Harriet Parkinson (GG Grandmother)

Many thanks to David Wilson (david_wilson2@btconnect.com) for this information on my Parkinson ancestors - Harriet Parkinson b.1845-d.1936 was my GG grandmother, she married Joseph Meredith Foxley b. 1847 (GG grandfather).
Their daughter Elsie Foxley b.1882 (G grandmother) married Jim Faulkner b.1873 and were the parents of my gran Freda Faulkner.


Dear Barbara

I've just come across your website and see that you are related to Harriet Parkinson, born 1845 in Wrenbury. Harriet was the sister of my gg grandfather Thomas Parkinson.

You might be interested in my website below, which tracks the Parkinsons back 3 more generations.

http://www.wilsonfamilytree.net/parkinsonlineage.asp

The Parkinsons were tenant famers in Wrenbury. I'm still building my website so all the info I have is not on there but I do have quite a few more details including info on the exact fields they farmed -here's a link to e-maps of Cheshire which show the fields that were farmed by Thomas Parkinson in Wrenbury Heath.

http://www.wilsonfamilytree.net/parkinsonfamily.asp

I live quite close to Wrenbury and so I've had a chance to drive by the site. The farmhouse doesn't exist any more. Indeed, there are houses now on both sides of the road where Thomas farmed. The fields on the Wrenbury-Ravensmoor Road are still farmland though. If you type Parkinson in to the map search function you'll also find Thomas's sons Samuel and James were also living in Wrenbury Heath at that time. Samuel was renting a house and a couple of fields whilst James was living with another family a few hundred yards away from Thomas.

What I can tell you is that the Parkinsons as a family lived in Wrenbury until about 1900, by which time, for various reasons, they all moved out of the area. My g.g.grandfather Walter Parkinson (Harriet's nephew) left in the 1890s and ended up as a railway station master in Bangor, N.Wales. My grandfather, Bruce was born in N. Wales but eventually moved to Manchester, which is where I was born (the fact that I live in Crewe only 8 miles or so from Wrenbury is a coincidence).


My mother always used to tell me that the Parkinsons were "gentleman farmers"" (her words) and certainly the early generations were tenant farmers. However, the later censuses show them merely as agricultural labourers so I assume at some point the farm tenancy was lost. I guess that's why they all evetually left the area.
One story my mother always used to tell me was that one of the Parkinsons was known as "Mad" Parkinson - something about him riding round the neighbourhood on a horse threatening people. The story is very sketchy and my mum is unfortunately no longer with us. I'd be interested to know though, whether your father passed down any stories on how the Parkinsons lived or what they were like.


Kind regards

David Wilson

Old Tom Cowley

Many thanks to Sylvia for sharing this image of Old Tom Cowley with us...photo shows Tom with his family at the Willows in Mawdesley.

Sylvia goes on to say that she checked his address on the census, "and it is our Tom Cowley, brother of Everilda." Many more images of old Mawdesley can be viewed here: click on "Local History" on the left, then on "Old Photographs"

daughter of Edward & Dortothy (Cowell) Ainscough

On 20 Nov 2010, at 18:06, Anita Smith wrote:

Hi Barbara,
I have enclosed a photo of Elizabeth Ann Ainscough daughter of Edward Ainscough and Dorothy Cowell,
Edward and Dorothy are the grt grt grt grandparents of my husband John Francis Smith we live in Conwy North Wales,
If you want any more information let me know,
Regards Anita Smith

Hi Anita
Thank you for the image, I have added it to the flickr Ainscough collection. It is great to build up a fuller picture of this family. More detail can be found on this blog at:
http://ainscough-familyhistory.blogspot.com/2007/03/edward-dorothy-ainscough-mawdesley.html
Edward is the grandson of James b.1756, who was brother to my ancestor John (who married Margaret Worthington) and Hugh (liqour merchant), of Ormskirk (d.1813).

If you have any census detail, trees or other researched information connected to this family that you feel might benefit others then please forward to me so that I can add it to the box. net facility on the blog.
regards
B

Wrightington - Speakman - Ainscough links

The PDF (guessed Speakman connections) of the tree above can be downloaded from box.net on the right.

