RootsChat.Com

It also might have answered a question I’ve been puzzling over for about 15 years!
Thanks all.

Any ideas whether school records might be available anywhere?!

And when I check the death certificate, the informant is a '? Harrison in attendance Samlesbury'

Not quite conclusive, but a start...

I notice that there was a school at Old Hall Samlesbury. In 1861 there are boarders as young as 6. Maybe William James was sent here?

Thank you everyone. I think I have much of the info.

With both parents dead, support of the children would become the responsibility of the poor law guardians.

They are quite likely to have farmed out the children to foster parents, who would have received financial support from the guardians. This worked out cheaper than keeping them full time in the Workhouse, and would generally give the children a better environment than an institution.

I’ve been trying to work out what happened to these children for a few years! There was quite an extended family, so I suspect they may have been taken in by family, but hard to know.

William's burial showing abode of Walton-le Dale?

Burial: 13 Dec 1861 St John, Preston, Lancashire, England
William James Seed -
    Age: 5
    Abode: Walton le Dale
    Buried by: J. Wilson

Where did this record come from? I guess Walton le Dale is right side of Preston for Samlesbury. I’ll have to see if there’s a J Wilson anywhere. I know he had an Aunt married to a Hilton Wilson.

Was it William James Seed aged 5, sub district Walton le Dale? (Lancashire BMD)
Burial 13th Dec. 1861, St. John, Preston, abode Walton le Dale. (LAN OPC)

Is this burial of his mother, Jane? 26th May1861 St. John, Preston, age 39, abode Avenham Rd. (LAN OPC)

Were all the children with their mother on 1861 census? Have you found them on 1871 census?

Andrew's explanation sounds likely if there were no relatives who could take the children.
 

Yes Jane is mother. Yes all children are with mother at Avenham Road on 1861 Census. I have found some of children on 1871. Not John and Samuel died 1869.

Robert had Provision Dealer shop in Friargate and was also innkeeper at the Horn’s from 1856ish. He was a champion shot and won prizes for horse breeding. Not sure where the Henry comes from! Where are you seeing this?

Thanks again for all responses. The Smith link definitely gives me another line to follow.


Robert's burial is interesting

'resident of Preston & Churchtown' and something I can't quite interpret what is written below his occupation of provision dealer (not inn keeper- again odd) - something about  a Henry