From the Bolton Evening News, first published Tuesday 22nd Apr 2003.
Donkey stones were 'pride of the doorstep'
IT wasn't much to look at. A ramshackle old shed which looked as if it lived in dread of the next high wind. But the place was unique -- the last donkey stone factory in the world.
But in 1977, the clanking, creaking crushing machine, which had been made at the Bolton ironworks of T.T. Crook an unknown number of years before, shuddered into silence for the last time. It was the end of an era.
Anyone of perhaps more than 30 or 40 years old will remember donkey stones. Millions of housewives used to go down on their knees to rub the soft wet stones on doorsteps, windowsills, the flagged kitchen floor, and even the paving stones outside their terraced homes. "Doing the step" was an ideal occasion for gossip between neighbours, as well as a source of rivalry.
Women were proud of their donkey stoning. They would be disgusted if someone failed to keep her patch looking clean and fresh. They'd feel she'd let the whole street down.
At one time there were more than a dozen donkey stone factories in the Manchester area, but over the years demand felt to practically nil until in 1977, the last one, in Ashton-Under-Lyne, closed down.
The "rubbing" ritual was part of the lives of the housewives of old, in the Bolton district as much as anywhere. Like putting hair in curlers, cleaning out the rarely used front parlour once a week, sending the old man off to work with a sticky mix of tea, sugar, and condensed milk in the bottom of his brew can.
I am sure that some younger readers, though, are scratching their heads and asking: "But what were donkey stones?" Let me enlighten you. They were scouring stones originally used in the textile mills of Yorkshire and Lancashire which sprung up in the early 19th century, to provide a non-slip surface on greasy stone staircases.
They were available in three colours -- cream, brown and white. One type of sandstone came from Northampton which produced the brown colour, and a light-coloured stone came from Appley Bridge quarry near Wigan. Bolton women wanted white (Manchester, Oldham and Ashton preferred cream), and to get it a dollop of Dolly Blue went into the putty-coloured mash of crushed stone and water, and the colour changed to white. The crumbly stone applied to a greasy surface would give the area grip as well as a good lustre.
The special soft stone was crushed to a fine powder by steel-faced concrete rollers. Then sufficient water was added to make a toothpaste-soft mix for pouring into moulds to be stamped with the Ashton firm's "Lion Brand" imprint. In summer it took about four days for the stones to dry out, but in cold damp weather it could take up to a month.
The stone took its name from one of the earliest manufacturers, Reads of Manchester, who produced a stone with a trade name of Read's Donkey Brand, so named because of the hard work performed by the stone.
Yet by 1977 the donkey stone was on its last legs, so to speak. In its heyday, the Ashton factory turned out two and a half million blocks a year. Placed side by side, the annual output would stretch all the way to Blackpool -- and back again. In its last few months, it produced only the same number that it would have done in a morning previously.
Donkey stones were sold at every corner shop, and rag-and-bone men used to give them in exchange for jam jars and old clothes. One by one, the donkey stone factories closed down, thrown on the affluent society's scrap heap to join the dolly tub and the mangle, and other items overtaken by modern inventions.
It may be that on the high, back shelves of an old-style hardware shop somewhere that a donkey stone still remains, but it is unlikely. Another part of old Northern life which fell on stoney ground.
Tuesday 28 October 2008
Hi
These are the entries from my previous AOL journal, so all posted after this are my new entries.
I have removed some of the data from the last journal as it had photos and information that were private to the family and as this is a public blog, would not be appropriate without the consent of those family members.
I hope you enjoy reading my family story and the pitfalls and discoveries made in getting this far, and feel free to add comments.
Linda
I have removed some of the data from the last journal as it had photos and information that were private to the family and as this is a public blog, would not be appropriate without the consent of those family members.
I hope you enjoy reading my family story and the pitfalls and discoveries made in getting this far, and feel free to add comments.
Linda
A family wedding 1917
Taken from the Newton & Earlestown Guardian 2nd March 1917
REEVES-PETERS
An interesting and pretty wedding took place at St John's Church, Earlestown on Monday last, the bridegroom being Sergt. Ernest Reeves, of the Scots Guards (second son of Mr and Mrs. J. Reeves of Newton le Willows) and the bride Miss Mary Peters (daughter of Mr & Mrs Peters, of Earlestown).
The bride, who was given away by her father, was attired in a navy blue costume and grey hat trimmed with blue and pink roses. The bridesmaids were Miss Jane Green (bride's cousin) who was dressed in navy and white voile, leghorn hat with black velvet and pink roses and Mrs. Lee who wore navy and hat to match. The best man was Mr R. Bradshaw, and the Vicar (Rev. H. Moor) officiated.
Although the wedding was very quiet, the happy couple were the recipients of numerous valuable presents, for they are well-known and have many friends in the district.
They later left for Rugby, en route for London, where they will take up their abode.
REEVES-PETERS
An interesting and pretty wedding took place at St John's Church, Earlestown on Monday last, the bridegroom being Sergt. Ernest Reeves, of the Scots Guards (second son of Mr and Mrs. J. Reeves of Newton le Willows) and the bride Miss Mary Peters (daughter of Mr & Mrs Peters, of Earlestown).
The bride, who was given away by her father, was attired in a navy blue costume and grey hat trimmed with blue and pink roses. The bridesmaids were Miss Jane Green (bride's cousin) who was dressed in navy and white voile, leghorn hat with black velvet and pink roses and Mrs. Lee who wore navy and hat to match. The best man was Mr R. Bradshaw, and the Vicar (Rev. H. Moor) officiated.
Although the wedding was very quiet, the happy couple were the recipients of numerous valuable presents, for they are well-known and have many friends in the district.
They later left for Rugby, en route for London, where they will take up their abode.
The Hurdus Family
on left Henry Hurdus, sitting on wagon Sarah Sunderland (his daughter) in middle wearing apron Sarah Ann Hurdus (nee Broome) his wife, and his other daughter Elizabeth. This was taken I would say around early 1900's outside their factory.
Another photo of the Hurdus family outside their home. The woman on left is Elizabeth, Sarah Sunderland is sat on the wall and Sarah Ann Hurdus at the front door (wearing apron) Henry Hurdus is the one with the pocket watch, the other men are his sons.
I have mentioned the Hurdus family before in this journal. Sarah Ann Broome, the sister of my great great grandfather Samuel Broome, married Henry Hurdus, a herbal brew manufacturer from Chadderton.
I recently received a communication from a descendant of theirs, their great, great grandson Mil, and from this I have been sent some photographs of the Hurdus family.
I was also contacted by Ron, Mil's cousin, who also provided me with a lot of information on the family, plus some photographs.
Both are in Australia, I have enjoyed their emails tremendously.
More Hurdus information
Sarah Hurdus, nee Broome
Ron contacted me by email a couple of weeks ago, saying he thought he had found the date of death of Sarah Hurdus nee Broome. He was sending away for the death certificate and would get back to me.
He did, so another mystery is solved. Sarah Broome Hurdus died on 24/11/21 in Chadderton age 74 years, she was a widow. Her daughter Sarah Ann Sutherland was present at her death. She died of Senile Decay and Hypostatic Congestion of the Lungs syncope No p.m. Certified by Reginald H.Wright L.R.C.P.
So now, we only have to find the date of death and details of her brother Levi Broome.
Up until recently I was under the impression that Levi Broome was the half brother of Samuel and Sarah, but until BirdEileen found out the name of their mother (Anne), and our research shows her death as being in 1848 - the year of Levi's birth, and her widower Joseph re-marrying in 1849, it seems that Levi was in fact their full brother.
I have details of his birth, marriage, his children etc., but there is no death record. I shall now concentrate on finding this information.
Linda
Ron contacted me by email a couple of weeks ago, saying he thought he had found the date of death of Sarah Hurdus nee Broome. He was sending away for the death certificate and would get back to me.
He did, so another mystery is solved. Sarah Broome Hurdus died on 24/11/21 in Chadderton age 74 years, she was a widow. Her daughter Sarah Ann Sutherland was present at her death. She died of Senile Decay and Hypostatic Congestion of the Lungs syncope No p.m. Certified by Reginald H.Wright L.R.C.P.
So now, we only have to find the date of death and details of her brother Levi Broome.
Up until recently I was under the impression that Levi Broome was the half brother of Samuel and Sarah, but until BirdEileen found out the name of their mother (Anne), and our research shows her death as being in 1848 - the year of Levi's birth, and her widower Joseph re-marrying in 1849, it seems that Levi was in fact their full brother.
I have details of his birth, marriage, his children etc., but there is no death record. I shall now concentrate on finding this information.
Linda
Searching for War Records
With all this searching for wartime records, I thought I might try and find my great grandfather Samuel Broome's service records. He did survive the first world war and the second (he died in 1960 at the age of 81).
I was told by my nanna that her father served in the Royal Army Medical Corps and that he had been decorated for bravery. That is all I know.
I googled RAMC and sent an email to them, explaining that I knew very little about my great grandfather's war service, and I realised that a lot of their records had been lost in a fire in WW2.
I was surprised to get a reply from a nice lady, who sent me the links to five records for a S Broome in the RAMC, and said if I could find out which field hospital he was attached to, she might be able to help further.
I don't know who in the family I could ask, but I have some phone calls to make, maybe some of my older cousins will know.
I hope we can find out more information - I will keep you posted.
Linda
I was told by my nanna that her father served in the Royal Army Medical Corps and that he had been decorated for bravery. That is all I know.
I googled RAMC and sent an email to them, explaining that I knew very little about my great grandfather's war service, and I realised that a lot of their records had been lost in a fire in WW2.
I was surprised to get a reply from a nice lady, who sent me the links to five records for a S Broome in the RAMC, and said if I could find out which field hospital he was attached to, she might be able to help further.
I don't know who in the family I could ask, but I have some phone calls to make, maybe some of my older cousins will know.
I hope we can find out more information - I will keep you posted.
Linda
Our local war memorial
More family war heroes.
I have been very busy, still researching my grandad's family.
My cousin's young son is studying the first world war for his history gcse, and he rang me and asked if we had anyone in the family who had served in WW1. I was able to give him details of John Peters, my granddad's cousin who was killed in Mesopotamia in 1916.
But those who know me, know I don't rest on my laurels, and I thought let me look at what happened in Mesopotamia in 1916, so I googled it, and whilst it was interesting, it wasn't anything really of interest to our family history.
So I added another word to the search that of "Earlestown" and amongst many other websites came one about our War Memorial at Earlestown, and a heading 39 soldiers who died in the Great War, but none have names on the war memorial.
I thought mmmm this should be interesting, and it was because there amongst the list of names were two more of my granddad's cousins.
http://nlwmemorial.tripod.com/nlwmemorial/index.htm
Walter J Stokes and Peter Edwards - i did a search on cwgc (commonwealth war graves commission) and could find neither - well I found their names but didn't think it would be them as wrongly I presumed they would both be in Lancashire regiments.
http://www.cwgc.org/
I then found a site where people are in dispute with the cwgc for not including their relatives in war graves, so i had a look at that site and decided to contact them.
http://www.cwgc.co.uk/
A nice man called Jack Clegg emailed me, asked for my relatives names - he came back to me with both of them on the cwgc site, Peter Edwards, although from Earlestown served with the Gordon Highlanders, andWalter J Stokes with the Field Artillery.
I also found that another of granddad's cousins George Green had served in the 1st world war but had survived.
So that was three of the four branches of my granddad's family who had a serving soldier or one that died.
No doubt if I search further I will find relatives on the other side of my family.
Interestingly enough, I looked through the list of the war dead and found a soldier called Wilfred Reeves, and something on that page caught my eye. Wilfred was killed but his brother Ernest, who had been wounded twice had survived, and had married in 1917 - my granddad's cousin, Mary Peters.
