
Molly Simpson c. 8 Dec 1782
Jane Simspon c. 1 Oct 1789

and a possible marriage for William's parents.
Gargrave (Batch No. M007691)
Thomas Simpson + Mary Crahe
2 Apr 1782

(also possibly Mally Craike c. 25 Mar 1757 Gargrave, parents John Craike +Margaret)
(possible marriage Gargrave 15 Jun 1756 John Craike + Margaret Cockshot)

possible brother of William 1851 census
H0107,2278,196,4
Skipton, Kettlewell 4b
Barnoldswick
Rock cottage?
James Simpson 65 Limestone quarryman employing 2 born Gargrave Yorks.
Jane 58
James 26 Limestone quarry labourer
Jane 24
Catherine 23
Thomas 20 Tin maker
Chester? 14

Whilst I would be quite happy to say that your greatgreatgreatgrandparents are
William Simpson + Ellen Booth, I would say that a lot more research in the Gargrave area would have to be done before confidently saying Thomas and Mary belonged to you. I have put the information on in case someone else from your family would like to investigate further. It would require looking at the parish registers for Gargrave in Yorkshire somewhere, and also researching the local history.

So we have Mary's parents, did she have any brothers and sisters?
Using the wonderful Parish Clerk Online, Mary's parents used Darwen Chapel, St James.
An outline of her family would be :-

William Simpson born 1787
Ellen Booth born 1788

Mary Simpson c. 20 Oct 1811
Betty Simpson c. 16 Jun 1813 - buried 5 Dec 1815
Peggy Simpson c. 27 Nov 1814
Anne Simpson c. 18 Aug 1816 - buried 18 Aug 1818
Betty Simson c. 26 Apr 1818
Thomas Simpson c. 29 Oct 1820 - buried 24 Aug 1824
Ellen Simson c. 27 Oct 1822
William Simpson c. 31 Jul 1825 - buried 18 Feb 1826
James Simpson c. 31 Dec 1826
Ruth Simpson c. 8 Mar 1829

This is the same Darwen Chapel that Mary and Joseph used for their children Betty and William (the records stop on the internet for this Chapel in 1836).

Oh what a tangled web

we weave. Oh yes. Guilty Sir. I have done it again - I have a file bulging with scraps of paper and last night I was looking through it. Who was that? What was I thinking there? I am sure I found their marriage but where did I write it? Disorganised, disorganised, disorganised. This is what has happened to my own research. I get so carried away chasing that I get myself lost. So I am going to put it up on here sort of unfinished. Please remember when you are reading it that vital clues to affirm or disprove my thinking probably lie in the parish records.

History Book.

Well I managed to get to my local history library to start reading :-
History and traditions of Darwen and its people by J.G. Shaw published in 1889.
It is the original book and is in rather a sorry state but that all adds to the experience of reading it. I find it rather odd that people in 1889 were interested in local history and I wonder what people will be saying about us in 2089. I went twice. The first day I skimmed through the whole book to get a feel for it and on Friday I went and concentrated on the chapter about churches. Yes Jimmy, I know you will appreciate the irony. I am very confused about the church records of Darwen and to try to decide how they fit together I think it is necessary to understand what was happening in Darwen to the peoples faith - well I'm not much wiser I must say.
******************************************************
I find it quite difficult to appreciate just how much relevance to the understanding of our ancestors lives depends on looking at the impact of religion. I am picking up little bits of information rather ad hoc as I am doing research and so it is a bit like an electric light bulb going off in my head - ohhhhh so that's what that means, or now there's an interesting thought. People did not have a choice back in history - so marrying in the parish church in the 1800s did not mean necessarily they themselves were religious. I read somewhere that many people during the Victorian era went to Church because that was the main venue for social events at the time. I was also ignorant of the struggles people went to in this country for their faith in particular the Quakers. I did not realise ordinary people struggled for the right to practise their faith risking loss of property and imprisonment. Largely a quiet struggle their names are not remembered but their fight has (I believe) resulted in much of our freedom today. The trouble is I need a 'simple' book to explain these things to me. As I understand it originally people had no choice the country was Roman Catholic and the church was an establishment of much power over peoples lives - indeed controlling both spiritual and economic worlds. The Protestant movement developed on the back of disatisfaction with the corruption within the establishment and the development of printed material which led to the spread of 'ideas'. The Church could also be seen as the forerunner of local government.
***************************************************************************

