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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: darian on Thursday 12 August 10 22:31 BST (UK)
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Searching the LDS marriages 1837-1900 i notice the same names occurring continuously as witnesses. I don't know the area and wonder was the town a small nucleus of families. I was looking for the name thomas hobkirk and did find one mentioned a couple of times. also a george, janet and margaret jane. was there an annie bell? Has the town changed much over the last century? darian
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Hi,
Have you taken a look at Rufford on www.lan-opc.org.uk ? One or two Hobkirk/hobkisk entries on there with the names you mention.
Regards,
Mo
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Quite often the parish clerk or some other person with the ability to write would be a serial witness and just act as witness at most weddings. There's a serial signer in a Buckinghamshire parish who rejoiced in the name Wildsmith Badger. Who wouldn't want that on their wedding cert?!
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Hi Darian.
A Thomas Hobkirk appears in Mannex's 1866 North Lancs Directory, as Under Steward to Sir T.G. Hesketh, at Rufford Hall.
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my thanks to all who replied. very interesting leads to follow and looks like the one i wanted. what a lovely site of ian-opc.org.uk/rufford
It warrants a visit in its own right. Might get to Rufford too! :-*
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Rufford OLD Hall is well worth a visit.
A
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Can't imagine much has changed over the years. The A59 runs right through the middle, it's farmland and a few new houses here and there, other than that 1 pub, 1 petrol pump, 1 gunsmith and thats about it.
There is a new marina on the canal which you'll be able to google and get a feel of the area.
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I posted t'other day that the church there is open on Sunday afternoons during the summer and it's well worth a visit, very friendly people in there to ask all about the history of Rufford! Even if it's not open the graveyard is worth a look. And no, it's not changed much at all! A few footballers living there now, and less farm labourers, but it doesn't look very different.
Now, having lots of family around Rufford, I know all too well that not everyone with the same name is the same person! There aren't that many surnames and they liked to pass first names along the generations - you'll find a lot of Caunces, Hunters, Altys, Almonds...
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sounds fascinating! Its on my 'to visit' prog. for the next year. Thanks again to all.
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You might enjoy this site! http://www.ruffordvillage.com/localhistory.html
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Hi Damien, I know all about the Hobkirks of Rufford and relatives in Ireland, Whitby and Durham plus more. What do you want to know about Annabell and family in particular as she went to Ireland and married. How can I help
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This is a surprise! My grand uncle Wm Copeland was married to Annie belle. They had a daughter Norah born in Cork. I think she may have become a botanist or horticulturalist in around 1920. Wm's first wife was Jane. Was she also a Hobkirk? Do you know what happened to Norah? Did William have a connection with Rufford? I would appreciate any such information. Many thanks.
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Hi nice to hear from you and yes we are talking about the same family. Annabell Hobkirk was born in 1877 at Rufford to Thomas Hobkirk and Janet Storer. Annablee was the grand aunt om my Mother. Now this is where it becomes complicated - William Frederick Copeland was first married to Jean Storer who was the sister of Annabells mother Janet Storer.
Annabell was living with William and Jean in Dublin at the time of Jean's death in 1902 and on the 1911 census Annabell is shown as wife of William and they have a daughter Norah who was born in 1903. So she married her Uncle by marriage.
Annabell's sister Margatret also went to Ireland and was a nurse to the wife of a practicing barrister in Dublin in 1911.
Annabells Father was Thomas Hobkirk who was the Land Agent and Surveyor for Lord Hesketh of Rufford Hall. Thomas was born in Ellel near Lancaster in 1833 to George Hobkirk and Jane Button who were originally from Durham. Thomas Hobkirk had 7 children some of who stayed in the area of Rufford while others moved to Liverpool and then Bradford Yorkshire. His son George continued in the role of agent to Lord Hesketh after the closure of the hall at Rufford at his other estate at Towcester, Northamptonshire.
Janet Storer and Jean Storer were the daughters of Geaorge Storer who was the Baliff and Farm Manager at the Rufford estate. George was married to Margret and they had 12 children. They came to Rufford from Scotland to work on the estate.
It is a long history for both familes.
While I have extensive knowledge of the Hobkirk's and Storer's I have no knowledge of Norah other than her birth. I have also never found out what happened to Annabell after William's death in 1911. However Jean Store/Coplena d was taken back for burial at the Parish Church of Rufford, Lancs. I have some info that suggests she re married but have not had chance to follow up.
Annabell's Great Uncle William Hobkirk was a ship builder at Whitby and he went into partnership with John Langbourne who's yard was were the Endeavour one of Captain Cook's ships was built.
Hope all that makes sense and is of interest while setting you on the right path with your research. I would be interested to know more about William Copelands family history. I do know he worked for the Fleetwood and Belfast steamers and that he was living with Jean in Ecccles in 1891. Let me know if I can be of more help with the family details !
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Possibly the Southport Family History people might be able to help - i think it might also go under the name "North Meols" - but it's a super, underused site, with loads of really helpful people running it. It deserves wider recognition, oodles of local knowledge. Brilliant.
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There is a book published called 'Rufford; its past & its people' by Joan Rimmer that might be of interest.