Apparently there was a mention of the wedding in the Newton and Earlestown Guardian in March 1917, so I am off to the library next week to find the article.
I am also pursuing with our local council and The British Legion why these 39 soldiers' names are missing off our war memorial and starting a campaign to get them added. I am enlisting the help of my brothers and cousin and their families to get the names of Peter Edwards and Walter J Stokes added.
I think my Grandad Stokes's family did their bit, don't you?
Served and made the ultimate sacrifice
John Peters, age 23, East Lancashire Regiment, April 1916 in Mesopotamia
Peter Edwards, age 28, Gordon Highlanders, July 1916, France and Flanders
Walter J Stokes, age 27, Royal Field Artillery, June 1915, in Mesopotamia.
Served and survived
George Green.
Ernest Reeves, husband of Mary Peters. (sister of John Peters, cousin of Peter Edwards, Walter J Stokes and George Green)
Thank you all for your sacrifice for my freedom and the freedom of my family.
Linda
Another co incidence
I have discovered yet another co-incidence. My paternal great great grandfather Thomas Stokes (b.1835 circa) died in 1913 in an accident. It seems strange that my maternal great great grandfather Samuel Broome also lost his life as the result of an accident (see previous entry).
His death certificate says he died in The Union Workhouse Hospital, Warrington in 1913 from the shock of burns he received when at the age of 75 years he fell into a lime pit, on the common in Earlestown. He was a watchman, so I can only presume from this it was a work related incident.
I can only imagine the terrible pain he would have been in, and he survived the accident by 10 days before his death.
Ironically, his wife Elizabeth, died in 1901 also from the results of an accident where she fell in Crown Street, Earlestown and had fractured her ribs.
I need to go to my local library to see if I can find a coroners report or an obituary report in the local newspaper for either of these deaths. Should I find any, I will no doubt share it here in this journal.
Linda
His death certificate says he died in The Union Workhouse Hospital, Warrington in 1913 from the shock of burns he received when at the age of 75 years he fell into a lime pit, on the common in Earlestown. He was a watchman, so I can only presume from this it was a work related incident.
I can only imagine the terrible pain he would have been in, and he survived the accident by 10 days before his death.
Ironically, his wife Elizabeth, died in 1901 also from the results of an accident where she fell in Crown Street, Earlestown and had fractured her ribs.
I need to go to my local library to see if I can find a coroners report or an obituary report in the local newspaper for either of these deaths. Should I find any, I will no doubt share it here in this journal.
Linda
Died following childbirth
I mentioned earlier that a marriage certificate for my great grandparents had confirmed and revealed some further information. I also sent for the death certificate of my great grandmother Annie Stokes (nee Sharp).
My grandfather had a sister, who was born in January 1908, his mother Annie died shortly after her birth. The death certificate indicates she died of confinement/puerpual peritonitis, age 28 years on 22nd January 1908, 3 days before my grandfather's 4th birthday.
The certificate also revealed where she died, and was news to me. Apparently my great grandparents lived in Back Princess Street, Earlestown. This was news to me, as they married in Wigan and were living there at the time of their marriage, though my great grandfather has connections with Earlestown.
Further research revealed that puerpual peritonitis, was quite common in that era, as was high rates of infant mortality and deaths in/post childbirth.
Linda
My grandfather had a sister, who was born in January 1908, his mother Annie died shortly after her birth. The death certificate indicates she died of confinement/puerpual peritonitis, age 28 years on 22nd January 1908, 3 days before my grandfather's 4th birthday.
The certificate also revealed where she died, and was news to me. Apparently my great grandparents lived in Back Princess Street, Earlestown. This was news to me, as they married in Wigan and were living there at the time of their marriage, though my great grandfather has connections with Earlestown.
Further research revealed that puerpual peritonitis, was quite common in that era, as was high rates of infant mortality and deaths in/post childbirth.
Linda
Certificates reveal more info
I sent for the marriage certificate for my great grandparents - the parents of my maternal grandfather Thomas Stokes. I was interested to know when in January 1904 they had got married, as granddad was born on January 25th 1904.
The certificate arrived, the date of the marriage January 2nd, 1904 in St Andrew's Parish, Wigan. The witnesses were Thomas Houghton, the bride's step brother and Mary Peters, the groom's sister.
It was interesting in that the link to the Houghton's, confirmed the census and other information I had on my great grandmother Annie Sharp - her stepfather was William Houghton, her mother Ellen Houghton (nee Sharp) - however the certificate had no father for Annie and confirmed Thomas Stokes as the father of Thomas Stokes (the groom).
What the census reveals is that there were 5 Sharp children, including Annie, whose mother Ellen married William Houghton after she was born, the next batch of children were all Houghton's. It seems Annie wasn't married when she had the 5 children.
On all the previous census records Ellen is recorded as living with her mother Elizabeth Sharp - there is no sign of a father for Ellen either, though he could have died young.
The marriage certificate confirmed what I had found in research about Thomas Stokes and about Annie Sharp, and that I was on the right track.
Linda
The certificate arrived, the date of the marriage January 2nd, 1904 in St Andrew's Parish, Wigan. The witnesses were Thomas Houghton, the bride's step brother and Mary Peters, the groom's sister.
It was interesting in that the link to the Houghton's, confirmed the census and other information I had on my great grandmother Annie Sharp - her stepfather was William Houghton, her mother Ellen Houghton (nee Sharp) - however the certificate had no father for Annie and confirmed Thomas Stokes as the father of Thomas Stokes (the groom).
What the census reveals is that there were 5 Sharp children, including Annie, whose mother Ellen married William Houghton after she was born, the next batch of children were all Houghton's. It seems Annie wasn't married when she had the 5 children.
On all the previous census records Ellen is recorded as living with her mother Elizabeth Sharp - there is no sign of a father for Ellen either, though he could have died young.
The marriage certificate confirmed what I had found in research about Thomas Stokes and about Annie Sharp, and that I was on the right track.
Linda
Our American connection
Our American connection
On Grandfather Samuel Broome’s family through his mother, Hannah Hollinead we find Joseph Wilde and Jenny Whitehead.
When finding their information I stumbled across a lady in America, Bette Fuller who was researching her husband’s family, and discovered that they too were descended from Joseph and Jenny.
Joseph and Jenny’s grandson John Wilde (son of Randolph) married a Lancashire girl Nancy Cocker, who was a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints. They had 5 children – Joseph, John, Matthew, Sarah, , though two boys Joseph and John died in England before the family moved to the states.
John Wilde went to USA in 1854, promising to send for his wife and children, but he never did. Whilst on the trail to Utah, he met and married Mary, a widow with 13 children. The marriage was polygamous (which in that faith was allowed in those times). Times were hard so it is presumed that the pressures on him to keep his new family meant that he never got to send for Nancy and the children.
Sarah Jane went to USA and married William Burnett and had quite a few children.
15 years were to pass before Nancy remarried, this time to Thomas Buckley. Nancy, Matthew and her other children went to America, staying with the Burnett’s.
Bette Fuller kindly sent me some of the histories of these family members and I am including them here, along with a photograph of Sarah Jane Burnett Wilde’s family.
But before I do, I will try and explain this family by inserting a chart linking it to the Hollinhead family who are linked to the Wilde’s and the Broome’s by marriage.
John Wilde m Jenny Whitehead
i
Randall Wilde Rachel Wilde m James Hollinhead
i i
John Wilde m Nancy Cocker James Hollinhead m Mary Thomas
i i
Hannah Hollinhead m Samuel Broome
When finding their information I stumbled across a lady in America, Bette Fuller who was researching her husband’s family, and discovered that they too were descended from Joseph and Jenny.
Joseph and Jenny’s grandson John Wilde (son of Randolph) married a Lancashire girl Nancy Cocker, who was a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints. They had 5 children – Joseph, John, Matthew, Sarah, , though two boys Joseph and John died in England before the family moved to the states.
John Wilde went to USA in 1854, promising to send for his wife and children, but he never did. Whilst on the trail to Utah, he met and married Mary, a widow with 13 children. The marriage was polygamous (which in that faith was allowed in those times). Times were hard so it is presumed that the pressures on him to keep his new family meant that he never got to send for Nancy and the children.
Sarah Jane went to USA and married William Burnett and had quite a few children.
15 years were to pass before Nancy remarried, this time to Thomas Buckley. Nancy, Matthew and her other children went to America, staying with the Burnett’s.
Bette Fuller kindly sent me some of the histories of these family members and I am including them here, along with a photograph of Sarah Jane Burnett Wilde’s family.
But before I do, I will try and explain this family by inserting a chart linking it to the Hollinhead family who are linked to the Wilde’s and the Broome’s by marriage.
John Wilde m Jenny Whitehead
i
Randall Wilde Rachel Wilde m James Hollinhead
i i
John Wilde m Nancy Cocker James Hollinhead m Mary Thomas
i i
Hannah Hollinhead m Samuel Broome
Our American Connection - The Biographies by Bette Fuller
The Wilde Burnett Family – Sarah Jane Burnett Wilde seated in the middleNANCY COCKER WILDE BUCKLEY
Mother of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett
Nancy Cocker, the mother of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett was born in Burnbybrow, Chad, Lancashire, England. Her parents were John Cocker and Nancy Thornley. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at the age of 15. Many times, it is said she shook hands with then President of the Church, Brigham Young, when he was visiting in England. Nancy married John Wilde. The date of the marriage is unknown. Her parents did not allow Nancy to marry John Wilde until he too had joined the LDS Church. John did join the LDS Church a few years after Nancy.
Nancy and John had five children, 3 sons and 2 daughters, only three survived Sarah Jane, Mary Ann, and Matthew. Two of their boys, Joseph and John, died when they were young and are buried in England. Around 1852 when Matthew, the youngest child, was only a year old, John Wilde left England, and came to Utah. He left his wife and the three small children to provide for themselves. The father promised, when he left, that as soon as he was able to secure enough money, he would send for them.
Nancy went to work in a cotton factory to provide for herself and her children. Later on the two girls began to work in the factory also. It was indeed a hard struggle for the mother. Some times they barely had enough to eat. It was only with the help of her father, John Cocker and friends that she managed to survive.
Our American Connection - The biographies Part 2
Nancy was very disappointed when she learned of her husband’s second and polygamist marriage to a Mrs. Slater in Utah. Mrs. Slater was a widow and the mother of a large family so it took all that John Wilde could earn to support this second family.
Nancy was true to her husband for 15 years and then she married Thomas Buckley. With her new husband and her children, they went to live with Nancy's father. John Cocker was then a widower.
In August of 1868, Nancy, Matthew and her new husband Thomas Buckley arrived in Salt Lake City. The two girls had left for Utah at an earlier time. Nancy, Thomas, and Matthew lived for a period of time with Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett, Nancy's daughter, and her husband William Burnett, who was at the time a guard at the Utah State Penitentiary.
During the winter of 1869 Thomas Buckley and his stepson, Matthew worked in Weber Canyon for $3.50 and board. Nancy and Thomas built a new home in West Weber. The home was a log cabin, 10 by 12 feet. Their table was a box and they had no chairs. Thomas and Nancy slept on the floor and Matthew, the only child still at home, slept in the top of the granary.
Thomas Buckley began working for the Central Pacific Railroad and witnessed the driving of the Golden Spike. Some time later Matthew and William Burnett put up a little adobe room 14 feet by 14 feet and Nancy and Thomas moved in.[1]
Nancy died sometime in 1901 and is buried in West Weber, Weber County, Utah. Records show Thomas Buckley died in 1900. His burial place is also in West Weber. The children were sealed to Thomas Buckley on June 20, 1870.
