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Clear thinking please

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 26 Mar 2025 08:59

Ann Grounds was baptised 7th November 1841, the illegitimate daughter of Jane Grounds

She is on censuses 1841-1861 but not with her mother

Cynthia

Cynthia Report 25 Mar 2025 21:00

Thank you once more. Cx

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 25 Mar 2025 20:38

A pleasure, Cynthia.

When I searched on LanOPC for marriages for George Fairhurst, the site offered the George Cotton marriage as a suggestion, due to the declared name of his ‘father’
I went from there………….


Mary’s marriage to Fairhurst is on LanOPC, so you can add her father to your tree

Her burial in 1866 is also on that site

Cynthia

Cynthia Report 25 Mar 2025 20:31

How on earth did you come to that conclusion ErikaH? I am impressed and very grateful. James had 2 sons whom he named Lawrence but both died as infants.

Many thanks to you and to ArgyllGran for your help. Cx

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 25 Mar 2025 19:24

Birth registrations are on LancsBMD with MMN, and, obviously, also on GRO with MMN

In 1891 the family are in Orrell

In 1851 George Cottom is in the Fairhurst household in Fleet Street, Pemberton

His baptism is on LanOPC, prior to his mother’s marriage to Fairhurst in 1839

In 1841 the family are in Back Row, Wigan
Lawrence died in 1849 aged 42…..per LancsBMD

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 25 Mar 2025 18:44

I think this is your answer......................

Marriage: 5 Oct 1861 St John the Divine, Pemberton, Lancashire
George Cotton - (X), 24, Coal Miner, Bachelor, Lamberhead Green, Pemberton
Ann Grounds - (X), 21, Domestic servant, Spinster, Leigh Cottage, Orrell
Groom's Father: Lawrence Fairhurst, Laborer in Coal Mine (deceased)
Bride's Father: Thomas Whalley, Carter
Witnesses: William Powers; Margaret Powers (X)
Married by Banns by A.Coates
Register: Marriages 1859 - 1870, Page 62, Entry 124
Source: LDS Film 1885637


1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census
16, Factory Street, Pemberton, Wigan, Lancashire, England
Ann Cottom Head Widow Female 40 1841 Charwoman Rainford, Lancashire, England
Margaret Ann Cottom Daughter Single Female 17 1864 Spinner in cotton mill Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Lawrence Cottom Son Single Male 16 1865 Coal miner Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Mary Cottom Daughter Single Female 13 1868 Domestic servant Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Jane Cottom Daughter Single Female 11 1870 Scholar Pemberton, Lancashire, England
James Cottom Son Single Male 9 1872 Scholar Pemberton, Lancashire, England
George Cottom Son Single Male 6 1875 Scholar Pemberton, Lancashire, England

1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Lamberhead Green, Pemberton, Wigan, Lancashire, England
George Fairhurst Head - Male 34 1837 Coal miner Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Ann Fairhurst Wife - Female 32 1839 - Rainford, Lancashire, England
Ann Fairhurst Daughter - Female 8 1863 Scholar Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Lawrence Fairhurst Son - Male 7 1864 Scholar Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Mary Fairhurst Daughter - Female 3 1868 Scholar Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Jane Fairhurst Daughter - Female 1 1870 - Pemberton, Lancashire, England
John Fairhurst Brother - Male 23 1848 Scholar Pemberton, Lancashire, England


Burial: 10 Apr 1874 St John the Divine, Pemberton, Lancashire
George Fairhurst -
Age: 37
Abode: Lamd. Green Pemberton
Buried By: W Sparrow
Register: Burials 1866 - 1874, Page 221, Entry 789
Source: LDS Film 1885640

Baptism: 31 Mar 1872 St John the Divine, Pemberton, Lancashire
James Cottam - [Child] of George Cottam & Ann
Born: 24 Feb 1872
Abode: Lamd. Green Pemberton
Occupation: Coal miner
Baptised By: Arthur Evans
Register: Baptisms 1860 - 1879, Page 262, Entry 2091
Source: LDS Film 1885635

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 25 Mar 2025 18:31

Thinking of an invented father - and DOBs aren't always correct i 1939 - or maybe he didn't know his correct DOB - or probably I'm grasping at straws -


???
FAIRHURST, JAMES THOMAS -
GRO Reference: 1871 M Quarter in WIGAN Volume 08C Page 51


James Thomas Fairhurst
in the Wigan, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1911
Name James Thomas Fairhurst
Birth Date 20 Feb 1871
Baptism Date 3 Mar 1871
Baptism Place Wigan, All Saints, Lancashire, England
Parish as it Appears Wigan
Mother Sarah Fairhurst


James I Fairhurst
in the 1871 England Census
Name James I Fairhurst
Age 1/12
Estimated Birth Year 1871
Relation Boarder
Gender Male
Where born Wigan, Lancashire, England
Civil parish Wigan
Ecclesiastical parish All Saints
Town Wigan
County/Island Lancashire
Country England
Registration District Wigan
Sub-registration district Wigan
ED, institution, or vessel 39
Household schedule number 78
Piece 3889
Folio 99
Page number 18
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Margaret Gibson 50 Head
John Gibson 9 Son
Sarah Fairhurst 20 Boarder
James I Fairhurst 1/12 Boarder


???
Marriages Dec 1874 (>99%)
Ainscow George Wigan 8c 56a
Fairhurst Sarah Wigan 8c 56a


Maybe James kept his birth surname, but pretended his stepfather was his father ???

