HORSFALL - Todmorden, Nelson & Colne, Rochdale

[PJ Cosgrove]

Hi Ian  and Fellow Chatters,
I'm new to such group lists so bear with me.
To re-cap: according to James’ obituary ‘A FAMOUS BOTANIST AND FLINT COLLECTOR,
THE LATE JAMES HORSFALL OF HEALEY’ … James Horsfall was born in the year 1835 at Chamber House, Great Marsden near Briarfield, in Lancashire. His early life was a struggle with difficulties...  While still a lad he came to reside with his uncle Hiram, who lived near Whitworth… At the age of 17 he went to reside at Todmorden, having found employment as gardener for the late Abraham Stansfield at his extensive nurseries… Mr. Horsfall soon became one of Mr. Stansfield's principal assistants, and in that capacity he was employed at Rochdale in planning and laying out the cemetery in Bury Rd. [James and fellow amateur geologist Robert Law created the geology trail in Rochdale Cemetery]. (Rochdale Observer, Sat Nov 19, 1898, p. 3).

Are these your Horsfalls? Is it possible that the James was not a son of Abraham and Hannah, but was ‘my’ James Horsfall?
The 1841 Census for Little Marsden (Lancashire, Whalley, Colne, District 37) has:
Abraham Horsfall, 55, Farmer, Not born in the county
Hannah do, 55, Labour [sic], Not born in the county
Hiram do, 25, Labour [sic], Not born in the county
Phillip Horsfall, 15, [sic], Not born in the county
James do, 6, do, Not born in the county
Ysabella [sic] Dyeson [sic], 1, Born in the county

James Horsfall, nurseryman/gardener and fern specialist married Louisa Wass. He had the Healey Nursery at Spotland. When James died in 1898, Louisa took over the nursery.

In the 1901 census, Rochdale, Spotland Nearer Side:
Louisa Horsfall, Head, Wid, 65, Market Gardener, Employer at Home, born Gulloram [Gulham], Lincs.
Frank Horsfall, Nephew, Single, 27, Gardener, Worker at Home, born Eastwood, Yorks.
Benjamin Horsfall, Nephew, Single, 18, Gardener, Worker at Home, born Burnley, Lancs.

Frank and Benjamin Horsfall were the sons of Luke Horsfall (c.1836-1893) and Eliza (Southwell) who were married at Halifax, Yorks in 1865. Luke died at Todmorden, Yorks.
As Frank and Benjamin were Louisa’s (James’) nephews, the suggestion is that Luke was James’ brother.
Is this family connected with yours?

[PJ Cosgrove]

About James Horsfall and the geology trail at Rochdale Cemetery - ten years ago I was fortunate to be able to visit Rochdale Cemetery and follow the geology trail. I had already collected a number of newspaper and other articles about James and the trail so the visit to the cemetery was pre-planned.
It was only a couple of weeks ago that I found his obituary in the Rochdale Observer. It is quite long and detailed - a treasure trove, really with the descriptions of the man, his passions and dedication to his interests.

[PJ Cosgrove]

PJ Cosgrove - I'm not a 'he', but a she, Patricia Josephine to be exact!

[PJ Cosgrove]

Hi Ian,
Just to expand my family tree:
James and Louisa (Wass) Horsfall had three children:
James Henry Horsfall, b. 30 Jun 1861, Horsecroft in Spotland, Lancs.
Mary Agnes Horsfall, b. 1863, Whitworth, Lancs – married George Russell, 1886 at Healey. Admitted to Lancaster Lunatic Asylum 1897 and died there 1904.
Alfred Taylor Horsfall, b. 1865, Rochdale, Lancs.

Where did the Taylor come from in Alfred Taylor?

James Henry (my great grandfather) and Alfred Taylor emigrated to Australia as single men and gardeners, in 1883 and did not return to England.
PJ.