On 16 Aug 2010, at 17:35, Tom Massam (tvmassam@yahoo.co.uk) wrote:

Dear Barbara,
Please could you help me or point me in the direction of someone who knows a lot about the Wrightington / Speakmans.
I am looking for the family of Esther Speakman. She married Henry Massam on 4th March 1810, in Scarisbrick with witnesses Henry Dobson, Mary Speakman and Helen Speakman. I know that Esther died in 1813, and her infant son James Massam was taken by an aunt to live with his grandfather (Speakman) in Wrightington. The source did not specify whether the aunt was married or was an aunt by marriage.
I speculate that Esther's parents were Thomas and Ann Speakman and that Esther had sisters Mary (born 1787 - 1791), Elizabeth (born 1782 - 1786) and Dorothy (born 1792 - 1796) so I am searching for birth records of Esther and these ladies - but in spite of scanning many church registers I have not found a record of their births.
Reasons for the speculation:

1. Thomas and Ann were active as godparents in the RC parish of Scarisbrick (1785 - 1787) at a time which would correspond to them being a young married couple at the guessed time of Esther' birth and in the years just before the births of Mary Elizabeth and Dorothy.

2. Mary Elizabeth and Dorothy Speakman were living together at Wrightington Coal Gate in the 1841 census.

3. On 26 Aug 1782, a Thomas Speakman of Dalton married Ann Bullen of Holland at Wigan All Saints (Maybe a repeat marriage following a private RC marriage?).

4. There was a large Bullen family in Scarisbrick.

Another possible connection: Esther's son James Massam became an RC priest and was the first parish priest of Longton near Stoke. Was his vocation influenced by a relative? The 1861 census records Ann Speakman, born in Wrightington 1796/7 as Prioress of St. Dominice priory at Hurst Green. The Dominican records say "Professed at Hartbury Court May 6 1829 Sister Ann Mary Luisa Speakman born 13 March 1797".
Thanks for any help you can give and I hope they fit in with your Speakmans.
Tom Massam, of Scarisbrick. (Cousin of Andrew Scarisbrick).

On 17 Aug 2010, at 11:22, Andrew Scarisbrick wrote:

Hi Barbara
Long time since we've spoken. I hope you are keeping ok.
And Hi Tom... talk about small world. I don't have anything definite to add, but the speculation does seem logical. Plus I maybe have another coincidence in this.
There was another marriage at Wigan All Saints, 1st Feb 1779, between James Speakman of Dalton and Margaret Bullen "of Rightington" (their spelling). Possibly two Speakman brothers marrying two Bullen sisters?
Regards for now,
Andrew

On 17 Aug 2010, at 13:33, Andrew Scarisbrick wrote:

Hi Barbara
Not to confuse you too much, Tom, but I have found another Bullen marriage at Wigan, All Saints, that may interest you. On the7th of March 1791, William Fairclough of Upholland married Mary Bullen of Lathom, witnesses Robt Bullen and John Holt. Their children were baptised at St. James RC, Upholland/Orrell. Their son, Hugh, married Catherine Speakman, daughter of Joseph Speakman and Susannah Ainscough, and Veronica may be interested in these Faircloughs!
Andrew

Harrock Hall - Rigby Link

On 25 Oct 2010, at 05:04, Stephen Pitman (stephen.pitman@gardline.com) wrote:

Dear Barbara
I stumbled upon your website about the Ainscoughs of Harrock Hall when I was doing my own research on my mother's side, the RIGBYES or now RIGBYS.
We have extensive references to afew of our family sirnames, namely Marsden, Rigby, Worthington, Dandye to Parbold, Douglas Chapel where they had pews. An exerpt from 'Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire Vol XLVII.' is copied below with reference to the Rigbys of Harrock. You can also search online for the book by googling it. Do you have any other information on the Rigbys of Harrock, Peter Rigbie de Lathom, or a Tomas Marsden? It seems they were there quite a long time ago. Do you also know how the Ainscoughs aquired Harrock? Would it have been from one of your ancestors marrying Eleanor Rigbye for example, who was left the estate?

I hope to hear from you soon, and hope the information below is helpful to yourself as well.
Kind regards
Stephen Pitman

Historical Notes on Douglas Chapel. 215
... There were a few old oak benches and pews in the chapel, having initials, and dates of the first half of the seventeenth century, notably one with the name ** Nicholas Rigbye" and a date carved upon it. This was in the south-east comer, and was always occupied by the family residing at Harrock Hall." The Parbold Hall pew adjoined this one. The chapel was absolutely devoid of any coats of arms, tablets, brasses, or monuments relating to the founders or any local families, and the inference is that at the time of the Reformation anything of this sort which may have existed was destroyed and ruthlessly swept away. The edifice, as it stood at the time of its demolition, consisted of a plain rectangular nave without M These galleries were built during the incumbenqr of the Rev. John Johnson. — Frivaii papers of Rev. John Price.
« Harrock Hall was in the possession of the Rigbye family anterior to the fifteenth century. The family continued in the male line until the death of Thomas Rigbye, Esq., who in 1775 <^evi8ed Harrock Hall and other estates to his sister Eleanor Rigbye for her life, with remainder to his nephew, the Rev. John Baldwin, M.A., Rector of North Meols, who, in compliance with bis uQC^'s wiUf^tfsumed the surname and arms of Rigbye.— GaslreU's HctUia. Wikipedia - Saint John Rigby - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rigby_(martyr)

On 15 Oct 2010, at 09:40, Noeline Smith (noeline.smith@hotmail.co.uk) wrote:

Hello,
I stumbled across your 'Blogspot' whilst carrying out my own family research. I am not related to you - but found your site very interesting nonetheless!
I believe that I could be descended from the Rigbys of Harrock Hall and it was whilst lookng for information on that that your site cropped up. I have worked my way back to the mid 1600s and although I don't yet have positive proof it is looking very promising.

