Marriage of Henry Worsley

[jgw52]

I am trying to find details of the marriage of Henry Worsley, his wife and children.

He was born in Ormskirk abt 1811 and married Elizabeth (born abt 1821) from Macclesfield.  I believe they married in Macclesfield as the lived  there until the early 1860's when the family moved to Bolton.

They had four children Rachael (Richard in one census), Sarah Ann, John and Thomas although it could be that Rachael and Sarah Ann are Henry's step children.   The 1851 census has a Elizabeth, Rachael and Sarah Ann Wood living in Macclesfield, the dates of birth are very similar to other documents.

[Jo Harding]

Hello jgw52,

I have looked on BMD for a marriage between Henry and Elizabeth for the period 1840-1855. This was a search for all counties. The most likely one that came up was in Bury in the December quarter of 1849. A possible marriage between Henry Worsely and Elizabeth Rushton. Volume 21 Page 226.

I looked at the Worsely family on the 1871 census and noticed that the households on either side of them were headed by people with the names of Wood. The household before the Worsley family was headed by George James Wood. On the other side, the household is headed by Robert Wood.

You say that in the 1851, there is a Sarah Ann Wood with Elizabeth. It appears to me as though there is a relationship between the Worsley and Wood families. Could Elizabeth's maiden name have been Wood?

Could this have been a second marriage for Henry? I ask as in the 1841, he is shown in Macclesfield married to Ann. It looks to be the same Henry but it would need more research to be certain.

Jo.

[junev]

Hi,

I think he is married to an Agnes in 1841 & 1851! Have a look at this....

1851 ref HO197 piece 2158 folio 252 page 20 (transcribed as Wonley). A Henry Worsley is with wife Agnes born 1793 and daughter Agnes Webster, aged 18, Henry is born in Ormskirk but now living in Macclesfield - his birth year is given as 1818. The wife Agnes is still alive in 1861 & 1871 and recorded as married but living with her daughter in 1861 and her grandson William Webster in 1871...... perhaps why no marriage to Elizabeth???

June

Ps in 1881 Agnes is down as Agnes Webster aged 89 and a widower, death in 1882.

Henry m Agnes in St. Nic Liverpool 28 july 1840, a bachelor of full age, his occ. a roper, his father Thomas Worsley a silk weaver; shes a widow . In 1841 they are in Ormskirk and he is now a silk weaver

[jgw52]

Hi Jo and June

Thank you so much for your suggestions,  they were really helpful, I will follow them up later.

The census information I have found is as follows

1861 RG9 2578 127 7

gives Henry bn abt 1813 in Ormskirk, Elizabeth bn abt 1821 in Macclesfield with the following children Richard should be Rachel, Sarah Ann, John and Thomas.  The family line is through Thomas.

1871 RG10 3932 97 46

Henry, Elizabeth, John and Thomas are all living in Bolton. 


I believe Sarah Ann is working as a servant in Stockport, she marries Samuel Smith in 1877, who dies in 1879 and she then marries in 1883 William Barnes.

Rachel has disappeared with her gender problems.


1851 HO107 2159 412 43

Elisabeth Wood is living unmarried with Rachel and Sarah Ann in Macclesfield

Thanks again for your suggestions


Jonathan

[Birtle]

Hi Jonathan, so far I've drawn a blank with the marriage(s), but the Richard/Rachael issue is resolved: the 1861 original, as opposed to the transcript (at least that in Ancestry), does give Rachael, daughter
Birtle
LATER ADDITIONI think June's on to something with the possibility that Henry and Elizabeth never married, and so Elizabeth instead assumed Henry's surname. Just to fill in some background detail:
LancashireBMD gives Bickerstaff as an alternative surname for Agnes Webster in the record of her marriage to Henry Worsley. And an IO-level record from familysearch gives this:
Agnes Bickerstaff m William Webster 5th April 1812 St Helens, Prescot, Lancs.
Looks like Agnes reverted to her previous married name after her presumed separation from Henry W. ?

[jgw52]

Hi Birtle

Thank you so much for your help. 

The more you dig into families the more interesting it gets.

I have found that I am descended from a soldier who fought the French with Wellington and subsequently married a French girl, very Sharpish but disappointing to find I am part French.   lol

Jonathan

[garstonite]

Hi Jo and June

Thank you so much for your suggestions,  they were really helpful, I will follow them up later.

The census information I have found is as follows

1861 RG9 2578 127 7

gives Henry bn abt 1813 in Ormskirk, Elizabeth bn abt 1821 in Macclesfield with the following children Richard should be Rachel, Sarah Ann, John and Thomas.  The family line is through Thomas.

1871 RG10 3932 97 46

Henry, Elizabeth, John and Thomas are all living in Bolton. 


I believe Sarah Ann is working as a servant in Stockport, she marries Samuel Smith in 1877, who dies in 1879 and she then marries in 1883 William Barnes.

Rachel has disappeared with her gender problems.


1851 HO107 2159 412 43

Elisabeth Wood is living unmarried with Rachel and Sarah Ann in Macclesfield

Thanks again for your suggestions


Jonathan

Hiya Jonathan...can you post the birth years and place of birth of the children -Rachel/Sarah Ann /John and Thomas, ...it may make it easier to work backwards from the children....allan

[jgw52]

Hi Allen

All the children were born in Macclesfield.

According to the 1861 census the years of their births are;

Rachael (Richard) 1840
Sarah Ann 1849
John 1859
Thomas 1861

I have doubts if Henry is the father of Rachael, as he was still with Agnes in 1851.  Sarah Ann's birth year varies and it maybe her birth that made him leave Agnes and move in with Elizabeth Wood.

Jonathan