On Thursday April 22, 1999. Mack and I visited the West Weber Cemetery. Prior to the visit I spoke to Dora Lee Loftus on the telephone 801-731 6039. Dora was at this time in the process of indexing the cemetery. She informed me that old records of the cemetery show a group of (12) burial spots are listed as purchased by Thomas Buckley. She informed me that the plots are located “West of the road on the far east side near the new section of the cemetery and in the center area near the road.” The sight is located to the north of the grave site of Ralph Hunt, south of J.C. Robin and to the west side is a grave with the surname of Voight (a young person). When Mack and I visited the cemetery we found that no markers on the Buckley grave sites.
The information about Nancy Cocker Wilde was taken from the Biography of Matthew Wilde, her son and brother to Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett
Bette Brown Fuller
MARY TYSON SLATER WILDE
Mary Tyson Slater Wilde was the second and polygamist wife of John Wilde. Mary was born on 11 Aug 1811 in Blackburn Lancashire England. On the 7 of February 1828 Mary married James Slater. James Slater was born 17 August 1806 in Clitheroe Lancashire England. Mary and James had 9 Children. It is not known at this time when James and Mary came to America.
On the 18 of May 1854, in Ft Leavenworth, Kansas, James Slater died, leaving Mary with nine (eight, one died in England) children and expecting the 10th. The Slater family was on their way across the plains to Utah. Mary had her 10th child three weeks later in Nebraska. This baby, sex unknown, died the same day.
It is unknown if John Cocker met Mary Slater while crossing the plains or if they became acquainted after arriving in Salt Lake City. As quoted by his great great granddaughter, Laura Slater Pack, John must have been pretty brave or pretty smitten with Mary Slater to have taken her on as a wife along with 9 (8) children. This Slater family were the reason John Wilde was not able to send for his first wife, Nancy Cocker Wilde and their 3 children, Sarah Jane, Mary Ann and Matthew, who remained in England, waiting to join him in America.
This information was provided by Laura Slater Pack, 449 E. 1600 N. Orem, Utah 84097, April 7, 1999. My comments or changes in ( ).
I did some research on my own regarding the family that John Wilde took on in a polygamist marriage and found the following on familysearch.org the file maintained by the LDS Church. James Tyson was born August 17 1806 in Clitheroe, Lancashire, England. He died on May 18, 1864 in Fort Leavenworth, Ft Leavenworth County, Kansas and was buried there in May of 1856, He had married his wife Mary Tyson February 7, 1828 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. The cause of James death is unknown. The Slater family were on their way to a new home in Utah.
Nancy was true to her husband for 15 years and then she married Thomas Buckley. With her new husband and her children, they went to live with Nancy's father. John Cocker was then a widower.
In August of 1868, Nancy, Matthew and her new husband Thomas Buckley arrived in Salt Lake City. The two girls had left for Utah at an earlier time. Nancy, Thomas, and Matthew lived for a period of time with Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett, Nancy's daughter, and her husband William Burnett, who was at the time a guard at the Utah State Penitentiary.
During the winter of 1869 Thomas Buckley and his stepson, Matthew worked in Weber Canyon for $3.50 and board. Nancy and Thomas built a new home in West Weber. The home was a log cabin, 10 by 12 feet. Their table was a box and they had no chairs. Thomas and Nancy slept on the floor and Matthew, the only child still at home, slept in the top of the granary.
Thomas Buckley began working for the Central Pacific Railroad and witnessed the driving of the Golden Spike. Some time later Matthew and William Burnett put up a little adobe room 14 feet by 14 feet and Nancy and Thomas moved in.[1]
Nancy died sometime in 1901 and is buried in West Weber, Weber County, Utah. Records show Thomas Buckley died in 1900. His burial place is also in West Weber. The children were sealed to Thomas Buckley on June 20, 1870.
On Thursday April 22, 1999. Mack and I visited the West Weber Cemetery. Prior to the visit I spoke to Dora Lee Loftus on the telephone 801-731 6039. Dora was at this time in the process of indexing the cemetery. She informed me that old records of the cemetery show a group of (12) burial spots are listed as purchased by Thomas Buckley. She informed me that the plots are located “West of the road on the far east side near the new section of the cemetery and in the center area near the road.” The sight is located to the north of the grave site of Ralph Hunt, south of J.C. Robin and to the west side is a grave with the surname of Voight (a young person). When Mack and I visited the cemetery we found that no markers on the Buckley grave sites.
The information about Nancy Cocker Wilde was taken from the Biography of Matthew Wilde, her son and brother to Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett
Bette Brown Fuller
MARY TYSON SLATER WILDE
Mary Tyson Slater Wilde was the second and polygamist wife of John Wilde. Mary was born on 11 Aug 1811 in Blackburn Lancashire England. On the 7 of February 1828 Mary married James Slater. James Slater was born 17 August 1806 in Clitheroe Lancashire England. Mary and James had 9 Children. It is not known at this time when James and Mary came to America.
On the 18 of May 1854, in Ft Leavenworth, Kansas, James Slater died, leaving Mary with nine (eight, one died in England) children and expecting the 10th. The Slater family was on their way across the plains to Utah. Mary had her 10th child three weeks later in Nebraska. This baby, sex unknown, died the same day.
It is unknown if John Cocker met Mary Slater while crossing the plains or if they became acquainted after arriving in Salt Lake City. As quoted by his great great granddaughter, Laura Slater Pack, John must have been pretty brave or pretty smitten with Mary Slater to have taken her on as a wife along with 9 (8) children. This Slater family were the reason John Wilde was not able to send for his first wife, Nancy Cocker Wilde and their 3 children, Sarah Jane, Mary Ann and Matthew, who remained in England, waiting to join him in America.
This information was provided by Laura Slater Pack, 449 E. 1600 N. Orem, Utah 84097, April 7, 1999. My comments or changes in ( ).
I did some research on my own regarding the family that John Wilde took on in a polygamist marriage and found the following on familysearch.org the file maintained by the LDS Church. James Tyson was born August 17 1806 in Clitheroe, Lancashire, England. He died on May 18, 1864 in Fort Leavenworth, Ft Leavenworth County, Kansas and was buried there in May of 1856, He had married his wife Mary Tyson February 7, 1828 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. The cause of James death is unknown. The Slater family were on their way to a new home in Utah.
Our American Connection - The Biographies Part 3
The children travelling with Mary were:
NATHAN SLATER
b.5 Nov. 1828/29 in Clitheroe, England; d. 10 Dec.1902 place unknown. Nathan was baptized on Jan. 29, 1850. He married twice, Abey or Anne Piggot , 10 Jun., 1856 in the Salt Lake Endowment House (EH) and Anna Jensen on Feb. 7, 1861 in the Presidents Office (POFFI). Nathan would have been 26 years old when his father died.
MATHEW SLATER
b. 5 Feb.,1831 in Clitheroe Lancashire, England. d. Feb. 6, 1833, probably in his place of birth. Mathew was sealed to his birth parents on Jul. 1, 1972, in the Ogden Temple..
THOMAS TYSON SLATER
b. 18 Mar, 1831 in Clitheroe, England; d. 21 Feb. 1903 in Huntsville, Weber County, Utah. Thomas was baptized on 9 Jul 1999 in the Toronto Temple. He married Elizabeth Burgess on 27 Sep, 1860 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was sealed to Elizabeth Burgess on 17 Oct. 2003 in the
Los Angeles Temple. Date of Endowments is 26 Jan. 2001 in the London Temple, where he was also sealed to his birth parents on 7 May 2002. Thomas would have been 21 years old when his father died. The file MORMON PIONEER OVERLANDD TRAVEL, 1847-1868 indicates Thomas Tyson, age 28 came to Utah as a member of the John D. Chase Company (1864). This file indicated he married Elizabeth, from England, in St Louis in 1860. He may have not been in the group traveling with the father and mother.
RALPH SLATER
b. 14 Jun. 1935 in Clitheroe; d. in 1870 placed unknown. Ralph was baptized on 27 Jan. 1972, endowed 17 Jun 1972, and sealed to his birth parents on 5 Jul, 1972 in the Ogden Temple. Ralph married Mary Ann Bostock in 1860, in Ogden, Utah and was sealed to her on 2 Jun 1998 in the Boise Temple. Ralph would have been 19 years old when his father died.
WILLIAM SLATER
b. 5 Oct., 1837 in Clitheroe, d 16 Oct. 1915 in Huntsville, Weber County, Utah. He was baptized on 23 Apr 1987, endowed on 25 Jun. 1987 and sealed to his birth parents on 23 Jun. 1987 in the Ogden Temple. He was sealed to a spouse, Janet Edwards on 2 Jun. 1998 in the Boise Temple. William would have bee 17 years old when his father died.
MARY ANN SLATER
b. 27 Apr 1840 in Clitheroe, d. 18 Apr 1901 in Riverton, Salt Lake County, Utah. Mary Ann was baptized on 5 Feb 1985 and endowed on 8 Feb 1985 in the Dallas Temple. She married Edward Rishton and was sealed to Edward on 4 Mar 1858 in the Salt Lake Endowment House (EH). On Jan 22, 1932 she was sealed to her birth parents in the Logan Temple. She was 14 years old when her father died.
ALBERT GERONE SLATER
Albert Slater was married to Mary Ann Wilde, the sister of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett. Further information about Albert and Mary Ann is include in the file. He was 11 years old when his father died.
ELIZABETH ELLEN SLATER
b. 24 Jan 1846 in Fall River Plymouth Massachusetts, d. on 19 Sep 1910 in Trenton, Cache County, Utah. She married Joseph Wood on Feb. 12, 1864. Elizabeth was baptized on Feb 7, 1968 and endowed on 11 May 1968, Temple unknown. She was sealed to her birth parents on 3 Sep. 1970 in the Idaho Falls Temple. She was eight years old when her father died.
JAMES HENRY SLATER
b. 2 Jun 1849 in Fall River Bristol County, Massachusetts,d 28 Feb 1942 in Pocatello, Bannock County, Idaho. He was baptized on 4 Oct. 1977, endowed 2 Dec. 1977 and sealed to his birth parents on 2 Dec 1977 in the Arizona Temple. He would have been 5 years old when his father died.
UNKNOWN SLATER
This child sex unknown was born and died on 9 Jun 1854 in Salt Creek, Cass County Nebraska. No LDS Ordinance information is available. He was born two months after his father died.
In their day and times all but the last four children of Mary and James Slater where at an age that they could have supported and or assisted their mother in raising and caring for the younger siblings. My question that remains unanswered is why did John Wilde marry again in a polygamist marriage, prior to divorcing or sending for his wife and daughters left behind in England. Had he ever intended to do so?
Bette Brown Fuller 2005
NATHAN SLATER
b.5 Nov. 1828/29 in Clitheroe, England; d. 10 Dec.1902 place unknown. Nathan was baptized on Jan. 29, 1850. He married twice, Abey or Anne Piggot , 10 Jun., 1856 in the Salt Lake Endowment House (EH) and Anna Jensen on Feb. 7, 1861 in the Presidents Office (POFFI). Nathan would have been 26 years old when his father died.
MATHEW SLATER
b. 5 Feb.,1831 in Clitheroe Lancashire, England. d. Feb. 6, 1833, probably in his place of birth. Mathew was sealed to his birth parents on Jul. 1, 1972, in the Ogden Temple..
THOMAS TYSON SLATER
b. 18 Mar, 1831 in Clitheroe, England; d. 21 Feb. 1903 in Huntsville, Weber County, Utah. Thomas was baptized on 9 Jul 1999 in the Toronto Temple. He married Elizabeth Burgess on 27 Sep, 1860 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was sealed to Elizabeth Burgess on 17 Oct. 2003 in the
Los Angeles Temple. Date of Endowments is 26 Jan. 2001 in the London Temple, where he was also sealed to his birth parents on 7 May 2002. Thomas would have been 21 years old when his father died. The file MORMON PIONEER OVERLANDD TRAVEL, 1847-1868 indicates Thomas Tyson, age 28 came to Utah as a member of the John D. Chase Company (1864). This file indicated he married Elizabeth, from England, in St Louis in 1860. He may have not been in the group traveling with the father and mother.
