West Lancashire
The district of West Lancashire is a fairly modern invention, formed in 1974 as a merger of Ormskirk and Skelmersdale and Holland urban districts along with part of West Lancashire Rural District and part of the former Wigan Rural District.
During the 16th to 19th centuries, when the Croft family was spreading from Claughton through Lancashire, this area was part of the hundred of West Derby, one of the six subdivisions of the historic county of Lancashire. These were the hundred of West Derby in the south-west of the county, bordered on its east by the hundreds of Leyland and Salford, with Blackburn to the far east of the county and Amounderness and Lonsdale to the north.
During the 16th to 19th centuries, when the Croft family was spreading from Claughton through Lancashire, this area was part of the hundred of West Derby, one of the six subdivisions of the historic county of Lancashire. These were the hundred of West Derby in the south-west of the county, bordered on its east by the hundreds of Leyland and Salford, with Blackburn to the far east of the county and Amounderness and Lonsdale to the north.
There is plenty of evidence to show that members of the Croft family had migrated from Claughton in the Lune Valley down into Amounderness and West Derby (Liverpool) as early as the mid-16th century, but the specific branch of the family which I follow here are the descendants of Lawrence Croft who had left his birthplace in Littledale near Claughton during the English Civil War (around 1648), ending up in Whittle-le-Woods near Leyland where he married and had a family. Lawrence and his family have already been discussed in the Whittle-le-Woods section, with only his two younger sons William and Thomas having any male children who survived beyond childhood to continue the Croft name. As also previously discussed, Thomas’s line ended up leaving Whittle-le-Woods and settling in the Darwen area of Lancashire. This leaves Lawrence’s second youngest son William, and it is his line which is followed here.
As discussed in the Whittle-le-Woods section, William and Alice (his second wife) had a total of nine children together, born between 1692 and 1710).
William and Alice’s children were:
As discussed in the Whittle-le-Woods section, William and Alice (his second wife) had a total of nine children together, born between 1692 and 1710).
William and Alice’s children were:
Jane
Jane Lawrence Anne Henry Mary Thomas William John |
born 1692 – baptised 14th August, buried 15th August
born 1693 born 1695 born 1698 born 1700 born 1702 born 1704 born 1706 born 1710 |
Alice, William’s wife died in early 1712, and William himself died in 1719 in Whittle-le-Woods.
William and Alice’s eldest son Lawrence Croft married Cicely Disley in Leyland in 1716.
William and Alice’s eldest son Lawrence Croft married Cicely Disley in Leyland in 1716.
The marriage register states that both Lawrence and Cicely are “of Whittle”, but Cicely Disley was actually born in Rufford, about 8 miles south-west of Whittle-le-Woods; when she made the move to Whittle is unknown.
Lawrence and Cicely remained in Whittle and had a total of seven children together between 1717 and 1731, two girls and five boys.
Lawrence and Cicely’s children were:
Lawrence and Cicely remained in Whittle and had a total of seven children together between 1717 and 1731, two girls and five boys.
Lawrence and Cicely’s children were:
Alice
John Ann William Lawrence Henry Thomas |
born 1717
born 1719 born 1721 (died 1 week old) born 1724 born 1726 born 1728 born 1731 |
Lawrence Croft died in October 1731 in Whittle-le-Woods aged only 36, leaving his widow Cicely with six children aged from 14 down to the youngest who was only 6 months old.
It seems that following the death of her husband Cicely decided to move with her children from Whittle-le-Woods back to the area north of Rufford where she was born, and presumably had family.
Cicely lived until 1762, when she died at the age of 68. Her abode in the Rufford church register is given as Becconsall, which is about 4 miles north of Rufford.
The above map of the ancient parish of Croston shows the area in which some of the descendants of Lawrence and Cicely settled.
