We're coming to England next week! We will spend one day in Burnley, my mom's home town. I want to learn anything I can about her ancestors.
I'll start with my great grandmother, Elizabeth Ann Sharples 1881 - 1981! She was born in Blackburn and came from a family of cotton weavers. She married John William Starkie at age 18, but her common law husband for 20 years was John Henry Nuttall, my great grandfather (also a weaver).
Now I'd like to begin my search Elizabeth's father. All I have is that her parents were John Sharples and Elizabeth Ann Chew, Blackburn, no dates. Elizabeth had one brother Jim, who married a Nellie.
My aunt's notes say John Sharples was also a cotton weaver. I was excited to see an article on the CottonTown website about a James Sharples, who was able to become a painter, even while working every day at the cotton mill.
Key question: How is my John Sharples is related to the weaver/painter James Sharples, who is featured on the Cottontown website?
On our trip to Burnley, we'll be visiting the cotton weaving museums. My kids may even do their history fair projects on this topic next year in the States.