I have been trying to read the article entitled "Going back to their roots" but the resolution is not fine enough to read on line so I wondered if you would mind very much sending me a copy as it seems to say something about the Rigbys. Also, if you have any other information regarding the Hall (or possibly the Rigbys?!) would you be happy to share that with me or perhaps point me in the right directon. I live near Salisbury, Wiltshire so that makes things a little more tricky - something that's obvious to a 'local' is easily overlooked!
Many thanks,
Noeline Smith (nee Rigby)

On 29 Oct 2010, at 09:29, JOHN COBHAM wrote:

Stephen,
Regarding your enquiry re Harrock Hall & Ainscough/Rigby connection.
Bill Ainscough purchased Harrock Hall from Sir Peter Moores, who owns a lot of the land  around Wrightington & Parbold several years ago & until Bill aquired it it was pretty much run down. PM himself never lived there, he lives at Parbold Hall. So there is no connection between the Ainscoughs & Rigbys. There is a connection with Harrock & St John Rigby, Martyred in the 16th century & each year a Mass is said in the barn at Harrock Hall to commemorate him. I think Eccleston parish church has some records of the old Rigbye family but I couldn't be sure.
Regards
John Cobham

St.Olav Wirral Viking Walk: Saturday July 31st

St. Olav, the “Viking Saint” is the Patron Saint of Scandinavia, and the walk celebrates St. Olav’s day. 13 miles. Good standard of fitness required.
Pilgrims/walkers are also welcome to join in for just part of the walk! – such as the first bit from Neston to Burton, or the last bit across Chester.

Route: Start Church of St. Mary and St. Helen, Neston 9.30am
Via: Burton, Puddington, Shotwick, Welsh Border, Blacon, Chester Canal
End: St. Olave’s Church, Lower Bridge Street, Chester
All walkers/pilgrims come at their own risk and MUST register (free) with the Grosvenor Museum Chester: 01244 402005 or email steve.harding@nottingham.ac.uk

The walk will be led by Norway’s St. Olav Pilgrim Priest

Click here for more information:

Anecdotes from Fairhurst Hall, Parbold

Anthony Travis (ant.travis@gmail.com) shares this amusing anecdote to the Fairhurst Hall story.......
When my father, George Travis, retired in about 1977 he handed all his business suits to his full time gardener. By coincidence it happened that the gardener, a retired coal miner and local Parbold man, was called Matthew Fairhurst. He was known by us as Matt.
Matt took to wearing my father's old suits when working in the grounds at Fairhurst and was often joined by my father, who wore very old and well worn outdoor clothes when they were clearing the leaves, mowing the lawns and generally keeping things in good trim.
Visitors who were unfamiliar with the Hall, which is only visible when one is already well down the drive, would sometimes stop and ask Matt, who was of course the better dressed of the two gardeners, the way to Fairhurst and where to park their car. Matt would reply that he was Mr Fairhurst and point them in the right direction. Naturally the visitors assumed that Matt was the owner.
This confusion was a source of great amusement particularly when the visitors, on meeting my father in the Hall to discuss the purpose of their visit would insist on meeting the owner rather than the gardener.

By the way, when Dr and Mrs Tom Rigg sold Fairhurst Hall they built the house on the land just behind the large stone built barn that is to be found at the southern end of the estate and at the bottom of the main drive.
Tom was a well known and successful pigeon fancier and kept his flock of pigeons in the barn next door to their house. On many occasions he could be seen with a tennis racquet hitting tennis balls high into the sky at the pigeons as they wheeled in circles above the barn. He explained that this technique was to train the pigeons to fly at a good height.
Such was country life!

