Reflection

Today's HSMSHS word is Reflection. We spotted this bridge when we walked around the grounds of Lisa's University last September. You would never think it was in the middle of London. It was sooo peaceful & full of wildlife :O) Yesterday, a gentleman called David contacted me through one of the Family History websites. He sent me these entries of marriage from the Hurst Parish Registers. Unfortunately he isn't a direct descendant of George Hunter Horrocks, he is only interested in the Lomas family who married into our family. Samuel Lomas married George's daughter Mary Alice. Photos of Gemma's flat :O)

Thomas Shirt & Lily Horrocks Marriage

Whilst we were away the marriage certificate of my great grandparents arrived. I was hoping that it would have my great grandfather's army number on it but no such luck. I'm running out of documents to send for now. They were married on Third June 1909 at the Register Office in Salford, Lancashire. Thomas Shirt - 29 years - Widower -Labourer Bleach Works - 29 Thursfield Street, Pendleton - George Shirt (Deceased) - General Labourer - Lily Horrocks- 25 years - Spinster - 29 Thursfield Street, Pendleton - George Horrocks - Retired Coal Miner. The witnesses were James Green & Catherine Heron.

Tom was married previously to Ann Jane Green who died in childbirth. Their only daughter Hannah was raised by her maternal grandmother so I'm presuming the witness James Green is some relation. I've had a look on the 1901 census & there is a James Green living in Whitehough, a small hamlet between Chapel-en-le-Frith & Chinley. This is the same place where Thomas Shirt was born & grew up. (Both Thomas & Ann worked at the Bleachworks in Whitehough. It was called JJ Hadfields and was bought out by Dorma in the late 70's early 80's.)

1901 Census, Whitehough, Derbyshire
James Green - Head - 44 - M - Soldier - Worker - CELF
Margaret A Green - Wife - 41 - M - CELF
Ann J Green - Daur - 20 - Folder (Bleachworks) - Worker - CELF

So there is a good chance that James Green, the witness, was in fact Tom's father-in-law.

I think this may be the WW1 Medal Roll index card for Tom Shirt as I know those who lived in Chapel-en-le-Frith signed up to the Notts & Derby Regiment & I'm sure my Dad told me he had been made a Sergent. It looks as if he entered the army on 28 Feb 1915. Another date on there is 28 Mar 1819 I which I knew what it all meant. More research don't you know :O)

Who Do You Think You Are?

A new series of "Who Do You Think You Are" starts next week. They are tracing the family histories of Patsey Kensit, Boris Johnson, Jerry Springer, Esther Rantzen, David Suchet, Ainsley Harriet, Jodie Kidd & Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. I will be glued to the TV :O)

I haven't packed yet for our trip to Teresa's. I'm usually really organised when we go anywhere but not this time for some reason. She phoned me last night & said we only need to bring clothes, toothbrush & slippers as she has everything else. We've always done it like that to save any hassle. We always try & provide everything for them too when they come to us so it's works really well. I can't wait to see her again & give her a big hug. I've not seen her since they came to stay with us in February. We talk to each other on the phone but it's never the same as spending actual quality time together. Lisa & Liam are house sitting so Elena's animals will be OK (well Spongebob & Gary the fish & Monkey the hamster).

Andrew finished work on Friday for a week so it will be great to spend some time together. Mind you a week will go very fast, it always does.

I picked up the curtains for the little bedroom yesterday so they just need hanging. They are dark brown to go with the colour scheme. I'm hoping to get a picture frame soon to frame the picture Elena made at school. It's really lovely & will go brilliantly on the wall in the bedroom as it's all browns & gold. I'll post a photo of it soon.

Merrington, Durham in 1841

On the 1841 census for Merrington, Durham is a Thomas Hunter living next door to William & Jane Horrocks:

Thomas Hunter - 65 - Ag Lab - born in the county - yes
Rachel Hunter - 60 - yes
George Hunter - 20 - Tailor - yes
Thomas Hunter - 5 - yes
Robert ?Nains? - 70 - Ag Lab - no
John ?Nains? - 45 - Ag Lab - no
Robert ?Nains? - 25 - Ag Lab - no

On the IGI is a marriage for a Thomas Hunter & Rachel Watson on 15 MAY 1798 at Kirk Leavington, Yorkshire. (This may or may not be the correct one.)