Following Lawrence and Cicely’s children beginning with the eldest:
Alice Croft (b. 1717) - I have found no record of a marriage or a burial for Alice, but there is a baptism in 1743 of a daughter of Alice Croft (father John Whittle) in Penwortham on the outskirts of Preston, about 6 miles from Becconsall. The child’s name was Cicely, so it looks likely that this is the correct Alice. She would have been about 26 years old at the time.
John Croft (b. 1719) - married Isabel Caunce in 1744 at Croston (about 2 miles north-east of Rufford). John’s occupation is given as Husbandman in the marriage register.
Following Lawrence and Cicely’s children beginning with the eldest:
Alice Croft (b. 1717) - I have found no record of a marriage or a burial for Alice, but there is a baptism in 1743 of a daughter of Alice Croft (father John Whittle) in Penwortham on the outskirts of Preston, about 6 miles from Becconsall. The child’s name was Cicely, so it looks likely that this is the correct Alice. She would have been about 26 years old at the time.
John Croft (b. 1719) - married Isabel Caunce in 1744 at Croston (about 2 miles north-east of Rufford). John’s occupation is given as Husbandman in the marriage register.
John and Isabel had a daughter, Alice born in February 1744/5 and baptised in Heapey, about one and a half miles south east of Whittle-le-Woods. Their abode is given as Whittle in the baptism register, but I can find no further trace of this family after this date.
William Croft (b. 1724) - married Mary Garrett in 1751 at Rufford.
William Croft (b. 1724) - married Mary Garrett in 1751 at Rufford.
Their abode in the marriage register is given as Holmeswood. This is about a mile or so to the west of Rufford, and only mile from Martin Mere where Mary Garrett was born.
I can only find evidence of two children born to William and Mary; the first was Laurence born in 1753 and baptised at Tarleton, about 3 miles north of Rufford. Tarleton is very close to Becconsall where it appears William’s mother Cicely had relocated after her husband Lawrence’s death in 1731, so it makes sense that William should remain in this area after his marriage. I can find no other baptisms of William’s children, but in 1762 there is a burial of William, son of William at Rufford, and again the abode is given as Becconsall. Two years later in 1765 Williams first son Laurence died, buried at Ormskirk for some reason. The abode is given as Tarleton in this register. I have found no other records relating to William and Mary after this, but of course it’s quite possible that they moved on to another area and both died there.
Lawrence Croft (b. 1726) - married Isabel Green in 1745 at Leyland.
I can only find evidence of two children born to William and Mary; the first was Laurence born in 1753 and baptised at Tarleton, about 3 miles north of Rufford. Tarleton is very close to Becconsall where it appears William’s mother Cicely had relocated after her husband Lawrence’s death in 1731, so it makes sense that William should remain in this area after his marriage. I can find no other baptisms of William’s children, but in 1762 there is a burial of William, son of William at Rufford, and again the abode is given as Becconsall. Two years later in 1765 Williams first son Laurence died, buried at Ormskirk for some reason. The abode is given as Tarleton in this register. I have found no other records relating to William and Mary after this, but of course it’s quite possible that they moved on to another area and both died there.
Lawrence Croft (b. 1726) - married Isabel Green in 1745 at Leyland.
As the marriage took place at Leyland, and both Lawrence and Isabel are described as “of Whittle” it is clear that Lawrence, like his brother John, had moved back to Whittle-le-Woods as an adult.
Lawrence and Isabel had four children that I can find; their first child was a son named John, born in 1748 and baptised at Leyland. Their next two children, William and Isabella (twins), were born in 1753, baptised at Heapey, about a mile and a half east of Whittle. Neither of these two children survived however; Isabella died about a month old, and William died at three years old. Lawrence and Isabel had one more child, another son who they named Lawrence. I cannot find his baptism, however his burial at Leyland was in 1754, so he must have been only a matter of weeks or months old.
Isabel, Lawrence’s wife, died in March 1775. I have as yet been unable to find either the death of Lawrence himself, or trace the fate of Lawrence’s eldest son John.
