Three of George and Mary’s children did not survive to reach adulthood. George’s three siblings also died young. Diseases such as cholera, smallpox, typhus, and scarlet fever were prevalent before the advent of modern medicine.

George Addison

Born: 1860 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England

Father: George Addison (1822 to 1895)
Mother: Mary Salisbury (1822 to 1894)

Spouse: Mary Entwistle (1864 to 1935)

Married: 31 JAN 1886 at St Cuthbert Church, Over Darwen, Lancashire, England

Children:

John Addison (5 JUL 1886 to 1886)
Alice Addison (16 AUG 1887 to 1911)
George Addison (8 NOV 1889 to 1899)
Elizabeth Ellen Addison (4 JAN 1892 to Unknown)
Sophia Addison (20 MAR 1894 to 11 MAR 1971)
Mary Addison (29 JAN 1896 to 1909)
Arthur Addison (20 JUL 1901 to 1970)

Died: 1934 in Darwen, Lancashire, England

Timeline:

1861 Over Darwen, Lancashire, England
1871 Over Darwen, Lancashire, England
1881 Over Darwen, Lancashire, England
1886 Marriage to Mary
1886 Birth of son, John
1886 Death of son, John
1887 Birth of daughter, Alice
1889 Birth of son, George
1891 Over Darwen, Lancashire, England
1892 Birth of daughter, Elizabeth
1894 Birth of daughter, Sophia
1894 Death of mother, Mary
1895 Death of father, George
1896 Birth of daughter, Mary
1899 Death of son, George
1901 Darwen, Lancashire, England
1901 Birth of son, Arthur
1909 Death of daughter, Mary
1911 Darwen, Lancashire, England
1934 Death and Burial

Occupation: cotton creeler (1871), cotton spinner

Records:

1861 to 1911 England Census Records
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
Lancashire, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1911
England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915
Lancashire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1936
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

Variations of Surname: none

Did You Notice?

Three of George and Mary’s seven children did not survive to adulthood:

John Addison (1886 to 1886) was an infant.
George Addison (1889 to 1899) was nine years old.
Mary Addison (1896 to 1909) was 13 years old.

George’s three siblings also died young:

William Addison (1843 to 1847) was four years old.
Elizabeth Addison (1848 to 1853) was five years old.
George Addison (1851 to 1853) was two years old.

As the Industrial Revolution developed so did the cotton mills of Lancashire, England. People were drawn to the larger cities in search of employment. This caused overcrowding and a lack of housing for some of the population. Poor sanitation and inadequate diet caused many to contract diseases.

In 2021, the BBC website published an article entitled “Dying Too Young“. The author included a map showing the total number of deaths of infants and children (1 to 5 years old) in 1851. I highlighted the county of Lancashire to show its approximate location.

You can view this interactive map on Cambridge Univerity’s website, PopulationsPast.org. In 1851, a total of 163 children and 186 infants died in the town of Darwen.

The BBC website published an article in 2016 that gave insight into what the conditions were like in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. The article is entitled “Blackburn archaeological survey: Bodies of 800 young children found“.

The author noted that the St Peter Burial Ground “was in intense use up to the 1860s”. The archeologists who unearthed some of the bodies added “Many of them would have died from infections”.

Penicillin and other life-saving antibiotics were not discovered or made publicly available until the middle of the 20th Century. Young children were at a higher risk of contracting and dying of diseases than their parents.

NOTE:  I do not have the death records for these children. This means that I do not know what caused their deaths.

Another example of infant and childhood mortality can be seen in Janie Lund’s family. She was the wife of George and Mary’s son, Arthur.

Janie’s family lived in Kirkham, Lancashire, England. This parish was another cotton mill town. The 1911 England Census shows that her mother gave birth to five children during her marriage. Only two of the children were still living when the census was enumerated.

