James Thomas Magnall was born on 20 June 1876 to James Magnall (GM021/149) and Alice Greenwood (GM022). He was christened on 23  July 1876 at Holy Trinity Church in Habergham Eaves, the register records that his father was a Fireman (that would be at a coal mine) and that they were living on Coal Clough Lane.

The 1881 Census shows that James was only 4 years old and that the family were now living at the Gretna Green Inn at Four Lane Ends in his maternal father’s household.

In the 1891 Census he is a weaver aged 14 living with his family at 151 Cog Lane.

On the 11 September 1900 James was a witness for his oldest brother Joseph’s wedding to Eliza Jane Wilkinson at St Matthew’s Church in Habergham Eaves.

The 1901 Census shows that James was the head of the household at 147 Cog Lane working as a Grocer with his own account, he was now 24 years old. Living with him was his younger brother, Percy, who was 14 and working as a grocer’s assistant.

James married Polly Sharp (EM225) on the 11th June 1901. Details of the marriage certificate are shown below:

1901 Marriage solemnized at St Matthews Church in the Parish of St Matthews in the Counties of Burnley and Lancaster
No. When married Name and surname Age Condition Rank or Profession Residence at the Time of Marriage Father’s Name and Surname Rank or Profession
of Father
287 June 11
1901		 James Thomas
Magnall

Polly Sharp

 2423 Bachelor

Spinster

 Shopkeeper

Weaver

 147 Cog Lane

16 Warwick St.

 James Magnall

Henry Sharp

 —–

Blacksmith
Married in the above Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England after Banns by me,
S Edmond Clarke
This Marriage was
solemnized between us		 James Thomas Magnall

Polly Sharp

 in the presence of us Harry Wadsworth

Elizabeth Alice Sharp

James and Polly had at least two children:-

  • Albert Horace (DM012) (1902-1988). Albert married Agnes Hall and is the father of Dorothy Yvonne Magnall who has helped supply much of the information on her branch of the family;
  • Ronald (DM020) (1907-1980)

In the 1911 Census, James was 34 years old working as a grocer, still living at 147 Cog Lane. Polly was now 33 years old and assisted him in the business. Albert was 8 and Ronald was 4. Living with them as a boarder was Elizabeth Alice Sharp, Polly’s sister, who was 31 years old and working as a cotton weaver.

The 1939 Register shows that James had retired, he and Polly were living at 2 Aylesbury Avenue in Blackpool (which I find amusing as Aylesbury is in Buckinghamshire and was where I went to secondary school! I wonder if the builder or developer had some connection with Aylesbury?)

James died on the 19 June 1944 aged 67 at 1 Brunel Street in Burnley. He was buried in Burnley Cemetery grave NE10535 on 22 June.

Polly and James Thomas Magnall (photo supplied by Dorothy Magnall)

[Last updated 02 Jan 2024]