HER CHILDREN:
1. MARY / FLORENCE
Mary, Mary Alice, Mary F. and Forence M?
Birth cert: B. 10 Oct 1874 Whitwell, Bradfield, Mary, Girl, [father’s name blank], of Elizabeth Crossley. Informant: Charles Crossley, Occupier, Whitwell. Baptised at Bolsterstone 10 June 1876: Mary Alice dau of Elizabeth Crossley of Whitwell, single woman, b 29 October 1874 [sic]. What is odd is that on all subsequent records, her DOB works out at 1876. But I can't find a death for this Mary or a birth for a Florence Mary/Mary Florence.
The Registrar’s Office in Sheffield checked various possibilities for me, and only one matched to a single mother called Elizabeth – the birth of Mary Crossley on 10th Oct 1874.
I am sure Mary, Mary Alice and Mary F. and Florence Mary were the same person. There is no Florence Mary or Mary Alice or Mary Florence in the births indexes that fit these dates. The only Florence Mary was born in Lancashire in 1875, but she died in 1877. There were other Florence Marys in 1873, one at Leeds (dau of Thomas and Mary) and one at Walsall (she was in London in 1881)
1881: Coach House, Hunshelf: Florence Crossley was with Charles & Mary, 5 years old, g/dau
1891: Coach House, Hunshelf: Mary F. Crossley was with Charles & Mary, 15 years old, g/dau
My grandma (Elizabeth’s granddaughter Connie Crossley) said one of Elizabeth’s daughters had married a man called Moody.
Married at The Registry Office in the District of Wortley, Thirtieth June 1900, by Certificate:
John William Moody, 27 years, Bachelor, Labourer, Deepcar; John Moody (decd), Labourer
Florence Mary Crossley, 24 years, Spinster, Deepcar [no father]
They lived in Sheffield. I am in touch with her descendant but he knows nothing about her history.
2. ERNEST
Baptised at Bolsterstone 26 September 1879: Ernest son of Elizabeth Crossley of Stocksbridge, single woman, born 21 August 1876.
Birth certificate: B. 22 Aug 1876, Whitwell Bradfield, Ernest, [father’s name - blank] son of Elizabeth Crossley. Informant: the mark of Elizabeth Crossley, mother, Whitwell Bradfield
1881 census, Coach House, Hunshelf. Charles & Mary Crossley together with Ernest Crossley, grandson, 3 years old, born Ecclesfield [parish] c1878
1891 census, Coach House, Hunshelf. Mary Crossley and family together with Ernest Crossley, grandson, 13 years old, factory hand in steel works, born Bolsterstone c1878
1901 census, 16 Haywoods Park. Mary Crossley and family together with Ernest Crossley, grandson, single, 24 years old, labourer in wire mill, born Stocksbridge c1877
1911 census, 16 Haywoods Park. Eleanor Crossley (head, single, 40, born Bolsterstone). Ernest Crossley (nephew, single, 34, steel rod dresser, born Bolsterstone c1877). Arnold Crossley (nephew, single, 19, steel rod dresser, born Bolsterstone).
Ernest Crossley of Haywood Park who died 21st March 1937 aged 58 [born c1879]; buried at Bolsterstone 24th March. I don’t think he married. I can’t find his death certificate although I am sure I have it.
3. WRIGHT CROSSLEY
Baptised at Bolsterstone 01 October 1879: Wright son of Elizabeth Crossley of Stocksbridge, single woman, born 27 April 1879 [birth certificate says 17th April]. He was baptised at the same time as Elizabeth’s sisters Eleanor (born 1870) and Havis (born 1873).
Birth certificate: B. 17 April 1879, Whitwell, Bradfield, Wright, [father’s name - blank] son of Elizabeth Crossley. The mark of Mary Crossley [grandmother], Present at the birth, Whitwell, Bradfield. Death certificate: d. 12 Aug 1880 Stocksbridge, Hunshelf. Wright Crossley, male, 1 year, son of Elizabeth Crossley. Present at the death – Mary Ann Sykes [a neighbour]
4. THOMAS MARSH CROSSLEY – my great grandfather
Born 14th December 1886 at 7 Court, Chapel Street, Thomas Marsh, boy, son of Elizabeth Crossley (her mark) of Old Haywoods, Deepcar, near Sheffield [from birth certificate]. Baptised St. Philip’s Church, Sheffield, 14 January 1887: Thomas Marsh son of Elizbeth Crossley of Stocksbridge. He was given the middle name of Marsh at birth, which makes me think his father was a Marsh. He was brought up by the Marsh family but try as I might I can’t find a connection. I have looked for Elizabeth living with a Marsh, using the surname Marsh, with no success. Married 1910 to Clara Crawshaw; no father’s name given on marriage certificate. Died 1963. Had one child, my grandma Connie Crossley, in 1913.
I have traced all Charles and Mary’s children in the hope they might have been harbouring Elizabeth, no luck. And just for good measure, I’ll throw in my nan Connie’s story. There was a mysterious ancestor, a ‘Lady in her own right’, owning her own crested linen and silver. The romantic elopement, running away with one of the servants - the family's coachman - and the inevitable consequence of being disowned, never to be referred to again, any references to her destroyed, gone as if she never existed for bringing shame on the family. Tales of a young girl stolen away by white slave traders and never heard of again, and another who was a “Queen’s nurse”. I found black slave traders, a nurse and maybe a prostitute (white slave trade). Some names my nan remembered turned up. I got the impression Thomas Marsh did not see his mother, but I may be wrong. I’ve traced members of the Marsh family, some of them remember an “uncle Thomas” but no scandalous stories. I feel like I’ve run out of options, apart from a séance!
