tuesday

tuesday: cleaning

Notes on Pendleton

Taken from Pendleton The rise and fall of a northern township by Don Lingard

It is hard to visualise Pendleton as a rural backwater, with farms, orchards, country mansions and a village green with a maypole, but until the first quarter of the 19th century this is exactly what it was. It was then part of the ancient parish of Eccles and all inhabitants were expected to attend St Mary's parish church for divine service, baptism, marriage and burials.

In 1801 Pendleton had a population of 3,611 and a field map of 1815 shows that the whole area was still very sparsely populated although some of the major roads were beginning to take shape. ....There was a fold of cottages around the green with more in the Whit Lane area. There were now houses, both modest and large, along Broad Street.....Farms such as Summerville, Bank Lane, ......Acresfield Farm, were dominating the landscape. There were orchards at Brindleheath and Strawberry fields near the Wallness.

Towards the end ot the 18th century the new industrial age had began to encroach on rural Pendleton. At this time and for the previous two and a half centuries a great number of people were self-employed in hand loom weaving where the whole family could help. In an earlier age wool and flax would have been the material woven but by the 1800's in Lancashire cotton was the main thread, usually used as weft with a warp of linen. Amongst the farmers, yeomen, husbandmen, handloom weavers, small holders, whisters or bleachers, dyers and craftsmen such as joiners, blacksmiths and shoemakers, there were also budding merchants. They in the main were enterprising men who emerged from the working classes to become merchants who would buy the woven cloth pieces and then sell on to an ever-expanding market.

By the 1770's although all people were expected to attend church on Sundays this was not practical for many, as there were so few churches and chapels in south Lancashire. Pendleton was in the parish of St Mary's Eccles and although people did attend for baptism, marriage and burial, maybe because of the distance many of the lower ranks did not attend regular services. By the efforts of two Pendleton men Samuel Brierly and Thomas Fletcher a simple chuch building was completed in 1773. However it wasn't consecrated as a Church of England until 1776. By this time John Wesley had preached in the building in 1774. The church was dedicated to St Thomas and stood on Brindleheath Road becoming the first of the 22 daughter churches of Eccles Parish Church.

By 1818 the population of Pendleton had swelled to 8000 and a new bigger church was required. Raising the money was a problem but providently, after the Napoleonic Wars, the government set aside a large sum of money for established churches to be built where needed. The new St Thomas's was a church to benefit and was erected on its present site, formerly the village green, and consecrated in 1831.

William Douglas, later to be known as Black Douglas because of his harsh treatment of pauper children, set up water powered hoist mill at the Pendleton Old Hall Site in 1780. Freedom from Arkwright restrictions resulted in an increase in the size of water powered mills. A letter in 1792 mentions 3,000 to 4,000 spindles at Douglas Mills. Douglas chiefly supplied the master manufacturers with twist and warps, which were then distributed to the handloom weavers. In 1782 the Douglas Mills were constructing textile looms.

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Given as background information for Christopher Steele the weaver who lived in Pendleton at the time of his marriage.

It looks like Manchester library have film of records of St Thomas Pendleton, will have to go after Christmas and check them ;
Baptisms from 1776 (film no. 139 then 1612)
Burials from 1776 (film no. 139, then 1621)
Marriages from 1839.

Hope they are not missing.

Trade directories:Salford/Manchester

I have three early copies of these, apparently later ones became so big they cannot be printed in one book.

They are published by the wonderful Neil Richardson.

Elizabeth Raffald's Directory of Manchester and Salford 1772
A reprint of the first Manchester and Salford Directory

as well as the directory this one has drawn pictures of the area and a map.

To the PUBLIC

The want of a DIRECTORY for the large and commercial Town of MANCHESTER, having been frequently complained of, and several useful Regulations being lately made; I have taken upon me the arduous Task of compiling a Complete Guide, for the easy finding out every Inhabitant of the least Consequence; as also most of the Country Tradesmen, and the Places where their Warehouses are situated; likewise an Account of the Stage-Coaches and Carriers, with the Times of their coming in and going out of Town, &c. &c.
But as the Difficulty of a private Person's knowing every one, and his Connections, without the Assistance of the People themselves, must be apparent to every one, it cannot be expected but that some Errors and Omissions will appear: Any Person's Name, therefore, that may be omitted, shall, on proper Notice, be inserted into the next Edition, by the Public's
Most obedient, humble Servant,
ELIZ. RAFFALD
March 20, 1772