Thomas Croft (b. 1731) - I can find very little about Thomas. There is no burial for him as a child, so I assume he survived to adulthood, but I can find no marriage for him either. There is a burial in 1813 in Brindle, near Whittle-le-Woods of a Thomas Croft aged 77 which could well be the correct individual. His abode is given as Hoghton, a mile or so from Brindle, but no other details are given.
Henry Croft (b. 1728) - married Ann Willasie in 1748 at Leyland.
Lawrence and Isabel had four children that I can find; their first child was a son named John, born in 1748 and baptised at Leyland. Their next two children, William and Isabella (twins), were born in 1753, baptised at Heapey, about a mile and a half east of Whittle. Neither of these two children survived however; Isabella died about a month old, and William died at three years old. Lawrence and Isabel had one more child, another son who they named Lawrence. I cannot find his baptism, however his burial at Leyland was in 1754, so he must have been only a matter of weeks or months old.
Isabel, Lawrence’s wife, died in March 1775. I have as yet been unable to find either the death of Lawrence himself, or trace the fate of Lawrence’s eldest son John.
Thomas Croft (b. 1731) - I can find very little about Thomas. There is no burial for him as a child, so I assume he survived to adulthood, but I can find no marriage for him either. There is a burial in 1813 in Brindle, near Whittle-le-Woods of a Thomas Croft aged 77 which could well be the correct individual. His abode is given as Hoghton, a mile or so from Brindle, but no other details are given.
Henry Croft (b. 1728) - married Ann Willasie in 1748 at Leyland.
It seems that Henry, like his brothers John and Lawrence, had moved back to Whittle-le-Woods, as Henry and Ann’s first child, a girl named Ann, was baptised at Heapey in 1750 and the abode in the register is given as “Whittle”. They did not remain in Whittle, however, as all their subsequent six children were baptised at Rufford. Their abode is given as Martin Mere in 1752, Rufford in 1754, Croston in 1756, Croston-Finney in 1758 and 1760, and Rufford again in 1762. This apparent regular moving around the area is not surprising when you consider Henry’s occupation; in 1752-56 he is described as “labourer”, so would need to go where the work was available, taking his family with him. During the period around 1758-60 while they were in Croston-Finney Henry is a shepherd/herdsman, so this more stable occupation meant that they could stay living in Finney for as long as the job lasted. By 1762 though this employment seems to have finished, as they are back in Rufford with Henry working as a labourer again.
Henry’s situation never improved beyond casual agricultural work it would seem, and when he died in October 1796, he is described as “Pauper” in the Rufford burial register.
Ann, Henry’s widow, died the following year in April 1797, still in Rufford.
Henry and Ann’s children, in order of birth were:
Henry’s situation never improved beyond casual agricultural work it would seem, and when he died in October 1796, he is described as “Pauper” in the Rufford burial register.
Ann, Henry’s widow, died the following year in April 1797, still in Rufford.
Henry and Ann’s children, in order of birth were:
Ann
Cicely Elizabeth John William Robert Thomas |
born 1750
born 1752 born 1754 born 1756 born 1758 born 1760 born 1762 |
Ann Croft (b. 1750) - I cannot trace Ann with any certainty, as there are several possible marriages and burials which could be attributed to her.
Cicely Croft (b. 1752) - married John Williamson in 1789 at Croston. John Williamson was a husbandman, and they had four children together, all boys (although their first child, Henry, died at the age of 3). They lived in Holmeswood, about 2 miles west of Rufford.
Cicely’s husband John died in 1804, still living in Holmeswood, and Cicely remarried in 1808 at the age of 56 to Wignall, a tailor from Rufford.
Elizabeth Croft (b. 1754) - married Thomas Sharrock, a husbandman, in 1783 at Croston. Their first child, named John, was baptised at Rufford in 1785. Thomas is described as “Labourer” in the baptism register. After this I cannot be certain where they went or what happened to them. It’s possible they moved to Upholland, several miles south of Rufford, as there are several baptisms and burials which could be this family. I cannot be certain however, as Sharrock is not an uncommon name in the area.