Now back to Darwen - on a simple level this is what I think I have gleaned so far.
In 'Chapels' (an area in Darwen) there are three chapels. The Higher and Lower Chapels and Yates Chapel. The first reference in history 1577 is to a Darwent Chappell. This was a daughter chapel to the mother church (The Parish Church) in Blackburn. It would have been built by the people of Darwen and not the established church and a visiting curate from Blackburn would occasionally come to preach. This would save the people having to traipse all the way to Blackburn for services but they were required to travel to St Marys to marry. By 1650 money had been raised by the people of Darwen who wanted their own resident minister. A Josiah Barnards (or Bernard) a Presbyterian was ordained at the Chapel of Over Darwen in 1649. It is unclear what happened to him, he may have remained until 1660 when he possibly emigrated to America or he may have been the Josuha Barnet later ordained by the Presbytery at Tockholes.
The Chapel seems to have fallen into a state of disrepair. In 1672-3 a License was granted to use a house as a Presbyterian meeting place.
The year 1687 was a critical year. The nonconformists of Darwen who had changed from being Presbyterian to Congregational applied for a new licence from the King. They believed this gave them the right to use the old Darwen Chapel and asked for the keys held by the Vicar of Blackburn who refused to give them saying the license referred to the meeting house of 1672. The nonconformist reacted by breaking into the chapel and establishing the Congregational church there. However a Magisterial order restored the chapel to the Vicar of Blackburn and the Chapel has remained Church of England ever since. The Vicar wanted to repair the chapel and raised money from the people of Darwen. (But there appears to have been resistance?? not too sure about my understanding of this bit) The old Darwen Chapel was pulled down and the Church of St James built about 1722-3 nearby because vaults had been built beneath the old Chapel for burial purposes. (This was another eyeopener, whilst in Ingleton over the summer I found that people there were buried inside the church, when it had to be rebuilt they found hundreds of skulls within the church. I knew rich people paid for the privilege of being buried close to the alter but did not realise ordinary people were interred there.). In 1851-3 St James was restored. This Church has had several names ; St James of Over Darwen, the Chapel, Higher Chapel, Darwen Chapel, Upper Darwen Chapel.
****************************************************************************
I had not expected to find any information about the Cooper family in Darwen but in this section found three references to Cooper. There is NO suggestion that these Coopers belong to you. But are included here as a note of interest. A Richard Cooper made his mark as a churchwarden witnessing a document (he probably was from Blackburn).
In 1719 there is a list of people subscribing towards the rebuilding of Darwen Chapel. John Cooper gave £5 and Thurston Cooper £1. In 1733 a donation of £200 was given by Henry Feilden, Thomas Whalley and J. Cooper, gents.

Blackburn books.

We went up to Bury on Saturday to visit the East Lancashire Railway - Joseph was very happy because it was a visiting steam engine : Kilnet Hall from Birmingham museum. Whilst we were in Bury we visited a bookshop and I bought the following for you :

Britain in Old Photographs, Blackburn by Martin Baggoley
Blackburn in Focus by Alan and Jim Halsall

Whilst looking through some of my books I came across this one, my copy I bought secondhand from Oxfam but it is on Amazon.co.uk with a couple of reviews. I would say perhaps it is more a 'woman's' book because it does contain passages from her novels. I have not read it fully yet but there are old photos of Blackburn and I would be interested to know if it is reminiscent of the Blackburn you knew. I have an interest in Blackburn too. Christopher Steele born in Salford, married at Blackburn St Mary and was living in Blackburn in 1841. Anyway the book is called "Josephine Cox Child of the North, memories of a northern childhood by Piers Dudgeon with Josephine Cox". It may well prompt me to read some of her novels when I have the time!!!!

2nd visit to Darwen.

As you have probably already gathered from my last post I have been up to Darwen again. I thought you would be really interested in the house so posted that, whilst still getting over my visit.