There is also a baptism on the IGI for Thomas

Thomas Hunter
26 JUN 1774
Kirk Merrington, Durham
Father John Hunter

There's also baptisms for:
Jane Hunter
9 JUL 1780 - Kirk Merrington, Durham
Parents: John Hunter & Mary

Mary Hunter
20 JUL 1777 - Kirk Merrington, Durham
Parents: John Hunter

Baptism's from Whorlton Yorkshire on the IGI

Mary Hunter
11 JUL 1757 - Whorlton, Yorkshire
Father John Hunter

Jane Hunter
12 MAR 1775 - Whorlton, Yorkshire
Parents John Hunter & Jane

Margaret Hunter
24 JUN 1762 - Whorlton, Yorkshire
Father John Hunter

George Hunter
25 MAY 1760 - Whorlton, Yorkshire
Father John Hunter

George Hunter
OCT 1779 - Whorlton, Yorkshire
Father John Hunter

1851 Census - Merrington
George Hunter - Head - M - 31 - Taylor - Chilton, Durham
Mary Hunter - Wife - M - 29 - Merrington, Durham
Thomas Hunter - Son - 1 - Merrington, Durham
Mary Hunter - Daur - 1 month - Merrington, Durham
Thomas Sanderson - Um - 13 - Darlington, Durham

1861 Census - Merrington
George Hunter - Head - M - 41 - Tailor - Co Durham
Mary Hunter - Wife - M - 39 - Co Durham
Thomas Hunter - Son - 12 - Scholar - Co Durham
Mary Hunter - Daur - 10 - Scholar - Co Durham
Rachel Hunter - Daur - 8 - Scholar - Co Durham
Ann Hunter - Daur - 5 - Scholar - Co Durham
Benjamin Hunter - Son - 2 - Co Durham
John Hunter - Son - 4 mths - Co Durham

1871 Census - Merrington
George Hunter - Head - M - 51 - Tailor - Durham, Chilton
Mary Hunter - Wife - M - 49 - Durham, North Close
Thomas Hunter - Son - Um - 22 - Cartwright - Durham, Merrington
Benjamin Hunter - Son - 12 - Durham, Merrington
Jane Hunter - Daur - 5 - Durham, Merrington

John Hunter the Postman

I found this on Google this morning with the help of Heather from the Lancashire Rootsweb List.

An early photograph of a postman circa 1840 wearing a cape & top hat. Before postage stamps, he would have to collect payment for each individual letter and deliver post before the introduction of letterboxes.

On the old occupations website it doesn't have a postman but does have a post boy:
1) Carried mail
2) Guard who travelled on the mail coach
3) Outrider travelling with the coach or a Postillion

John Hunter (1790)

JOHN HUNTER
Birth: 22 JUL 1790
Christening: 22 AUG 1790
Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire, England
Father: GEORGE HUNTER
Mother: MARY

1841 Census - Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire
The Lodge, Gayles
John Hunter - 50 - Postman - born in County - Yes
Mary Hunter - 55 - born in County - Yes

1842 Mary Hunter dies at Gayles ~ Husband John Hunter, Postman

Has John married again?
How do you get to be a Tailor Master from a Postman?

1851 Census - Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire
The Lodge, Gayles
John Hunter - Head - M - 61 - Tailor Master - Whashton, Yorks
Elizabeth Hunter - Wife - M - 48 - Preston, Yorks

1861 Census - Kirkby Ravensworth
Wayside, Gayles
John Hunter - Head - M - 70 - Gardener - Whashton, Yorks
Elizabeth Hunter - Wife - M - 57 - Gardeners Wife, Preston, Yorks

1871 Census - Kirkby Ravensworth
The Lodge, Gayles
John Hunter - Head - M - 80 - Tailor - Whashton, Yorks
Elizabeth Hunter - Wife - M - 67 - Preston, Yorks

Possible marriages for John Hunter & Elizabeth
FreeBMD - North Riding of Yorkshire
From March 1842 to December 1851

