Torrington, Lancs - anybody heard of it?

[robsgenealogy]

I've seen a couple of mentions of it as place of birth on census returns. It's Bolton, I think, possibly Little Lever. I can't find any other info about it. An old map would be useful if anybody can locate it. thanks
Rob

[Ladyhawk]

I wonder if this was a mistake 

Did you look at the original censuses where the birth place has been give as Torrington Lancs?

I thought Torrington was in Devon

http://torrington.clearpagesonline.com/map-torrington.php

list of Torrington Street names

http://www.proviser.com/regional/towns/torrington/street_maps/

[Gillg]

I wonder if it should be Tottington, which is near Bury?

[Ladyhawk]

I wonder if it should be Tottington, which is near Bury?

You could be right Gillg

http://www.alangodfreymaps.co.uk/lancs08704.htm

[Ladyhawk]

Hi robsgenealogy

I did a random search of the 1891 census

RG12/3129/9/13 - AINSWORTH family birth place given as TOTTINGTON, Lancashire  they are living 11 Green Street, ToTTington Lower End, Woolford BURY

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/Tottington/

so I would think the ones you have seen as ToRRington Lancs should be ToTTington

Hope this helps

[robsgenealogy]

a clip from ancestors' census

[robsgenealogy]

and an entry from 1881 Todmorden workhouse where there are 2 mentions of Torrington.

[mosiefish]

Hi,

I have been researching in the Bury and Bolton areas for more years than I would care to remember – there is no Torrington. The only time I have come across Torrington is as a mistranscription or a misheard place that has been recorded by an enumerator on the census.  Looking at a previous or future census usually indicates that it was actually Tottington or a village or town in the Township of Tottington.  Unfortunately when they state born Tottington, (Torrington or Toddington) it doesn`t necessarily mean the actual village.  The Township of Lower and Higher Tottington End stretched from just below Haslingden to almost Bury and included places such as Edenfield, Ramsbottom, Holcombe, and Tottington.   The Township was also in the Parish of Bury so they may also state Bury as the place of birth.  It is a veritable minefield!

I was going to ask if you have found her before her marriage or her fathers name when she married, but I can see your problem.    (yes I have worked it out!)

Regards,
Mo

[robsgenealogy]

Thanks, Mosiefish
most helpful and very informative. I was suspicious of it being Tottington from the outset. My ancestor's place of birth was stated on census returns from 1881 and 1891 as Burnley, then Bolton. However, there were other strange things. The family appear to have changed their surname on the aforementioned census returns and even had 3 of their offspring baptised in Bolton under the new name, before switching back to their original name and turning up in Burnley in 1901 where the first mention of Tottington as place of birth appears. Thanks again.
Rob