RALPH SLATER
b. 14 Jun. 1935 in Clitheroe; d. in 1870 placed unknown. Ralph was baptized on 27 Jan. 1972, endowed 17 Jun 1972, and sealed to his birth parents on 5 Jul, 1972 in the Ogden Temple. Ralph married Mary Ann Bostock in 1860, in Ogden, Utah and was sealed to her on 2 Jun 1998 in the Boise Temple. Ralph would have been 19 years old when his father died.
WILLIAM SLATER
b. 5 Oct., 1837 in Clitheroe, d 16 Oct. 1915 in Huntsville, Weber County, Utah. He was baptized on 23 Apr 1987, endowed on 25 Jun. 1987 and sealed to his birth parents on 23 Jun. 1987 in the Ogden Temple. He was sealed to a spouse, Janet Edwards on 2 Jun. 1998 in the Boise Temple. William would have bee 17 years old when his father died.
MARY ANN SLATER
b. 27 Apr 1840 in Clitheroe, d. 18 Apr 1901 in Riverton, Salt Lake County, Utah. Mary Ann was baptized on 5 Feb 1985 and endowed on 8 Feb 1985 in the Dallas Temple. She married Edward Rishton and was sealed to Edward on 4 Mar 1858 in the Salt Lake Endowment House (EH). On Jan 22, 1932 she was sealed to her birth parents in the Logan Temple. She was 14 years old when her father died.
ALBERT GERONE SLATER
Albert Slater was married to Mary Ann Wilde, the sister of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett. Further information about Albert and Mary Ann is include in the file. He was 11 years old when his father died.
ELIZABETH ELLEN SLATER
b. 24 Jan 1846 in Fall River Plymouth Massachusetts, d. on 19 Sep 1910 in Trenton, Cache County, Utah. She married Joseph Wood on Feb. 12, 1864. Elizabeth was baptized on Feb 7, 1968 and endowed on 11 May 1968, Temple unknown. She was sealed to her birth parents on 3 Sep. 1970 in the Idaho Falls Temple. She was eight years old when her father died.
JAMES HENRY SLATER
b. 2 Jun 1849 in Fall River Bristol County, Massachusetts,d 28 Feb 1942 in Pocatello, Bannock County, Idaho. He was baptized on 4 Oct. 1977, endowed 2 Dec. 1977 and sealed to his birth parents on 2 Dec 1977 in the Arizona Temple. He would have been 5 years old when his father died.
UNKNOWN SLATER
This child sex unknown was born and died on 9 Jun 1854 in Salt Creek, Cass County Nebraska. No LDS Ordinance information is available. He was born two months after his father died.
In their day and times all but the last four children of Mary and James Slater where at an age that they could have supported and or assisted their mother in raising and caring for the younger siblings. My question that remains unanswered is why did John Wilde marry again in a polygamist marriage, prior to divorcing or sending for his wife and daughters left behind in England. Had he ever intended to do so?
Bette Brown Fuller 2005
Our American Connection - The Biographies Part 4
BIOGRAPHY OF MATTHEW WILDE
Brother of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett
Matthew Wilde was born at Oldham Lancashire England, October 29, 1852. His parents were John Wilde and Nancy Cocker.
Matthew joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when he was 8 years of age. He was baptized by James Gledhill and confirmed by William Spaulding at the same time and place at Oldham Lancashire England
Before Matthew was even 14, he had a very splendid alto voice and was taken by friends to different towns around Oldham to sing in a great many concerts and tea parties.
John Wilde, Matthew's father had left England for Utah when Matthew was only about 1 year old. His mother and sisters had remained in England, waiting passage from the father. When John Cocker entered into a polygamist marriage in Utah, Matthew's mother it is assumed divorced John Wilde, and married Thomas Buckley. Eventually the mother and stepfather along with Matthew migrated to Utah and made their home in West Weber.
After about three years in West Weber, Thomas Buckley's sister came from England and brought Matthew a concertina. Matt played at dances all over the settlements of Weber County. He also was a very good accordion player and played with some of the violinist in the state.
When Matthew was 25 years old he married Elizabeth Naylor. They lived with his parents for a year and them moved to Bountiful to live with his wife's folks. For two years Matt worked at all kinds of farming. Mr. Naylor, who had moved to Neal Station to take charge of a section on the railroad, sent for Matthew to come to work for him. Matthew sold his team, wagon and harness for a little of nothing and took his wife and baby to work for $1.50 a day. After two years he was promoted to take charge of a section at Frisco Hill, Beaver County, Utah. He labored at Frisco Hill for 8 years and then at Milford for three.
In his autobiography Matthew Wilde writes of many experiences in his lifetime, such as follows;
One Saturday night when Matthew was 2 or 3 years old his mother was bathing him. She suddenly brushed her hand against a stocking or darning needle. It was pointing up through her baby's shoulder and lower part of his neck. The child had swallowed the needle while playing with it, weeks or maybe months before. He was immediately taken to a doctor to have the needle removed.
When only 5 years old Matthew was going to school not far from his grandfather’s home. Near the school was a large stone quarry. One day during recess, Matthew went to this quarry with some other children. He sat down on the edge and fell into the quarry some 40 to 50 feet. He was painfully crushed between two large stones at the bottom of the pit. There was barely a spark of life in his body. He suffered a broken collarbone but after good care from a fine doctor he recovered. Only a few weeks latter he received a broken leg when a large bag of cotton, at a nearby factory, rolled over his leg.
In 1871 Matthew and Edmund Ellsworth rode mules from West Weber to Soda Springs to cut and handle logs for a sawmill. They worked there all summer for $35.00 a month and board. In the fall some of the men started home with teams, but Matthew and Brigham (?) Ellsworth built a boat to row down the Bear River, thinking they could over come the rapids and arrive home before the teams coming over the wagon roads. They left Soda Springs in their boat and crossed over three or four rapids without mishap. Fortune was not with them at the next rapid for it was worse that the others. The two boys rowed there boat to the side and got out. They took all their food and bedding out of the boat and tied a rope to it to let their boat down easily over the falls, but the boat plunged over in the whirl pool and capsized. After much difficulty the boys were forced to let go of the rope to keep from being pulled into the maddening waters. Much to their humiliation they had to walk twenty miles, loaded down with their food and bedding to catch the teams ahead.
One cloudy day in the year of 1883, Matthew was standing on the door step of his home at Frisco Hill section house, when a flash of lightning passed a telegraph pole just ten feet from him. It was followed by a terrific clap of thunder. The lightning followed the telegraph wire along to the next pole and on for a distance of a mile up and down each side of the station. It slivered most of the poles up and down so nice and smooth that they looked as though they had been plated with ribbons on a May pole.
A storm followed so heavy that a cloudburst and a great wave of water came down off the mountain. There was such a terrible roar that it shook the house. Rock, cedars, brush, and driftwood all came down and flooded the railroad tracks. Two bridges were washed out. A few feet from the section house were two tracks, which were covered with gravel and brush.
Matthew and his family were alone on this lonely prairie. There was no section gang nearer than 7 miles. Matthew's wife, seeing that something must be done to stop the train at Milford, volunteered to ride the handcar to Milford. Matthew must stay at the section house. With the help of his wife, they put the handcart onto the track. Elizabeth, Matthew's wife jumped on the handcar, let out the brake and started for Milford a distance of 17 miles, which she made in 20 minutes without stopping. (Was this possible?) The grade from Frisco to Milford was from 100 to 190 feet, so Elizabeth had set a record.
After working for the railroad at Frisco Hill, Matthew went to work for some English friends who were coal miners. They took up a contract in blasting out some tunnels for the pipeline in Ogden Canyon.
When Utah was made a state and entered into the Union, Matthew and about 40 men were asked to join the regiment at Company B with George Driver as Captain. They drilled in the pavilion at Laster Park. They bought uniforms and marched about town. He was promoted to a corporal. Governor West asked them to participate in a two-day celebration at Salt Lake City on the 4th of July. Matthew got wounded while at the celebration. It was only a mashed thumb from putting his thump between two cannons they were pulling. He quit the militia after two years.
Matthew helped build a dam over Wilson’s of Wilson Lane, with James Robb and his son and a man named Edwin Fuller (no relation that we can determine). They were hauling gravel to the river. On one of the trips the sides of the wagon floated away, carrying James Robb and his son into the water. When Edwin Fuller saw they could not swim, he let the team go to make there own way to shore and he jumped into the water to rescue the father and son. The father clung to his boy and caught Mr. Fuller by the beard. In his excitement he held him down so that he was unable to swim. All three were drowned. When Matthew and some other men finally found them, the father had the son grasped in his arms and one arm around Mr. Fuller's neck.
Matthew then went to work for the Ogden Transfer Company as a section foreman. He worked for 10 years. and then in about 1907 he went back to work for the Central Pacific Railroad. He was working for his son Matthew Wilde Jr. at the Union Depot when he wrote his autobiography at the age of 63.
Matthew's first wife died in 1917 or 1918. She had raised five children. Matthew then married Mary Burt Atkinson. They were both along in years when they married. Mary died in 1931. At the age of 80 Matthew was living with his daughters in Ogden, Utah.
Matthew had assisted at the Golden Spike Ceremony and had worked on the railroad for a total of 40 years. He died in 1937 at the age of 84 years. He died at the Weber County Poor Farm, later the Weber Count Memorial Hospital.
It is from his autobiography that what information we have on his mother, Nancy Cocker Wilde Buckley has been taken.
Brother of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett
Matthew Wilde was born at Oldham Lancashire England, October 29, 1852. His parents were John Wilde and Nancy Cocker.
Matthew joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when he was 8 years of age. He was baptized by James Gledhill and confirmed by William Spaulding at the same time and place at Oldham Lancashire England
Before Matthew was even 14, he had a very splendid alto voice and was taken by friends to different towns around Oldham to sing in a great many concerts and tea parties.
John Wilde, Matthew's father had left England for Utah when Matthew was only about 1 year old. His mother and sisters had remained in England, waiting passage from the father. When John Cocker entered into a polygamist marriage in Utah, Matthew's mother it is assumed divorced John Wilde, and married Thomas Buckley. Eventually the mother and stepfather along with Matthew migrated to Utah and made their home in West Weber.
After about three years in West Weber, Thomas Buckley's sister came from England and brought Matthew a concertina. Matt played at dances all over the settlements of Weber County. He also was a very good accordion player and played with some of the violinist in the state.
When Matthew was 25 years old he married Elizabeth Naylor. They lived with his parents for a year and them moved to Bountiful to live with his wife's folks. For two years Matt worked at all kinds of farming. Mr. Naylor, who had moved to Neal Station to take charge of a section on the railroad, sent for Matthew to come to work for him. Matthew sold his team, wagon and harness for a little of nothing and took his wife and baby to work for $1.50 a day. After two years he was promoted to take charge of a section at Frisco Hill, Beaver County, Utah. He labored at Frisco Hill for 8 years and then at Milford for three.
In his autobiography Matthew Wilde writes of many experiences in his lifetime, such as follows;
One Saturday night when Matthew was 2 or 3 years old his mother was bathing him. She suddenly brushed her hand against a stocking or darning needle. It was pointing up through her baby's shoulder and lower part of his neck. The child had swallowed the needle while playing with it, weeks or maybe months before. He was immediately taken to a doctor to have the needle removed.