I really only have Tuesdays to go out and about. Joseph gets picked up between 8 and 10 past and returns at half 2. But travelling on public transport means I have to make sure I'm back well in time. The weather forecast for Tuesday was not good, but I thought well if I don't go I might not get up there. So I made sure I was ready to go as soon as Joseph went, mac on - bag filled with camera, paper, pen I was ready for ACTION! Joseph left at 8.05, I left at 8.06 quick walk, little run, quick walk thus I dashed to the train station phew.... with 3 min to spare I caught the Darwen train. Not one of my favorite trains - we call them a 'rail bus' so it was rattle rattle shake shake all the way, grey clouds hanging low. But despite all this my heart began lifting once we past Bolton and we were chugging through the green, and hills, and reservoirs. Daft I know but its the thrill of the chase, the connection with the past. Was I walking in their path? It does not matter we are not related - I can identify with them as workers - they were my people. People who made this country. (Rant over).

Anyways, the train was on time so I arrived 9.07. It was threatening to rain but heeding the weather forecast I decided to head uphill and see if I could find London Terrace from memory. Details of this are given in the last post. It was a good thing I decided to do that first because on my return downhill, the library does not open til half past. I arrived a few minutes early but had a nice chat to a gentleman also waiting. I asked him if there were any bookshops in Darwen. No and he told me there is only a Smiths in Blackburn. Then we got talking about all the material that goes missing from libraries.

This part of the visit was a bit of a disaster - the library were rearranging the local history section so I was unable to browse at leisure. But I was there until 11.50 and I found plenty to do. I looked at a transcript of Lower Darwen Chapel 1751-1794 on microfiche which was very interesting. I wrote down all the references to Cooper (13 in all). That took me until 11.00. I had a quick look at some trade directories and have worked out how to use the library photocopier!! I had a quick flick through a section they were not rearranging, family histories. And I found 5 min to have a look at the Books for sale shelf in the main library and got a book on Sheep for 25p

I think to go back further than Joseph I need to have a clearer understanding of church history around Darwen and have a look at the movement of working people about the area. I am very confused about the records of the churches around Darwen, about the dates they are available for where I can find the records and where they seem to be all mixed up. At this moment in time I doubt whether I have the skill to untangle it all but I shall persevere for a while longer.

I left Darwen at 12. On the way back, as this train was also on time I decided to check out my local history library and they have a copy of that book that I wanted to read at Darwen !!!!!! It is reference only and is an original copy. Unfortunately it is dropping to bits and they are repairing the spine of the book for me so I can go and start reading it this week. I know from previously reading a book in Manchester reference library that it is much slower than reading a book at home. Here is what I hope to get from reading this book - a general feel for what it was like to live in Darwen, maybe more information on churches. I am not expecting to find any information on the Cooper family.

The photos are

Top one : Darwen station.

Middle one : View along Olive Lane.

Bottom one : View along London Terrace.

London Terrace.

Jimmy, this might be where your father was living in 1901. You would need his birth certificate to find out if he was born at this address. Sometimes the numbering of streets altered over time.

It is the one with the glass in the front door.

You can click on a photo to make it bigger, then click 'back' to return to the blog (on my computer it is a little back arrow on the bar above the main part of the screen).

The first photo shows the back of London Terrace.

The second shows the top end of London Terrace where it joins on to Olive Lane, where your great grandfather Richard lived. The numbers here were in the 200s the number given on the 1871 census was 13 so it was probably down the other end of this Lane but as I have said the numbers on houses were often changed and there is no way of knowing if this happened. (Historians know this happened because some houses were built with numbers over the door top and they know from the present numbering system that it has changed, sorry thats a bit vague.) Olive Lane looks like a mix of residential housing and small industrial premises.

Description of London Terrace.

It is uphill from the railway station. Walking along Richmond Terrace - larger stone terrace housing with nice views out across Darwen centre to the hills beyond and the tower (there was a date, I couldn't write it down as people were looking - perhaps I seemed suspicious looking this way and that with a camera in my hand but I think it was 1884, I will check). London Terrace leads off this quite steeply at first but then flattens out at the top where the photo is taken. There seemed quite a lot of corner shops roundabout, and a fish and chip shop on London Terrace itself. It is about a 10 min walk from the town centre - going downhill.

Ruth Cooper.

The youngest child of Joseph Cooper and Mary. She was born in 1855, (Mary would have been about 45) and her oldest brother William would have been 22.

