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Saturday, November 14, 2009

Tracking down the Family History of the 'Johnsons' (or should that be the Shorrocks')?




From Islington Street, Salford to South Cheshire, via South London, three generations, and a change of name









THIS IS WHAT I STARTED WITH:

"My grandfather Harold [‘Harry’] Johnson migrated from Salford, Lancashire to London at the turn of the 19th century. Harry must have been born around 1885. Although he spent most of his life in London, he continued to speak with a pronounced northern accent. Harry’s father was a publican who kept a pub in Salford – his name was probably Robert.

More information on the family could possibly be obtained by consulting UK Census material for the occupants of the address of the pub (comparatively easily located, as presumably, there were a limited number of Johnson families who had this occupation - and publicans always lived on the premises). Another alternative would be to research the licensing records for Salford pubs. [This information may be wrong and is under review]

We know almost nothing else about the family in the North, though there are many Johnson farming families in Cheshire (and it was very common for the younger sons of farmers to operate small businesses like pubs). One example of a local Johnson family is provided by Bunbury Church – a special place for the family as my mother worshipped there regularly and we often took Midnight Christmas Communion there as a family – this contains a rather grand 18th century memorial to a Mrs. Johnson[1]. It is not totally implausible that we are related to her, or rather to her husband.

AFTER 7 YEARS TRYING TO TIE THINGS DOWN:

Introduction

In the early part of my life, I was brought up in an entirely female household consisting of my mother Mabel Kenyon Johnson, my sister Susan Davina Johnson (who is over seven years older than I am), and my grandmother Gladys Clarke. We lived in a semi-detached suburban house named ‘Linwood’ on the Crewe Road in Willaston, Cheshire (between the old country town of Nantwich and the industrial and rail centre of Crewe).

It was not until I was five years old when Meg (i.e. Mabel) remarried and we moved to a farm at Wettenhall near Winsford, Cheshire that men really came into my life – in the form of my step-father Horace Darlington and the workers on the farm that Horace managed.

When, over the years I found myself the father of four boys, I decided that our Family History should provide a balanced treatment of both the men and women in the family – and that it should start in proper patriarchal style with our male forbears. The problem with that decision was that meant starting from the point at which information was in shortest supply.

My father had died in October 1943 in an air accident flying with the Royal Airforce – I was born some 7-8 months later in June 1944. As for my grandfather Harry Johnson, he died in 1945 – and by the time I came to start researching the family, both of my father’s brothers Robert Lubbock Johnson and Eric Harry Johnson were also dead.

So what started as a simple challenge became a serious hobby that in turn yielded a significant set of engaging problems – one of which, identifying the origins of my grandfather Harry Johnson became a longstanding challenge (2002-2009) to both my research abilities and patience. This then starts our story.

SEARCHING FOR MY 'JOHNSON FAMILY'

For starters, Johnson is a very common name – it is the second most common name in the USA (with 2.2 million holders) and the tenth most common name in England. It also has alternative spellings (principally Johnston and Johnstone but also rarer name variants like Joynson). And Harry is not a highly distinctive name as it can stand by itself - and act as a nickname form of Henry, Harold and even Hereward.

The scraps of oral information that I could remember were meager. My mother had told me that the Johnsons originated in Salford, Lancashire and that there was a tradition of giving the eldest sons the name of Robert. There was also mention of a family pub (as yet to be validated or identified). Subsequent contact with my three Johnson cousins (Janice, Robert’s daughter) and Judy and Gillian (the daughters of Eric Johnson) added nothing substantial that could be used in pinning down the family’s origins.

Surprisingly, Robert (or Uncle Bob as he was always known to me) referred to his father as ‘Harold’ Johnson when he submitted details to the War office for the commemoration of my father’s death. In contrast, my father recorded his father as ‘Henry’ Johnson when provided details for his own marriage certificate.

However, when I was able to obtain Harry’s own marriage certificates (recording his marriage to my grandmother Constance Maud Mary Lubbock in 1907 and his re-marriage as a widower to Florence Wood in 1944) he clearly recorded himself as ‘Harry’ Johnson.

It started to seem that the facts about Harry Johnson were not entirely straightforward – not the least of which was the conundrum that two of his sons differed markedly in their interpretations of his name. Of course, people who wish to gain anonymity may be cautious in their disclosure of facts - and indeed adopt more common names that allow them to dissolve into the general populace.

One ‘fact’ did emerge from the early rounds of research. In both of Harry’s marriage certificates he refers to his father (my great grandfather) as ‘Robert Edwin Johnson’ and cites his occupation as ‘Brushmanufacturer’.

