Rachel is my great great great grandmother. She was born about 1815 at Stubbins near Tottington. We think her father was called John Isherwood.
Rachel married Thomas (HM059) and they had at least 13 children:

The photo above was supplied by Clare Hollis and seems to have been taken in Blackpool. The photo on the left shows Rachel when she is much older. I think she is probably in a studio and is holding a book even though we don’t think that she could read!

Details of the 1841 Census.

Details of the 1851 Census.

The 1871 census shows that Rachel was now a widow and was living at Cog Lane in Habergham Eaves with her six youngest children.

I had great difficulty in tracking down what had happened to Rachel by 1881. I couldn’t find her on the 1881 Census Index. It was only whilst trying to find where Joseph (FM234) had got to in 1881 by using the LDS 1881 Census CD that I came across the following information:

Burnley, LAN (1881 RG11 Piece 4147 Folio 87 page 32)

1 Ridge

Rachl Magasall Head W 65 F Stubbins LAN (HM060)
Joseph Magasall Son U 22 M Clerk C Office Stubbins LAN (FM234)
Sarha J Magasall Daur U 19 F Weaver Cotton Stubbins LAN (FM231)
Bromered Atkinson Son in Law M 32 M Hand Loom Weaver Cotton Fordsham Fold
Mary Ann Atkinson Daur U 29 F Weaver Cotton Stubbins LAN (FM232)
Susanah Atkinson G Daur U  5 F Burnley LAN

Interestingly, not only has there been an error in the surname and two of the first names, Mary Ann is described as being unmarried. However, everything seems to suggest that this Rachl is my greatx3 grandmother living with some of her children.

In the 1891 census Rachel is still living at 1 Ridge Road with Joseph, Mary Ann and her husband (now shown as Omerod) but Sarah is no longer at home and neither is Rachel’s grand-daughter Susannah.

Rachel died on 26 Dec 1891 and is buried in Burnley Cemetry (grave no. 1492/3).

Details of Rachel’s death certificate are shown below:

No. When and
where died
Name and
surname
Sex Age Occupation Cause of death Signature, description and residence of informant When
registered
Signature of
registrar
341 Twenty sixth
December 1891
1 Ridge Road
Burnley
U.S.D.
Rachel
Magnall
female 75
years
Widow of
Thomas
Magnall
a
Stone
Quarrier
Chronic Bronchitis
11 years
Acute Bronchitis
Cardiac failure
4 days
Certified by
G.G.Crump.M.B.(?)
Joseph Magnall
In attendance
1 Ridge Road
Burnley
Twenty
Sixth
December
1891
William
Thomas
Clegg
Deputy
Registrar

[Last updated 30 Nov 2008]