June Qtr 1843
Stockton - 24 215 (Eliza Allan)
Leyburn - 24 401 (Elizabeth Longstaff & Elizabeth Middlemass)
IGI - Elizabeth Middlemass - 21 Jun 1843 - Wensley, Yorkshire
Dec Qtr 1843
Reeth - 24 483 (no Elizabeths)
York - 23 761 (Elizabeth Sanderson)
BVRI - HUNTER, John Age: 64 years Marriage
Wife: Elizabeth SANDERSON Age: 37 years
Marriage Date: 26 Oct 1843
Recorded in: Saint Olave, York, York, England
Husband previously married
Husband's Father: Thomas HUNTER
Wife's Father: Francis SANDERSON
Source: FHL Number 1068540 Dates: 1754-1871
Jun Qtr 1846
Stockton 24 240 (Elizabeth Comings)
Dec Qtr 1846
Darlington 24 61 (Elizabeth Walton)
Jun Qtr 1848
North Allerton 24 507 (no Elizabeths)
Jun Qtr 1850
Darlington 24 55 (no Elizabeths)
Sep Qtr 1850
Teesdale 24 332 (no Elizabeths)
Dec Qtr 1850
Pickering 24 587 (Elizabeth Knaggs)
IGI - Elizabeth Knaggs - 30 Oct 1850 - Rosedale, Yorkshire

James Hunter born (1800)

I think there is a good chance, that the James Hunter I've found, is the son of George & Mary Hunter, check it out ...
Baptism: James Hunter 3 Mar 1800 at Kirkby Ravensworth son of George & Mary Hunter

Marriage: James Hunter & Jane Todd - 26 JUL 1829 at Kirby-Ravensworth, Yorkshire

Baptism: Todhunter Hunter 12 MAY 1833 at Saint Agatha, Gilling By Richmond, Yorkshire
Parents James Hunter & Jane

Baptism: George Hunter 3 JAN 1830 at Saint Agatha, Gilling By Richmond, Yorkshire
Parents James Hunter & Jane

1851 Census: Whashton, Yorkshire
James Hunter - head - M - 51 - Tailor employing 1 app - Yorkshire, Whashton
Ann Hunter - wife - M - 56 - Dressmaker employing 1 app - Yorkshire, Forcett
Todd Hunter - son - 17 - Tailor app - Yorkshire, Whashton
Mary Hunter - daur - 15 - Dressmaker app - Yorkshire, Whashton

Death: Todd Hunter - 1854 Mar qtr Richmond R/D

1861 Census: Whashton, Yorkshire
James Hunter - head - Wid - 61 - Tailor master with 1 app, Yorkshire, Whashton
Henry Coates - Apprentice - 17 - Tailor masters apprentice - Yorkshire, Reeth

1871 Census: Whashton, Yorkshire
James Hunter - head - Wid - 71 - Tailor employing 1 man - Yorkshire, Whashton
Sarah Flintoff - Serv - ?? - 56 - General domestic servant - Yorkshire, Thornton le B???

The Hunter Becomes The Hunted

Do you like my title ROFL.

Well I'm just trying to get my head around the Hunter relatives so they can go on the Horrocks Hunter blog. So, I know Jane Hunter's father was John Hunter, a postman, from her marriage certificate.

This is the 1841 census for Jane:
1841 Census - Merrington, Durham
William Horrocks - 25 - Quarryman - born in county - no
Jane Horrocks - 20 - born in county - no
John Horrocks - 1 - born in county - yes

This is the 1841 census for her father John:
Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire
The Lodge, Gayles
John Hunter - 50 - Postman - born in County - Yes
Mary Hunter - 55 - born in County - Yes

So now we know Janes mother was Mary Hunter and that she was born circa 1786 in Yorkshire.

Stan has sent a death certificate that says: Eighteenth of July 1842 at Gayles - Mary Hunter - female - 60 years - wife of John Hunter, Postman - she died of something of the rectom (just can't make out what it says but it sounds painful) - John Hunter, present at death, Gayles.