This then became the focus of the research – to identify a Brushmanufacturer / Brushmaker with the name of Robert or Robert Edwin Johnson, who had a son with a name that could be related to ‘Harry’ and who was born in or around 1879 (the various certificates supported a birthday in the early part of 1879).

As the research evolved, the internet information sources became steadily more diverse and complete between 2002 and 2009. Initially, the search began with the 1881 Census which was the first to be computerized (FamilySearch.com) and which has a useful search engine that allows search links between an individual (e.g. Harry Johnson) and the head of household containing the individual (e.g. Robert Edwin Johnson).

The obvious starting point was Salford, Lancashire. The search did not yield any plausible results. The search was then widened to the whole of England and Wales without result – except for the discovery of a Brushmanufacturer named Robert Johnson who was born, lived and worked in West Ham, London in the right era.

Subsequently, it has become possible to access all of the decennial censuses for England from 1841 to 1911. Combing them became a very long-term and necessarily tedious task. None of them provides any link to a Brushmanufacturer named Robert / Robert Edwin Johnson who had a son who could reasonably have been called ‘Harry’. In my disenchantment with the available data though, I more or less adopted the West Ham family and conducted a good deal of interesting but superfluous research on its family members (see box below).

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MY FALSE START UP TO JANUARY 2009

Actually, almost everything that I have written above may be wrong. It has taken a good deal of effort and persistence to try to track down my Johnson ancestors, partly due to the commonness of the name, partly due to the fact that links were lost with the Johnson side of the family, and not least because the little oral history that I had was erroneous. I am not sure where the Salford reference arose - it is clearly wrong. However, it would have allowed a reprise of D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers, with my grandfather leaving t' Grim North for work in an office in London, like Paul Morel's older brother - and my father Cyril coming back north to rural Cheshire to claim his birthright.

Anyhow, the ‘truth’ is interesting and challenging enough. Let us then start again.

My current ‘best assessment’ is as follows:

My great grandfather Robert Edwin Johnson was born at Plaistow, West Ham, London c1853. Hs wife Elizabeth was born in Gravesend, Kent c1854. According to the 1901 Census, Robert and Elizabeth were then living at 141 Queen's Road, Plaistow with younger children Amy V. (16); Daisy G., (14); Anne L. (12); Alice (10); and William H. (5). All of the younger children had been born in Plaistow. Robert's occupation is given as Brush Manufacturer and he was living 'at own account'. This suggests that he was running a small factory making brushes (probably fancy brushes for personal grooming).

It seems that my great grandmother was born Elizabeth Bossley in Gravesend and that she married Robert Edwin Johnson in the June Quarter of 1876. It has also proved possible to pick up the family in the 1881 Census, with the family consisting of Robert Johnson (28) Brush Maker (b Plaistow), with 27 year old wife Elizabeth (b Gravesend) and oldest son Robert J. Johnson aged 2 (b West Ham) and daughters Elizabeth C. aged 4, born Poplar, Middlesex, and Caroline aged 9 m, born Plaistow, Essex. The family was then living at 4 Chapman Road, West Ham, Essex. It is possible that my infant grandfather Harry was in the charge of a nurse Rose Ann Seager at 68 Cromer Street, Middlesex, presumably due to a postnatal illness.

Having obtained a copy of Robert [Edwin?] Johnson's Marriage Certificate, I can now confirm that he married Elizabeth Bossley on 4th July 1876 at the Parish Church of Bromley St Leonard, Middlesex. My great grandfather Robert Johnson is described as a Brushmaker and both he and Elizabeth were living in Bromley. Their ages are simply stated as 'full'. The Certificate also gives the names and occupations of the fathers of the bride and groom. My great great grandfather Robert William Lilystone Johnson is decribed as a Basketmaker. Elizabeth's father's name is given as John Bossley, Sawyer. The witnesses were Thomas William Bossley and Ann Elizabeth Bossley (presumably siblings). The Bossleys hail from Gravesend, where according to one of our relatives George Bennett, who has an impish sense of humour, 'they were the town drunks'[2].

I have been able to pick up R.W.L. Johnson (the elder Robert) in the 1881 Census and it seems that he was born in Plaistow in 1820, suggesting that the family has a very long history in that area. Again, the fact that the family had stayed in the same area for a long period, while Plaistow was enveloped by London, may help explain the lack of definition in the family history.

If families move substantial distances, they invariably carry a memory of that shift (e.g. most New Zealand families have a clear picture of when their ancestors arrived here).