She was born in Lower Darwen.

In 1871 age 15 she was already a cotton weaver.

In 1875 age 20 she married Edwin Crompton at Tockholes.

1881 census
RG11,4209,27,23
Blackburn Darwen 29
241 Hollins Row

Edwin C. Crompton 25 Timekeeper born Over Darwen
Ruth 25 born Lower Darwen
Mary E. 3 born Lower Darwen
Esther 1 born Lower Darwn
Jane Harrison boarder 21 cotton weaver born Blackburn

They lived just a few doors away from Ruth's sisters Ellen and Mary.
By 1891 Ellen had died and Mary had gone to live with brother Richard.

1891 census
RG12,3416,57,11
Blackburn Darwen 29
247 Blackburn Road

Edwin Crompton 35 Storekeeper at paper mill
Ruth 35
Mary Ellen 13 cotton weaver
Esther 11
Maria 7
Joseph 4
Richard 1

1901 census
RG13,3921,170,22
Blackburn Darwen 16
1 Westwell St.

Edwin C. Crompton 45 Storekeeper Paper mill
Ruth 45
Esther 21 cotton weaver
Maria 17 cotton weaver
Joseph 14 reeler paper mill
Richard 11
Jane 9
Edwin 7

There is a possible marriage in 1901 for Mary Ellen Crompton and Richard Holden Fish at Darwen St Cuthbert, Blackburn CE19/2/46. Mary and Richard Fish are on the 1901 census in the same district as Edwin and Ruth both aged 23 and both cotton weavers. Need to look at marriage certificate to confirm Mary Ellens father.

Ref for birth certificates for Ruth's children.
1877 Mary Ellen Crompton Darwen Blackburn D/69/56
1879 Esther Crompton Darwen Blackburn D/75/16
1883 Maria Crompton Darwen Blackburn D/84/93
1886 Joseph Crompton Darwen Blackburn D/91/37
1889 Richard Crompton Darwen Blackburn D/97/29
1891 Jane Crompton Darwen Blackburn D/102/80
1894 Edwin Crompton Darwen Blackburn D/108/23

Poor Mary.

In the last post we followed Ellen, her younger sister Mary Cooper lived with her up until the 1881 census.

In the next census 1891 Mary was living with her brother Richard.

Possible death for Mary,
1893 Mary Cooper age 48 Darwen Blackburn D/63/51.

I wonder if the deaths of Ellen and Mary were connected to their working in the cotton mills.

Poor Ellen.

We have looked at Maria Cooper now lets look at her elder sister Ellen Cooper, daughter of Joseph and Mary.

We already know from the 1851 census that Ellen aged 11 was already a short timer at the factory. Living on Pole Lane.

1861
RG9,3111,88,30
Blackburn Darwen 19
Top o'th Croft

Joseph Cooper 51 Labourer general
Mary 50
James 18 weaver cotton
Mary 16 weaver cotton
Maria 11 weaver and scholar
Ruth 5
Mary 13 Boarder Weaver and scholar
Andrew Entwistle 21 Lodger paper maker
Ellen Entwistle 21 Lodger paper maker

Mary 13 is Joseph's neice.

Andrew and Ellen married in November 1860, but remained living in her family home.

1871
RG10/4190/79/14
Blackburn Darwen 25
Hollins Row

Joseph Cooper 60 Farriers man (Blacksmith?) born Over Darwen
Mary 60
Mary 26 cotton weaver born Over Darwen
Ruth 15 cotton weaver born Lower Darwen
Ellen Entwistle widow 31 cotton weaver born Over Darwen
John Thomas Entwistle 9? born Lower Darwen
Mary Cooper 22 neice cotton weaver born Over Darwen

possible death for Ellen's husband Andrew, taken off Lancashire BMD
1862 Andrew Entwisle age 22 Darwen Blackburn D/21/7

So Ellen was only married for two years.

possible birth for Ellen's son
1862 John Thomas Entwisle Darwen Blackburn D/35/82

So in the one year Ellen looses her husband and her son is born.

(just a wild guess but perhaps Joseph was working for son Richard who was a Blacksmith)

1881
RG11,4209,37,24
Blackburn Darwen 29
245 Hollins Row

Ellen Entwistle 41 cotton weaver born Over Darwen
Mary Cooper 36 cotton warper born Over Darwen
James T Entwistle 19 paper mill stove keeper born Over Darwen

Mary - Ellen's sister.