There are 4 Steel entries

Steel John, Warehouseman, Front-Salford
Steel John, Victualler, Hare and Hounds, Parsnage-lane
Steel Margaret, Glover, St. Mary-gate
Steel William, Smallware-manufacturer, Sugar-lane

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Manchester and Salford Directory 1788
Lewis's Manchester Directory for 1788
includes a map and was originally sold for the price of one penny.

no entries for Steel

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Bancks's Manchester and Salford Directory 1800
no map

5 entries for Steele

Steele Christopher, weaver, 16 Quay-Street, Salford
Steele George, chair maker, 71 Shudehill
Steele George, shoemaker.63 Shudehill
Steele M.&E. tea dealers, 66 Lever-Street
Steele Matthew, tailor, Back-square

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The following entries come from directories held at Salford Local History Library

Scholes's Manchester and Salford Directory 2nd edition 1797

Steel Miss, 2 Garden-Lane Salford
Steel Daniel check and dimity manufacturer Bowlane, houss, 2 Garden-Lane Salford
Steel Jeremiah, butcher 29, Dean-Street
Steel William, liquor-merchant 89, Oldham-Street, vaults, Brown-Street
Steel Matthew, tailor, Dog-Yard Salford

Deans Manchester and Salford Directory 1804

Steel George, fancy chair warehouse 71 Shudehill
Steele Thomas, cotton, twist and weft warehouse, 9 Hunter's-la,
Steele William, painter, gilder and japanner 20 spaw-street, Salford
Steele William, liquormerchant, Brown-Street, h. 66 Lever-Street

Pigots Manchester and Salford Directory 1813

Steel Matthew, tailor, draper & c R. Ridge-field
Steel George, porter, 7 Little Alport
Steel WIlliam, 15 Quay-street Salford
Steele Thomas, cotton merchant & spinner 10 Cross-st, King-st, factory Portland-street h. 4 Chatham St Chorlton-row
Steele George, fancy-chair & c. warehouse 71 Shudehill
Steele Miss Catherine, 3 Bedford-street, CHorlton-row
Steele Joseph Warehouseman, 1 Grosvenor st Piccadilly
Steele William, furniture-painter, 74 Water-st Bridge-st
Steele Miss, 66 Lever-street
Steele John, watchman, 24A Ancoats-st

1841 ?

Not alphabetical like the others, and I did not note down full title of this directory as I ran out of time information found :-

William Steele 13 Ann St. Gun maker
Matthew Steel Tailor 80 King St and 5 St Ann's place
Thomas Steel painter 94 St. George St
William Steel ironmonger Newton Heath
Alexander Steele & co. 25 Church St
Jeremiah Steele corn and flour dealer 127 St Georges rd.
John Steele shopkeeper 159 St Geroges rd.

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I have not checked the online historical directories, I am on dialup so the pages take a while to load and I find the site difficult to navigate. So if anyone has anymore entries from there would love to add them here.

Also I need to check Manchester library to see if they have any different ones than Salford.

Other Christophers around Manchester

Manchester/Salford was a growing place. Christophers father William could have come to Manchester but equally William could have been from a family already established there. There are Steel(e) s at the Salford church and perhaps more importantly at Manchester Cathederal. Of course in those days it was not a cathedral but known as the Coglliate? Church (my spelling skills are none existant). This church was the main church, unfortunately from what I understand, it also served a very large area and not just Manchester. There are many Williams. I have tried to link up baptisms and marriages but it has given me a headache!!!!!!

I think I am widening my study base to 1) the people of Golborne and 2) Steel families in Manchester and Salford.

Anyway I am going to put on some of the simpler stuff I have managed so far to unravel. I must point out that I have yet to check the IGI entries against the film records in Manchester library other than where I state.

CHRISTOPHER is a much more unusual name than William and I wonder who he was named for? not his father but perhaps a grandfather, or uncle, or brother. And there are the names of our Christophers children ..... notable Richard. So I have been looking at other families with the name Christopher (of course it could also have been random or come from the mothers side of the family ......... but as I have yet to find William and Marys marriage I am hoping not).

Anyways the person I am most interested in at the moment is, as I shall refer to him, Christopher the weaver.