In 1881, the elder Robert was living with wife Catherine (60), born Catherine Bowen in North Weald, Essex, at East Street, Barking, Essex, with son Alfred (25), harness maker born West Ham; son George (23) Basket Maker born West Ham, and daughter Caroline (19) born West Ham, no occupation given. The Lilystone component of his name is interesting and presumably this was his mother's maiden surname. It is an old Suffolk / Norfolk name suggesting or rather confirming our Johnson origins in eastern England.

We cannot be sure of the whereabouts of my grandfather Harry Johnson (22) in 1901. Most likely, he was the Harry Johnson who was boarding with Ms Rose Ann Prior at 8 Caledonian Road, Islington, having been born in St Pancras, Holborn. If so, he was working for a Manufacturing Chemist at that time. Given the apparent confirmation from my great grandfather's name that Robert was indeed a preferred Christian name for the elder boy, it is interesting that Harry did indeed have an elder brother of that name.

It is possible that he is the Robert Johnson recorded in the 1901 Census, aged 23, who had been born in West Ham and is recorded as a Gas Fitter. However, we currently have little chance of picking up links to him and his descendants. There may also be Johnson descendants from William H. Johnson but the fact that he was 5 years old in 1901, and therefore 18 years old in 1914, would have probably exposed him directly to World War I.

I have been able to trace my great grandfather ‘Robert Edwin Johnson’ (Edwin assumed) from Harry Johnson's marriage certificate. Harry married Constance Maud Mary Lubbock on 11th May 1907 at the Lambeth Registry Office. He gave his own occupation as Estate Agent's Clerk and his father's occupation as Brush Manufacturer.

At that time, Harry was living at 120 Stockwell Park, Clapham / Lambeth, SW London. Constance was living at 25 Lugard Road, Peckham, SE London. Her father Charles Daniel Lubbock is recorded as a Solicitor's Clerk and the marriage was witnessed by her brother Charles V.W. Lubbock and her mother Helen Rebecca Lubbock. In 1917, at the time of the death of Constance’s brother William in WW1, the Lubbocks were living at 26 Whorlton Road, Peckham Rye, London.

There is however an outstanding problem with the Johnsons in that I cannot find a direct association between Harry Johnson and the Robert Johnson of the 1881 and 1901 Censuses. I thought that when I was able to obtain electronic access to the 1891 Census I would find Harry there among his siblings.

In fact Robert Johnson the Brush maker is recorded as living at 29 St Mary's Road, West Ham. He was 38, his wife Elizabeth was 37 (born Gravesend) and the following children were living with them: Elizabeth C. (14) b Poplar; Robert J. (12); Caroline (10); Matilda J. (8); Amy J. (6); Daisy M. (4); Anne L. (1); and Alice (baby) - all the children from Robert down to Alice having been born in West Ham.

However, there are no other Robert Johnson Brush Makers / Manufacturers recorded anywhere else in England in the 1901 Census. Looking for Harry again separately, we probably (i.e. mistakenly) find him recorded as the adopted son (12) of Alfred Pryor, Printer, (53) and Rose Anne Pryor (53) of 40 Bidborough Street, St Pancras. It seems plausible then that Harry's former nurse Rose Ann(e) Seager asked to adopt Harry when she married Mr Prior/ Pryor as a woman well into her 40s. If so, this may also help explain why the family history is a bit hazy.

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PICKING UP THE PIECES FOR A THIRD TIME

The story then takes another turn here as a result of the re-establishment of links with the family of Harry’s wife (she was born Constance Maud Mary Lubbock). In particular, my father’s cousin ‘Bill’ Lubbock wrote to me providing a good deal of interesting family history relating mainly to his side of the family. However, in referring briefly to my grandfather Harry, he was unequivocal that Harry was ‘a Northerner’. So that was the end of any possible links to the West Ham Johnson family.

It is also worth noting that the history of brushmanufacturing / brushmaking (and its participating families) is remarkably well represented on the internet. There is a Society of Brushmakers’ Descendants – and there is no reference there to a northern Robert Johnson. Nor did any links surface on the numerous family history ‘blogs’ (including the excellent site GenesReunited).

At some point in 2004, I decided to take a complementary approach and commission a male line ydna test to identify relatives through their internal genetic ‘signature’. I joined the FamilyTreeDNA company’s Johnson – Johnston – Johnstone ‘One-Name’ ydna study which records and collates the results of tests on males who bear the name Johnson and its variants.

While the study focuses on US families (with special reference to the colonial settlements in Virginia), it is reasonable to assume that links could be established with originating families like mine that remained in the United Kingdom. Currently, there are over 500 test results on the site. There are no results that are at all close to mine (and this also holds true for the results posted on a much smaller UK-only website).

