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Worsley, Lancashire

William Staveley (b. 1807) was the eldest son of George Staveley and Dorothy WRAY of Aysgarth, Yorkshire.  William married Bridget REGAN February 28, 1829 in Marske, Richmond, Yorkshire.  Their first child Mary was baptized in Marske in October that same year.  In 1841 William and Bridget are living in Horwich with five children. None of their eldest five children are residing at home in 1861.  Unfortunately, the census was so heavily damaged by flood that this family has not been located in 1851.

1861: 88 Bolton Rd, Pendleton, Lancashire, England

Although some of William and Bridget's children are not listed in the household in 1861, we do know something of their whereabouts.  Son George Staveley was born in Chorley in 1832, and married Sarah MOSS in 1854 at Eccles, St. Mary's.  George is living in Salford in 1871, but moves to Wales and is found living in Cardiff by 1881.  George died in Cardiff, Wales in 1900. 

William's son John was born about 1838 in Horwich. John was a bookbinder by trade, and married Elizabeth SEDDON May 27, 1858 at Eccles, St. Marys.  John and Elizabeth are living in Salford in 1861, but have relocated to Burnley by 1871. 

William and Bridget's daughter Dorothy (b. 1842), also born in Horwich, married James KNIGHT at Eccles, St. Mary's in 1862.

Daughter Emma married Thomas GRUNDY in 1870 in Salford.  John and Dorothy's birthplace of Horwich suggest that a careful examination of the Horwich parish registers may reveal some of the other 'missing' children for this family.

Son Thomas was born in 1840 in Horwich, and married Sarah Ann HARLOW in Salford in 1861.  He is found residing with his new in-laws in 1861 in Worsley:

1861: Swinton North, Worsley, Lancashire, England

The following year, an interesting item appeared in the Guardian newspaper:

1871: Burying Lane, Worsley, Lancashire, England

Thomas and Sarah Ann's eldest daughter, Ada, is found residing with her maternal Grandparents just up the street in 1871:

1871: Burying Lane, Worsley, Lancashire, England

Thomas and Sarah appear to have divorced by 1877.  Sarah had married a William HORROCKS by that time, and in 1881 is found residing with her new husband, and the Staveley children in Salford.  Although Thomas was not located in the 1881 census, he is clearly was not deceased in 1881, as he is later found residing with his brother William in 1891 in Ancoats, Lancashire.

1871: Partington Lane, Worsley, Lancashire, England

***There is a notation for Jane in the last column of the enumerator's record that reads "blind from weakness", and the GRO index shows that Jane died during the March quarter of the following year (1872) aged 19 years.

William and Bridget's son William (b. 1844) married Caroline SCHOFIELD at Manchester St. John in 1867 and are residing in Prestwich in 1871.

Son James (b. 1846) married Mary Ann GATWARD and is living in Barton Upon Irwell in 1871.

Son George referred to above is living with his wife Sarah Moss in Salford in 1871:

1871: 11 Hallon St., Pendleton, Salford, Lancashire

George's given birthplace of Chorley agrees both with the baptism record found for George Slavely in 1832, and with the 1841 census for Horwich.  The spelling of Slavely in the christening record is presumed to have been an error in the parish register.  Prior to the next census in 1881, George and Sarah move to Wales.  It is interesting to note here that George's brother John (b. 1838) was also recorded as a bookbinder by trade in 1871, and is found living in Burnley during the time of that census.

William and Bridget's son Thomas is still residing in Worsley in 1871:

1871: Burnfing (?) Lane, Worsley, Lancashire, England

By 1877 it appears that Thomas and Sarah Ann must have divorced.  Thomas is found residing with his brother in 1891 in Ancoats, so he is not deceased.  However, in 1881, Thomas' former wife Sarah has clearly remarried a William HORROCKS, and the Staveley children are found living in the Horrocks household in 1881 in Salford.

William and Bridget's daughter Sarah married James CROSSLEY January 1, 1875 at St. Peter's, Swinton.

William (b. 1807) died in 1881 before the census was taken.  At the time of his death he was reported as a resident of 105 Partington Lane in Worsley, and was buried at St. Peter's.

1881: 105 Partington Lane, Worsley, Lancashire

Bridget died the following in 1882 and was also buried at St. Peter's.

In 1881 William's nephew John NELSON is found living on Moorside Lane in Worsley.  John is the son of William's sister Dorothy (b. 1810) who was last found residing in New Cross, Lancashire.

1881: 99 Moorside Lane, Worsley, Lancashire

1891: 205 Moorside Road, Worsley, Lancashire

John is transcribed as Thomas in 1891. Perhaps a middle name? By 1901 he is recorded as John again.

1901: 205 Moorside Road, Worsley, Lancashire

By 1911 we find this family residing in Gorton.

There is evidence of a separate Staveley family line residing in Worsley and Ince as early as 1771. The records of Ellenbrook Chapel show that a child, Robert Staveley, was baptised on April 28, 1771 to parents Adam and Mary Staveley.  Adam's occupation was recorded as miner in the parish register.  Unfortunately, Adam's birth and marriage records have not been located, so his origins are presently unclear.  Perhaps a brother of Robert (b. 1771), William Staveley, a weaver by trade, married an Esther (nee?) and had the following children in this parish:

William and Esther's daughter, Sarah, is recorded in the parish register as having an illegitimate daughter, b. May 26, 1816.  The reputed father was named as Thomas ASTLE.  It is unknown what became of either Sarah, or her daughter, as neither has been conclusively located in the census records.

Sarah's brother, Robert, married Betty BERRY (Ann?) in Eccles in 1815 and had the following children in this parish:

*No baptism record has been found for James, but he is recorded in the household in 1841.

Robert is listed in the 1841 census in Worsley as follows:

1841: Edge Fould, Worsley, Lancashire, England

1851: Edge Fold, Worsley, Lancashire, England

Robert's daughter Ann married John BURY at Eccles St. Mary's in 1845.  It is unknown how Ann came to be widowed at such a young age.

It is interesting to note that in 1861 Robert's daughter Mary is listed with her maiden name, and yet in 1851 she is listed as GASKILL and married:

1861: St. Peters, Swinton, Lancashire, England

Robert died in 1863 at Edge Fold, Worsley. Robert's youngest son James first married an Elizabeth HALL.  James and Elizabeth Hall's son William (b. 1852) is found residing with his grandmother, Jane Johnson, in 1861 (see below).  James' second marriage was to an Elizabeth BLACKMORE, and they are found residing in Ince in 1861:

1861: 11 Monton St., Barton Upon Irwell, Lancashire

James and Elizabeth's son William (b. 1852) married Jane WROE in 1876 at St. Peters, Swinton, Lancashire and are living in Worsley in 1881.

1881: 6 Moorside Lane, Worsley, Lancashire, England

William and Jane's son Richard died in 1882 at the age of 5 years. 

1891: 69 Wellington Road, Worsley, Lancashire, England

1901: 72 Wellington Road, Worsley, Lancashire, England

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