Being a doctor Tom Rigg was able to treat and sew up wounds suffered by his racing pigeons when they returned from their long flights home. I would sometimes join him and hold the pigeons while he operated on them. They were wonderful creatures. Tom and his wife were the most genial and interesting neighbours one could wish for and helped make Fairhurst a fascinating place to live.
One final point. Did you know that the Hall is haunted? That of course is another story for another time but I can say that I and others were sometimes woken by the sound of strange and unexplained footsteps in the night!
Kindest regards
Anthony

More about Fairhurst Hall, Parbold

• Images show Fairhurst Hall prior to when the part of the right was demolished by Tom Rigg in the early Fifties.
• The 3 pg article appeared in the latter part of the 1960's when the Maiden's lived at Fairhurst and not long before the Travis family acquired it in 1967.
• The Maidens moved to Birkdale, Southport.
• The south facing side of Fairhurst Hall in all its glory during a cold but sunny winter afternoon sometime in the 1980's. Going clockwise from the lower two left hand windows was the dining room, the next two windows to the right with the front door between them was the hall. That front door used to be a window before the Fifties, but before the later 19th century addition to the house was built and subsequently demolished by Tom Rigg, it was the old front door of the Queen Anne house that still remains and was the original Hall. The upper two right hand windows were the spare bedroom, the single window to their left was my bedroom and the two windows to the left were my father-s dressing room and the two upper windows on the left were my parents- bedroom.
• And one from the air at around noon on a hot summer's day sometime in the 1980's.
• Until the mid 1980's there was a large rose bed where the lawn is before the front door. This was removed when the house flooded in 1982 following a sudden downpour when the stream running through the woods above the house and below Parbold Hill overflowed and swept through the garden and covered the Hall's ground floor with mud!

On 13 Jul 2010, at 11:00, ant.travis@gmail.com wrote:

Dear Boobelle
I enjoyed seeing the old Ainscough family photographs on your blog. I knew some of your family back in the 1960's when I lived at Fairhurst Hall.

Martin and May Ainscough and John and Margie Ainscough each lived just up the road from us and John and Margie Ainscough's kids and I were great friends playing tennis at their house on Sunday afternoons and frequently gathering at the Windmill Arms to play tippit and other pub games on Friday evenings with the locals and gang of close friends. I also knew Ossie Ainscough at Casterton Hall. I recall him as a rather fearsome character unlike Martin and John who were the most charming, friendly and welcoming old fellows. Ossie had a daughter (who's name a cannot remember for the time-being). She was quite a character! I particularly remember with great affection Tony, Ruth and Chrissie Ainscough (three of John and Margie's many kids). Please feel free to remember them to me if you are in touch with any of them.
Fairhurst Hall was a wonderful family home.

I don't have any old photos of the Ainscough family but I know who probably does. He's called Richard Lewis who to lived in Parbold in the Sixties and now lives in Shropshire. I think he bumped into Tony Ainscough in Burscough some time ago so may have passed on some memorabilia of the large get togethers we had on long summer Sunday afternoons to play tennis at John and Margie's house. We also used to play croquet on the lawn at Fairhurst.
I probably do have some old photos of Fairhurst somewhere and will try to dig them out and send them to you. The photo you have on your blog was made prior to the extensive changes made by Dr Tom Rigg in the early Fifties where the "newer" part of the house to the right of the photo (where the front door was) was demolished leaving the older part to the left intact. My parents, George and Diana Travis, bought the house in 1967 and renovated it making substantial changes to the interior.
Well beforehand my mother used to play bridge at Fairhurst when May Ainscough was living there. This would have been in the late Thirties and early Forties.
My parents acquired Fairhurst from Ian Maiden (of Maiden Displays) who had bought it from Tom Rigg some years earlier.
Martha Rigg, daughter of Dr and Mrs Tom Rigg married a Parbold resident Ainscough being Peter son of Martin and May Ainscough. Martha also grew up at Fairhurst so there are many more Ainscough family connections with the house than one might think.
Kindest regards
Anthony Travis

e mail: ant.travis@gmail.com

Louisa Earnshaw-Whalley

Hi Barbara
Hope you are well, apologies for not keeping in touch lately, but been a bit busy, as we all seem to be these days. I thought I'd send you a photo of my grandmother to add to your collection - Louisa Gertrude Earnshaw. I think you have her records - born in 1883 in Longridge, Lancashire, daughter of Ann Ainscough and Henry Earnshaw. She was later adopted by her older sister, Helen (b 1871) who was married to John Whalley, hence she became an Earnshaw-Whalley until she married my grandfather William Walsh. An
interesting snippet - Louisa and William were in the same junior school class together aged about 10 in Colne but didn't get together till a lot later - I've got another photo of them as classmates I can send you.
This attached photo was taken about 1900 I think, but that's a guess - she looks to be in her late teens. She had blonde hair, as did my mum and as did I till it got grey - maybe inherited from our Viking past on the Ainscough side?
Anyway, please let me know how you're going, and keep in touch.
Cheers, Richard
Richard Harris
harrisrichard@westnet.com.au

Recollection - exhibition 24 April-5 June 2010