As an after-thought in the light of my growing interest in genetic signatures and pre-history, I posted my ydna results on the general research site ‘Ysearch’ (our signature code is y2hkm). The outcome was disappointing. Although my ydna belongs to the most common Western European type R1b1, its detailed sequence is quite unusual (the wider Oppenheimer Test characterizes it as R1b-13, with one ‘hot spot’ focused on the English Pennines and Cumbria).

For at least 18 months, there were no matches closer than 10:12. Then, a single 12:12 match appeared with a Canadian named Ken Grist. However, Ken made it clear that his grandfather had changed his name from Shorrock to Grist when his mother had remarried. The match was therefore with the name Shorrocks and its variants (Ken’s family hails originally from Blackburn-Darwen, Lancashire).

Some weeks later, in an idle moment, I punched the name Harry Shorrock into the 1891 Census search engine. The hair of the back of my neck rose when I read the results – there was a Harry Shorrocks born 1879 of Salford, Lancashire, whose father had the name Robert Edwin Shorrocks and whose occupation was that of a Foreman Brushmaker! It subsequently transpired that Robert, his father Walter and his grandfather James were the successive heads of a long-standing brushmanufacturing business in Salford.

I then agreed with Ken Grist that we would upgrade our ydna tests to 25 markers. The results came back 24:25. This equates roughly to an 80 percent probability that we shared a common male ancestor within the last 300 years (provided the surname link is genuine).

But there remained the possibility that Ken and I descended from a common ancestor who existed before surnames became established (say 1300). The upshot though was clear that any originating Johnson family stemmed from Lancashire – and that there was a likely association with the Ribble Valley and the city of Blackburn. (The name Shorrocks derives from the words ‘Scar’ (i.e. bank) or ‘Share’ (i.e. boundary) Oak that helped name a small hamlet called Shorrock Green that has now been enveloped by metropolitan Blackburn). And this neatly fitted the pattern of results for the ydna Oppenheimer Test which suggested that the signature that Ken and I share (R1b-13) focused on the Pennine region of Northern England.

However, I also began to seriously consider the possibility that Harry Johnson and Harry Shorrocks were indeed one and the same. To test this proposition, I commissioned a UK-based professional genealogist Antony Adolph (a contributor to the current BBC series ‘Who Do You Think You Are’) to review the evidence. At first, I made no mention of my ydna results and the link to Ken Grist. He therefore made an extensive independent search across the 1841 – 1901 censuses for likely Robert Edwin Johnsons. Again there were no likely candidates.

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ASIDE: JUST HOW DIFFICULT IS IT NORMALLY TO FIND AND TRACE 'JOHNSONS' NOW THAT THE CENSUSES AND BIRTH, MARRIAGES AND DEATH DATA IS READILY AVAILABLE ON LINE?

The answer to this question is ‘not at all difficult’.

As an example take a Johnson family that does actually enter our Family Tree. Using the Free Birth, Marriages and Death search engine, I became aware (as entries beyond about 1910 give the former surnames of birth mothers) that there were two further Johnson boys (in addition to Bob, Jay and Eric) who had a Lubbock mother.

At first, I suspected that these could have been additional brothers who were adopted out of my family but then I remembered that a distant relative ‘Lofty Grimshaw’ , with whom I had corresponded (son of another sister of my grandmother - Phyllis Grace Lubbock), had told me that another of my grandmother’s sisters Winifred Clara Lubbock had also married a Johnson.

The two boys were Stanley Derrick Johnson born 1913 and Reginald James Johnson born 1915, the sons of James Gilbert Johnson, Clothier’s Clerk and Winifred Clara Johnson (nee Lubbock).

James was my grandfather’s brother-in-law – so how easy was to identify his father (from the same generation as ‘Robert Edwin Johnson’)?

From the 1901 Census we find that James G. Johnson was born in 1889 in Norwood, Surrey. He was 12 in 1901 living with his father James Johnson, carpenter, born 1856 at Exning, Suffolk, his step-mother Mary A. Johnson, born 1853 in Norfolk, and siblings Elsie 11 and Ethel 10 (Mary Ann looks as though she was James’ second wife and that he had been previously widowed – James and Mary Ann appear to have married in 1897 in Camberwell).

It is only another half an hour’s work to go back another generation to find that James Gilbert Johnson’s grandfather was John Johnson, born Helions Bumpstead, Essex in 1810. He married Ellen Webb in 1838 in Newmarket (from FreeBMD) and in the 1861 Census the family consisted of John 51, Ellen his wife 45, Thomas 20, Mary A. 17, Emma 11, John 8, James 6, Charles 3 and Elizabeth 3 (the last two children presumably being twins).