John Croft (b. 1756) - married Clara (Clarissa, Claris) Hodson in 1780 at Croston.
Cicely Croft (b. 1752) - married John Williamson in 1789 at Croston. John Williamson was a husbandman, and they had four children together, all boys (although their first child, Henry, died at the age of 3). They lived in Holmeswood, about 2 miles west of Rufford.
Cicely’s husband John died in 1804, still living in Holmeswood, and Cicely remarried in 1808 at the age of 56 to Wignall, a tailor from Rufford.
Elizabeth Croft (b. 1754) - married Thomas Sharrock, a husbandman, in 1783 at Croston. Their first child, named John, was baptised at Rufford in 1785. Thomas is described as “Labourer” in the baptism register. After this I cannot be certain where they went or what happened to them. It’s possible they moved to Upholland, several miles south of Rufford, as there are several baptisms and burials which could be this family. I cannot be certain however, as Sharrock is not an uncommon name in the area.
John Croft (b. 1756) - married Clara (Clarissa, Claris) Hodson in 1780 at Croston.
John and Clara had seven children together, all baptised at Tarleton. They had two boys and five girls; both boys and one of the girls died very young, and so the Croft name goes no further with John’s line. The remaining four girls are not in the burial registers of Tarleton or Croston, so I assume they survived to adulthood. However, I cannot with any certainty identify marriages for any of them.
John Croft died in 1815 at the age of 59, still living in Tarleton, and Claris his wife died in 1820.
William Croft (b. 1758) - died in May 1770 aged 12.
Thomas Croft (b. 1762) - died in May 1770 aged 8.
The above two children must have died of the same illness, as they were buried only six days apart.
Robert Croft (b. 1760) - married Dorothy Georgson in 1799 at Ormskirk.
John Croft died in 1815 at the age of 59, still living in Tarleton, and Claris his wife died in 1820.
William Croft (b. 1758) - died in May 1770 aged 12.
Thomas Croft (b. 1762) - died in May 1770 aged 8.
The above two children must have died of the same illness, as they were buried only six days apart.
Robert Croft (b. 1760) - married Dorothy Georgson in 1799 at Ormskirk.
They are both described as “of this parish” in the register, so Robert is evidently resident in the Ormskirk area by this time. Although I have been unable to find the baptism of Dorothy Georgson, the surname is a very common one in the Ormskirk area, particularly in the few miles to the east of Ormskirk; it’s likely therefore that Dorothy Georgson was from this area. Robert and Dorothy had four children together, all baptised at Ormskirk between 1796 and 1805, and the abode given in the register in each case is either Lathom (in three cases) or Burscough (in one case).
Alice Croft (born in 1802), Robert and Dorothy’s only daughter, died aged 8. Despite living in Lathom, and having all their children baptised at Ormskirk, Alice was still buried at Rufford; perhaps this was due to Robert having been born and raised there, and the fact that both his parents and his grandmother Cicely were buried there.
Both Robert and Dorothy lived a long life, and were both still alive when the 1841 census was taken, living in Lathom, with Robert described as a Farmer, even though he would have been 80 years old by this time. Living with them were their youngest son Richard and his wife Ellen.
Robert Croft died in 1845 at the age of 84, and Dorothy died only a few weeks after him.
Richard Croft (born in 1805), Robert and Dorothy’s youngest son, married Ellen Jenkinson in 1841 in Manchester. They had no children together, and Richard died in 1848 aged 43.
Alice Croft (born in 1802), Robert and Dorothy’s only daughter, died aged 8. Despite living in Lathom, and having all their children baptised at Ormskirk, Alice was still buried at Rufford; perhaps this was due to Robert having been born and raised there, and the fact that both his parents and his grandmother Cicely were buried there.