I could not find Ellen in later census.

Possible death
1888 Ellen Entwistle age 49 Darwen Blackburn D/57/2

I then looked for her son John
Possible death
1884 John Thomas Entwistle age 22 Darwen Blackburn D/51/20

So Ellen outlived both her husband and her son.
Sad.

Richardson family.

I will put on here the research I have done into Richardson. As it does not seem to match with your information it might not be the correct family.

Going on the name Arthur - there are only two Arthur Richardsons registered on the 1901 census living in Darwen. They are -

Arthur Richardson born 1873 age 29
Arthur J Richardson born 1882 age 19 born Longridge. He is unmarried and living with his parents.

I have looked at the first one because the second seems too young, but I might be wrong. I have sent you two of the census returns.

As usual working backwards :
1901
RG13/3922/6/3
Blackburn Darwen 17
115 Goborne Ter???
Arthur Richardson 28 Tea Merchant Grocer Employer born Lancaster
Mary J. 29 born Darwen
John W. 9 born Darwen
Rhoda 7 born Darwen
Jane 6 born Darwen
Margaret 4 born Darwen
Ellen 1 born Darwen

Marriage taken from Lancashire BMD
1891 Arthur Richardson + Mary Jane Haworth
Darwen St Cuthbert CE19/1/269

1891
RG12/3414/19/32
Blackburn, Darwen 13
8 Heys Lane
George Richardson Widow 52 Saddler Durham Norham???or maybe Norton
Catherine 23 cotton weaver Marylebone London
George ? 21 cotton weaver Marylebone London
Arthur 18 cotton weaver Skerton Lancaster
Jane 14 cotton weaver Darwen

1881
RG11/4206/15/24
Blackburn Darwen 13
40 Heys Lane
George Richardson 42 Saddler Northumberland
John 17 Saddler London
Catherine 13 cotton weaver London
George 11 Paper works London
Arthur 9 Lancashire
Jane 4 Lancashire

1871
RG10/156/91/58
Marylebone, Cavendish Square 5
Little Wellock?? St
George Richardson 32 Sadler Berwick on Tweed
Jane 32 Lancaster
John W 7 Middlesex London
Catherine 3 Middlesex London
George H 1 Middlesex London

On this page all the men seem to be coachmen/saddlers

From free BMD site, this gives the GRO index numbers
possible marriage Jun (quarter) 1863 Marylebone 1a 801
George Richardson + Jane Ann Nelson

possible birth certificates
Mar 1864 Marylebone 1a 429 John William Richardson
Sep 1867 Marylebone 1a 477 Catherine Annie Richardson
Mar 1870 Marylebone 1a 507 George Henry Richardson

*month indicates the quarter the birth was registered. If you intend sending off for any of these certificates it is best to check the numbers on the original website. (I am not 100% accurate when it comes to copying down numbers).

1861
RG9/75/17/29
Marylebone Rectory 7
11? Seymore????Mews
Frederick Slack 47 Coachman domestic born Sussex
Jane 41 born Norfolk
Louisa 17 Pupil teacher born Suffolk
Charles 12 born Middlesex
William Parkins ser. 22 coachman domestic born?
George ? 21 Saddler born Sussex Chichester
George Richardson 22 Saddler born Northumberland.

Interestingly Jane Nelson can be found in the same area as George
RG9/75/17/30
Mrylebone Rectory 7
Seymour??? Street
age 22 Housemaid born Lancashire
she is living with a butler, and a cook.

1851
Now it gets a bit more difficult.
There are 1217 George Richardson living in England
98 living in Northumberland
101 living in Durham

29 George Richardson born in the year 1839
of these 3 born in Northumberland

One should look at all the possibilities and eliminate each one...which I have not done yet but I am so excited about this one. It seems to fit (I will put it on here but it has to be viewed as a guess at the moment)
H0107/2421/710/7
Berwick Islandshire 6d
Norham
John Richardson 52 Fisherman + Publican born Norham
Catherine 52 born Norham
Robert 21 Fisherman born Norham
James 18 Butcher (apprent) born Norham
Margaret 16 born Norham
George 12 born Norham

1841
HO107/319/5/5 (Durham 4)
Berwick upon Tweed Norhamshire

Cotherine Richardson 40 Innkeeper
Elizabeth 15
David 15 Fisherman
Jane 13
Robert 11
James 9
Anne 7
Margaret 7
George 3

It looks to me like Norham changed from being in Durham to Northumberland hence the different places given as George's birthplace.