The three children who did not survive were:

Isabella Lund (1899 to 1904) was five years old.
Margaret Elizabeth Lund (1901 to 1905) was four years old.
Edith Alice Lund (1908 to 1910) was two years old.

The percentage of infant and childhood deaths was very high prior to the advent of modern antibiotics. This was especially true in the larger cities of England.

Historians and authors have suggested that this was one reason why women gave birth to six to twelve children during their lifetime. The concept was that some of these children would survive to see adulthood.

George’s Wife:

Mary Entwistle:

Mary was born in 1863 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. She died in 1935 in Darwen, Lancashire, England.

Mary’s father was John Entwistle. He was born in 1829 in Haslingden, Lancashire, England. He died on 8 APR 1885 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England.

Mary’s mother was Sophia Thornber. She was born in 1829 in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, England. She died in 1900 in Darwen, Lancashire, England.

Mary had six brothers and sisters:

Alice Entwistle (1851)
Livesey Entwistle (1853)
John Entwistle (1855)
Ellen Entwistle (1857 to 1858)
Arthur Entwistle (1868)
Sophia Entwistle (1873)

George and Mary’s Daughters:

Alice Addison:

Alice was born on 16 AUG 1887 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. She died in 1911 in Darwen, Lancashire, England. Alice was 24 years old when she died.

Elizabeth Ellen Addison:

Elizabeth was born on 4 JAN 1892 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. I do not know when she died.

I could find no information on Elizabeth in the Blackburn area of Lancashire, England. She may have married and moved to another county in England. She may have immigrated to another country.

The 1911 England Census listed her given name as Nellie.

Are you a descendant of Elizabeth Ellen Addison? If so, please contact me. My email is dlwakenight@yahoo.com. You can also leave a message in the Comments Section of this post.

Sophia Addison:

Sophia was born on 20 MAR 1894 in Darwen, Lancashire, England. She died on 11 MAR 1971 in Darwen, Lancashire, England.

Sophia married James Henry Duxbury in 1949 in Darwen, Lancashire, England. Sophia was 55 years old and James was 76 years old when they married.

James Henry Duxbury was born on 17 JUN 1876 in Over, Darwen, Lancashire, England. He died on 7 SEP 1957 in Darwen, Lancashire, England.

A Little History:

James’ father was John Duxbury. He was born in 1844 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. He died in 1912 in Darwen, Lancashire, England.

James’ mother was Sarah Ann Whittaker. She was born in 1849 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. She died in 1903 in Darwen, Lancashire, England.

James had ten brothers and sisters:

John Duxbury (1870)
Mary Betsy Duxbury (1871)
Louisa Duxbury (1873)
Elizabeth Ann Duxbury (1874)
Betsy Jane Duxbury (1875 to 1875)
Lawrence Duxbury (1878)
Sarah Jane Duxbury (1881)
Andrew Duxbury (1883)
William Duxbury (1886)
Florence Duxbury (1889)

James Duxbury’s First Wife:

Annie Snape:

James married Annie Snape in 1905 in Darwen, Lancashire, England. James was 29 years old and Annie was 38 years old when they married.

Annie Snape was born in 1867 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. She died in 1923 in Darwen, Lancashire, England.

Annie’s father was James Snape. He was born in 1837 in Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire, England. He died in 1897 in Darwen, Lancashire, England.

Annie’s mother was Jane Ellen Bury. She was born in 1844 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. She died in 1881 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. Jane was 37 years old when she died.

Annie had two sisters:

Margaret Snape (1869)
Martha Snape (1870)

James Duxbury’s Second Wife:

Alice Gibson:

James married Alice Gibson in 1925 in Kirkham, Lancashire, England. James was 49 years old and Alice was 45 years old when they married.

Alice Gibson was born on 5 JUL 1880 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. She died in 1946 in Darwen, Lancashire, England

Alice’s father was John Gibson. He was born in 1854 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. I do not know when he died.

