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
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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 ******

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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.

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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

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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?

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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