Background information from 1841 census to 1901 census relating to Sankey Family Tree

Reuben Sankey (1836-1922)

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From the 1841 census I discovered that my great great grandfather Reuben (b.1836) was one of a family of 6 living in Duke Street East, Preston. His father was James (b.1792) and his mother Betty(b.1801). His father’s year of birth is calculated as 1795 from the 1851 census and by that census Reuben’s mother, Betty, is no longer alive. However, I think this is the same family because Reuben (or Rubin as his name was recorded) had 2 siblings whose details are correct on both the 1841 and the 1851 census. The 1841 census only has county of birth recorded, not the parish. However, from the 1851 census it appears that Rueben’s father James was born at what appears to be Iswcip in Lancashire. There is no such parish and the nearest alternative is Inskip. The only Sankeys in Lancashire who could be James’ father is a Thomas Sankey (1776) born at Winwick Lancs. The other Sankeys whose year of birth could match are in Shropshire, Kent  or Yorkshire all of which seem unlikely.

The 1841 census records Rubin having 4 siblings all aged 15! There names are Jane, Margaret, Alice and James. They are all registered as in employment, the girls as Cotton Weavers and James as a Cotton Piecer.  Accurate ages for children less than 15 years of age were required, but adults over 15 years old were put in bands grouping 5 years together. So Rubin’s siblings were aged between 15 and 19 at the time of the census on 6^th June 1841. There is a long gap between James the younger members of the household, Rubin (5) and Joseph (3). Why this might be I don’t know, unless the mother of the older children died and Betty was James’ second wife.   I need to go into the Lancashire Records Office to research this.

By 1851 great great great grandfather James(b.1792) was still living in Duke Street East. Living in the same household were his sons James(25) Rubin(14) and Joseph(12) and a lodger Christopher Gratham(26). James’ (b1792) occupation was recorded as ‘carter’. His sons James and Rubin as ‘piecer cotton’ and Joseph as ‘cueler cotton’. I am not sure what these last two term refer to or whether I have transcribed them correctly. At the age of 12 Joseph is already in the work place!

In the 1861 census Reuben(25) has set up home at 89 Abbey Village with his wife Esther (24) nee Gregory. They are living next door to Esther’s parents. Reuben and Esther now have 2 sons James (4) and David(2). Reuben is a ‘Spinner in Cotton Mill’.

By 1871 Reuben has moved to 53 Abbey Village and they have 2 more children Alfred (6) and Elizabeth(3). Esther’s 2 sisters Grace and Margaret appear to live next door at no. 54 but are recorded as lodgers under the Reuben’s headship.

In 1881 Reuben and family are at no. 59 Abbey Village with Grace and Margaret as part of the family. My great grandfather James(24) has left home. His brother David (22) is living in the family home with Alfred (16) and Elizabeth (13).

The 1891 census records Reuben and Esther as living at 1 South Terrace, Withnell. Elizabeth is the only child living at home. As well as Grace and Margaret they also have Esther’s two nieces living with them. Their names are Esther and Maria.(see below under Esther)

Reuben’s wife Esther died in 1897 so the 1901 census shows Reuben living with his daughter Elizabeth now aged 33 and with his sister-in-laws Margaret and Grace at no. 9 Dole Lane Withnell. Reuben and Grace are now retired and Elizabeth and Grace are both still ‘Cotton Winders’.

 

Esther Sankey (nee Gregory)(1838-1897)

 

From the 1841 census the Gregory family were living in Tockholes, Lancashire. Esther’s father Jonathan (b.1806) was married to Ellen (b.1811 in Tockholes). They had 4 children, Seth (7) Ellen and Sarah both aged 1. Esther aged 4 does not appear on the household list. Why this should be I don’t know. Living next door was another Gregory family presumably Jonathan’s younger brother with wife Peggy and children Margarit, James and John.

The Gregory family moved to Withnell in 1848 so by the census of 1851 (second page) they were living at 56 Abbey Mill with Esther (16) Ellen and Sarah (12) Grace (6) and Margaret (3). Jonathan’s occupation is given as Power Loom Weaver.