His family so far seems to be :-
Jeffrey Steel married Elizabeth 1756
children
Christopher (the weaver) born 1757
Mary born 1759
Samuel born 1762
Elizabeth born 1764
Samuel born 1766
possible second marriage, possible son, or another Jeffrey Steel and Mary Andrews 1776
child Sarah born 1778

Christopher (the weaver) married Betty 1777
children
Samuel born 1780
John born 1783
James born 1786
Ann born 1788
I forgot the important children......
Thos. Steel c. 4 Jul 1790 died 11 Aug 1792 Holy Trinity IGI C020871
Thos. Steel c. 9 Mar 1794 Holy Trinity IGI C020872

Now I have Christophers marriage :
film at Manchester Library

He got married at ECCLES
3rd Feb 1777 Christopher Steele and Betty Butterworth of this parish both of Pendleton. Both made their mark. Witnesses very unclear, this film was badly scratched but looks like John? Butterworth and ? Shaw but this name is on the following marriage so may have been someone in the church.

Pendleton is right near where I live. I shall be posting some background information on this next.

Appologise to V, I am going to get around to posting your information.
More information to come on the Wilcock family.
Information gathered on the visit?

Christopher

As Christmas is approaching and as Joseph and I have decided to have the night off from revising ........
I shall turn my attention to the mysterious, elusive, compulsive, frustrating - the only clue to going back Christopher Steele.

What do we definitely know about him so far?
Well we have his baptism, it is on IGI

Chrstphr Steel
16 Jun 1811
Holy Trinity Salford
Wm Steel + Mary
C020872 1708-1738 book

Christopher was one of the first people I became interested in when I started doing family history he was both fascinating and frustrating. I spent a week trying to track down his baptism. I was then a complete novice. Firstly it is not called Holy Trinity, rather Sacred Trinity. And this is the church that I pass on my way into Manchester. The link shows the church

www.mbbcanal.demon.co.uk/trail/salford/sacredt/P001218.JPG

Manchester library has the film the record is suppose to be on but it was not there so........as a last resort I went to Salford Local History library, the gentleman who works there is marvellous. They have a few photocopied sheets of some kind of record for this church. And yes there he was ........ but what a disappointment ! I have a photocopy of this but it gives no more information just a single line :- 16 Christopher son of William & Mary Steel. The single sheet I have is all in the same handwritting somehow it does not resemble other parish records that I have seen so I must at some stage return to the library and ask its origins (I wonder if it is a transcript).

It is interesting to note the number of baptisms on this sheet July 3 all on the same day, August 1, September 5, November 4, December (up to the 25th) 4.

There are other Steels baptised at this church but none with the same parents.

Next we turn to the census information for Christopher.

1841 HO107/502/3 Blackburn, Blackburn 6
Folio 41, page 31, line 20

Christ. Steele 25 occupation ?
Ann 25 Cotton winder
Sarah 7

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1851 HO107/2190/338/46 West Derby, Everton 2a
Kirkdale, Boundary Street
Factory Cottages No. 17

Christopher Steele 38 Maker of Yarn, Cotton factory born Salford
Ann 39 born Blackburn
Sarah 17 cotton reeler born Blackburn
Mary Anne 7 born Blackburn
Martha Alice 3 born Eccles
Richard 1 born Eccles
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1861 RG9/2799/125/29
Lowton, Leigh 6
School lane

Christopher Steel 48 Maker up in cotton factory
Ann 50 born Blackburn
Jane 16 Cotton factory worker born Blackburn
Martha Alice 12 Cotton factory worker born Eccles
Richard 10 born Eccles
William 7 born Blackburn
James5 Grandson born Lowton
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1871 RG10/4172/34/11
Blackburn, Blackburn 9

Christopher Steele 57 Widow Lodger at the house of Mary Toothey 75,
packer in cotton warehouse born Manchester
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His younger children went to live with Sarah, and we know he returned to Golborne to marry Mary Dawson in 1872.

From free BMD deaths :-

Ann Steel Mar 1864 Leigh 8c 137
Christopher Steel age 65 Jun 1877 Leigh 8c 162

Please feel free to check the census entries, some of them are very faint and I am not very good at reading them. If you have any suggestions please make them.

Why did he keep returning to Blackburn?
Was it family? Anns or Christophers. Why leave his children after Anns death?