Alice’s mother was Betsy Hannah Edge. She was born in 1852 in Darwen, Lancashire, England. She died in 1937 in Kirkham, Lancashire, England.

Alice had two known sisters:

Annie Gibson (1883)
Edith Gibson (1885)

Alice Gibson’s Grandparents:

Alice’s paternal grandfather was Henry Gibson. He was born in 1811 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. He died on 1 JAN 1869 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England.

Henry Gibson married Margaret Wilkinson on 18 SEP 1837 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England.

Four known children were born during their marriage:

Alice Gibson (1840)
Samuel Gibson (1844)
Henry Gibson (1850)
John Gibson (1854), Alice’s father

Alice’s paternal grandmother was Margaret Wilkinson. She was born in 1818 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. She died in 1857 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. Margaret was 39 years old when she died.

Did You Notice?

The marriage record listed Henry’s father as Lot Walsh, a printer, and Margaret’s father as Thomas Richmond, a laborer.

Who was Margaret Wilkinson’s Father?

The 1851 England Census listed Margaret’s birthplace as Over Darwen. This township was in the parish of Blackburn, Lancashire, England.

The 1837 marriage record did not list Margaret’s father as deceased. This would indicate that he was still alive at that time.

I searched the 1841 England Census and found only one man named Thomas Richmond living in the Blackburn area. He was living in Mellor, Lancashire, England. This town was 7 miles northwest of Over Darwen.

Could this man be Margaret’s father?

Thomas Richmond was born in 1782 in Pleasington, Lancashire, England. He died in 1861 in Mellor, Lancashire, England.

Thomas married Betty Shorrock on 27 SEP 1802 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. Four known children were born during their marriage. The oldest child was born in Pleasington. The other children were born in Samlesbury.

John Richmond (1804)
Ann Richmond (1807)
Mary Richmond (1809)
William Richmond (1814)

Betty Shorrock was born in 1778 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. She died in 1862 in Witton, Lancashire, England.

NOTE: I cannot state with 100% certainty that this man was Margaret’s father. I am basing my assumption on the fact that he was living in the Blackburn area.

I did find it interesting that Betty gave birth to her last child in 1814. Margaret was born two years later. In 1816, Thomas would have been 34 years old. He was in the prime of his life and could have sired many more children.

Margaret Wilkinson’s Mother:

Margaret’s baptism record listed her mother as Ellen Wilkinson. It did not list a father’s name. I could find no other information on Margaret’s mother.

Henry Gibson’s Mother:

Margaret Gibson was born in 1782 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England. I do not know when she died.

Margaret married Ralph Lomax on 4 SEP 1817 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. Three known children were born during their marriage:

John Lomax (1819)
Ralph Milner Lomax (1822)
Martha Ann Lomax (1828)

Ralph Lomax was born on 24 JAN 1782 in Bury, Lancashire, England. He died in 1844 in Over Darwen, Lancashire, England.

Ralph had previously married Betty Bentley on 5 JAN 1804 in Bury, Lancashire, England. Four known children were born during their marriage:

James Lomax (1804)
Margaret Lomax (1806)
Peggy Lomax (1808)
Ralph Lomax (1810)

Betty Bentley was born on 6 FEB 1788 in Bury, Lancashire, England. I do not know when she died.

Henry Gibson’s Father:

I could find no baptism record for Henry in Ancestry.com’s databases. His birth date was listed in a court document in the “Lancashire, England, Quarter Session Records and Petitions, 1648-1908”. This document also listed his father’s name.

Lot Walsh was born in 1783 in Bury, Lancashire, England. He died in 1830 in Ramsbottom, Lancashire, England. Lot was 47 years old when he died.