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BACK TO THE SHORROCKS LINK

However, alerted to the possibility of a name switch to Shorrocks, Antony Adolph researched the possibility that the Harry Shorrocks born in 1879 (as recorded in the 1901 census) married at some point beyond 1901. He found no evidence of a marriage or of any subsequent reference to this Harry Shorrocks. He therefore concluded that it was likely that Harry did in fact change his name prior to marrying my grandmother in London.

Insofar as there was a problem that remained, it revolved around the fact that we had no established birthplace for ‘Harry Johnson’. However, the release of the results of the 1911 census in December 2008 – January 2009 provided the final lynchpin for the case when Harry stated that he had been born in 1879 in Salford, Lancashire.

Searching the 1901 and 1911 censuses we therefore find:

1901 Harry Shorrocks aged 22 born Salford, Lancashire
Harry Johnson aged 22 born Salford, Lancashire? No result

1911 Harry Shorrocks aged 32 born Salford, Lancashire? No result
Harry Johnson aged 32 born Salford, Lancashire

So the upshot is simply that Harry Johnson was most probably born Harry Shorrocks and that our family history on the male side beyond 1901 is of Shorrocks and not Johnsons. We are never likely to find out why Harry changed his name and it may well be better not to know[3].

But his male descendants may be forgiven for some irritation over the rather casual manner in which the link was broken with our ancestors[4]. As for me, the time spent wasted on searching for Johnsons has been finally recompensed by finally discovering something that was elusive and intriguing.

THE SHORROCKS FAMILY ANCESTORS

Let us start then by picking up on our Shorrocks ancestors in Salford. The entries for the 1881 Census are given below, showing grandfather Harry Shorrocks (i.e. Johnson) aged 2, living with his father, mother and baby sister Louisa (and with a girl helper named Ann Borrowdale supporting my great grandmother Fanny Elizabeth in looking after the new baby).

Salford, Lancashire, England: Extract: 1881 British Census

KEITH’S GREAT GRANDFATHER

Dwelling: 309 Eccles New Rd
Census Place: Pendlebury, Lancashire, England
Household:

Robert. E. SHORROCKS
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
M 27 Male Salford, Lancashire, England
Rel: Head Occupation: Warehouseman

Fanny E. SHORROCKS
M 25 Female Salford, Lancashire, England
Rel: Wife

Harry SHORROCKS
2 Male Salford, Lancashire, England
Rel: Son

Louisa SHORROCKS
5 m Female Salford, Lancashire, England
Rel: Daughter

My. Ann BORROWDALE
U 16 Female Newcastle On Tyne, Northumberland, England
Rel: Servant Occupation: General Domestic Servant

KEITH’S GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER

Dwelling: 23 Islington St

Walter SHORROCKS
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
M 57 Male Salford
Rel: Head Occupation: Brush Manufacturer

Ann SHORROCKS
M 57 Female Salford
Rel: Wife

William W. SHORROCKS
U 22 Male Salford
Rel: Son Occupation: Brush Maker

Louisa SHORROCKS
U 19 Female Salford
Rel: Daughter

Florence SHORROCKS
U 14 Female Salford
Rel: Daughter

Presumably, Robert Edwin was the Warehouseman for the Brushmanufacturing firm run by his father Walter who still had three children living at home – William, Louisa and Florence.

As for my great great grandfather Walter, we can actually catch a glance of where he lived (Islington Street) from the contemporary photograph. Clearly, 19th Century Salford was no paradise.

In 1861 Walter was living at 23 Islington Street. He was recorded as being 37 years old as was his wife Ann. Both were born in Salford. Their children were recorded as James Henry (13), Walter (11), Robert Edwin (7), Annie (5), Emily (4) and Clara (7 months old who appears to have died in infancy). Walter was recorded as employing 3 men and 1 boy in his brushmanufacturing workshop.

END NOTE

As previously suggested, taking a sentimental view, the emerging story would allow for a reprise of D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers, with my grandfather leaving t' Grim North for work in an office in London, like Paul Morel's older brother - and my father Cyril coming back north to rural Cheshire to claim his birthright. However, the truth seems to be more complex.

Harry left Salford (the original ‘Dirty Old Town’), changed his name and appears not to have looked back. It is quite possible then that when my father was pursuing research for his PhD in History at the Rylands Library, Manchester University, he was not in contact with his Shorrocks relatives across the River Irwell[5].