By 1861 Esther is married and living next door to her family who are now at 88 Abbey Village. Esther’s mother is not registered, I presume she has died, her father Jonathan has a house servant called Margaret(55). Ellen and Sarah are 21 followed by Grace (15) and Margaret (13). All are Power Loom Weavers like there father except Sarah whose occupation is given as a Warfier.

Jonathan has died by 1871 and Grace and Margaret are living next door to Rueben and Esther. Their children are listed under Rueben above.

In the 1891 census as well as Esther’s two sisters living with them they have her 2 nieces Esther (15) born in Bolton and Maria (10) born in Longworth. They are the youngest two children of Esther’s younger sister Ellen.  Ellen married Thomas Woodburn and they had three boys and three girls. The Woodburn family initially lived in Withnell as their first daughter (b.1865) was registered there. The other children were registered at Bolton. When their youngest was born they were living just outside Bolton at Longworth.

 

James Sankey (1857-1940)

 

            James left home in 1879 to marry Elizabeth Miller Holl. They lived at 7 Bolton Road Withnell. In the 1881 census they had Annie aged 4months. James’ occupation was recorded as Operative Cotton Spinner.

            By 1891 they had moved to 11 Park View Withnell and had two more children Reuben (9), my grandfather, and Elizabeth (4).

            In the 1901 census they have moved to 12 Bolton Road Withnell. Rueben has left home and they have another daughter, Edith (6) as well as Elizabeth (14). James is now a Cotton Spinner Overlooker.

 

Elizabeth Miller Sankey (nee Holl)(1851-1940)

 

            Elizabeth was born as the youngest daughter of Edward (b.1811) and Mary Ann (b.1817). She had a sister called Ann (b.1850). They lived at 6 Church Street, Kington Hertfordshire. Her father was a Whitesmith (Worker of tin and soft metal), her mother was a Milliner (Hat maker and decorator). In the 1851 census she was not yet born, but interestingly they lived next door but one to Edward Sankey and family. Edward was a plumber. It would be interesting to know if Edward was related to the Sankeys of Preston. As Edward Holl worked in soft metals I expect he did some lead pipe work, so they must have known each other well. I have written to an Edward Sankey still living in Kington to see if we may be related. In the 1861 census Elizabeth is aged 9.

            In the 1871 census Elizabeth appears to be working as a general domestic servant at 49 Bridge Street Kington. I was told that she came to work for John the school master at Abbey Village. We think John was related to the family through the Gregory side or through the Shropshire connection through Evans/Edwards/Davis  which is how she came to meet my great grandfather James. It was definitely not the Sankey side as I have searched for the name John Sankey to no avail.

            Elizabeth marries James in 1879 and they go on to have six children, two dying in infancy.

 

Ellen (Nelly) Sankey (nee Berry)(1885-1976)

 

            Ellen’s grandparents were John (b.1808) and Margaret (b.1811). In the 1851 census they were living at 19 Ribchester near Blackburn. John was registered as a Sander. They had William (17) a Carter, Mary (15), James – Ellen’s father (8), Alice (5), Ellen (3) and Thomas (2).

            James (b.1843) married Margaret Parr (b.1841). Margaret was the second child of Munich (b.1812) and Mary (b. 1817) Parr of 51 Cleaver Street Blackburn. In the 1861 census Munich and Mary had Margaret (19) John (13) Susan (7) Johanna (5) and Mary (2).

            In 1871 James and Margaret were living in 55 Back Street, Blackburn with children Munich(4) John(2) and Margaret (infant). James was recorded as a Labourer.

            In 1881 they now had seven children, the three above plus Mary(8), Elizabeth(7), James((4) and Nancy (3) and were living in 11 Main Buildings, Blackburn.

By 1891 James and family were living at 11 Beech Street. Munich (25) was a coal dealer along with his brother James (14), Mary and Elizabeth were 18 and 16 respectively, Nancy 13 and the youngest my grandma was 6. Interestingly her name was written as Nelly in inverted commas so perhaps she was always known as Ellen.

In 1901 census they had moved to 26 Beech Street. James had died and it was just Nancy(22) and Nelly (16) at home with their mother Margaret. Nancy and Nelly (now spelt Nellie) were both Cotton Winders.

Steve Sankey Feb 2007