This is the baptism for John found on the IGI:
JOHN HUNTER
Birth: 22 JUL 1790
Christening: 22 AUG 1790
Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire, England
Father: GEORGE HUNTER
Mother: MARY

Looking on the IGI there are also some other children, siblings of John, with the same parents George & Mary:

JAMES HUNTER
Birth: 1 MAR 1800
Christening: 3 MAR 1800
Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire, England

MARY HUNTER
Birth: 16 AUG 1793
Christening: 25 AUG 1793
Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire, England

WILLIAM HUNTER
Birth: 20 NOV 1795
Christening: 23 NOV 1795
Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire, England

1841 Census for St John Baptist Hospital Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire:
Mary Hunter - 80 - born in the County yes

Stan has sent another death certificate that says - 9th of May 1842 at Kirkby Hill - Mary Hunter - female - 80 years - Widow of George Hunter, I think it says Gardener but again I'm really not sure - ??? Decay - John Hunter in attendance, Gayles.

There is also a marriage entry on the IGI that reads:
George Hunter & Mary Handley 5 NOV 1786 at Kirkby Ravensworth, Yorkshire

Chris has sent me a baptism entry for George Hunter from Whorlton Yks ...
Baptisms for the year 1760: George son of John Hunter, householder, was baptised the 25th day of May

Maria Horrocks Birth Certificate

Oh flippin' Nora, I sent off last week for Maria Horrocks birth certificate and have waited in anticipation for it to arrive. Well, I came home from work today & the letter was there waiting for me:

Maria Horrocks
No Trace of Record

Dear Mrs H,
We have been unable to trace the relevent entry in the records of this office & can only suggest that you may care to make further application to the GRO at Southport.

So all I can think of is that I applied to the wrong Registrar's office. Nevermind, I will try again. Where there's a will there's a relative lol.

While I was at work this morning a lady came into reception and I asked, as I always do, if I could help her. What a surprise, it was my Auntie Joan, I didn't even recognise her lol. It's a few years since I saw her & I can't believe how like my grandma she is. Auntie Joan is my Dad's eldest sister and the black sheep of the family but I have always got on with her :O) She spends the most time with the Horrocks side of the family and a few years ago I drove her barmy keep asking her questions about all our relatives. Every time I see her though I give her an update on how much we've uncovered so I hope she'll be pleased. I will try again to see if I can get any photos but on that front it really does seem like getting blood out of a stone.

OK, just ordered Maria's birth certificate from the ONS in Southport. Luckily the cost is still the same £7.00. Just keeping everything crossed now that it belongs to our Maria!

Missing Cousins

1891 Census - 27 Abingdon Street, Ashton-under-Lyne
Walter Horrocks - Head - M - 29 - Fish Hawker - Bolton
Mary Horrocks - Wife - M - 26 - Ashton-under-Lyne
Joseph Horrocks - Son - 3 - Ashton-under-Lyne
William H Horrocks - Cousin? - 15 - Fish Hawker - Bradford

Found this census entry last night. Walter Horrocks is the son of John Horrocks & Rachel Bolton. John Horrocks is my GG Grandfather's brother. BUT who is William H Horrocks ~ Cousin?

I found a birth entry in the Sept qtr. 1875 for William Henry Horrocks Manchester 8d 356

I've also found this:
Lancashire - Manchester - St George - District 15 - Page 6
1881 census - 61 Collyhurst Street, Manchester
William Horrocks - Head - 39 - Agent - Manchester
Ellen Horrocks - Wife - 35 - Manchester
Issiah Horrocks - Son - 9 - At school - Manchester
George Horrocks - Son - 7 - do - Manchester
William H Horrocks - Son - 5 - do - Manchester
Thomas Horrocks - Son - 1 - do - Manchester

So it's not that one ~ now, what would Sherlock Holmes do???

Hold the press, I've just had this message from Stan ...

Vanda, I have just realised who this is!! I dont know how i haven't figured this one out before but William H Horrocks would of been William Henry Rowbotham. For quite a bit i have been searching for William Henry Rowbotham in the 1891 census but he is MISSING, and i have also been trying to work out who William H Horrocks was, well now we have answered both questions.