Both Robert and Dorothy lived a long life, and were both still alive when the 1841 census was taken, living in Lathom, with Robert described as a Farmer, even though he would have been 80 years old by this time. Living with them were their youngest son Richard and his wife Ellen.
Robert Croft died in 1845 at the age of 84, and Dorothy died only a few weeks after him.
Richard Croft (born in 1805), Robert and Dorothy’s youngest son, married Ellen Jenkinson in 1841 in Manchester. They had no children together, and Richard died in 1848 aged 43.
Having discussed Alice and Richard (Robert and Dorothy’s two youngest children), neither of whom had any children to continue the line, this leaves Robert and Dorothy’s two eldest sons, Robert and James.
Robert Croft (born 1796), Robert and Dorothy’s eldest son born three years before his parents’ marriage - married Jane Williams in 1818 at Ormskirk.
Robert Croft (born 1796), Robert and Dorothy’s eldest son born three years before his parents’ marriage - married Jane Williams in 1818 at Ormskirk.
Robert and Jane had a large family, thirteen children in all (six boys and seven girls), nine of whom survived to adulthood.
A summary of Robert and Jane’s family is as follows:
A summary of Robert and Jane’s family is as follows:
Peter
Robert Susannah Dorothy Jane Robert John Anne Ellen James Richard Hannah Mary |
b. 1819
b. 1820 (d. before 1828, as another son named Robert in that year) b. 1822 b. 1823 b. 1825 b. 1828 b. 1831 b. 1833 b. 1835 b. 1838 b. 1838 (d. 1839) (James and Richard were twins) b. 1840 b. 1840 (d. 1844) (Hannah and Mary were twins) |
Robert and Jane lived in Maghull, about 4 miles south-west of Ormskirk, after they married. They were there for about 5 years, and Robert’s occupation is given as “Labourer” in the baptism records of his children. They were back in Ormskirk in 1825 when their daughter Jane was born (Robert still a labourer), but by 1828 they had moved to Lathom where Robert was originally from. From this point on Robert is described as “Farmer” in the baptism records of his children. An interesting point to note is the fact that when his son Richard and his daughter Mary died in 1839 and 1844, he took them to Rufford to be buried. This is similar to when Robert’s sister had died as a child and their father had chosen to use Rufford church for the burial.
Robert did not remain farming in Lathom; he is there in the 1841 census, a farmer, but ten years later in the 1851 census he and Jane are in Ormskirk with their three younger daughters, Anne, Ellen and Hannah. Robert is no longer a farmer by this time, but is once again an agricultural labourer. This was a particularly bad period for them as their daughter Ellen died in June 1851 aged 16, and another daughter, Anne, died in 1853 aged 20. Moving on another ten years and the 1861 census finds Robert and Jane living in Liverpool. Now in his sixties, Robert is working as a Carter. By 1871, now in their seventies, Robert and Jane are still in Liverpool (Everton) with Robert described as a “Scavenger”. What kind of Scavenger is not made clear, but it was certainly a very menial job.
Robert Croft died in 1879 aged 83, his wife Jane have died two years earlier.
Robert did not remain farming in Lathom; he is there in the 1841 census, a farmer, but ten years later in the 1851 census he and Jane are in Ormskirk with their three younger daughters, Anne, Ellen and Hannah. Robert is no longer a farmer by this time, but is once again an agricultural labourer. This was a particularly bad period for them as their daughter Ellen died in June 1851 aged 16, and another daughter, Anne, died in 1853 aged 20. Moving on another ten years and the 1861 census finds Robert and Jane living in Liverpool. Now in his sixties, Robert is working as a Carter. By 1871, now in their seventies, Robert and Jane are still in Liverpool (Everton) with Robert described as a “Scavenger”. What kind of Scavenger is not made clear, but it was certainly a very menial job.
Robert Croft died in 1879 aged 83, his wife Jane have died two years earlier.