Some good information on Norham on this site - including transcripts of gravestones. And a link to history of Norham.

http://www.genuki.bpears.org.uk/NBL/Norham/

Also

http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/vg/norham.html

St. Stephens Tockholes.

http://www.blackburncitizen.co.uk/leisure/touristguide/display.var.742627.0.tourist_guide_to_tockholes.php

On the above link it says of St. Stephens "There was a time when the services at St. Stephens was so popular that out door meetings were held."

http://www.lancashireparishcouncils.gov.uk/parishes/parish_gallery.asp?parishid=205

Some nice photos of Tockholes.

Poor Maria.

I will try to explain what I have found out for some of the children of Joseph.
Poor Maria, she married Andrew Hollis in 1869.
In the census of 1871 they were living in Lower Darwen, in the ecclesiastical parish- St. Stephens Tockholes.

RG10/4190/78/11
Blackburn, Darwen 25
Hollins Row
Andrew Hollis 19 Cotton Weaver born Over Darwen
Maria 21 Cotton Weaver born Over Darwen

In 1871 Joseph and family were also living on Hollins Row.

I could not find Andrew and Maria in the other census.
On Lancashire BMD there is a death certificate which may be Maria's.

1871 Maria Hollis age 22 Darwen Blackburn D/32/87.

Marriages at Tockholes.

I went to Preston to the Lancashire Records Office to look at these marriages. They are on microfiche and I used the Lancashire BMD site as a finding aid.

Tockholes St Stephen.
1859 Betty Cooper + William Holden CE30/1/18
1860 Ellen Cooper + Andrew Entwistle CE30/1/48
1866 James Cooper + Mary Ann Longworth CE30/1/123
1869 Maria Cooper + Andrew Hollis CE30/1/154
1872 Mary Cooper + John Neville CE30/1/186
1875 Ruth Cooper + Edwin Carvick Crompton CE30/1/237

So I had the year of marriage and the last number refers to the certificate number, so these were easy to find. There were no other Cooper marriages at this church. Why did they all get married at this church?

Now you have the draft tree Jimmy it should be easier to see where the information belongs. We are looking at the children of JOSEPH COOPER except for Mary who was his neice, but lived with them.

Details for the marriages taken from the marriage certificates (exactly the same as you would get if you sent off for the marriage certificates). ?means I was not sure, difficult to read.

19 Febuary 1859
William Holden 25 Bachelor ?minder 16?Bridge Lower Darwen (he signed the certificate)
father George Holden weaver
Betty Cooper 24 Spinster weaver Croft (She made her mark on the certificate)
father Joseph Cooper Labourer
WITNESSES
William Waddington made his mark
Sarah Haworth made her mark

10 November 1860
Andrew Entwistle 21 Bachelor Rag. Engineer Hollins Lower Darwen (he signed)
father Thomas Entwistle Engine Winder
Ellen Cooper 20 Spinster weaver Hollins Lower Darwen (she made her mark)
father Joseph Cooper Labourer
WITNESSES
Robert Rushton signed.
Martha Leigh made her mark

15 September 1866
James Cooper 24 Bachelor Toper Hollins Lower Darwen (he signed)
father Joseph Cooper ?could not read occupation
Mary Ann Longworth 21 Spinster Weaver Over Darwen (she signed)
father Thomas Longworth Joiner?
WITNESSES
John Longworth signed
Mary Cooper signed

21 August 1869
Andrew Hollis 18 Bachelor Weaver Lower Darwen (he signed)
father James Hollis Weaver
Maria Cooper 20 Spinster Weaver Lower Darwen (she signed)
father Joseph Cooper Labourer
WITNESSES
George Briggs signed
Margaret Jane Aspden signed

6 April 1872
John Neville 22 Bachelor (forgot to note occupation) Lower Darwen (he signed)
father John Neville Weaver
Mary Cooper 23 Spinster (forgot to note occupation) Lower Darwen (she signed)
father James Cooper ????Self man
WITNESSES
very unclear Richard T????
very unclear Mary Jane ?????