Oooo don't you just love it when a plan comes together ROFL

Still Searching

Still searching the 1861 Census for William & Jane Horrocks
Searched:
Ashton-under-Lyne - Audenshaw - District 1 - Page 1 to 40
Ashton-under-Lyne - Audenshaw - District 2f - Page 1 to 40
Ashton-under-Lyne - Audenshaw - District 3f - Page 1 to 38
Ashton-under-Lyne & Audenshaw - District 4f - Page 1 to 41
Ashton-under-Lyne - Audenshaw - District 4f - Page 1 to 5
Ashton-under-Lyne - Audenshaw - District 6d - Page 1 to 30
Ashton-under-Lyne - Audenshaw - District 7d - Page 1 to 29

Bradford - District 14 - Page 1 to 70
Bradford - District 15 - Page 1 to 77

Openshaw - District 23 - Page 1 to 23 unfinished

Whilst I've been searching I've been listening to my favourite radio station Wave 105. They've just had a woman on telling a joke & I'm sat here giggling :O) A woman looks in the mirror & says "Oh no, I'm old, fat & ugly," she turns to her husband & asks him to pay her a compliment. He says "well dear, your eye sights spot on". ROFLMAO

Duologues & Baptisms

What a day for Family History yesterday! Stan very kindly sent through all the baptisms he found including baptisms of George & Sarah's children's children. He sent 3 death certificates and I may have found George's sister Sarah. Stan has checked out birth's of Sarah Horrocks in Durham in 1843 & there aren't any. I really hope it's our Sarah for Chris's sake. I've finished Radcliffe so back to Ashton-under-Lyne.

Not sure what I can get done today, it's a trip to Tesco this morning after we've dropped Elena off at Lake Middle for her rehearsal before the show tonight. They are doing Duologue's?

Lisa was still upset last night about her test, I think sometimes she is too hard on herself but maybe that's what drives her?? She has booked another test next Saturday.

Theory Test

Lisa's just come home from taking her theory test for her driving. She passed the theory part but she failed the hazard test. She's gutted! Phoned Teresa my best friend last night as Daniel had his driving test again yesterday & poor Dan failed too :-(

Sent off for 2 birth certificates yesterday: William Horrocks, son of my GG Grandfather George Horrocks & Maria Horrocks, George's sister.

Doing it the Old Fashioned Way

I've decided, there's nothing else for it, I've just got walk round Ashton-under-Lyne in 1861 looking for William Horrocks & family. I can't search the indexes any longer! My theory is that they are (think positive Vanda) in the Ecclesiastical District of St John's as that was the church George & Sarah married in. The problem with that theory is I'm sure people married in the 'wife's' church & not the husbands BUT at the moment it's the best theory I have :O)

Searched:
Ashton-under-Lyne - Ashton Town - District 14 - Page 1 to 46
Ashton-under-Lyne - Knotts Lanes - District 1 - Page 1 to 39
Ashton-under-Lyne - Audenshaw - District 1 - Page 1 to 40
Ashton-under-Lyne - Audenshaw - District 2f - Page 1 to 40
Radcliffe - District 1 - Page 1 to 61
Radcliffe - District 2 - Page 1 to 47
Page 40 >>> John Horrocks, Head, 22, Shoemaker, Yorkshire
Page 43 >>> Sarah Horrocks, Serv, 17, Durham, Sunderland
Radcliffe - District 3 - Page 1 to 57
Radcliffe - District 4 - Page 1 to 52
Radcliffe - District 5 - Page 1 to 56
Radcliffe - District 6 - Page 1 to 53
Radcliffe - District 7 - Page 1 to 30
Page 3 >>> Coal Mine!!
Page 5 >>> Coal Mine!!

A few Horrocks in Radcliffe but none of our family apart from the John & Sarah mentioned above.

Old Age is Creeping Up ~ Beware!!

What a busy day today. Been at work all day, came home & hung the washing out because although it was cloudy the wind was pretty strong. Cut the grass then took the washing back in because it started raining, I just love English summers.