The children of Robert and Jane who had not died young all married and had families in the West Lancashire area;
Peter - married Catherine Rimmer in 1846 in Liverpool. Catherine was a widow, and already had two children aged 7 and 2 at the time of the marriage. In the 1851 census Peter and Catherine were living in Liverpool, with Peter working as a labourer. They had only one child together, a boy born in 1849 named Robert, who died at one year old. Peter died in 1858 in Liverpool, aged 40.
Susannah - married James Parr in 1842 in Wigan. James Parr was a farmer, and they were both living in Upholland at the time of the marriage. They moved several times (all within a few miles); in 1851 they were in Burscough, (still farming), in 1861 they were in Wrightington with James employed as a grocer, and in 1871 they were in Parbold with James working as a farm labourer. Susannah died in 1875, aged 53.
Dorothy - married John Richardson, a farmer, in 1848 in Ormskirk. John Richardson was from Tarbock, a few miles east of Liverpool, and this is where they returned to farm after they married. They had seven children together (at least two of which were born several years before they married).
Dorothy died in 1859 aged 36.
Jane - had a son Thomas born in 1846 in Lathom. She married Richard Mason, a labourer in Dalton near Upholland in 1847. Her son Thomas would have been a year and a half old by then, but this child died in 1849 aged 3. Jane lived until at least the 1880s, but I’ve been unable to find her after the 1881 census, or find her death.
Robert - married Margaret Jones, a widow, in 1852 in Liverpool. In the 1861 census they are living in Liverpool, Robert working as a carter. They had a son James in 1854, and are all still in Liverpool (Everton) in 1871. Margaret died in 1874, and Robert remarried the following year to Annie Marston.
Robert died in 1903 aged 74.
John - married Sarah Ryder in 1856 in Liverpool, and they lived in the Everton area of Liverpool. They had eight children together, four of whom survived to adulthood. John worked as a labourer his whole life, and died in 1875, aged 43. His widow, Sarah, remarried three years later. She married John’s younger brother James.
James - married Sarah Croft (John’s widow), in 1878 in Liverpool. In the 1881 census they are living in Everton, and with them are all John and Sarah’s children (including Elizabeth who was 22 years old by then). It seems that James was happy to take on his brother’s whole family. Like his brother, James was a general labourer. Sarah died in 1886, and John remarried in 1890 to Elizabeth Parry, a widow, in Liverpool. The 1891 census sees them together in Everton; James is a cotton porter, and with them are Elizabeth’s three children from her previous marriage. John and Sarah’s children are no longer with James, but this is not surprising since Thomas, the youngest, would have been 19 years old by then. The marriage was tragically short however, as Elizabeth died in 1891, only a year after they married. James died in 1908 in Everton.
Hannah - married Thomas Haworth in 1860 in Everton. They had eight children together, but Hannah was widowed in 1878. Hannah is with her children in Everton in the 1881 census, but I cannot trace after this time.
Peter - married Catherine Rimmer in 1846 in Liverpool. Catherine was a widow, and already had two children aged 7 and 2 at the time of the marriage. In the 1851 census Peter and Catherine were living in Liverpool, with Peter working as a labourer. They had only one child together, a boy born in 1849 named Robert, who died at one year old. Peter died in 1858 in Liverpool, aged 40.
Susannah - married James Parr in 1842 in Wigan. James Parr was a farmer, and they were both living in Upholland at the time of the marriage. They moved several times (all within a few miles); in 1851 they were in Burscough, (still farming), in 1861 they were in Wrightington with James employed as a grocer, and in 1871 they were in Parbold with James working as a farm labourer. Susannah died in 1875, aged 53.
Dorothy - married John Richardson, a farmer, in 1848 in Ormskirk. John Richardson was from Tarbock, a few miles east of Liverpool, and this is where they returned to farm after they married. They had seven children together (at least two of which were born several years before they married).
Dorothy died in 1859 aged 36.