This Mary was Josephs neice, but she lived with Joseph and his family. So Joseph had a brother James.

17 July 1875
Edwin Cawick* Crompton 19 Bachelor Warehouse man Lower Darwen (he made his mark)
father James Crompton Gardener
Ruth Cooper 20 Spinster weaver Lower Darwen (she made her mark)
father Joseph Cooper Sticker for parish ????????
WITNESSES
Joseph Wm Hopkinson
Jane Ann Rushton

*Carwick on the Lancashire BMD.

What of the other children of Joseph?
Mary born 1845. I do not think she got married.
William born 1833 maybe married Jane Adcroft 1858 Darwen St. James CE28/1/8
Richard born 1838 maybe married Ellen Adcroft 1857 Blackburn St. Marys CE12/21/425

I think maybe Jane and Ellen could have been sisters. But have to check this out.

Visit to Darwen.

On Saturday Joseph and I paid a flying visit to Darwen. First we went to Manchester Victoria to watch a double headed steam train pass through on its way to Buxton - impressive sight and it had a diesel at the back. We then caught the train to Darwen. We only had a couple of hours there and it was really just a recognisance outing. The sky was blue, the sun was shining and the pretty run up from Bolton by 'reservoirs', with trees decked in their autumn colours I was filled with excitement. We managed to find Sainsburys and toilets, and most importantly the library. But first things first what happened to the station? Its one of those modern platform only things with a bus shelter - no buildings at all!!! Looking at an old map of Darwen your Coopers lived quite close to the railway and looking from the platform it looks like the original stone terraces are still standing, this will be an objective of a future visit. Darwen is like in a valley, they lived up above the railway line. I wonder if any of them watched the steam trains passing through.

Anyway back to the library - what a charming building built circa 1908. (circa because I did not write any information down, and I am not very good at remembering things). I was after getting a feel for the place and also to see what kind of information was available in the library. However, as usual for me, I got waylaid......books books books ohhhhhhhh I was in heaven. Its wonderful but don't tell anyone else or else the hoards may descend. There was NOBODY in the local history section of the library hidden away in a corner behind the beehive of activity aca the computer part. Shelf upon shelf of old and modern books to do with Darwen. A quick flick through this book and a quick glance along this shelf and ohhhh this one looks most interesting. You see I am quite sad really but those books made my heart aflutter. Each one offering the chance of some interesting snippet of information. They have a shelf devoted to the history of football in Darwen - I am afraid that shelf may not get looked at. Another on the council minutes. Then there were photocopied books of early directories and early maps of Darwen. Books on the history of Lancashire, Blackburn and Darwen. Thick books, thin books and little slips of books which could easily be overlooked. You see I am not a creature of the present....I would much rather have a book in my hands than wrestle with a computer. A book never changes, I can go back and have another look, it has more of a sense of 'realness'. And old books are a physical link with the past. Who else has turned these pages before me? or how many years has this book stayed lonely on the shelf? .....enough of my rambling. One book more or less jumped OUT at me. J.G. Shaw 'History and traditions of Darwen and its people'. This book includes Jeremy Hunt's "Recollections of Darwen and its people". It is a reprint of an old book and the library has two copies. It includes old Darwen families, unfortunately Cooper was not mentioned but I should think it will give much interesting background information. This will be a priority read (I am going to see if I can get a copy on loan through my library first). {I have googled this book and it is for sale for £135 but that is one of the original books hmmm not worth that much.}
I am afraid that Joseph was quite bored with all this.

http://peekholden.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=peekholden&view=9&rand=912069223
Someone is actively researching the information in this book - with respect to family trees. One of Joseph's daughters married a Holden so it will be one to keep an eye on.

Finally, I got a 'good' feeling from Darwen. I look forward to visiting again. The only downside was a large message proclaiming - regeneration Darwen 2006-2010 I hope they don't destroy their beautiful heritage. The old market building is still standing, we walked through it. My local market has long since ceased to be of any use, but it would appear that Darwen market is still well patronized.

Joseph's children.

