Abel was born in 1876 in Westhoughton to Jesse (GM107) and Alice (GM111).

In the 1881 Census Abel was a five year old scholar living with his parents at Kingsdown Terrace on the Warrington Road in Abram.

The family had moved to 8 Wright Street in Abram by the time of the 1891 Census and Abel, now 15 years old, was a coal mine labourer. The Census actually has his name as Albert! Abel’s father Jesse died later that year.

Abel married Elizabeth Ann Darbyshire (who would have been pregnant with William) on the 26th June 1897 at the Church of St John the Evangelist in Abram and they had at least seven children:-

  • William (EM332) b.1897, bap 17 Oct 1897;
  • Ethel (EM333) b.1899;
  • Ellen (DM113) born 1904;
  • Mary
  • Jane
  • Thomas
  • Billy

In 1901, at the time of the census, Abel was a “coal hewer” living with his wife Elizabeth and children William and Ethel at 4 Wright Street, two doors down from his widowed mother. The Census enumerator has made an interesting entry, he describes Abel as a 25 year old widower, then lists the two children and then adds Elizabeth as his wife!

I think Abel died in 1947 aged 72.


[Last updated 28 Dec 2012]