When only 5 years old Matthew was going to school not far from his grandfather’s home. Near the school was a large stone quarry. One day during recess, Matthew went to this quarry with some other children. He sat down on the edge and fell into the quarry some 40 to 50 feet. He was painfully crushed between two large stones at the bottom of the pit. There was barely a spark of life in his body. He suffered a broken collarbone but after good care from a fine doctor he recovered. Only a few weeks latter he received a broken leg when a large bag of cotton, at a nearby factory, rolled over his leg.
In 1871 Matthew and Edmund Ellsworth rode mules from West Weber to Soda Springs to cut and handle logs for a sawmill. They worked there all summer for $35.00 a month and board. In the fall some of the men started home with teams, but Matthew and Brigham (?) Ellsworth built a boat to row down the Bear River, thinking they could over come the rapids and arrive home before the teams coming over the wagon roads. They left Soda Springs in their boat and crossed over three or four rapids without mishap. Fortune was not with them at the next rapid for it was worse that the others. The two boys rowed there boat to the side and got out. They took all their food and bedding out of the boat and tied a rope to it to let their boat down easily over the falls, but the boat plunged over in the whirl pool and capsized. After much difficulty the boys were forced to let go of the rope to keep from being pulled into the maddening waters. Much to their humiliation they had to walk twenty miles, loaded down with their food and bedding to catch the teams ahead.
One cloudy day in the year of 1883, Matthew was standing on the door step of his home at Frisco Hill section house, when a flash of lightning passed a telegraph pole just ten feet from him. It was followed by a terrific clap of thunder. The lightning followed the telegraph wire along to the next pole and on for a distance of a mile up and down each side of the station. It slivered most of the poles up and down so nice and smooth that they looked as though they had been plated with ribbons on a May pole.
A storm followed so heavy that a cloudburst and a great wave of water came down off the mountain. There was such a terrible roar that it shook the house. Rock, cedars, brush, and driftwood all came down and flooded the railroad tracks. Two bridges were washed out. A few feet from the section house were two tracks, which were covered with gravel and brush.
Matthew and his family were alone on this lonely prairie. There was no section gang nearer than 7 miles. Matthew's wife, seeing that something must be done to stop the train at Milford, volunteered to ride the handcar to Milford. Matthew must stay at the section house. With the help of his wife, they put the handcart onto the track. Elizabeth, Matthew's wife jumped on the handcar, let out the brake and started for Milford a distance of 17 miles, which she made in 20 minutes without stopping. (Was this possible?) The grade from Frisco to Milford was from 100 to 190 feet, so Elizabeth had set a record.
After working for the railroad at Frisco Hill, Matthew went to work for some English friends who were coal miners. They took up a contract in blasting out some tunnels for the pipeline in Ogden Canyon.
When Utah was made a state and entered into the Union, Matthew and about 40 men were asked to join the regiment at Company B with George Driver as Captain. They drilled in the pavilion at Laster Park. They bought uniforms and marched about town. He was promoted to a corporal. Governor West asked them to participate in a two-day celebration at Salt Lake City on the 4th of July. Matthew got wounded while at the celebration. It was only a mashed thumb from putting his thump between two cannons they were pulling. He quit the militia after two years.
Matthew helped build a dam over Wilson’s of Wilson Lane, with James Robb and his son and a man named Edwin Fuller (no relation that we can determine). They were hauling gravel to the river. On one of the trips the sides of the wagon floated away, carrying James Robb and his son into the water. When Edwin Fuller saw they could not swim, he let the team go to make there own way to shore and he jumped into the water to rescue the father and son. The father clung to his boy and caught Mr. Fuller by the beard. In his excitement he held him down so that he was unable to swim. All three were drowned. When Matthew and some other men finally found them, the father had the son grasped in his arms and one arm around Mr. Fuller's neck.
Matthew then went to work for the Ogden Transfer Company as a section foreman. He worked for 10 years. and then in about 1907 he went back to work for the Central Pacific Railroad. He was working for his son Matthew Wilde Jr. at the Union Depot when he wrote his autobiography at the age of 63.
Matthew's first wife died in 1917 or 1918. She had raised five children. Matthew then married Mary Burt Atkinson. They were both along in years when they married. Mary died in 1931. At the age of 80 Matthew was living with his daughters in Ogden, Utah.
Matthew had assisted at the Golden Spike Ceremony and had worked on the railroad for a total of 40 years. He died in 1937 at the age of 84 years. He died at the Weber County Poor Farm, later the Weber Count Memorial Hospital.
It is from his autobiography that what information we have on his mother, Nancy Cocker Wilde Buckley has been taken.
Our American Connection - The Biographies Part 5
MARY ANN WILDE
Sister of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett
Mary Ann Wilde was born on November 12, 1845 in Oldham Lanceshire England and was the second child born to John Wilde and Nancy Cocker. She is the younger sister of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett. John Wilde left England for Utah leaving behindhis wife Nancy Cocker, the two daughters and a son Matthew. His plans were to send passage for his family as soon as possible. John Wilde entered into a polygamist marriage prior to sending for his family. He married a widow lady by the name of Mary Tyson Slater. Mary had been widowed earlier and she was left with 9 children. Because of Mary's large family, John Wilde was never able to save enough money to send for his first wife and family.
Prior to 1868, Mary Ann and her sister Sarah Jane came to America.
Mary Ann met and married Albert Gerome Slater, the son of her father's polygamist wife. They were married in Salt Lake City, Utah. After their marriage Mary Ann and her husband lived in Huntsville, Weber County, Utah. Together they had thirteen children.
Mary Ann Wilde Slater died on 22 April, 1931 and is buried in Ogden, Weber County, Utah. Albert had died earlier on May 14, 1914. He is also buried in Ogden.
ALBERT GEROME SLATER
On August 9, 2005 Mack and I visited the Ogden City Cemetery to view the new Burnett headstone placed on the gravesite of David R Burnett and Isobell Ruxton Burnett.
On the west side of the Burnett headstone were three headstones that I recognized the names and believed them to be those of Burnett/Fuller ancestors.
The center headstone, a round cylinder shaped marker, was that of Albert G. Slater. Inscribed Albert G. Slater. June 12, 1843; May 14, 1914. Albert Slater was the husband of Mary Ann Wilde Slater, the sister of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett, our Great Grandmother. On left of Albert’s marker was a flat square marker inscribed Mary Ann Wilde Slater. The birth and death dates are Nov 11, 1845—Apr. 22. 1931. On the right side of Albert’s marker was a round cylinder maker, similar to that marking Albert’s resting place. The named inscribed was Annie E. Slater, Feb. 14, 1848—Oct 1, 1908. Who was this person?
Searching my records of the Wilde/Burnett families, I found that Albert Slater had entered into the practice of polygamy. Albert had married Mary Ann Wilde on December 4, 1871, in Salt Lake City, Utah On Dec. 4, 1871 he married a second time to Annie E Whitaker, again in Salt Lake City. Researching the U of U Newspaper website I found that Albert had been sentenced for unlawful cohabitation on June21, 1887 in the First District Court of Utah. His sentence is unknown. A copy of the news article is in my file.
The record, if valid, on familysearch.org indicates Mary Ann Wilde and Albert had 13 children. Again if records are correct Albert and Anne E. (Tautipi) Whitaker had 11 children. Continuing my research I found that Anne E. Whitaker was born in Ana Bomoto, Society Islands, Tahiti. The 1880 US Census list both Mary Ann Slater and Annie Slater living in the same household where Albert is listed as head of household. Annie Slater’s race is listed as Black, A daughter Lilian M. is also listed as Black. A second child Jane is listed as MU. Definition unknown. Were these individuals actually black, I believe not, I believe they were dark skinned Polynesian? The 1880 Census shows the birthplace of Annie Whitaker and her parents as the Sandwich Islands. The family group record and the LDS Ordinance Record on familysearch.org list Anne E. Slater’s parents as Tuana Tautpi and Thomas William Whitaker. I have found evidence that this is not correct. Mary Anne’s father was a Polynesian, surname of Tautipi. Thomas Whitaker did marry Tuana Tutipi after her first husband died, however Anne was adopted by Thomas William Whitaker and he brought Anne to the United states.
Further research was done on the Whitaker surname. I mentioned to JaNaye Hirst Whitaker, who has been my hair dresser for many years of my findings about the name Whitaker. She immediately recognized some of the facts regarding Annie E. (Tautipi) Whitaker Slater relating to a book she had pertaining tothe life history of her husband’s Whitaker family. Reading the book “The Biography of Elizabeth Mills Oakden Whitaker”, I found substantiating evidenced that Anne E. Slater was not the daughter of Thomas Whitaker. Thomas Whitaker did marry Annie’s mother when he resided in Tahiti, however she had been married prior to a Tahitian and Annie was a child of that marriage. Annie’s mother, Tuana Tautipi died while she and Thomas was living in Tahiti. When Thomas returned to the United States he brought Tuana’s young daughter, Annie with him. She lived in his and other Utah households in Utah until her marriage to Albert Slater. I have included in my file the information taken from the biography.
I have not included the family group of Albert and Annie Whitaker in my family records, however I did include a copy of the family group recorded on familysearch.org. The relationship of Mary Ann Wilde to the Burnett members of the Fuller/Burnett family is distant through her sister and Mack’s Great Grandmother, Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett, the wife of William VanDawson Burnett.
Bette Brown Fuller
Sister of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett
Mary Ann Wilde was born on November 12, 1845 in Oldham Lanceshire England and was the second child born to John Wilde and Nancy Cocker. She is the younger sister of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett. John Wilde left England for Utah leaving behindhis wife Nancy Cocker, the two daughters and a son Matthew. His plans were to send passage for his family as soon as possible. John Wilde entered into a polygamist marriage prior to sending for his family. He married a widow lady by the name of Mary Tyson Slater. Mary had been widowed earlier and she was left with 9 children. Because of Mary's large family, John Wilde was never able to save enough money to send for his first wife and family.
Prior to 1868, Mary Ann and her sister Sarah Jane came to America.
Mary Ann met and married Albert Gerome Slater, the son of her father's polygamist wife. They were married in Salt Lake City, Utah. After their marriage Mary Ann and her husband lived in Huntsville, Weber County, Utah. Together they had thirteen children.
Mary Ann Wilde Slater died on 22 April, 1931 and is buried in Ogden, Weber County, Utah. Albert had died earlier on May 14, 1914. He is also buried in Ogden.
ALBERT GEROME SLATER
On August 9, 2005 Mack and I visited the Ogden City Cemetery to view the new Burnett headstone placed on the gravesite of David R Burnett and Isobell Ruxton Burnett.
On the west side of the Burnett headstone were three headstones that I recognized the names and believed them to be those of Burnett/Fuller ancestors.
The center headstone, a round cylinder shaped marker, was that of Albert G. Slater. Inscribed Albert G. Slater. June 12, 1843; May 14, 1914. Albert Slater was the husband of Mary Ann Wilde Slater, the sister of Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett, our Great Grandmother. On left of Albert’s marker was a flat square marker inscribed Mary Ann Wilde Slater. The birth and death dates are Nov 11, 1845—Apr. 22. 1931. On the right side of Albert’s marker was a round cylinder maker, similar to that marking Albert’s resting place. The named inscribed was Annie E. Slater, Feb. 14, 1848—Oct 1, 1908. Who was this person?
Searching my records of the Wilde/Burnett families, I found that Albert Slater had entered into the practice of polygamy. Albert had married Mary Ann Wilde on December 4, 1871, in Salt Lake City, Utah On Dec. 4, 1871 he married a second time to Annie E Whitaker, again in Salt Lake City. Researching the U of U Newspaper website I found that Albert had been sentenced for unlawful cohabitation on June21, 1887 in the First District Court of Utah. His sentence is unknown. A copy of the news article is in my file.