However, he's not with George and Sarah in 1881, and I don't see him anywhere else:

Sarah Ainscow
in the 1881 England Census
Name Sarah Ainscow
Age 30
Estimated Birth Year abt 1851
Relationship to Head Wife
Spouse George Ainscow
Gender Female
Where born Wigan, Lancashire, England
Civil parish Wigan
County/Island Lancashire
Country England
Street Address 68 Spring Gardens
Marital Status Married
Registration District Wigan
ED, institution, or vessel 53
Neighbors
Piece 3770
Folio 100
Page number 12
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
George Ainscow 41 Head
Sarah Ainscow 30 Wife
Elizabeth Ainscow 13 Daughter
Alice Ainscow 8 Daughter
Emily Ainscow 6 Daughter
Maggie Ainscow 4 Daughter
John Ainscow Son


ADDED -

No. This child died.
Sarah's address at marriage was Top Croft.

James Fairhurst
in the Wigan, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1979
Name James Fairhurst
Age 5
Birth Year abt 1871
Burial Date 27 Mar 1876
Burial Place Wigan, All Saints, Lancashire, England
Parish as it Appears Wigan

Address: Top Croft.

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 25 Mar 2025 18:31

LanOPC has a burial in Pemberton in 1874 of a 37-year-old George

1871 has George aged 34, with, among others’ a daughter named Jane

Lawrence Fairhurst c1864 is one of the others. He married in 1887 and named his father as George (deceased)

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 25 Mar 2025 18:24

He may not have existed

LanOPC doesn’t have a baptism for James, and there were no penalities for not registering births until1875

Cynthia

Cynthia Report 25 Mar 2025 18:04

Thanks.......Maybe George just doesn't want to be found......sigh. :-D

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 25 Mar 2025 17:39

Another Fairhurst/Darbyshire possibility :

[EDIT: BUT NO, his father's name was John. I'll leave it for elimination purposes.]

[EDIT again - AND in fact this is probably the Chorley man mentioned above by ErikaH.]

James Faihurst
in the 1881 England Census
Name James Faihurst [Fairhurst]
Age 9
Estimated Birth Year abt 1872
Relationship to Head Son
Mother Ellen Faihurst
Gender Male
Where born Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Civil parish Pemberton
County/Island Lancashire
Country England
Street Address 9 Church St
Occupation Scholar
Registration District Wigan
ED, institution, or vessel 11
Neighbors
Piece 3780
Folio 67
Page number 17
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Ellen Faihurst 32 Head
Ann Faihurst 12 Daughter
Ambrose Faihurst 10 Son
James Faihurst 9 Son
Pheobe Faihurst 7 Daughter
John Faihurst 4 Son
William Faihurst 1 Son


For Ellen's maiden name:
FAIRHURST, AMBROSE mmn DARBYSHIRE
GRO Reference: 1870 S Quarter in WIGAN Volume 08C Page 102


Ambrose Fairhurst
in the 1871 England Census
Name Ambrose Fairhurst
Age 7/12
Estimated Birth Year 1870
Relation Son
Gender Male
Where born Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Civil parish Pemberton
Ecclesiastical parish Pemberton
Town Lamberhead Green
County/Island Lancashire
Country England
Registration District Wigan
Sub-registration district Pemberton
ED, institution, or vessel 9
Household schedule number 52
Piece 3895
Folio 94
Page number 11
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
John Fairhurst 24 Head - Billinge, Lancs
Ellen Fairhurst 22 Wife
Ann Fairhurst 2 Daughter
Ambrose Fairhurst 7/12 Son


Marriages Sep 1868 (>99%)
Derbyshire Ellen Wigan 8c 118
FAIRHURST John Wigan 8c 118


John is listed in the 1881 census, with the family, but then scored out, though Ellen is "married".
In 1881, John is boarding with the Baines family in Oldham - listed as married.
1891 and 1901, John is back with Ellen and the family.

The son James is with his parents in 1891, but not 1901, which would fit - but wrong father!

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 25 Mar 2025 17:01

There’s one James in 1891 with birthplace Pemberton who has a BROTHER George.
Perhaps he was confused……

Who witnessed the 1894 marriage?

EDITED.

As per LanOPC site, witnesses were Roger Shepherd and Jane Fairhurst. Groom’s address was 26 Church Street, Pemberton…no help, as he wasn’t there in 1891

There is a James in Chorley in 1891 with a sister Jane, but father’s name is John, and that man was alive in 1901

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 25 Mar 2025 16:54

‘Deceased’ fathers were sometimes invented.

Cynthia

Cynthia Report 25 Mar 2025 16:40

I would appreciate some clear thinking on this family.

Mary Fairhurst was born in 1906 in Pemberton, Wigan. She was the daughter of James Fairhurst and Sarah Jane (nee Shepherd). No problem there.

Onto her father, James. On his wedding certificate dated 1894, he gives his father's name as George (deceased) with no occupation.

There are 4 deaths with the name George Fairhurst between 1871 and 1894.

On the 1901 and 1911 census, James gives his birthplace as Pemberton - I am unsure of the 1881 and 1891. On the 1939 register, his date of birth is 15th February 1872.

There are 2 with the name James Fairhurst born in Wigan in 1872 - MMNs Whalen and Darbyshire. However, I simply cannot find his father, George.

The only Fairhurst/Darbyshire marriage in the time frame is of William Fairhurst and Mary Darbyshire.

The only Fairhurst/Whalen marriage is John Fairhurst and Catherine Whalen in1906 - way too late.

Is there a re-marriage somewhere?
Is there a spelling error?
Has James forgotten his father's name?

I am at the stage of not seeing the wood for the trees!

If someone could find the correct George Fairhurst, I would be grateful. Thank you.

Cx