John Mangnall was born about 1781 in Bolton. We are not yet sure of who his parents were. He served with the Bolton Light Horse Volunteers and is shown in the Muster Roll of the Bolton Light Horse Volunteers, Preston, June 12th 1805 who were being inspected by General Bulwer. He married Ellen Fowler on 28th May 1806 at St James, Brindle and they had the following children:

  • Sarah Ann (HM158), b.c.1806 in Bolton;
  • Caroline, b.c.1810 in Bolton, baptised 20 April 1810 at St Peter’s Church, Bolton-le-Moors;
  • Lavinia (HM190), died 1845;
  • Walter (HM023), b.c.1812 in Bolton;
  • Matilda (HM025), b.c.1817 in Bolton;
  • Wilbraham (HM160), b.c.1818 in Bolton;
  • Elizabeth (GM015 / HM161), b.c.1822 in Bolton.

John must have been a well respected man. In 1822 he was presented with a silver tea service “for services to Bolton Union Building Society”, this tea service is now in the possession of Richard Fairhurst, one of his descendents.

In the 1834 Pigot’s National Commercial Directory John is also shown as the manager of Bolton Water Works on Moor Lane in Bolton. I understand tha John and his two sons were responsible for the creation of the first reservoirs at Belmont and for the water supply to Bolton. The 1834 directory tells us that at Bolton was “lighted with gas, and plentifully supplied with water”. The water works were bought by the Corporation about 1854 though I do not know if John was still involved with them at this stage.

The 1836 Pigot and Son’s Directory for Bolton has a “Mangnall John, paper manufacturer, Springfield mills; house St. George’s road, Little Bolton”. The 1834 Pigot’s Directory of Lancashire records “Livesy John & Co. Springfield mills” so presumably John purchased the mills between 1834 and 1836. He eventually ran them with his two sons Walter and Wilbraham (HM160). John is also to be shown in the 1843 Slater’s Directory for Bolton at Springfield Mills. The 1843 Slater’s Directory for Bolton also lists “Mangnall Walter, paper manufacturer, Bridgeman place”. Business must have been good because later offices were opened in Manchester and Liverpool.

John also served as one of the first Aldermen of Bolton though I have not found records of this yet.

John was not at home for the 1841 Census, we have yet to find out where he was! There was a John Mangnall of Independent means in the Isle of Man at the time of the census but we don’t know if was this John.

The 1851 Census shows that John was 70 years old, a widower living at High Lawns in Bolton. He was a farmer of 18 acres employing 2 men. Sarah Ann, Matilda, Wilbraham and Elizabeth were still living at home and they had a domestic servant.

The 1861 Census shows that John was 80, widowed and was an “Independent Gentleman”. He was still living at High Lawns with Sarah, Matilda and Elizabeth. They had a servant, Mary Winder, living there as well.

John died on 14 Jan 1865 and was buried at St Peter’s in Bolton on 20 Jan 1865. Probate was proved at Manchester on 20 April 1865 as follows:

Mangnall John Esq.
20 April
The Will with a Codicil of John Mangnall late of High Lawn in Sharples in the County of Lancaster Esquire deceased who died 14 January 1865 at High Lawn aforesaid was proved at Manchester by the oaths of James Rawsthorne Wolfenden of Westwood in Little Bolton in the County aforesaid Esquire and Thomas Woodhouse of Turton in the County aforesaid Gentlemen the Executors
Effects under £9,000.

Many thanks to Richard Fairhurst for help with some of this information.


[Last updated 14 Nov 2013]