Ohhh dear Judy & Monkeymajik - so sorry about the nightmares - mind you, I think I nearly joined you in nightmare-land last night due to that awful ferret
Ok - I'll post the certs, but perhaps not the two I got today as they are only confirming-type certs. I'll type the relevant bits from these 2 certs though:-
The family is called ROSTHORN. My gt. grandfather was Edward Rosthorn, born 1844 in Blackburn, Lancs, son of Thomas Rosthorn. On 9th April 1866, at St Albans Chapel, Blackburn, according to the Rites & Ceremonies of the Catholic Church, Edward married his first wife Margaret MOORE, daughter of John Moor deceased. Both Edward and Margaret were residents of Blackburn when they married. Edward signed the marriage cert, and gave his occupation as Cotton Spinner, but Margaret - Power Loom Weaver - put her mark. A child Thomas was born to the couple on 7th April 1868, at 11 Shuttleworth St, Blackburn. On this birth cert. Edward gives his occupation as Cotton Piecer.
The only surprise here is that it was a Catholic marriage - I didn't know that. Nice to have some addresses as well.
I know there was a second child, Jane born 1870 in Accrington, Lancs - correct mother and father but I am awaiting her birth certificate. Both Thomas and Jane I have followed through the census records, as I have their father until his death in 1910 in the Workhouse Infirmary, Rawtenstall, Lancs, aged 66 years cause of death Hemiplegia, Softening of the Brain. Thomas, the son, died in 1894, at the family home aged 25, of Pneumonia 14 days.
Until a few days ago I thought Thomas and Jane were the only children of this couple but I have now found a birth in Accrington in 1871 of a John ROSTHORN with mother Margaret nee MOORE. I am waiting for this birth cert.
I couldn't find these next deaths in the freeBDM sites, but findmypast produced evidence of the death of a Margaret ROSTHORN in the March Qtr of 1872, district Haslingden (this is correct for an Accrington death). I know from Margaret's newspaper obituary that she died on January 1st 1872, so I am confindent I have the correct worman. Also, findmypast revealed the death in the June Qtr 1872 of a John ROSTHORN, Haslingden, aged 0 yrs (that's less than 12 months old). I am waiting for these certs also and I am VERY interested to know what these two died of. There is no mention of a John ROSTHORN living with the family in the census records.
A further complication as far as the photograph is concerned is that in 1874, 2 years after the death of Margaret, Edward married my gt. grandmother - Mary Jane GILL at the Church of St John the Evangelist, Accrington (not Catholic). Mary Jane had an illegitimate daughter who adopted the name ROSTHORN, and with Edward there were 2 more girls born abt. 1875 and 1877. My grandfather, Hargreaves ROSTHORN was born in 1882. There is a gap here which could indicate the birth and death of a child - relevant to the photo maybe
All the children from both marriages resided together at Robert Nuttall Street Accrington with Edward and Mary Jane until the death of Mary Jane of Bronchitis, aged 66 in 1895.
The next bit is not relevant to this thread but Edward married a 3rd time to an Ann LEAVER and acquired yet another step daughter.
Phew
I hope I haven't frightened you all off with boredom.... but actually it has been good to get it down like this......... and I cannot thank you enough for your help and interest.
Maggie
