Hello Martin,
I am the great-great granddaughter of Martha Dale born 1821 to Samuel Dale, Silk Manufacturer and Lucy Brocklehurst in Macclesfield, Cheshire. Martha married William Hamson, manager of Silk Spinning Mill in Commercial Rd, Macclesfield and they immigrated to Brisbane, Australia in 1865. Lucy Brocklehurst was not educated as she signed her 1805 with an X mark. I have a copy of this document. Her parents names were not given and the 1841 census notes she was "not born in Cheshire." The 1851 census records Lucy 68, living in Hulme, Manchester and born in Birmingham, Warwickshire! No birth record has been found. Lucy died 12 May 1866 in Heaton Norris, Manchester aged 80, of old age.
Various accounts of connections with nobility and the Leigh family of Stoneleigh in England have been passed down through the generations by Hamson family members. My grandmother told her daughters that a female ancestor had entertained Queen Victoria. Quite a bit of detailed research has found no conclusive evidence about these stories, though Queen Victoria was indeed a guest at Stoneleigh Manor in 1858 but that's too late for Lucy. I have Samuel Dale born 1783 Astbury, Chesh to William Dale and Phoebe Delves.
Martha (Dale) & William Hamson were considered "middle-class" in Australia and named their house "Stonleigh" !! You can contact me by email at
jvee@powerup.com.auRegards, June (Cochrane) Vickers.
