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.