Jesse was born about 1838 in Westhoughton, according to the censuses.
The 1851 Census shows that Jesse was a school boy living with his family at Dob Brow in Westhoughton. In the 1861 Census he was a hand loom silk weaver like his parents and was living with them at Chapel Lane in Westhoughton.
He married Alice (GM111) and they had at least six children:-
- William (FM115) born 1863;
- George (FM116) born 1867;
- Jane (FM209) born 1870, died 1873;
- Peter (FM117) born 1873;
- Abel (EM071) born 1876;
- Jesse (EM082) born 1877.
In the 1871 Census Jesse and Alice were living at Grove Lane in Westhoughton with William, George and Jane. Jesse was 23 years old and worked as a joiner. I believe he may also have been a coffin maker.
In the 1881 Census Jesse was living at Kingsdown Terrace on the Warrington Road in Abram with Alice, William, George, Peter Abel and and Jesse jnr. Jesse was 43 and described as a “Joiner Jouneyman”.
The family had moved to 8 Wright Street in Abram by the time of the 1891 Census , Jesse was now 53 and described as a Cottage Joiner. Peter, Jesse and Abel (shown as Albert!) were still living at home and they had taken in boarders – a William Green and a Thomas Mangnall. I don’t know yet what the relationship between Thomas and Jesse was, they may have been brothers.
Jesse died later in 1891 (RoD Wigan 1891 Q4 8c 68 age 54) and was buried at the Church of St John the Evangelist in Abram on the 24th November 1891.
[Last updated 27 Dec 2011]