Walter was born in 1853 in Waterfoot, Rossendale, to John (HM019) and Elizabeth Magnall (HM020).
The 1861 Census shows that Walter was 9 years old and living with his parents at 3 Carr Mill in Haslingden. He was a scholar and his father was a Cotton Cloth Looker. Besides his parents and his older brother John Thomas, they also had Alice Nuttall living with them who is described as a “niece” on the census.
In the 1871 Census Walter was living at 21 Chesham Lane with his parents. He is recorded as being a bookkeeper at a cotton Mill. The 1876 Mannex Directory for North East Lancashire with Bury and District Vol 2 records Walter as living on Chesham Lane and being the Mill Secretary of Springfield Mill. Springfield seems to have been a very popular name for mills all over Lancashire and Yorkshire so I have not yet found out much more about the mill or it’s location.
The 1881 Census records that Walter was still living with his parents but now at 12 Salford Street, Bury. He was described as being a clerk at a cotton mill.
By the time of the 1891 Census we think that Walter’s parents have died and he is living at 12 Salford Street, Bury on his own. He is now the “Secretary to Limited Company”.
Walter has moved and is a boarder at 20 Hamilton St, Bury by the time of the 1901 Census. He is described as “Secretary Cotton Mill”.
We think that Walter may have married in 1907 (RoM Bury 1907 Q2 8c 944) but we do not know the name of his wife yet. We also think that Walter died in 1918 (RoD Bury 1918 Q3 8c 561 age 66).
[Last updated 24 Dec 2008]