Before I could do anything else my Mum & Dad came to see us. We talked for a while and then my Mum said something that really shocked me. I know it shouldn't have done but it did. My Dad will be 70 in 2 years time!! OMG 70!! He doesn't even look or act old in my eyes, he's just my Dad. It's funny isn't it how you never think of the people around you getting old. We also talked about my lovely Uncle Joe the Shorter who will be 90 in September. Now there's a man who doesn't act or seem a day over 60. We call him Uncle Joe the Shorter as there are 2 Uncle Joes. One is my Mum's brother who is tall so we call him Uncle Joe the Taller and then there's my lovely great Uncle Joe who is my Grandad's brother ~ Uncle Joe the Shorter :O)

I thought I would pick Dad's brains again (as I have done on numerous occasions) about his Dad's side of the family ~ the Horrocks. I tried to explain that Chris & I had made a blog and how we had uploaded all the info we had onto the web. I might as well have been talking Japanese as neither my Mum nor Dad have a clue about computers lol. I can't 'show' my Dad what I mean either because he's blind, has been since he was 40. So I gave up and started talking about Uncle Ken ~ Jane Horrocks grandson & my Dad's cousin.

Dad spent a lot of time with Ken as a child and remebered sleeping at 689 Ashton New Road, Clayton. It was a very busy road, 4 or 5 lanes of traffic lit up like a Christmas tree with the thousands of street lights. Dad can remember not even having to turn the bedroom light on at night because the street lights made it light enough to read even with the curtains closed. To make matters worse, Ken would sleep with the window open and it was so noisy that Dad never got a wink of sleep.

He remebered Ken's Grandmother too, Jane Horrocks. He said she was a formidable lady and looked and dressed like QueenVictoria all in black & white with a lace collar and even a small mop hat on her head. I asked him if he remembered any other brothers or sisters & he only remembered Auntie Doris's Mum, Lillian. She was the daughter of Mary Alice Horrocks and when Mary died Lillian became an orphan at the age of 7. Dad said he visited the house a few times and Lillian was always in bed. He never saw her out of it. He never knew what was the matter with her, it was as if one day she had taken to her bed and that's where she stayed until she died. When I told Dad his Grandmother had been one of eleven children he couldn't believe it. He thought there was only 3 or 4 of them.

Mum is going to dig out a photo of Granny Shirt (Lily Horrocks) at my Christening. Lily was my God Mother and the photo is of me sat on her lap.

Searching

OK now I remember what made me give up with my Horrocks family lol.

This morning I have searched through 3850 records on the 1861 census looking for a George born in Yorkshire in 1840/41/42 and found nothing. I read every name trying to find a miss spelling of the surname Horrocks. George Lickess, George Harker, George Morrett ~ all a big fat zero. I searched for a George with parents William & Jane. I searched for a George born in Gayles or Richmond. I even had this ridiculous notion that they may have hopped over the border into Scotland on their journey from Yorkshire to Lancashire! Nothing, nowt, zero. Where the hell are they??? Never mind, I'm going to drown my sorrows in tea & take it out on the hoover he, he.

Added: I am elated now. Stan has just sent an e-mail saying he has been to Manchester library today & found ALL the baptisms of George & Sarah Horrocks children apart from their eldest son William. Not only that he is going back next week to find the burials!! How brilliantly cool is that :O)

Albert Horrocks

Albert Horrocks birth was registered in the Mar Qtr 1880, Ashton-under-Lyne. On the 1881 census, Albert was the youngest member of the family aged 1. In 1891 he was an 11 year old scholar living at 485 Ashton New Road, Clayton. He was a witness to his sister Clara's marriage in December 1899, then 2 years later, still at home, he was described as a 21 year old gardener.

More Family Members

Have you seen the time on my blog post Chris !!! Yes I'm bleary eyed but how exciting. I had a look on genes reunited (thank you) and found another cousin or should I say Chris found another cousin. Her name is Dawn and she is the grandaughter of my Auntie Doris!! The internet makes the world seem very small doesn't it :O)

Baptisms at St Cross Church, Clayton

I joined the Manchester rootsweb list yesterday & asked if there was a way of finding my great grandmother's baptism at St Cross Church in Clayton Lancashire. A lovely lady wrote back & gave me the web address of the local studies library in Manchester. Oh how I would love to spend a day there :O) Anyway, they will do look ups for you:

