Stuck in Eckington

[Gardener]

Until very recently nobody knew anything about my great-grandfather, John Frederick 'Johnny' Clare. He ran off and left my grandmother when she was young and went off to have another family in the same village. However, a month ago I ordered his birth certificate, which said he had been born on the 27/6/1918 at 111 Station Road, Holbrook, the son of Charles Clare and Sarah Ann Clare formerly Ellis. I ordered their marriage certificate, which I will type out below:
Tenth     Charles Clare 36 Bachelor Railway Platelayer Station Road Holbrook s.o John Clare, Carpenter
October 
1904      Sarah Ann Ellis 23 Spinster of Station Road, Holbrook, d.o James Ellis (deceased), Railway guard.
They were married at Eckington Parish Church and witnessed by William Leah and Hannah Oates.

Hi. If I'm stuck I always try looking at the witnesses to a wedding, to see if they give any clues.

William Leah could be this one, perhaps just a neighbour?
1901 census living 108 Station Road, William Hump. Leah aged 19, corporal in coal mine born Eckington, Holbrook.

Hannah Oates could be this one, also living nearby.
1901 census
New St, Eckington
Fred Oates head m 26 coal miner filler, Yorks, Huddersfield
Hannah ditto wife 26 Yorks Birstall Leeds
Sydney ditto son 4 Derbys Holbrook
John Ar. ditto son 3 Derbys ?Shingmill
George Saunderson lodger s 50 Yorks Doncaster

There is a marriage perhaps:
Fred Oates to Hannah Ellis (on same page) Dec qtr 1895 Dewsbury

So maybe Hannah Oates was Sarah Ann's sister? Following that idea, this could be them in 1881

Church St, Gomersal
James Ellis head mar 24 shunter L&NW Rail, Wakefield, York
Ann ditto wife mar 34 Littletown? Yorks
John G. ditto son 4 scholar Birstal Yorks
Hannah ditto dau 6 scholar ditto
Sarah ditto dau 3mo Ditto

[Greenealogist]

Gardener
You, Sir (or Madam), are a wonderful person. I think you have just cracked Sarah Ann Ellis. Well done, I congratulate you. My sincere thanks, I shall take this information. Now all that remains are the Clares, but I have a hunch they might be more difficult than the Ellises.
Thank you, and also to everyone else who has helped so far.
James

[Tuppie]

I have now checked the original census and it is actually 111 Station Road, Holbrook, Halfway, Nr Sheffield.

Both these hamlets were in the parish of Eckington.

I find it strange that they cannot be found on any of the census.

The other records you could check are the  electoral rolls which are  available at the record office at Matlock.

[Greenealogist]

Just found this, thanks to Gardener
23 Davy Street, Brighouse, 1901
Lena Ellis Head Wid 35 Yorks., Scarborough
Sarah Ann Ellis Daughter S 20 Cotton Knotter Yorks., Gomersall
Maud Ellis Daughter 6 Yorks., Mirfield
Lilian Ellis Daughter 4 Yorks., Mirfield
Doris Ellis Daughter 7 mos. Yorks., Mirfield
So, did Ann die and James marry again, then die no later than 16 months before the 1901 census? Evidently, Sarah Ann is Lena's stepdaughter and not daughter judging by the ages (and the fact we know that she was someone elses daughter). That's all for tonight, must go to bed so I can get up for school.
James

[JillJ]

Hi James,

I can't add any information that will be of use to you but I do want to applaud and congratulate you!  It is rare indeed to find a 14 year old who is not only literate and polite but tenacious too!

Keep up the good work!

Jill

[omskirk]

Hi James,

I can't add any information that will be of use to you but I do want to applaud and congratulate you!  It is rare indeed to find a 14 year old who is not only literate and polite but tenacious too!

Keep up the good work!

Jill

Hear Hear!

[Greenealogist]

Thank you very much for your kind comments, Jill and Omskirk. I have just a couple of things to add to what has already been found:
Marriages Sep 1874   (>99%)
Ellis    James        Dewsbury    9b   892    
FIRTH    Ann         Dewsbury    9b   892    
Thanks to FreeBMD.
1861 Census of Liversedge
Isaac Firth [No relation given] Widr. 76 Woolen Weaver Yorks., Littletown
John Firth Head Widr. 41 Woolen Weaver Yorks., Littletown
James Firth Son 12 Looser in Dye Works Yorks., Littletown
Ann Firth Daughter 13 Worsted Spinner Yorks., Littletown
And from Familysearch:
John Firth bp. 27 Dec 1818 in Birstall son of Isaac and Sarah
So, does this seem to be a reasonable assumption to make?
James

[alecbowman]

James,

Althought thiss is not directly to do with your search, I often find it useful to look at old maps to find places which no longer exist or have changed (like the railway).

Try www.old-maps.co.uk for example.

Alec

[Greenealogist]

Hi Alec
Thanks for the advice, I've managed to track down the station on there which is useful.
James