The record, if valid, on familysearch.org indicates Mary Ann Wilde and Albert had 13 children. Again if records are correct Albert and Anne E. (Tautipi) Whitaker had 11 children. Continuing my research I found that Anne E. Whitaker was born in Ana Bomoto, Society Islands, Tahiti. The 1880 US Census list both Mary Ann Slater and Annie Slater living in the same household where Albert is listed as head of household. Annie Slater’s race is listed as Black, A daughter Lilian M. is also listed as Black. A second child Jane is listed as MU. Definition unknown. Were these individuals actually black, I believe not, I believe they were dark skinned Polynesian? The 1880 Census shows the birthplace of Annie Whitaker and her parents as the Sandwich Islands. The family group record and the LDS Ordinance Record on familysearch.org list Anne E. Slater’s parents as Tuana Tautpi and Thomas William Whitaker. I have found evidence that this is not correct. Mary Anne’s father was a Polynesian, surname of Tautipi. Thomas Whitaker did marry Tuana Tutipi after her first husband died, however Anne was adopted by Thomas William Whitaker and he brought Anne to the United states.
Further research was done on the Whitaker surname. I mentioned to JaNaye Hirst Whitaker, who has been my hair dresser for many years of my findings about the name Whitaker. She immediately recognized some of the facts regarding Annie E. (Tautipi) Whitaker Slater relating to a book she had pertaining tothe life history of her husband’s Whitaker family. Reading the book “The Biography of Elizabeth Mills Oakden Whitaker”, I found substantiating evidenced that Anne E. Slater was not the daughter of Thomas Whitaker. Thomas Whitaker did marry Annie’s mother when he resided in Tahiti, however she had been married prior to a Tahitian and Annie was a child of that marriage. Annie’s mother, Tuana Tautipi died while she and Thomas was living in Tahiti. When Thomas returned to the United States he brought Tuana’s young daughter, Annie with him. She lived in his and other Utah households in Utah until her marriage to Albert Slater. I have included in my file the information taken from the biography.
I have not included the family group of Albert and Annie Whitaker in my family records, however I did include a copy of the family group recorded on familysearch.org. The relationship of Mary Ann Wilde to the Burnett members of the Fuller/Burnett family is distant through her sister and Mack’s Great Grandmother, Sarah Jane Wilde Burnett, the wife of William VanDawson Burnett.
Bette Brown Fuller
Thank you
With thanks to BIRDEILEEN334 for the information she provided. I will now send for the marriage certificate of Joseph Broome and Ann Smalley, this will hopefully fill in the gaps of who my great great Grandfather, Samuel Broome's mother is.
Do they make mistakes on birth certificates?
I believe there has been an error on a birth certificate, obviously nothing can be done about it as all are long gone.
My great great grandfather Samuel Broome, born 1843 circa in Oldham's father was Joseph Broome b. 1811. This information has been found from the marriage certificate of Samuel and Hannah Hollinhead in 1866 and also from census.
The confusion lies with who is Samuel's mother. There is no record of a marriage of Joseph Broome before 1849 when he marries Alice Bardsley - yet Samuel and his sister Sarah are both born earlier than this.
There is a death of an Ann Broome in Oldham in 1848. So who is Ann Broome? Is she Samuel and Sarah's mother. The only way to find out was to send for the birth certificate of Samuel Broome.
What a surprise - it says mother Ann (nee Topp) but lists the father as Samuel Broome. Now either we have the wrong Samuel Broome, or someone wrote it down wrong and has mixed up father and son.
The only way around this is to send for Sarah's birth certificate (more money!) and see if Ann Topp is her mother.
Another mystery to solve. Keep you posted.!
My great great grandfather Samuel Broome, born 1843 circa in Oldham's father was Joseph Broome b. 1811. This information has been found from the marriage certificate of Samuel and Hannah Hollinhead in 1866 and also from census.
The confusion lies with who is Samuel's mother. There is no record of a marriage of Joseph Broome before 1849 when he marries Alice Bardsley - yet Samuel and his sister Sarah are both born earlier than this.
There is a death of an Ann Broome in Oldham in 1848. So who is Ann Broome? Is she Samuel and Sarah's mother. The only way to find out was to send for the birth certificate of Samuel Broome.
What a surprise - it says mother Ann (nee Topp) but lists the father as Samuel Broome. Now either we have the wrong Samuel Broome, or someone wrote it down wrong and has mixed up father and son.
The only way around this is to send for Sarah's birth certificate (more money!) and see if Ann Topp is her mother.
Another mystery to solve. Keep you posted.!
How Great Great Grandfather Died
As I said in an earlier entry I was waiting for information from Wigan Heritage Centre
This is taken from an entry in the Wigan Observer, March 6th 1901
THE DEATH OF A WELL KNOWN COLLIERY MANAGER
Mr S Brighouse, county coroner, held an inquiry at the Bird I'th Hand, Hindley on Monday afternoon into the circumstances concerning the death of Samuel Broome, 58 years of age, the general manager of the Amberswood Colliery, Hindley, who died at a quarter to seven on Friday evening of last week, in consequence of injuries received by a stone falling on him whilst drawing a chock in the No.1 Pit of the Amberswood Colliery on the previous Wednesday. Mr Hall, His Majesty's Inspector, was present and Mr Walker, mining engineer, represented the company.
Plans of the place where the accident happened were produced and it was explained to the jury that the road was finished, and the chock was being drawn for the value of the timber.
Joseph Broome, the son of the deceased, said his father, who lodged at 91 Wigan Road, Hindley was the general manager of the Amberswood Colliery, Hindley. He had been a certified manager since 1877. The witness last saw his father alive before the accident at two o clock on the Tuesday afternoon, the day before he was injured. The witness wasn't working on the day of the accident, and so didn't see him that day, and he was lodging in Ince and his father in Hindley.
After the accident the witness and his mother left him, about a quarter to seven to go for some tea, and on coming back about seven they found him dead. His father felt inclined for a little sleep before they left him, and he asked them to bring him a cup of tea, and when they took him the tea it was the furthest thing from their mind to think of finding him dead. They had turned the light down before leaving him, and when they returned witness's mother asked him to strike a light and light the gas. The mother at once said "I think there is something up" and got hold of the father's hand, and knelt on the bed. "Oh me", she said, "I think my husband is dead". Witness then lit the gas, and found that he was dead. The deceased was sensible from the accident up to the last. The last words he said about the accident was on Friday evening in the presence of the witness, the mother and Mr Atherton (the mine owner), who had made it his duty to call twice a day to see how was progressing. On Friday evening between five and six Mr. Atherton called, and he then said to Mr. Atherton and all present in the room that it looked singular, he should have met with his accident, because he took a chock out of the waste between the lower level and the level where he got hurt was far more difficult. To secure himself in taking that chock he had to build little stone packs, improvised packs for security. After that he came up the coal face, and said he thought he would take the other chock out, and then give over for the day. He had a prop in his hand, he said, thinking that if it was required he could set it, but when he got to the chock there were no cracks, nor breaks, nor slips, and, in fact no danger whatsoever, he said, and so he thought it was unnecessary to set the prop. In fact, it wasn't required, he said. It looked singular that the accident should have happened, he said, because he had no thought of anything of the sort. It was unforseen, he said, and it must have been the will of somebody far above their understanding. Those were practically the last words he said.
The Coroner: "Did he say anything that would lead you to think anybody was to blame?"
Witness: "No, far from it"
Questioned by Mr. Hall the witness said he knew the road where the accident happened. He worked close to the pit bottom, but he had been in the road many a time fetching drilling machines out. He was in the level a week before the accident.
Lawrence Bibby, a dataller, of 5, John Street, Wigan said that at a quarter to two on the day of the accident he was working close besides the deceased, who was in the act of drawing a chock of timber when a stone fell on him. Witness at once shouted for James Heaton, who came and assisted him to get the stone off him. The stone would be about 4 foot long, 3 foot wide, and 14 or 15 inches thick. The deceased complained of being hurt in his side, and witness went out as soon as possible for assistance, and returned with Robert Baron and William Turner. The stone fell upon him just as he was hitting the chock. Mr Broome knocked at the stone after he had drawn the two props, and he said it was all right and safe. The deceased was using a big hammer and a pick, and had got pieces of chock loose, and was starting with the third when the stone fell.
How did it happen that the manager was drawing timber? It is rather unusual - He followed doing it, it seems.
Mr Hall explained that the colliery was a small one.
The coroner asked how many men were working at the coal face?
The witness said the place was stopped at present. The men had been on strike for more wages, and on the day of the accident there were no colliers down. There were three men men at work, the deceased, the witness and another man.
Mr Hall, said he understood that if there was one thing that Mr. Broome could do well it was drawing timber, and there was no doubt that on this occasion it was altogether an error of judgement on his part. He thought it was safe when it wasn't.
The coroner: " He was an experienced man?"
Mr Hall: " Yes, he was".
Several of the jurors expressed their appreciation of the deceased as being a very experienced and practical man.
The coroner said if ever there was a case that deserved the appellation of a pure accident he should think that was the case. It was as clear as possible that the deceased was an experienced man, and that he had been misled, or something had happened so that he could not forsee the accident.
The jury did not think it necessary to call any further evidence, and they returned a verdict of "Accidental Death".
This is taken from an entry in the Wigan Observer, March 6th 1901
THE DEATH OF A WELL KNOWN COLLIERY MANAGER
Mr S Brighouse, county coroner, held an inquiry at the Bird I'th Hand, Hindley on Monday afternoon into the circumstances concerning the death of Samuel Broome, 58 years of age, the general manager of the Amberswood Colliery, Hindley, who died at a quarter to seven on Friday evening of last week, in consequence of injuries received by a stone falling on him whilst drawing a chock in the No.1 Pit of the Amberswood Colliery on the previous Wednesday. Mr Hall, His Majesty's Inspector, was present and Mr Walker, mining engineer, represented the company.
Plans of the place where the accident happened were produced and it was explained to the jury that the road was finished, and the chock was being drawn for the value of the timber.
Joseph Broome, the son of the deceased, said his father, who lodged at 91 Wigan Road, Hindley was the general manager of the Amberswood Colliery, Hindley. He had been a certified manager since 1877. The witness last saw his father alive before the accident at two o clock on the Tuesday afternoon, the day before he was injured. The witness wasn't working on the day of the accident, and so didn't see him that day, and he was lodging in Ince and his father in Hindley.
After the accident the witness and his mother left him, about a quarter to seven to go for some tea, and on coming back about seven they found him dead. His father felt inclined for a little sleep before they left him, and he asked them to bring him a cup of tea, and when they took him the tea it was the furthest thing from their mind to think of finding him dead. They had turned the light down before leaving him, and when they returned witness's mother asked him to strike a light and light the gas. The mother at once said "I think there is something up" and got hold of the father's hand, and knelt on the bed. "Oh me", she said, "I think my husband is dead". Witness then lit the gas, and found that he was dead. The deceased was sensible from the accident up to the last. The last words he said about the accident was on Friday evening in the presence of the witness, the mother and Mr Atherton (the mine owner), who had made it his duty to call twice a day to see how was progressing. On Friday evening between five and six Mr. Atherton called, and he then said to Mr. Atherton and all present in the room that it looked singular, he should have met with his accident, because he took a chock out of the waste between the lower level and the level where he got hurt was far more difficult. To secure himself in taking that chock he had to build little stone packs, improvised packs for security. After that he came up the coal face, and said he thought he would take the other chock out, and then give over for the day. He had a prop in his hand, he said, thinking that if it was required he could set it, but when he got to the chock there were no cracks, nor breaks, nor slips, and, in fact no danger whatsoever, he said, and so he thought it was unnecessary to set the prop. In fact, it wasn't required, he said. It looked singular that the accident should have happened, he said, because he had no thought of anything of the sort. It was unforseen, he said, and it must have been the will of somebody far above their understanding. Those were practically the last words he said.
