Thomas Magnall was born about 1857 in the Ramsbottom area to Thomas (HM059) and Rachel (HM060).

The 1861 Census was taken on the night of 7th April 1861 and shows the family living at Bromley Fold in the parish of Tottington Lower End. It took some time to track the family down on the 1861 Census, I finally found them when I stopped looking for variations on the Magnall surname and started looking for a Thomas married to a Rachel with the correct children with the correct ages. I found them with the surname Greenhalgh. Thomas was 3 years old.

In the 1871 Census, he was living with his widowed mother and several of his brothers and sisters in Cog Lane near Wood Top. He was 14 years old and a cotton weaver.

Thomas was christened a year later on the 26th May 1872 at Holy Trinity Church, Habergham Eaves (entry 1386 on page 174 of the register). The register shows that they were living on Cog Lane. I don’t know why Rachel left it so long for Thomas to be baptised, he was now 15 years old. I have also found it difficult to find baptism records for a number of Thomas’ siblings.

Thomas married Sarah Blakey (FM022) on the 10th April 1876 at Holy Trinity Church, Habergham Eaves. Thomas was recorded as being a 19 year old weaver living on Gannow Lane, Sarah as a 20 year old weaver from Whittlefield.

Thomas and Sarah had the following children:-

  • William Thomas (EM018), born on 5 September 1876, christened 8 August 1876, died 5 April 1924;
  • Albert Edward (EM036), born on 7 June 1878, christened 26 June 1878, died 29 May 1879;
  • Fred (EM019), born on 27 August 1880, christened 15 September 1880, died 13 April 1929;
  • Minnie (EM199), born on 27 January 1884, christened 21 February 1884, died 10 June 1980;
  • Mary Maude (EM224), born on 27 February 1888, christened 15th March 1888, died June 1965;
  • Harry (EM046), born on 17 December 1891, christened 14 January 1892, died 15 May 1892;
  • Rachel Annie (EM289), born on 30 October 1894, christened 22 November 1894, died 10 June 1980;
  • Ida (EM050), born on 5 May 1897, christened 27 May 1897, died 14 May 1901.

By the time of the 1881 Census Thomas and Sarah were living at 49 Cog Lane with their two surviving children William Thomas (EM018) aged 4 and Fred (EM019) aged 8 months. Thomas and Sarah were recorded as both being Cotton Weavers so I guess the children were cared for by family.

The 1891 Census shows that Thomas has become a grocer and is living at 198 Accrington Road with:-

  • William (EM018) who is now 14 and a cotton weaver;
  • Fred (EM019) aged 10 and a scholar;
  • Minnie (EM199), aged 7 and a scholar;
  • Mary M (EM224) aged 3.

At the time of the 1901 Census Thomas was 44 years old and still running a grocer shop at 198 Accrington Road. He was living with his wife Sarah, and children William (EM018) who was also known as Tom, Fred, Minnie, Mary, Rachel and Ida.

Thomas died on the 28th July 1909 aged 52, he was still living at 198 Accrington Road. He is buried at Burnley Cemetery grave 2574.

The photo on the right is of Thomas and Sarah later in their life.


[Last updated 26 Dec 2023]