William Winstanley from Holywell b. abt. 1778

[BBJ]

My great-great-great-grandfather, Thomas Winstanley, born around 1814 in St Helens in Lancashire, was also a watchmaker. It sounds as though he may be part of this timeless (sorry for the appalling pun) extended family and it'd be great if we could draw some of these ties closer together. Thomas appears in the 1851 and 1861 censuses as living with his wife Margaret (nee Sturdy) whom he married in 1834. So far as I know, they had nine children and their son, John, is my great-great-grandfather.
Am I reading it right that there is still an old man called Winstanley, once a jeweller living in Holywell?
   

[lottielou]

Hi there
Interesting to hear about your Thomas Winstanley.
My family also come from St Helens, although originally from Holywell, in Flintshire. 
My Great grandfather was Thomas Digby Willoughby Winstanley, born in Dec 1844 in Holywell and moved to St Helens before 1871 when he married his wife, Mary Jane Hughes who was also from Holywell. 
Thomas and Mary Jane were living with Mary Jane's father and mother in St Helens when the 1871 census was taken. 
Thomas was one of 7 children of John Wood Winstanley b1819,  a Watchmaker from Holywell and Ann Roberts of Halkin Flintshire. 
I know that their sons, John Clement and Thomas D.W. came over to St helens but did not carry on with the watchmaking trade; Thomas was a copper roller and John Clement a labourer. 
However their grandfather, another Thomas Winstanley, also a clockmaker, had several children who were watch or clockmakers, as did his father, John before him, so it is possible that one of these children came over to St Helens and are related to your Thomas (obviously a common name in this Winstanley branch)
Do you know who Thomas Winstanley's father was? 

Pam

[BBJ]

Pam
Nice to hear from you.
Unfortunately I have not yet been able to find out the name of Thomas's father. He and Margaret Sturdy were married on 23rd  February 1834 at Saint Nicholas, Liverpool. I got this information from FamilySearch. Obviously, that information was gleaned from somewhere, most probably parish records so I'm going to have to see if I can get more details by seeing if such a record is still available.
Thanks again for your information.
John   

[Peterej]

Hi

I don't pretend that I have followed this thread very carefully but feel perhaps a further look at the website I mentioned 27 Feb 2010 might help. This site is always being added to and there are possible baptisms for John to consider.

Sorry if you have already done this

Peter

[nibbs]

hi found a marrage between a Mary Emma Winstanley12 April 1866 st Augustine everton lances and Charles blackburn milk dealer of everton grooms father George blackburn brides father thomas winstanley watch maker witness thomas winstanley and Elizabeth campbell married banns by Octavius Nicholson 
                                       

                                       nibbs

[BBJ]

Thanks, Peter and Nibbs.
I'll check out that site, Peter.
Nibbs, I have a fourth cousin, Robbie, in Shetland (ie our common ancestors are Thomas Winstanley and Margaret Sturdy) and the couple you mention are his great-great-grandparents. (Charles Blackburn was born in Southwark on 22 Mar 1843.)
Robbie provided me with this additional information on their children, all born in Liverpool -
George J Blackburn, born 23 July 1867, married Harriet Garner
Amelia Blackburn, born 26 Sept 1870, married James Tolond
Charles Blackburn, born 23 March 1869, married Margaret Ann Worthington, 26 December 1888
Frances B Blackburn, born 10 June 1872
Thomas Blackburn, born 19 December 1873
James Blackburn, born 25 February 1876
Joseph Blackburn, born 18 Nov 1878, married Edith Brown 

He also sent me some family pictures from that time but I'm blowed if I can work out how to post them!!