EM019 Fred Magnall

Fred Magnall was born in Burnley on the 27th August 1880 (VRI & RoB Burnley 1880 Q3 8e 241) to Thomas (FM021) and Sarah (FM022) nee Blakey. He was christened in Habergham Eaves on the 15th September 1880. In the 1881 Census Fred was 8 months old and living at 49 Cog Lane, Burnley with his parents and older brother William (EM018). The 1891 Census shows that Fred was now aged 10, a scholar living at 198 Accrington Road with his parents, his older brother William (EM018) and his two younger sisters Minnie (EM199) and Mary Maude (EM224). In 1901, at the time of the census Fred was still living with his parents at 198 Accrington Road. He was working as a cotton cloth looker. Fred married Nellie Charlotta Whitehorn on 3rd September 1912 at St John’s Church in Burnley and they had the following children:

• James Thomas (DM033), born 8 December 1915
• Ida (DM036), born in 1920
• John Whitehorn (DM279), born 13 Sep 1923

In 1915 the family were living at 12 Whittlefield Street, Burnley. On the 11 December 1915 Fred was attested and moved to army reserve on the next day. He was moblized on the 13th June 1916, he was 35 years of age and working as a cotton beamer. His records show that he was 5′ 10″ tall. His regimental number was 96832 and he served as a Gunner / Signaller with various Heavy Batteries of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) including the 12th, 121st and 130th. Fred was demobilised on 24th June 1919 with a disabilitiy code of 24, his disability was described as “Sciatica” and rated as less than 90% disability.

We believe that Fred became a dairyman in Poulton-le-Fylde in the 1920s, possibly for his first cousin Joseph (FM040) who died in the Poulton-le-Fylde district in 1931. Fred developed TB and left farming. He had inherited £1,000 and with a loan of £1,500 from Massey’s Brewery in Burnley he bought the Victoria Hotel in Kirkby Malham in West Yorkshire in 1927. Unfortunately business was poor and the debt became too big a burden. His wife hung herself in the wash house and Fred started to drink heavily until he became ill in 1928. He was looked after by his sister Mary Maud (EM224) who had married Sandy Broughton in 1919 (RoM Burnley 1919 Q3 8e 541) and by Emily Elizabeth Taylor (Nellie’s oldest sister who was widowed). Mary Maud moved from Burnley to look after him and Sandy used to cycle over at weekends from Burnley to spend time with his family. Fred died intestate on the 13 April 1929 (RoD Settle 1929 Q4 9a 20) aged 48 leaving an outstanding debt of £1,628 to Masseys. The pub was signed over to Masseys in 1930 to clear the debt and Sandy and Mary Maud then took over the pub as brewery tenants.Sandy died in 1951 and Mary Maud continued to run the pub until 1954. Probate for Fred was in London on 6th July and reads as follows:

Magnall Fred of Victoria Hotel Kirkby Malham Yorkshire died 13 April 1929 Administration (limited) London 6 July to Mary Maud Broughton (wife of Sandy Broughton) and Emily Elizabeth Taylor widow. Effects £1705 13s. 1d.

The following was published in the London Gazette:-

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 16 JULY, 1929. Page 4736 FRED MAGNALL, Deceased. Pursuant to Trustee Act, 1925. NOTICE is hereby given that creditors and others having claims against the estate of Fred Magnall, late of the Victoria Hotel. Kirkby Malham, Yorkshire, Innkeeper (formerly of 8, Gordon-terrace, Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire, Milk Vendor), deceased, who died on the 13th April, 1929, at the Victoria Hotel aforesaid, intestate, are hereby required to send particulars thereof, in writing, to (us, the undersigned, Nowell Meller & Nowell, the Solicitors to the administrators, on or before the 30th day of September, 1929, after which date the administrators will proceed to distribute the estate of the said Fred Magnall, having regard only to the claims of which notice shall then have been received by us.—Dated the 12th day of July, 1929. NOWELL MELLER and NOWELL, 11, Har- (143) greaves-street, Burnley, Solicitors.

The Victoria used to be run by David Tippey who lived in a cottage converted from one of the outbuildings. He was working on the history and people of the townships of Kirkby Malham and Hanlith but sadly died in 2011. Many thanks to David for providing some of the information shown above. The Malhamdale Local History Group would welcome contact with anyone who might be able to contribute to their research. They can be contacted via the website which is well worth visiting.