Jane - had a son Thomas born in 1846 in Lathom. She married Richard Mason, a labourer in Dalton near Upholland in 1847. Her son Thomas would have been a year and a half old by then, but this child died in 1849 aged 3. Jane lived until at least the 1880s, but I’ve been unable to find her after the 1881 census, or find her death.
Robert - married Margaret Jones, a widow, in 1852 in Liverpool. In the 1861 census they are living in Liverpool, Robert working as a carter. They had a son James in 1854, and are all still in Liverpool (Everton) in 1871. Margaret died in 1874, and Robert remarried the following year to Annie Marston.
Robert died in 1903 aged 74.
John - married Sarah Ryder in 1856 in Liverpool, and they lived in the Everton area of Liverpool. They had eight children together, four of whom survived to adulthood. John worked as a labourer his whole life, and died in 1875, aged 43. His widow, Sarah, remarried three years later. She married John’s younger brother James.
James - married Sarah Croft (John’s widow), in 1878 in Liverpool. In the 1881 census they are living in Everton, and with them are all John and Sarah’s children (including Elizabeth who was 22 years old by then). It seems that James was happy to take on his brother’s whole family. Like his brother, James was a general labourer. Sarah died in 1886, and John remarried in 1890 to Elizabeth Parry, a widow, in Liverpool. The 1891 census sees them together in Everton; James is a cotton porter, and with them are Elizabeth’s three children from her previous marriage. John and Sarah’s children are no longer with James, but this is not surprising since Thomas, the youngest, would have been 19 years old by then. The marriage was tragically short however, as Elizabeth died in 1891, only a year after they married. James died in 1908 in Everton.
Hannah - married Thomas Haworth in 1860 in Everton. They had eight children together, but Hannah was widowed in 1878. Hannah is with her children in Everton in the 1881 census, but I cannot trace after this time.
James Croft (born 1799), Robert and Dorothy’s second son, married Mary Welch in 1832 at Rufford.
James and Mary had six children together, four boys and two girls (if we assume that the first two children who were born before they married were also the children of James). These were:
Robert
Jane James Elizabeth Thomas Edward |
b. 1828 (before James and Mary married - baptised Welch)
b. 1831 (as with Robert, before her parents’ marriage - baptised Welch) b. 1833 b. 1834 b. 1836 b. 1838 (d. 1840) |
James was a miller by trade, and the family lived in Lathom/Burcough. There was a corn mill in Burscough at the time, so it seems likely that this was where James was the miller. Tragically, probably as the result of an accident, James died in 1839 aged 40.
This left his widow Mary to bring up their young family. The 1841 census finds her with her children in Burscough; Mary is an Agricultural labourer. A decade later in the 1851 census Mary is still in Burscough, still working as an agricultural labourer, but with only two daughters living with her, Jane aged 26, and another daughter Margery aged 8. The father of this younger daughter is unknown, however for some reason Mary had her daughter baptised twice, first at Burscough church on July 18th, and again at Rufford church on 1st October!
Mary died in Burscough in 1854.
This left his widow Mary to bring up their young family. The 1841 census finds her with her children in Burscough; Mary is an Agricultural labourer. A decade later in the 1851 census Mary is still in Burscough, still working as an agricultural labourer, but with only two daughters living with her, Jane aged 26, and another daughter Margery aged 8. The father of this younger daughter is unknown, however for some reason Mary had her daughter baptised twice, first at Burscough church on July 18th, and again at Rufford church on 1st October!
Mary died in Burscough in 1854.
Turning now to James and Mary’s children:
Robert - married Ellen Houghton in 1848 at Ormskirk. He was described as a labourer on the baptisms of his two sons, James (1849) and Robert (1851), and their abode in both cases was Burscough. Robert died in 1853, by which time they were living Dalton, Upholland, a few miles east of Lathom. Robert’s widow Ellen did not remarry, but did go on to have seven more children with a man named George Corless in Upholland, with whom she lived until her death in 1895.
