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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: AlienCovenant on Friday 26 May 17 21:55 BST (UK)
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I know that a lot of Welsh came to Golborne to work in the mines, but I was wondering whether many Irish escaping the potato famine did as well?
I can't find much evidence to suggest that this was the case for Golborne, but as the Irish did migrate to a lot of towns that surround it for jobs offered during the height of the Industrial Revolution (Ashton-in-Makerfield, Newton-le-Willows etc.), I'm curious as to whether an Irish community in Golborne isn't as well recorded, or it just wasn't a town they chose. I'd also be curious as to why the Irish had a preference for the likes of Ashton, Newton or Wigan if they didn't choose Golborne?
Thanks!
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Welcome to Rootschat,
I wonder is it the fact that there were already Catholic churches in the other places ? Checking the datea...... St. John's and St. Mary's in Wigan (buildings) date to 1818/19, St Oswald's in Aston in Makerfield has registers dating back to 1798, St. Mary and St John's (one church) in Newton le Willows is later. First priest appointed 1861. Catholics served by the mission in Aston before this. Golborne seems to be a smaller place at the relevant time, too.
Just suggestions. Is there a reason you are interested in this ?
Joney
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My Irish Catholic ancestor living in Newton, married her second husband in 1870 at St Alban RC Chapel in Warrington!
Her son from a third marriage did end up living in Golborne but he was buried back at St Mary and St John, Newton.
:o
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So the next question is why. I remain convinced that our ancestors generally behaved in a fairly rational manner, so there must be a reason for Warrington. Has someone had a disagreement with a more local priest ? That was possible even in the 19th century. Perhaps it was not possible to have the wedding on that day in Newton, because there were already baptisms or other weddings already arranged, so the priest was fully occupied. Did the husband-to -be already have a family connection with the church in Warrington, so was keen to arrange the marriage there ? When people travel further than they need to, there is usually a good reason.
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Liverpool and South West Lancashire Family History Society has a Warrington group and a Leigh group.
www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk
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I have Newton ancestors that traveled to Warrington to marry at St Elphin Parish Church or the Register Office - being rational doesn't often figure in family research I've found out! lol
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It's not far to go is it?
Have you looked at parish marriage register to see if there may have been a possible clash of weddings as Joney suggests. On the other hand the bride's normal church may have been temporarily out of use for refurbishment/decoration.
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Irish in Golborne - 1861 Census
See Images 1407 to 1536 on this roll:- https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/004034611?cat=520626
I counted about 244 people born in Ireland they are mostly living in districts 2 and 3:-
District 1
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92X-4X47?cat=520626
District 2
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92X-4F4C?cat=520626
District 3
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92X-4XCL?cat=520626
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Seems Irish population of Golborne increased tenfold 1851 - 1861. Many of those on 1851 census were labourers, mostly young and single, living as lodgers. So there didn't seem to have been a mass influx of Irish families in the late 1840s. Mayo was well represented on 1861 census, but there was a range of other counties as well.
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When using census records to look at the size of the Irish community it's common practice to count only Ireland born people as I have done for 1861. Remember the Irish community is actually larger than this number as the English born children of Irish people are counted as English.
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When using census records to look at the size of the Irish community it's common practice to count only Ireland born people as I have done for 1861. Remember the Irish community is actually larger than this number as the English born children of Irish people are counted as English.
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That's what I did. Results: 1841: 1 person; 1851: 20 (approx.); 1861: 240 (approx.)
5 of those in 1851 were in same household and related to each other.
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Population of Golborne was 1,910 in 1851 and 2776 in 1861. Increase was due to demand for workers in cotton factories. Other significant industries were mining and agriculture. (Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales by John Marius Wilson, 1870-2, quoted on A Vision of Britain Through Time) So in simple arithmetic Irish-born accounted for a quarter of the increase.
Looking again at the 1861 census, among the cotton operatives was a high number of young Irish lodgers without families. One 14 year-old girl was designated "head lodger". Did some of them come from workhouses and orphanages, I wonder? A few of the Irish families who were cotton factory workers had previously lived in Manchester. A few others had been in Ashton-in-Makerfield and Prescot. (Deduced from POBs of children.)