So what do we actually know that is more personal about my grandfather Harry? By all accounts he was a talented and ambitious young man who was able to obtain employment at the London Stock Exchange (Jay’s cousin ‘Lofty’ Grimshaw comments in a letter that ‘Harry had a very good job on the Stock Exchange’). Apparently, if someone rattled off a series of numbers / stock quotes he could add them together in his head.

He was also a well-known cricket umpire and loved his ale. Further, we know that he was substantially overweight towards the end of his life and unable to tie his own shoe laces – the result no doubt of his drinking. However, I have no doubt that he was very good company – an accomplished raconteur and someone who loved a good tale (so, no doubt, he would have very much amused at us discovering and retelling his story).

FAMILY TREE INFORMATION

SHORROCKS / JOHNSON ANCESTORS

Ancestors of Fanny Eliza Mallinson (wife of Robert Edwin Shorrocks)

Generation No. 1

1. JOSEPH1 MALLINSON (must have been born c1780) married BETTY (surname not known).

Occupation: Manufacturer

Child of JOSEPH MALLINSON and BETTY:

2. i. DANIEL2 MALLINSON, born 25 Nov 1806, Rastrick, West Yorkshire; died 29 Apr 1861, 34 John Street, Pendleton, Salford.

Generation No. 2

2. DANIEL2 MALLINSON married (1) ELIZABETH WHEELHOUSE 19 Jun 1828 in St. Bartholomew's, Colne. He later married (2) MARGARET (LATE NEWTON) RIGG 18 Nov 1855 in St. Mary's, Eccles.

Notes for DANIEL MALLINSON:
1841 543/5 13 Bank Street, Pendleton, Eccles
1861 2902 76 34 John Street, Pendleton
Baptism: 04 Jan 1807, St. Matthew's, Rastrick
Occupation: Book Keeper

Children of DANIEL MALLINSON and ELIZABETH WHEELHOUSE are:

i. ELIZABETH ANN3 MALLINSON, born 15 Nov 1829, Brighouse.

More About ELIZABETH ANN MALLINSON:
Baptism: 27 Dec 1829, St. Matthew's, Rastrick

3. ii. WILLIAM WHEELHOUSE MALLINSON, born 1831, Rastrick; died 12 Jun 1864, 2 Cross Lane, Salford.

ii. JOHN WHEELHOUSE MALLINSON, born 20 Dec 1838, Bank Street, Pendleton; died 27 Feb 1839, Bank Street, Pendleton.

iv. MARY MALLINSON, born 1842, Pendleton.

Generation No. 3

3. WILLIAM WHEELHOUSE3 MALLINSON (DANIEL2, JOSEPH1) was born 1831 in Rastrick, and died 12 Jun 1864 in 2 Cross Lane, Salford. He married ELIZA JACKSON 06 Sep 1854 in St. Mary's, Eccles. She was born 1832 in Pendleton (Eliza’s father was William Francis Jackson, Stationer).

Occupation: Book Keeper

Child of WILLIAM MALLINSON and ELIZA JACKSON:

i. FANNY ELIZA4 MALLINSON, born 1856, Salford.

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Ancestors of Robert Edwin Shorrocks (father of Harry Shorrocks / Johnson)

Possible Prior Generations

THOMAS SHORROCKS born 1738, Salford [A marriage was celebrated on 14 June 1763 between Thomas Shorrocks 25, Malster of Salford (i.e. born 1738) and Agnes Taylor 26 – record in Archdeaconry of Richmond Marriage Bonds] - possibly the Thomas Shorrocks who served one year as the Borough Reeve (i.e. Mayor) of Salford in the 1780s

JAMES SHORROCKS (must have been born c1770) married Elizabeth Ackerley, 2 July 1792, Manchester Cathedral (James’ sister Susanna christened 25 March 1765, father Thomas, mother Agnes)

Generation No. 1

JAMES SHORROCKS born c1795 Lancashire (possible son of Thomas Shorrocks above)

Pigot & Slater's Directory 1841:James SHORROCKS & Co., brush makers, 30 New Bailey Street, Salford

Marriage 3 Feb 1815 Collegiate Church, Manchester- James Shorrocks (X) Brushmaker, Batchelor of this Parish and Town of Manchester- Elizabeth Butterworth (X) Spinster of this Parish and Town AforesaidWitnesses: Benj Ball, William Hadley

The baptisms at Manchester Collegiate Church/Cathedral for James & Elizabeth's younger children are on the IGI:
James 9 Dec 1821
Hannah 15 July 1827Rebecca 12 Mar 1829
George 13 Dec 1830
Edwin's baptism on IGI on 21 Feb 1836 at St Stephen's, Salford