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Who was he named after?
I will return to this topic..........

1851 missing pages

I CANT DO CIRCLE GEOMETRY !

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1851 census missing pages
Taken from a letter sent to 'Ancestors' Magazine Jan 2007

Although it is true that Ancestry.co.uk has, to its credit, included in its 1851 census collection scans (taken from microfilm) of water-damaged pages, this fails to address two important points.
Firstly, several parts of the 1951 census for Manchester, Salford and adjacent townships have never been filmed owing to their conditon and have not, therefore, been scanned for the Ancestry image collection. They include all returns for Pendleton, Pendlebury, Prestwich, Blackley, Harpurhey and Knott Lanes townships; and large parts of Deansgate, Chorlton upon Medlock, Hulme, London Road, St George's. Salford Greengate and Salford Regent Road sub-districts, together with Ashton under Lyne and Oldham townships.
Secondly, damaged pages filmed and scanned vary from partially to totally illegible and cannot be read other than by direct examination under ultraviolet lighting This means an index created from the filmed/scanned copies will be very inadequate.
...........218,872 persons............
John Marsden
Manchester and Lancashire FHS

Marriages Joseph/Isabella

following on from mums letter, I have been trying to find the marriage references for Joseph and Isabellas children.

Taken from http://www.durham.gov.uk/gro/newgro.nsf/search?open&C0014633041204122006$

1919 John E. Steele + Jane Davison Durham Western
1921 Isabella Steele + William Bell Durham Western
1928 Ernest Steele + Olive Milburn Durham Western
1931 Hilda Steele + Thomas James Durham Western
1935 Edward Steele + Elsie Overton Durham Western
1935 Mary A. Steele + Thomas R. Gregg Durham Western
1944 Phyllis Steele + Henry Willetts Durham Western

Lucy Steele did not get married.
Elizabeth Steele and Sarah Steele married in Glossop.

So missing are William Steele and Joseph Steeles second marriage.
Any help appreciated.

sunday

sunday

Apologies

I am sorry that I have not been posting this week but I have been busy helping Joseph revise for his mocks - I probably won't be posting much this week either and then I expect the Xmas rush will begin. Dear daughter returns home on the 14th - perhaps she will show me how to put pictures on here.

Did anyone watch the Disappearing Britain program last Monday? It was about the coal miners and I thought it very good.

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Taken from "Coal A pictorial history of the British Coal Industry" by D. Anderson
Borrowed from Manchester Library.

Since 1850, when systematic records were first kept, over 100,000 men and boys and a small number of women have been killed a t British coal-mines. Falls of roof and sides accounted for, very approximately, half of these deaths. Seen beside a statistic, the term "fall of ground" conveys nothing at all of the terrible agony suffered by those who died from this cause. In some cases death was sudden, but in many others it was a slow excruciatingly painful death. Many of the deaths on the haulage roads and in shafts were just as terrible.

Only accidents in which there was great loss of life came to the attention of the public at large. The great majority of these were caused by explosions of methane and coal dust, the latter especially having devastating effects.

What set the miner apart from most other industrial workers was the risk to life and limb that he took in earning his daily bread.

Apart from accidents, the miner was prey to malignant diseases peculiar to his job. He could be striken with pneumoconiosis or nystagmus, beat knee, beat hand or other less virulent but crippling complaints. Pneumoconiosis is a deadly disease of the lungs caused by the constant inhalation of dust, especially silicious dust. It makes the victim prematurely old and brings about an early death.

Nystagmus, which was quite common until the 1930s, results in a rapid involuntary oscillation of the eyeballs; it is an extremely painful disease, causing temporary blindness, and is peculiar to men who work underground. It is caused through working with a feeble light in a cramped position, and constantly straining the eyes by trying to see the cleats in the black coal when striking with the pick.

Beat knee is similar to housemaid's knee and is caused by crawling about on all fours on low coal faces, and kneeling whilst getting or filling coal. Knee pads to protect the knees only came into general use in the early part of this entury, but the early home-made types were sometimes less than useless, in that sharp pieces of coal often got between the knee and the pad, and made crawling about on all fours rather painful.

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The older children of Joseph and Isabella all suffered from 'weak' chests, whilst the younger end suffered from varicous veins. I wonder how much poor housing and coal dust played a part.

Friday

friday