Jane - still living with her mother in the 1851 census, she never married and went from working as an agricultural labourer to being a domestic servant in later life. She died in 1908 aged 77.
James - married Margery Welch in 1857 at Ormskirk. They had only two children together, Mary in 1858 and James in 1862. James started off as an agricultural labourer (in 1858 on the baptism of his first child and in the 1861 census), but by the birth of his second child in 1862 he had become a farm bailiff. By the 1871 census he was a farmer of 23 acres in Lathom, but by 1881 he was farming only 7 acres. It must have been a struggle to make a living on only this amount of land. James continued farming until his death in 1915 at the age of 82.
Elizabeth - never married as far as I can find. She was working as a house servant in Lathom at the time of the 1851 census, and in 1857 had a child (father unknown) who died the following year. By the 1861 census Elizabeth was in Liverpool working as a dairy maid, and in 1865 she had another child by an unspecified father. She named this child James. The following year in 1866 Elizabeth had two more children, again by an unspecified father (perhaps the same father as the previous child). This time she had twins, a boy and a girl, but again both sadly died within a few weeks of their birth. I cannot determine what became of Elizabeth after this. I have been unable to find her in the 1871 census, nor her death before this, but her 5-year-old son James appears living with his uncle in the census.
Thomas - married Jane Croston in 1860 at Burscough. They never had children, and Thomas was an agricultural labourer, living in the same area of Burscough his whole adult life. Jane died in 1902, and Thomas died in 1918 aged 81.
Descendants of several of the children of both Robert Croft and James Croft (Robert and Dorothy's sons b.1796 and 1799) had families which remained in West Lancashire, and it is likely that there are descendants of these families there to this day, but having followed this branch of the family into the 20th century, I shall leave it there and take it no further for now.
Robert - married Ellen Houghton in 1848 at Ormskirk. He was described as a labourer on the baptisms of his two sons, James (1849) and Robert (1851), and their abode in both cases was Burscough. Robert died in 1853, by which time they were living Dalton, Upholland, a few miles east of Lathom. Robert’s widow Ellen did not remarry, but did go on to have seven more children with a man named George Corless in Upholland, with whom she lived until her death in 1895.
Jane - still living with her mother in the 1851 census, she never married and went from working as an agricultural labourer to being a domestic servant in later life. She died in 1908 aged 77.
James - married Margery Welch in 1857 at Ormskirk. They had only two children together, Mary in 1858 and James in 1862. James started off as an agricultural labourer (in 1858 on the baptism of his first child and in the 1861 census), but by the birth of his second child in 1862 he had become a farm bailiff. By the 1871 census he was a farmer of 23 acres in Lathom, but by 1881 he was farming only 7 acres. It must have been a struggle to make a living on only this amount of land. James continued farming until his death in 1915 at the age of 82.
Elizabeth - never married as far as I can find. She was working as a house servant in Lathom at the time of the 1851 census, and in 1857 had a child (father unknown) who died the following year. By the 1861 census Elizabeth was in Liverpool working as a dairy maid, and in 1865 she had another child by an unspecified father. She named this child James. The following year in 1866 Elizabeth had two more children, again by an unspecified father (perhaps the same father as the previous child). This time she had twins, a boy and a girl, but again both sadly died within a few weeks of their birth. I cannot determine what became of Elizabeth after this. I have been unable to find her in the 1871 census, nor her death before this, but her 5-year-old son James appears living with his uncle in the census.
Thomas - married Jane Croston in 1860 at Burscough. They never had children, and Thomas was an agricultural labourer, living in the same area of Burscough his whole adult life. Jane died in 1902, and Thomas died in 1918 aged 81.
Descendants of several of the children of both Robert Croft and James Croft (Robert and Dorothy's sons b.1796 and 1799) had families which remained in West Lancashire, and it is likely that there are descendants of these families there to this day, but having followed this branch of the family into the 20th century, I shall leave it there and take it no further for now.