WIDDOWS, Hatters, Ireland and Lancashire

[rubyrose]

Hi All

My grandfather, great grandfather and great great grandfather all married women whose families came from Ireland. With the exception of one, who kindly put Wexford on a census return, I have no idea where the others came from. I am surrounded by brickwalls!

However, I did have a lead a couple of weeks ago when I got a marriage certificate (1857) for my great great grandparents and the brides father was described as Thomas Widdows, Hatter. I did an Ancestry search for Widdows and came up with about four Widdows (born in Ireland) who were Hat finishers, Hat stretchers or Hat makers in Manchester or Salford but no connections that I can see to my family.

Unfortunately, all the Widdows in my family with the exception of Thomas Widdows above, were brick makers in Liverpool but I did hope that following the Hatter route might lead me to the right family and the place in Ireland the family came from. I am assuming that part of the Widdows family carried on the Hatter tradition in Manchester and part came to Liverpool to make bricks!

Is anybody else looking for Widdows from Ireland and do you have Hatters as an occupation?

Anyone got any suggestions as to how I can move this on?

Your help would be much appreciated.

Regards

Ruby

[Cygnet2Swann]

My great great grandparents were William Henry Widdows, born in Salford, and Elizabeth Williams,   born in Liverpool. William Henry's father was John Widdows, but I know nothing more about him.

My Widdows family are proving difficult to trace. There are problems with spelling too, I have found them as Widders.

William Henry was a house painter. As far as I can find they had nine children born in Chorlton Manchester.

They were married at Manchester Cathedral on 21 October 1847 and lived in Chorlton on Medlock.
I wonder if John was from Ireland?
Have you had any more success?

[heatherjulie]

Marriage: 25 Jun 1838 St Mary the Virgin, Prestwich, Lancashire, England
Joseph Jarvis - (X), of full age, Brick Maker, Bachelor, King St. Oldham
Ann Widdows - (X), of full age, Spinster, King St. Oldham
Groom's Father: James Jarvis, Brick Maker
Bride's Father: Wm. Widdows, Hatter
Witness: Sarah Irwin, (X); Thomas Trinadad

[heatherjulie]

1841
London Road District of Manchester
William Widdows  50 born in Ireland Hatter
 Isabella Widdows  48
 George Widdows  20

RG107/571/8/18/31

[heatherjulie]

1861
1a George Street, Blackfriars
Salford
George Widdows  Head 41 born Ireland County Antrim? Hatter
 Ann Widdows  Wife 39 born Dublin
 Ann Widdows  17 Born Manchester Silk Weaver
 George Widdows  Son 16 born Manchester
 Isabella Widdows  Daughter 1 born Manchester
 Leonard Mudd  25 Lodger
 Isabella Mudd  17
 Thomas Mudd  14
RG9/2920/74/34

[heatherjulie]

1851
From a badly damaged page of the census
Green Bank, Salford
William Widdows   Head  born Westmeath Ireland Hatter
 Isabella Widdows  Wife 60 born Westmeath Ireland
 George Widdows  Son 31 born Westmeath Ireland
 Ann Widdows  Daughter in law 29 born Dublin
 Ann Widdows  7 Grand daughter
 Isabella Widdows  8/12 Grand daughter

[Cygnet2Swann]

Hi
Thank you for all that information! I can't see any familiar names, but I'll keep it in mind when I'm looking. I'll have another look for John, maybe some new facts have been unearthed that I haven't found before.
I have found James Widdows, Music Hall Artist on the 1911 census, living with his brother Reuben. I'm pretty sure these are part of 'my lot'
Jean

[heatherjulie]

Is this your William's baptism?

William Widdows

Christening Date 10 Aug 1823 Manchester Church, Lancashire, England
Father's Name John Widdows
Mother's Name Maria Widdows

or this one
William Widdows

Christening Date 09 Jul 1826 CATHEDRAL,MANCHESTER,LANCASHIRE,ENGLAND
Father's Name John Widdows
Mother's Name Elizabeth

[heatherjulie]

There are several children born to a John and Maria baptised in Manchester

James Widdows  3 November 1816 Cathedral, Manchester

Charlotte Widows 29 March 1818 Cathedral, Manchester
 
Mary Widdows 26 February 1826 Cathedral, Manchester

Esther Widdows  16 November 1828 Cathedral, Manchester
 

Baptism: 7 Jan 1821 St Ann, Manchester, Lancashire, England
Eliza Widdows - Daughter of John Widdows & Maria
Born: 2 Dec 1820
Abode: Manchester
Occupation: Dyer
Baptised by: C. D. Wray