Some potential stories just niggle, and James Wood has 'niggled' my Mum since she started researching Dad's family tree in greater depth.
THE FACTS:
- James Wood was born in Bolton in 1843.
- In 1861 James' occupation was 'engine smith apprentice' (Census 1861).
- James married Margaret Horrocks of Bolton on 18 January 1864 at the Wesley Chapel, Bradshawgate, Bolton.
- On the 1871 Census, James (an 'engineer fitter at works') & Margaret live at Apple Street, Bolton, with their four children:- Thomas Holroyd (b.1864), Sarah Harriet (b.1867), Samuel Henry (b.1869) (my great grandfather), James Henry (b.1870).
All quite straight forward, and yet?....
- Margaret gives birth to another James Wood (no middle name) on 1 March 1872, in Varnes Street, Aylesford, Kent.
- On the 1881 census Margaret and the four children appear back in Bolton at 167 Derby Street, Bolton
THE QUESTIONS:
What happened to James and his son James Henry? What took James & Margaret 260 miles from Bolton to Kent? What event made Margaret move back to Bolton?
The answers steadily unraveled this year when Mum made a telephone call to Heaton Cemetery in Bolton, whilst researching the young James Wood (1872, born near Aylesford, died in the Isle of Man and was interred in Liverpool).
Evidence came back in spades, when a helpful chap from Heaton Cemetary not only gave Mum the location of a headstone, but also nipped round in his car later to take a photo. There upon the splendid headstone it says:-
In Loving Memory of
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| Dad at Heaton Cemetary - Sept 2017 |
JAMES WOOD
Died on July 4th. 1874 age 31 yrs.
Interred at Stone Church, Kent.
And MARGARET – his wife.
Died Oct. 1st. 1906 age 65 yrs.
Also JAMES WOOD on April 22nd. 1952
DSO. MRCS. LRCP
Son of the above and
Beloved husband of Betty Wood
After Mum's long years of searching we now have a date of death for James Wood and the knowledge that he is interred at St Mary the Virgin, Stone in Kent, one of the most famous churches in Kent.
The headstone was planned & executed by James ( IOM) & his wife Betty after James (IOM) death in 1952. It is a little sad, as James & Betty died with no children or family to follow their wishes, that Betty's name hasn't been added to the space most likely left for her, but at least she gets her mention.
With more information to hand we were able to request a death certificate for James, which reveals that he died of 'fracture to the skull from accidentally falling from a ladder' at Stone Cement Works in Kent. There was an inquest on 22 July 1874 with information received from Charles Joseph Carttar, Coroner for Kent. (Stone Cement Works is now the location of The Bluewater Shopping Centre).
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| James Wood death certificate 1874 |
So the story builds itself, it would seem as though James & Margaret moved to Kent to build a new life with their four children. Cement was the innovative industry following the Cotton Slump which destroyed Lancashire Mills. Sadly, young James Henry (b.1870) died, we assume soon after James & Margaret arrived in Kent, and James (IOM) was born there.
On the 1881 Census, widowed, with four children, Margaret (a stocking knitter) has returned home to Derby Street, Bolton for her Horrock's family support.
