Betty (also known as Betsy or Betsey) was born on 24 January 1845 to Thomas (HM059) and Rachel (HM060). She was baptised on 5 February 1848 at Emmanuel Church, Holcombe. The baptimsal register shows that Thomas was a labourer at this time and they were living at Boardmans.

In the 1851 Census she is recorded as being 6 years old and living with her family at Boardmans in Hawkshaw, Lancashire.

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! Betty was 15 years old and working as a cotton weaver.

Betty married Benjamin Frankland on the 29 January 1870 as shown by the details of her marriage certificate below:

1870 Marriage solemnized at Holy Trinity Church in the Parish of H.T. Habergham Eaves in the County 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
437 Jan 29 Benjamin Frankland

Betty Magnall

 26

25

 Widower

Spinster

 Tackler

Weaver

 Stoops Lane

Stoops Lane

 ———

Thomas Magnall

 ———-

Deceased
Married in the Church of the Holy Trinity according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, by Certificate by me,
Howard A. Crosbie ?
This Marriage
was solemnized
between us		 Benjamin Frankland

Betty Magnall X

 in the
presence
of us		 John Magnall X

Sarah Hargraves

In the 1871 Census Betty and Benjamin are living in Cog Lane a door or two away from Betty’s mother, Rachel. They have two sons living with them who were born before they were married. Since the marriage certificate shows that Benjamin was a widower they are probably from his previous marriage. The children are:

  • John, born c.1865 in Habergham Eaves;
  • James Henry, born c.1868 in Habergham Eaves

Betty and Benjamin had the following children:

  • Tommy, born 11 June 1871
  • Joseph, born 3 June 1873, died 1877, buried 26 May 1877
  • William, 1875 – 1875

Betty died about June 1875 aged 30, possibly as a result of complications with the birth of William. She was buried in Burnley Cemetery on 30 June 1875, William died at 4 months of age and was buried on 16 October 1875 in the same grave.

[Last updated 04 Jan 2024]