Please note that the staff time available to deal with written enquiries is severely limited. We can only undertake research if the original records are held here. We can only make a search for one specific piece of information that will take less than fifteen minutes to complete.
Examples of searches we can undertake are:
Baptism, marriage or burial on a precise date at a specific church
An entry in one record in a precise year at a specific hospital or school
An entry for one individual or address in one directory or electoral register
A specific report in one issue of one newspaper
One area on one map for a particular date or edition
Up to six subjects in the digitised prints collection, only one if non-digitised, such as outside Manchester

So that got me thinking. I know the dates of birth of Lily & her siblings from information given to me by my Uncle Ken. I went on familysearch.org and searched for any baptisms where the parents were George Horrocks & Sarah and this is what transpired:

Baptisms at Clayton, Lancashire
Jane Horrocks - 4 Aug 1867
Hannah Maria Horrocks - 18 Jul 1869
Mary Alice Horrocks - 7 Jan 1872
Emma Horrocks - 15 Mar 1874
Clara Horrocks - 3 Mar 1878
Lily Horrocks - 1 Oct 1884
And the biggest surprise of all, Ellen Horrocks - 18 May 1887

As far as I know, Lily's parents only had ten children, nothing has ever been mentioned about Ellen!! So lots of letters to write now & maybe a couple of certificates to buy? I think I will have to spend a couple of days going through the finances etc. to see what I can stretch to :O)

It is a bit weird though, all the baptisms are there for the female side of the family but nothing about Lily's brothers, George, Albert, James or William?

I must remember to write and ask about the 2 burials as well, Hannah Maria, Lily's sister & her father George Hunter Horrocks.

***Added***

I've found an entry in the June Qtr 1887 for the birth of an Ellen Horrocks, Ashton Under Lyne R/D. Unfortunately I've also found an entry of death in the Sept Qtr 1887 :O(

Searching on ancestry.com (thank you Chris) I've found the birth entry for Emma Horrocks in the March Qtr 1874. As she doesn't appear on any census records I searched for a death. An Emma Horrocks died aged 5 in the June Qtr 1879, Ashton R/D.

If both these children do belonged to my family it means that my 2x Great Grandparents, George Hunter Horrocks & Sarah Horrocks had 11 children and lost 4 of them in childhood. Goodness me they had a very hard life didn't they. I couldn't imagine losing one of my children let alone 4 of them and we're not talking centuries ago, all this happened just over 120 years ago!!

Birth of Maria Horrocks

Tonight I've added some more information to the Horrocks Hunter blog. Stan (a new found cousin) has very kindly left more information about his great grandmother, Maria Horrocks. We haven't got Maria's birth certificate yet as it's being somewhat illusive. I did have a look on freeBMD.com to see if I could locate it & found an entry in the Manchester Registration District ... Maria Horrocks March quarter 1849. I will try & send a letter to the registrar tomorrow asking if this is "our" Maria. It may not be as all her siblings were born in Yorkshire but on some census records it does say she was born in Lancashire.

1871 Census: Maria Horrocks - Sister – 22 - Cotton Winder - Clayton, Lancashire
1881 Census: Maria Rowbotham - Wife - M - 32 - Yorks
1891 Census: Maria Rowbotham - Wife - M - 42 - Lancashire Manchester

I have just had a look on ancestry.com in the index for 1871 & it says Maria was born in Washton, Yorkshire. I could quite easily have written Clayton down by mistake as the rest of the family she was living with were born in Clayton. It was such a long time ago when I found the entry for the 1871 census. I can't have a look at the full entry as I haven't got a subscription, but I'm sure I must have a copy of the original entry somewhere???

In October we are hoping to spend a week in Derbyshire visiting family & friends. I would love to spend a day at the Manchester local study library but as Elena will be with us I'm torn between what I want to do and spending quality time with her. She's is nearly 14 & in another 2 or 3 years she won't want to spend time with us so I should make the most of it will I can. But then one side of me thinks one day wouldn't hurt. It's hard to know what to do for the best sometimes when you're a Mum lol.

OK, just ordered Maria's birth certificate from the ONS in Southport. Luckily the cost is still the same £7.00. Just keeping everything crossed now that it belongs to our Maria!