Joseph Magnall was born on the 28 August 1858 at Croichey (so far I have been unable to find the exact location of Croichey but the 1871 Census says that he was born in the Parish of Tottington and his birth certificate refers to the sub-district of Holcombe). He was the son of Thomas (HM059) and Rachel (HM060). Joseph’s birth certificate uses the surname Mangnall rather than Magnall for his parents. I have a copy of a certified copy of the birth certificate dated 27 June 1918, details of this below:

Registration District Bury
1858 Birth in the Sub-District of Holcombe in the County of Lancaster
No. When and where
born
Name, if any Sex Name and Surname
of Father
Name and Maiden Sur-
name of Mother
Rank or Profession
of Father
Signature, Description and
Residence of Informant
When
registered
Signature of
registrar
Baptismal Name
if added after
Registration of Birth
339 Twenty Eighth
August
1858
Croichhey
Joseph Boy Thomas
Mangnall
Rachel
Mangnall
formerly
Isherwood
Hand
Loom
Cotton
Weaver
X The mark of
Rachel Mangnall
Mother
Croichhey
Fifth
October
1858
Robert
Wolstenholme
Registrar

The 1861 Census was taken on the night of 7 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. Joseph was 2 years old.

The 1871 Census tells us that he was 12 years old living with his widowed mother at Cog Lane, near Wood Top, Habergham Eaves along with his brothers and sisters Mary Ann (FM232), Margaret (FM233), Ralph (FM001), Thomas (FM021) and Sarah Jane (FM231). At this time the census says he was a book keeper – an interesting occupation for a 12 year old!.

It took a long time to discover what happened to Joseph in 1881 but with the release of the 1881 Census on CD I was able to do wildcard searches and I eventually found Joseph, his mother, two sisters and a brother-in-law living at 1 Ridge Road in East Burnley under the name Magasall! Joseph was 22 and working as a Colliery Clerk.

On the 24 May 1885 Joseph was a witness at the wedding of his younger sister, Sarah Jane (FM231) to Walter Chaffer.

At the time of the 1891 Census, Joseph was still living with his mother at 1 Ridge Road. He was 32 years old and described (I think) as a Machine Clerk. Later he was to become a confectioner and tobacconist.

Joseph married Eve Bridge (FM236) on the 13 August 1892 at St Peter’s Church in Burnley. He was 33 and worknig as a clerk. Details of the certificate are shown below:

1892 Marriage solemnized at The Parish Church in the Parish of Burnley in the County of 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
199 August
13
1892
Joseph Magnall

Eve Bridge

33

24

Bachelor

Spinster

Clerk

Winder

1 Ridge Road

2 Granville Street

Thomas Magnall

John Bridge

(deceased)

Labourer

Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church
by Licence by me, Edmond Clarke (??)
This Marriage was
solemnized between us
Joseph Magnall

Eve Bridge

in the presence of us Joseph Bridge

Rebecca Marriott (?)

Joseph and Eve had at least four children:

  • Harold (bap.20 December 1893, died 1894)
  • Annie (EM330) (born 1 Jun 1895, died 13 Dec 1970)
  • Florence (DM010) (born 1902, died 1961)
  • Gladys Maude (DM019) (born 31 Oct 1906). Gladys married Thomas Fielding (b.1907) in 1931 in Burnley. She died on the 5th March 1975 aged 68 and is buried in Burnley Cemetry grave no.1492/3.

At the time of the 1901 Census Joseph (42) and Eve (32) were living at 71 Manchester Road in Burnley with 5 year old Annie. Joseph was a Tobacconist and Confectioner working from home. They had a widowed “Aunt” Eve Clough staying with them.

The 1911 Census shows Joseph (52), Eve (42) still living at 71 Manchester Road with their daughters Annie (15), Florence (9) and Gladys (4). Both Joseph and Eve were working as “Tobacconist & Confectioner”, Annie was working as a “Machinist”

When Joseph died on 25th January 1924 aged 66 he was living at 71 Manchester Road. He is buried in grave 1491 next to the grave of his father, mother and his wife at Burnley Cemetry, grave no. 1492/3.

Thanks to Pat Russell (nee Fielding), a descendant of Joseph for providing much of this information as well as the photo of Rachel (HM060) and the grave.


[Last updated 26 December 2023]