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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.
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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

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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

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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
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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

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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.
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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

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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

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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

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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?

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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