The Coroner: "Did he say anything that would lead you to think anybody was to blame?"
Witness: "No, far from it"
Questioned by Mr. Hall the witness said he knew the road where the accident happened. He worked close to the pit bottom, but he had been in the road many a time fetching drilling machines out. He was in the level a week before the accident.
Lawrence Bibby, a dataller, of 5, John Street, Wigan said that at a quarter to two on the day of the accident he was working close besides the deceased, who was in the act of drawing a chock of timber when a stone fell on him. Witness at once shouted for James Heaton, who came and assisted him to get the stone off him. The stone would be about 4 foot long, 3 foot wide, and 14 or 15 inches thick. The deceased complained of being hurt in his side, and witness went out as soon as possible for assistance, and returned with Robert Baron and William Turner. The stone fell upon him just as he was hitting the chock. Mr Broome knocked at the stone after he had drawn the two props, and he said it was all right and safe. The deceased was using a big hammer and a pick, and had got pieces of chock loose, and was starting with the third when the stone fell.
How did it happen that the manager was drawing timber? It is rather unusual - He followed doing it, it seems.
Mr Hall explained that the colliery was a small one.
The coroner asked how many men were working at the coal face?
The witness said the place was stopped at present. The men had been on strike for more wages, and on the day of the accident there were no colliers down. There were three men men at work, the deceased, the witness and another man.
Mr Hall, said he understood that if there was one thing that Mr. Broome could do well it was drawing timber, and there was no doubt that on this occasion it was altogether an error of judgement on his part. He thought it was safe when it wasn't.
The coroner: " He was an experienced man?"
Mr Hall: " Yes, he was".
Several of the jurors expressed their appreciation of the deceased as being a very experienced and practical man.
The coroner said if ever there was a case that deserved the appellation of a pure accident he should think that was the case. It was as clear as possible that the deceased was an experienced man, and that he had been misled, or something had happened so that he could not forsee the accident.
The jury did not think it necessary to call any further evidence, and they returned a verdict of "Accidental Death".
How researching the past brings news of the present
Whilst researching my family tree I have become very much closer to my present extended family. One of my cousins is also doing the tree and gave me the information of her branch of the family. She is on genes reunited, and through this we have found another cousin. We knew she existed, but had lost contact.
The irony is that this cousin lives 5 bus stops away from me in Haydock, nr St Helens, Merseyside. She is now in contact and asking around her family for information on their particular branch of the family. She has sent me one family photograph, which is now on the website.
Today I received an email from a lady called Sharon who is convinced she is related to me, through the Jones family in Rhosllanerchrugog - there is a lot of similar information but just one name that doesn't fit. She is so excited as she thinks she has found a long lost relative.
This could be a "find" for us as we thought there were no Jones's left. Will keep you posted.
Linda
The irony is that this cousin lives 5 bus stops away from me in Haydock, nr St Helens, Merseyside. She is now in contact and asking around her family for information on their particular branch of the family. She has sent me one family photograph, which is now on the website.
Today I received an email from a lady called Sharon who is convinced she is related to me, through the Jones family in Rhosllanerchrugog - there is a lot of similar information but just one name that doesn't fit. She is so excited as she thinks she has found a long lost relative.
This could be a "find" for us as we thought there were no Jones's left. Will keep you posted.
Linda
Coroners Inquest Information
Since I last wrote, re the death of my great great grandfather Samuel Broome, I have received an email from the Wigan Heritage Centre.
If I send them a cheque, they will send me the newspaper report of the coroners inquest and a copy of the obituary report.
For anyone doing any research in this area Wigan and District, this is a useful resource
Christine Watts
Heritage Officer (Local and family history),Wigan Heritage Service,The History Shop,Library St,Wigan WN1 1NU
When I get this information I will of course tell you about it on this blog.
Linda
If I send them a cheque, they will send me the newspaper report of the coroners inquest and a copy of the obituary report.
For anyone doing any research in this area Wigan and District, this is a useful resource
Christine Watts
Heritage Officer (Local and family history),Wigan Heritage Service,The History Shop,Library St,Wigan WN1 1NU
When I get this information I will of course tell you about it on this blog.
Linda
Pit accident killed great, great grandfather
My great, great grandfather Samuel Broome was born in Oldham in 1843 and spent all his working life as a miner.
On the 1881 Census we find him in Hasland, Derbyshire where he was a colliery manager.
His sons, my great grandfather, also Samuel Broome, his brothers Herbert and Joseph followed him down the mine, as did many of his grandsons.
On 27th February 1901, whilst colliery manager, at Amberswood No 1 Pit, Ince in Makerfield, Wigan, Lancs, great grandfather was injured from a fall of stone, he died on March 1st 1901 from his injuried aged 58 years.
The coroners inquest was on 4th March 1901, I would love to find out more about this accident and who was involved. As it involved less than 8 people it will not be classed as a disaster, there is little information about the pit itself, just that it was a privately owned pit and it was in Ince in Makerfield.
If anyone out there has any information on:
Amberswood Colliery, Ince in Makerfield
or how to obtain Coroners Inquest Reports from Lancashire 1901, I would be grateful to hear from them.
Linda.
On the 1881 Census we find him in Hasland, Derbyshire where he was a colliery manager.
His sons, my great grandfather, also Samuel Broome, his brothers Herbert and Joseph followed him down the mine, as did many of his grandsons.
On 27th February 1901, whilst colliery manager, at Amberswood No 1 Pit, Ince in Makerfield, Wigan, Lancs, great grandfather was injured from a fall of stone, he died on March 1st 1901 from his injuried aged 58 years.
The coroners inquest was on 4th March 1901, I would love to find out more about this accident and who was involved. As it involved less than 8 people it will not be classed as a disaster, there is little information about the pit itself, just that it was a privately owned pit and it was in Ince in Makerfield.
If anyone out there has any information on:
Amberswood Colliery, Ince in Makerfield
or how to obtain Coroners Inquest Reports from Lancashire 1901, I would be grateful to hear from them.
Linda.
Herbal Brewers
As a matter of course I went onto Ancestry to look at my great grandfather's family and saw a family tree of the Needham family of Chadderton Oldham, so being nosey had a look as to what connection they were to our Broome family.
I noticed they had got my great grandfather Samuel's birthplace down wrongly as Chesterfield in Derbyshire, which they had presumed from the 1881 Census that because the family lived there then, he was born there. So I thought this will have to be corrected so I wrote to the tree owner and told them he was born in Tyldesley, Lancashire and introduced myself and the Broome's.
The lady emailed back, her connection to the Broome's is through her great grandmother who's brother married Sarah Broome, the sister of my great, great grandfather Samuel Broome. It turns out that Sarah married Henry Hurdus in Oldham, and they lived there and became brewers of the finest sarsparella and ginger beer in Lancashire and the family were still manufacturing it well into the 1960's.
It's a co incidence that my nanna used to buy this sarsparella, sold in stone bottles, whenever the cart came around, and said it was the best ever. I will doubt whether she knew that the Hurdus family were related, i think she would have mentioned it had she knew.
It's good also to find a descendant of this family and to be able to communicate and learn more about our history.
I noticed they had got my great grandfather Samuel's birthplace down wrongly as Chesterfield in Derbyshire, which they had presumed from the 1881 Census that because the family lived there then, he was born there. So I thought this will have to be corrected so I wrote to the tree owner and told them he was born in Tyldesley, Lancashire and introduced myself and the Broome's.
The lady emailed back, her connection to the Broome's is through her great grandmother who's brother married Sarah Broome, the sister of my great, great grandfather Samuel Broome. It turns out that Sarah married Henry Hurdus in Oldham, and they lived there and became brewers of the finest sarsparella and ginger beer in Lancashire and the family were still manufacturing it well into the 1960's.
It's a co incidence that my nanna used to buy this sarsparella, sold in stone bottles, whenever the cart came around, and said it was the best ever. I will doubt whether she knew that the Hurdus family were related, i think she would have mentioned it had she knew.
It's good also to find a descendant of this family and to be able to communicate and learn more about our history.
Have been busy
I have been very busy. I decided to give in and take on the yearly Ancestry membership, as I was having to decide which relatives not to search for in the census's, now I can do them all, and also the time factors. If my pc went down and I ran out of time on a pay per view, you don't get refunded. It worked out cheaper, I reckon I have spent more than a year's membership on the pay per view.
How far have I got? Well the Jones's are nearly complete, but there are one of two names that I can't get any information on. But have had some lucky breaks.
I have decided now to do the other side of the family, my maternal great grandfather's family, I have some basic information but am now putting the pieces together.
Since I last blogged I also traced my late husband's family on his father's sides, no surprises there, all Liverpool born, 6 generations of house painters. As yet his mother's family remains a mystery. I may get round to that later.
On my maternal grandfather's side, I have pieced together quite a bit of information, even finding the one relative who I never thought I would find information for. Very strange how looking at one census can sometimes give a clue to other aspects.
So, all in all I have been a busy little genaeologist, I want to do some non internet geneaeology in our local library, looking through old newspapers to see if my family were involved in anything locally, look at obituaries and wedding notices etc., I also want to find some graves and need the information on that.
So if you don't hear from me for months, lol, I haven't disappeared I am researching. One of the graveyards is very old and knee high in grass, so I might have to borrow littlemarie19474's wellies lol.
See you soon.
How far have I got? Well the Jones's are nearly complete, but there are one of two names that I can't get any information on. But have had some lucky breaks.
I have decided now to do the other side of the family, my maternal great grandfather's family, I have some basic information but am now putting the pieces together.
Since I last blogged I also traced my late husband's family on his father's sides, no surprises there, all Liverpool born, 6 generations of house painters. As yet his mother's family remains a mystery. I may get round to that later.
On my maternal grandfather's side, I have pieced together quite a bit of information, even finding the one relative who I never thought I would find information for. Very strange how looking at one census can sometimes give a clue to other aspects.
So, all in all I have been a busy little genaeologist, I want to do some non internet geneaeology in our local library, looking through old newspapers to see if my family were involved in anything locally, look at obituaries and wedding notices etc., I also want to find some graves and need the information on that.
So if you don't hear from me for months, lol, I haven't disappeared I am researching. One of the graveyards is very old and knee high in grass, so I might have to borrow littlemarie19474's wellies lol.
See you soon.
Our Family Heroes - World War One
I have always gone to the cenotaph in my home town on Rememberance Sunday and always laid two wooden crosses for my nan's two cousins - Frederick Uriah Cook Jones and his brother James Jones, both killed in WW2.
This year was somewhat more poignant for after finding my grandad's family - we discovered a name on the cenotaph, one John Peters of the East Lancashire regiment, who was killed in Basra in 1916 - he was my granddad's cousin.Casualty Details
Name:
PETERS, JOHN
Initials:
J
Nationality:
United Kingdom
Rank:
Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service:
East Lancashire Regiment
Unit Text:
6th Bn.
Force:
-->
Age:
23
Date of Death:
05/04/1916
Service No:
11414
Additional information:
Son of John and Mary Peters, of 29, Bank St., Earlestown, Lancs.
Casualty Type:
Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:
Panel 19.
Memorial:
BASRA MEMORIAL
To view the certificate awarded click here
http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=1658621
I also discovered that one Harry Jones of the South Lancs Regiment, killed in France in 1917 was also a relation of mine. He is my great grandmothers, cousin.
Rememberance Sunday will be even more poignant now.