Lot Walch married Sally Kay on 1 JUL 1815 in Bury, Lancashire, England. Ten known children were born during their marriage:

Martha Walsh (1815)
Noah Walsh (1816)
Nancy Walsh (1818)
John Walsh (1820)
Richard Walsh (1821)
Christopher Walsh (1824)
Lot Walsh (1825 to 1829)
Thomas Walsh (1827)
William Walsh (1829)
Fanny Walsh (1831)

Sally Kay was born on 22 JUL 1796 in Tottington, Lancashire, England. She died in 1860 in Ramsbottom, Lancashire, England.

After Lot died, Sally married David Howarth on 2 JUN 1836 in Bury, Lancashire, England. Sally was 39 years old and David was 45 years old when they married.

David Howarth was born on 26 JUN 1790 in Bury, Lancashire, England. He died in 1883 in Salford, Lancashire, England. David was 93 years old when he died.

David had previously married a woman named Betty. The 1841 England Census listed the names and ages of their four youngest children.

Ancestry.com’s “Lancashire, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1911” shows that at least six children were born during their marriage. The children were born in Ramsbottom, a town in the parish of Bury, Lancashire, England.

Mary Howarth (1817)
Thomas Howarth (1820)
William Howarth (1822)
Lawrence Howarth (1824)
Elizabeth Howarth (1827)
Susanna Howarth (1830)

I am still searching for information on David’s first wife. Betty was probably born between 1795 and 1800.

Mary Addison:

Mary was born on 29 JAN 1896 in Darwen, Lancashire, England. She died in 1909 in Darwen, Lancashire, England. Mary was 13 years old when she died.

Notes:

The surname Addison was common along the borders of Northern England and the eastern counties of Scotland. In the period known as the Middle Ages, these Addison ancestors migrated south to settle in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire counties in England.

The progenitor of this family line was Christopher Addison. He was born around 1788 in Bolton, Lancashire, England. Who were his parents? That is still an unanswered question.

This family lived in the Walton-le-Dale area of Lancashire, England. The four oldest children were born in Moon’s Mill which is now Higher Walton. The two youngest children were born in the parish of Cuerden. The family finally settled in Over Darwen which is five miles south of Blackburn.

Timothy Addison created a family tree on Rootweb. His ancestors lived in the parishes of Kings Meaburn, Morland, Crosthwaite, Beathwaitegreen, and Levens in northwestern England.

Is there a connection between his ancestors and the ones who migrated to Lancashire? This is where my search begins . . .

If you know the answer to this question, please contact me. My email is dlwakenight@yahoo.com. You can also leave a message in the Comments Section of this post.

Creating Your Family Tree

Interested in building a great family tree? Remember these important steps:

Look in your photo albums. You may have old pictures that your parents or grandparents gave you. Or, ask them for copies of photos that they have in their possession. Many people will write names and dates on the backs of photographs. Letters, diaries, and family bibles are also excellent sources for births, marriages, and deaths.

Talk to your older relatives to find out about your ancestry. They may relate stories about an ancestor that you can add to your family tree. Family history is usually not found in newspapers. It is more of a verbal memory that is passed down from generation to generation.

Find the right family tree builder that suits your needs. You can choose one that has a paid subscription like Ancestry.com. There are also free sites like FamilySearch.org.

When you start building your family tree, add documentation to your ancestor’s profile. The records can include birth, marriage, death, census, military, city, and county directory listings. Any information that you can find will help create a life story about your ancestors.

If you have a unique surname, like Wakenight, you may find databases on the internet that are useful in your search. I use SurnameDB.com for my English surnames. There are many others on the internet for other countries like Ireland, Italy, and Germany.

Genealogy is the study of a person’s “line of descent.” As you create your family tree, you would typically start with one individual and go “back into time.” You would add their parents, grandparents, and so on.  There are also family trees that go “forward into time.”  Many of these family trees start with a famous person, such as a president or royalty, and move forward into the present time.  The purpose of this type of pedigree is to establish a person’s bloodline with that famous person.

There is no limit on how big your family tree can grow. The blank canvas is there for you to use. Cherish your family history, and it will be there for generations to come!