1841 Census: New Bailey St HO107/586/257

James Shorrocks 45 Brushmaker Born in county (Lancashire)
Elizabeth " 45
"Walter " 15
"Elizabeth " 15
"Hannah " 14
"Rebeccca " 12
"George " 10
"Edwin " 5 "(Ages in 1841 rounded to nearest 5 years)

Generation No. 2

WALTER SHORROCKS born 1824 Salford, Lancashire
Death of Walter SHORROCKS aged 82yrs MAR qtr 1906 Salford

Slater's Directory 1853:Walter SHORROCKS, brush maker, 7 Bexley Street, SalfordSlater's 1876 and Slater's 1879 DirectoriesWalter SHORROCKS, brush manufacturer, 23 Islington Street, Salford

Marriage 2nd April 1847 Manchester Cathedral:
- Walter Shorrocks
- Ann Collinge (father James Collinge, ‘Traveller’ i.e. salesman)

Children born to parents Walter SHORROCKS & Ann and all baptised at Manchester Cathedral:

James Henry SHORROCKS baptised 6th Jan 1850 (FreeBMD birth reg Chorlton SEPqtr 1847)Walter SHORROCKS baptised 6th Jan 1850 ( FreeBMD birth reg Salford JUNqtr 1849)Alfred SHORROCKS baptised 18th Aug 1851 (FreeBMD birth Salford DEC qtr 1850 miss-spelling of SHORROKS)
Robert Edwin SHORROCKS baptised 4th Sept 1853 (FreeBMD birth Salford SEP qtr 1853)
Emily Jane SHORROCKS baptised 31st Jan 1858 (FreeBMD birth Salford MAR 1857)
William Whittle SHORROCKS baptised 26th Dec 1858 (FreeBMD birth Salford DECqtr 1858 -note, there was also a similarly named child reg in Chorlton 1858 )
Louisa SHORROCKS baptised 19th Feb 1862 (FreeBMD birth reg Salford DECqtr 1861)Elizabeth Ada SHORROCKS baptised 9th Sep 1863 (FreeBMD birth reg Salford SEP qtr 1863)

Possible marriages of Robert Edwin’s siblings:
James Henry SHORROCKS & Lucy A. HOOD JUN qtr 1871 at St Mary’s Eccles
Walter SHORROCKS & Mary Ann BUCKLEY DEC qtr 1870 M/c Cathedral
Emily Jane to Thomas GREGSON JUN qtr 1879 Salford St Philip’s
Louisa to Walter NEIL MAR qtr 1904 Salford St Ignatius

Two possible deaths of siblings:
Alfred SHORROCKS 1851 Salford
Elizabeth Ada SHORROCKS 1863 Salford

CENSUS DETAILS:

1851 is on the unfilmed census ie was damaged due to water logging –
7 Bexley St, ref: 3c/88/6
Walter Sharrocks
"Ann
"James
"Walter
"Alfred "1851 also on unfilmed ref 3A/123/11 at 6 Broughton St
Eliza Sharrocks
Rebecca
"George "Edwin "

1861 21 Islington St RG9/2920/20/2
Walter Sharrocks 37 Brush Manufacturer employing 2 Salford
Ann " 37
"James Henry " 13 Office Boy Manchester
"Walter " 11 Scholar Salford
"Robert E " 7
" "Annie L
" 5 "Emily J
" 4 "William Whittle
" 2 "Clara A " 7 mo "

1871 23 Islington St RG10/4021/127/8
Walter Shorrocks 47 Brush Manufacturer Salford
Ann " 47
"James H " Chemist Hulme
Robert E " 23 Warehouseman Salford
Ann Laura " 15 At home
"Emily Jane " 13 Scholar
"William W " 12 "
"Louisa " 9
"Florence " 4 "

1881 23 Islington St, Salford
Walter Shorrocks 57 Brush Manufacturer
Ann 57
William W. 22 Brush Maker
Louisa 19
Florence 14

1891 4 Crescent RG12/3220/34/1
Walter Shorrocks 67 Brush Manufacturer Salford
Ann " 67
"Walter " 42 Clerk CC (probably 'County Court')
"William W " 32 Brush maker
"Louisa " 24 "

Generation No. 3.