This year was somewhat more poignant for after finding my grandad's family - we discovered a name on the cenotaph, one John Peters of the East Lancashire regiment, who was killed in Basra in 1916 - he was my granddad's cousin.Casualty Details
Name:
PETERS, JOHN
Initials:
J
Nationality:
United Kingdom
Rank:
Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service:
East Lancashire Regiment
Unit Text:
6th Bn.
Force:
-->
Age:
23
Date of Death:
05/04/1916
Service No:
11414
Additional information:
Son of John and Mary Peters, of 29, Bank St., Earlestown, Lancs.
Casualty Type:
Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:
Panel 19.
Memorial:
BASRA MEMORIAL
To view the certificate awarded click here
http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=1658621
I also discovered that one Harry Jones of the South Lancs Regiment, killed in France in 1917 was also a relation of mine. He is my great grandmothers, cousin.
Rememberance Sunday will be even more poignant now.
New findings
I have traced my late husband's family back now 5 generations on his father's side. All was going well, no bother.
I am rather sad though tonight to find one of his great, great, great uncles, born in 1874 on the 1901 Census as an inmate in the Workhouse, only to die shortly after the census is taken age 47yrs. He was a married man, where his wife is is anyone's guess, i can't find a death for her. One of his sons is married in 1901 with a small baby, as to his daughters, anyone's guess.
It has made me quite sad to think that someone younger than myself could die in a workhouse.
Linda
I am rather sad though tonight to find one of his great, great, great uncles, born in 1874 on the 1901 Census as an inmate in the Workhouse, only to die shortly after the census is taken age 47yrs. He was a married man, where his wife is is anyone's guess, i can't find a death for her. One of his sons is married in 1901 with a small baby, as to his daughters, anyone's guess.
It has made me quite sad to think that someone younger than myself could die in a workhouse.
Linda
A breakthrough
It is surprising what one name can do.
From one name on a marriage certificate I was able to trace a whole family. Today from another name on a census, I traced another family.
My great, great grandparents Uriah Jones and Sarah Jones (Jones) married in 1874, one of their witnesses was Elizabeth Dickens. Elizabeth Dickens (Jones) was Sarah's sister, so from that one name I managed to trace Elizabeth and her husband and family.
Today, putting Elizabeth's family together, I did a search on one of her daughters, and wondered why the child was not on the 1881 census at the home of her parents, so clicked on her name and found her in Wigan, relationship to head of household niece. I thought hey what's happening here, looked at the list of people on the census at that address and found Mary Warren - to connect Mary to Elizabeth I needed to view the record on the census, Mary was indeed Elizabeth Dickens's sister, married to a John Warren. So from this one name I have almost completed one branch of the family.
It was a breakthrough I needed. I am so looking forward to the 1911 Census, it will reveal so much to complete what I know about these families.
So I am quite happy today. Hope for some more breakthrough's tomorrow.
From one name on a marriage certificate I was able to trace a whole family. Today from another name on a census, I traced another family.
My great, great grandparents Uriah Jones and Sarah Jones (Jones) married in 1874, one of their witnesses was Elizabeth Dickens. Elizabeth Dickens (Jones) was Sarah's sister, so from that one name I managed to trace Elizabeth and her husband and family.
Today, putting Elizabeth's family together, I did a search on one of her daughters, and wondered why the child was not on the 1881 census at the home of her parents, so clicked on her name and found her in Wigan, relationship to head of household niece. I thought hey what's happening here, looked at the list of people on the census at that address and found Mary Warren - to connect Mary to Elizabeth I needed to view the record on the census, Mary was indeed Elizabeth Dickens's sister, married to a John Warren. So from this one name I have almost completed one branch of the family.
It was a breakthrough I needed. I am so looking forward to the 1911 Census, it will reveal so much to complete what I know about these families.
So I am quite happy today. Hope for some more breakthrough's tomorrow.
A setback
I had an email from the register office to say that the marriage certificate I sent for, apparently my great, great grandparents was not them. The two names John Jones and Sarah Parish are on the register but not married to each other.
So back to the drawing board. shucks
Linda
So back to the drawing board. shucks
Linda
Another Discovery
My brother and I have been anxious to find out about our granddad. I have his birth certificate and knew he was born in 1904 in Wigan, Lancs. I knew he had the same name as his father. We have been searching in Wigan for ages now to found our great grandfather.
My brother had found a birth registered in Warrington for granddad's sister, 1908 and this was the lynchpin of finding out the name of our great-grandmother.
Quite by accident today, I typed in the name on the 1901 Census, no specific area in Lancashire and I thought here goes, let's see what we can find. I was to put it mildly gobsmacked.
I had never, ever given it a thought that my granddad's family could have lived in the same town as where we are now, and within a ten minute walk from where I am sitting now. Not only did I find great grandad, but his father too.
I could not believe what I was reading, I copied and pasted the details into an email, for later reference, and telephoned my mum, who was quite startled as I screeched, I've found them, great grandad and great great granddad. She thought I meant the Jones's and said something like I know you told me. Nooooooo I said, your dad's family and right here on our doorstep.
My brother is ecstatic now because at last we know something about granddad's family, up to now it has all been nan's family.
I couldn't resist using up my credits on ancestry to look at the occupations and addresses. It was well worth £1.50. In time I will send for the relevant documents, which will finally give us the full picture.
So I am in ecstatic mood, now I have found my Welsh Jones's and my great and great great grandad.
I think I now know who I am.
More on my discoveries next time.
My brother had found a birth registered in Warrington for granddad's sister, 1908 and this was the lynchpin of finding out the name of our great-grandmother.
Quite by accident today, I typed in the name on the 1901 Census, no specific area in Lancashire and I thought here goes, let's see what we can find. I was to put it mildly gobsmacked.
I had never, ever given it a thought that my granddad's family could have lived in the same town as where we are now, and within a ten minute walk from where I am sitting now. Not only did I find great grandad, but his father too.
I could not believe what I was reading, I copied and pasted the details into an email, for later reference, and telephoned my mum, who was quite startled as I screeched, I've found them, great grandad and great great granddad. She thought I meant the Jones's and said something like I know you told me. Nooooooo I said, your dad's family and right here on our doorstep.
My brother is ecstatic now because at last we know something about granddad's family, up to now it has all been nan's family.
I couldn't resist using up my credits on ancestry to look at the occupations and addresses. It was well worth £1.50. In time I will send for the relevant documents, which will finally give us the full picture.
So I am in ecstatic mood, now I have found my Welsh Jones's and my great and great great grandad.
I think I now know who I am.
More on my discoveries next time.
How do you find a Jones in Wales
How do you find a Jones in Wales? This was my task when I first started to look at the family of my Great Grandmother. My great grandmother was born in England, about 3 streets away from where I live now, in 1883. Though we can't find her birth anywhere in the official records, we do know she exists.
I went with my aunt to a nearby town, which was last known address of my great grandmother's parents. I didn't have any names but Jones and I thought there can't be that many. Well there was, and we spent a soggy afternoon going from grave to grave to see if anything inspired us. It didn't. We knocked at the vicarage and asked about parish records, but they sent us to a main town to the library.
I did find the marriage of my great grandmother and great grandfather in 1901 and found a name Uriah Jones. This was our start. Uriah Jones is an unusual name I thought we shouldn't have any problem. For a while I had other things to do, but this name remained in my mind and I knew I had to find out all about Uriah and his family.
One night I had a breakthrough - on another project, I was researching on the commonwealth war graves website and I thought, out of interest, lets see if I can find this relative of ours killed in World War Two. So I typed in F Jones, and what I found led me to get as far as I have in my quest to find the Jones's side of the family.
Frederick Uriah Cook Jones, was listed as killed, age 21 in 1942 - this was too uncanny I thought Uriah mmm let's look further, there it was son of William and Sarah Jane Jones and their town. That's him I said!! Later that week on our local town history website I saw there was a census for 1881 for my local town, so I thought here goes lets see if there are any Jones's. There were Jones's none I recognised - the a name hit me Uriah Jones, it can't be, can it?
I had indeed found Uriah, my great, great grandfather. Also on the census in the same street was Abel Jones - at the time no alert bells rang - but Abel is one of our family names. And in the space of one night I had found my great, great grandfather and a great, great, great grandfather (two different families).
Abel Jones was the father of Uriah's wife Sarah. From research into Uriah I have gone back two more generations and found the link. A village in Wales, not far from Ruabon and Wrexham, Rhosllanerchwrugog. It is there that I found most of our Welsh Jones's.
I knew I had made the right connection - my nan had spoken of her mother's connection to Ruabon, and I often wondered why my great, grandmother spoke and sang in both Welsh and English, despite being born in England. I now know, her father Uriah was born in Ruabon in 1843, his father John was born in Rhosllanerchwrugog in 1812 and his father Thomas also born in Rhosllanerchwrugog in the 1700's.
I also made another uncanny discovery - Uriah and Sarah, who married in 1874, were married in the same church that I married in, in 1986. Sarah died in 1908 and Uriah died the same month in 1910 that my nan, his granddaughter was born.
So, now I know you can find Jones's in Wales - two years ago we didn't know the names of any of our Welsh or English Jones's the family of my great, grandmother Emily. Now I feel I know them so well. I still need to find which one of them was known as Jones the Music as he performed to Her Majesty Queen Victoria - the piece of music he wrote is still played today.
I went with my aunt to a nearby town, which was last known address of my great grandmother's parents. I didn't have any names but Jones and I thought there can't be that many. Well there was, and we spent a soggy afternoon going from grave to grave to see if anything inspired us. It didn't. We knocked at the vicarage and asked about parish records, but they sent us to a main town to the library.
I did find the marriage of my great grandmother and great grandfather in 1901 and found a name Uriah Jones. This was our start. Uriah Jones is an unusual name I thought we shouldn't have any problem. For a while I had other things to do, but this name remained in my mind and I knew I had to find out all about Uriah and his family.
One night I had a breakthrough - on another project, I was researching on the commonwealth war graves website and I thought, out of interest, lets see if I can find this relative of ours killed in World War Two. So I typed in F Jones, and what I found led me to get as far as I have in my quest to find the Jones's side of the family.
Frederick Uriah Cook Jones, was listed as killed, age 21 in 1942 - this was too uncanny I thought Uriah mmm let's look further, there it was son of William and Sarah Jane Jones and their town. That's him I said!! Later that week on our local town history website I saw there was a census for 1881 for my local town, so I thought here goes lets see if there are any Jones's. There were Jones's none I recognised - the a name hit me Uriah Jones, it can't be, can it?
I had indeed found Uriah, my great, great grandfather. Also on the census in the same street was Abel Jones - at the time no alert bells rang - but Abel is one of our family names. And in the space of one night I had found my great, great grandfather and a great, great, great grandfather (two different families).
Abel Jones was the father of Uriah's wife Sarah. From research into Uriah I have gone back two more generations and found the link. A village in Wales, not far from Ruabon and Wrexham, Rhosllanerchwrugog. It is there that I found most of our Welsh Jones's.
I knew I had made the right connection - my nan had spoken of her mother's connection to Ruabon, and I often wondered why my great, grandmother spoke and sang in both Welsh and English, despite being born in England. I now know, her father Uriah was born in Ruabon in 1843, his father John was born in Rhosllanerchwrugog in 1812 and his father Thomas also born in Rhosllanerchwrugog in the 1700's.
I also made another uncanny discovery - Uriah and Sarah, who married in 1874, were married in the same church that I married in, in 1986. Sarah died in 1908 and Uriah died the same month in 1910 that my nan, his granddaughter was born.
So, now I know you can find Jones's in Wales - two years ago we didn't know the names of any of our Welsh or English Jones's the family of my great, grandmother Emily. Now I feel I know them so well. I still need to find which one of them was known as Jones the Music as he performed to Her Majesty Queen Victoria - the piece of music he wrote is still played today.
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