Again from the Lancashire online Parish Clerks site.

Darwen St James : information extracted from Bishop's Transcripts.

There is a baptism of Betty Cooper 30 Oct 1831 parents Joseph Cooper and Mary occupation weaver abode Over Darwen.

From the burials at this church a Betty Cooper age 4 months was buried on 19 Jan 1832.

There is another baptism William Cooper 10 Mar 1833 to Joseph Cooper and Mary occupation Weaver abode Over Darwen.

We need to track down the originals, coverage on this site goes up to 1851 but 1836 to 1847 is missing. This would cover Richard, Ellen and James.

From census information the children of Joseph and Mary

William Cooper (born about 1833)
Betty Cooper (born about 1835)
Richard Cooper (born about 1838)
Ellen Cooper (born about 1840) looking 1840 Jan - March
Mary Cooper (born about 1845)
James Cooper (born about 1847)
Maria Cooper (born about 1850) looking 1849 Apr - June
Ruth Cooper (born about 1856) looking 1855 Apr - June

Lancs. BMD site shows registration district Blackburn and a subdistrict of Darwin, I have used it to try to located the birth certificates - this site just gives the year of registration.

The free BMD only shows the Blackburn district , so will include all the Coopers from Blackburn as well as Darwen but this is divided into four quarters of the year and can be used to narrow down the search for baptisms.

Registration began September quarter of 1837, but not all births were registered.

I could not find anything for Richard or James.
Ellen Cooper 1840 Darwen D/3/47 and on free site Blackburn Mar 1840 21/41
There were two Mary Cooper registered in Darwen in 1845
Maria Cooper 1849 Darwen D/15/60 and on free site Blackburn June 1849 21/65
Ruth Cooper 1855 Darwen D/24/49 and on free site Blackburn June 1955 8e/361

Joseph's marriage.

Taken from Lancashire Online Parish Clerks.

Possible marriage for Joseph Cooper.

1 May 1831 St Mary the Virgin, Blackburn

Joseph Cooper (made his mark) weaver bachelor of this parish.
Mary Simpson (made his mark) spinster of this parish.
witnesses Joseph Faibrother and Thomas Walsh (but these witnessed other marriages so may have been church people rather than relatives).

They were actually married at St. Peters Church, the site explains that there was a fire in St Marys.

At that time there were only certain churches that people could marry in, St Marys would have been the main church for Darwen. At that time fathers details were not included. (And interestingly one of mums direct relatives was married at St Marys in 1833.)

In the census Joseph was a labourer but at the time of his marriage he was a weaver. From looking at the Cotton town site it would seem that in this time period there were many hand loom weavers but it was the time when the process was being mechanised and times became very hard for the handloomers. From my own understanding (and I may very well have got hold of the wrong end of the stick) although being a handloom weaver was a hard job they did have freedom - they decided when and how long they worked at the loom, often whole families wove on one loom taking it in turns. When this work went into the mills they had to work the hours that the master set. It was a time of much unrest.

Joseph Cooper.

From the census, Joseph appears to have been born around 1810.

Someone on the familysearch site has submitted the following details :

Joseph Cooper born 18 Jun 1809 christened 15 Oct 1809 Over Darwen, Blackburn
father Richard Cooper mother Betty

No church has been given, as there are dates given it is a case of trying to find the appropriate parish records.

The batch no. of this information is 7425305 and you can see what other information they have submitted including Richard Cooper about 1770 of Darwen and Betty Duxbury (married) about 1789 Darwen. As no dates are given this has to be viewed as a guess !!!

This can be linked to an entry on the IGI. (also on the familysearch site) batch no C133071 Over Darwen Lower Chapel Independent christenings 1751-1837

Benjamin Cooper christened 28 Jun 1789 born 11 Jun 1789 parents Richard Cooper and Betty Duxbury

It would appear that Benjamin may have been Josephs older brother but this has to be viewed with much sceptism until further proof has been found. Benjamin's christening though does tell us that we will have to look at nonconformist churches. We need to find Joseph's and look at the original baptism record of Benjamin, and find Richard and Betty's marriage. Also the fact that Joseph does not have a son called Benjamin also goes against there being a connection.

From other information (which I shall post later) Joseph definately had a sibling and at a guess we are looking for a brother James.