Mills in Farnworth area

[DottyR]

I'm new to this site so apologies, if this is not the correct place, or even the correct area to post this comment.

am wondering if the society or anyone has any details concerning the cotton mills that used to operate in the area, my ancesters, name Gallimore, were employed in the mills, in the mid 1880's?

thanks

[MaryA]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Could you please tell us where your ancestors were living and what years you have them on the censuses. There were not many cotton mills in Liverpool itself and I'm wondering if they lived either in the suburbs, perhaps the region of St Helens, or even further north in Lancashire, you may find this site helpful http://www.cottontown.org/Pages/default.aspx

[DottyR]

George Gallimore and family lived at Lane Ends, Farnworth, they are on all the Census's. In 1851 census, the family have been wrongly transcribed as Sallman.

He was married to Sarah Mather, 1832

Previously married to Mary Percival (1822/3), she died 1831.

George died 1861

[MaryA]

I've asked some body from our Leigh Group if they have any local knowledge.

Did you find that site useful?

[Glenys]

Farnworth is a district of Bolton which was in the centre of the cotton industry in the 19th and early 20th century. Manchester was known as 'cottonopolis' and there were thousands of mills all over the south of Lancashire at that time. I put Farnworth cotton mills into a search engine and it gave me a list of manufacturers mill in the area. www.spinningtheweb.org.uk gives a great deal of detail and you could try contacting www.boltonmuseums.org.uk. I’m not sure if you would find any list of employees as many have been destroyed. If you watched the drama "The Mill" you would have gained an idea of the conditions in the industry.

[Tina]

Baptism for George jr was in Farnworth 1.5.1846 father George weaver mother Sarah, address given as Widnes. Sarah must have been quite old when she had this little fella. Even older when John was born, 2yrs in 1851!!

[DottyR]

Thank you Glenis, yes I did watch The Mill, and am visiting Quary Bank Mill, next week. Believe it or not one of my ancestors was actually an 'Esther ' .

George Gallimore, my g g grandfather was quite a character, and had about 12/13 children.

[DottyR]

Thank you Tina, the family history of the Gallimore's is very complicated.

George and John Gallimore ( the 2 you mention), were actually grandsons, children of Alice Gallimore, daughter of George and his first wife Mary Percival. She died in 1831/2. Alice actually had 5 illegitimate children before marrying. George and Sarah, brought up George and John. John was my g grandfather. There had been other 'John's born, who sadly did not survive.

George senior was really quite good in looking after his family.

[steviebyday]

there where over a dozen mills in Farnworth, plus plenty more in the Bolton area.

[hatton65]

Farnworth was also in the township of Widnes, I,'m sure there was a Lanes End in theFarmworth area in Widnes, I have also read that there were some mills in widnes (if my memory serves me right they were sail cloth mills)?. In the 1851 census it states that George was born in Lancashire Widnes so I think you were looking in the wrong town. (forgive me if I am wrong). I looked at the lanes either side of this census and recognised Barrows Green and Moorfield Lane (now road).

Hope this is helpful

Andrea

[Fledge]

Farnworth used to be within the parish of Prescot, and I believe was known as 'Farnworth near Prescot'. By coincidence, I'm just trying to find my own family in St. Wilfrid's parish records (now St. Luke's), Farnworth.

[DottyR]

Yes that's right, I've been through those records many times. The burials only go up to 18something, but I contacted the 'online clerk' , and she was very helpful and found some if the burials for me.

Good luck, hope you find what you're after.

[Glenys]

I'm sorry, Dotty, that I sent you the details of the wrong Farnworth. I hadn't actually read your query and just presumed that you meant the Farnworth near Bolton. I should have realised about the other Farnworth near Widnes as my in-laws were married at St. Luke's Church, Farnworth and her mother's name was Percival. I haven't researched that line very much so I can't see a direct connection at the moment. I did find her family on a Public Search on Ancestry but haven't got in touch with that researcher yet.

[DottyR]

Glenys, what a coincidence, my gg grandmother was a Mary Percival! She married a George Gallimore in 1822 ( I think), she died in 1831/2, leaving George with 5 children. He married again in 1832 to a Sarah Mather, with whom he'd already had a child Samuel in 1822.

He and Sarah went in to have further children.

Hope to visit Farnworth and the church in next couple of days, have just arrived and staying in Hale, for few days, before visiting family in Yorkshire.

George was a weaver, and lots of his children also worked in the Milks, hence my interest.

[hatton65]

Dotty it might be worth taking a trip to widnes library if your staying in hale, they have lots of books on widnes in the very top part of the building. Jean Morris written some very good and interesting books on widnes in the past, i think one was call 'into the crussible' and another was 'when spring never came' they are very good and I learned alot about what happened and how people lived in widnes.

I make sure I take my phone to take pictures of the pages I'm interested in so I can look at the info at my own leisure when I get home so I don't have to take the books home, I'm sure you will find something of interest if you visit, the staff are lovely and will always help you too.

Farnworth has a lovely churchyard too, hope you find something to help you with family tree. Good luck!

Andrea

[DottyR]

Thank you Andrea, will try if we have time. Going to have a wander, look at house my mother was born etc, then def Farnworth churchyard.

[DottyR]

My father came from Warrington, he was a Bleasdale, his parents lived in Howley tannery cottages by the canal, no longer there tho.