ROBERT EDWIN SHORROCKS
Baptised 4th Sept 1853
Died aged 54yrs Salford September qtr 1907

Marriage: Robert Edwin SHORROCKS marriage to Fanny Eliza MALLINSON at Salford St Philip's 1878

CHILDREN

Harry (took Johnson as his surname) 1879 (married Constance Maud Mary Lubbock)
Louisa 1880 (married Walter Neil)
Puuline 1884
Robert Mallinson 1886 (married Lily Mather and Florence E. Pearce)
Fanny 1890 (married George Davis)
Annie 1900

CENSUS DETAILS:

1881 309 Eccles New Rd, Salford (all born Salford)
Robert. Edwin. Shorrocks “27” Warehouseman
Fanny Eliza. “ 25”
Harry “2”
Louisa “5 m”
Ann BORROWDALE “16 “ born Newcastle On Tyne, Northumberland, England
General Domestic Servant

1891 42 West Wynford St, Salford
Robert Edwin. Shorrocks 37 Warehouseman & Clerk
Fanny Eliza. " 35
"Harry “12
"Louisa “10”
Pauline “6”
Robert Mallinson " 4”
Fanny “2 months” "

1901 28 Nadine St, Salford
Robert E. Shorrocks 47 Foreman Brush-maker
Fanny E. " 44
"Harry “22 " House Decorator’s Clerk
Louisa “20” Brush-maker
Pauline “16”
Robert M " 14” Book seller’s clerk
Fanny “10”
"Annie “5 months”

References to Robert Edwin’s siblings:

Reference to James H. SHORROCKS involved with the Liberal assoc of Stretford 1890s and also someone of that name advertising weekly for the Norbreck Hall Hotel in Blackpool.

Generation No. 4

6. HARRY SHORROCKS / HARRY JOHNSON born 28 March 1879 at 26 Zachariah St, Salford
CENSUS DETAILS

1911 32 Brailsford Rd, Tulse Hill, London, SE.
Harry Johnson 32 Stockbroker’s Clerk
Constance Maud Mary 27
Robert Lubbock 3
Cyril 1&1quarter

CHILDREN:

Robert Lubbock JOHNSON (born 29th May 1908, Fulham)
Cyril 'Jay' JOHNSON (born 24 December 1909, Peckham, Camberwell, London
Eric Harry JOHNSON (born 8 February 1912 Tulse Hill, Lambeth)

REFERENCES TO HARRY’S YOUNGER BROTHER ROBERT MALLINSON SHORROCKS

Robert Mallinson SHORROCKS marriage to Lily MATHER 1909 Salford
Birth of Amy ShORROCKS (mother MATHER), 1910
Birth of Edward SHORROCKS (mother MATHER) 1920 MAR qtr Salford
Death of Lily SHORROCKS (born MATHER) aged 37yrs JUNqtr 1922 Salford

Re-marriage SEP qtr 1923 Salford for Robert M. SHORROCKS to Florence E. PEARCE

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The Church also hosts a very interesting alabaster sarcophagus dating from the mid-12th century containing the remains of Sir Hugh de Calveley. He was as famous Crusader hero who campaigned with Richard the Lionheart in Palestine. The fine full-length recumbent alabaster statue of the knight has lost some of one leg – reputedly, as a result of local farmers grinding off the alabaster to use it in potions to cure sick cattle.

[3]To be fair, there may have been some ‘good' reasons why Harry changed his name like giving his mother the slip and leaving home to join the Army to fight in the Boer War. Or maybe, he just didn’t like the surname which does not appeal widely to those who do not identify it as ‘an old Lancashire name’ and who may regard it as ‘a classical albatross of a name’ (Australian comment on the Internet).

[4] Why Harry ‘Johnson’? Possibly because Harry Johnston was a famous African explorer and Empire Builder who was the first European to climb Mt Kilimanjaro in 1884 – when grandfather Harry was 5 years old – who knows, if he was a bit of a wanderer as a kid, he may even have been nicknamed ‘Harry Johnson’?

[5] Given the relative rareness of the name Shorrocks, it is quite easy to trace the links back further. It appears that my great, great, great grandfather James Shorrocks was also a Brushmanufacturer in Salford and that he may well have been the son / grandson of a Thomas Shorrocks who was the Borough Reeve (i.e. mayor) of Salford around 1776. The women in the family were Fanny Eliza Mallinson (wife of Robert Edwin Shorrocks), Ann Collinge (wife of Walter Shorrocks) and (in all probability) Elizabeth Butterworth (wife of James Shorrocks).

Posted by Keith Johnson at 10:41 PM
Labels: Keith Johnson or Joe Shorrocks

COMMENT

Yvonne Johnson at yvejohn30 said...

Hi again 2nd cousin .Just by chance found you .My name is Yvonne Johnson ,I along with my 3 brothers and 2 sisters are children of Reginald James Johnson ,whose mother was Winifred Clara Lubbock ! Will wait to hear from you ,as not sure how to use this blog !!

October 15, 2009 4:08 PM

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