Thomas Mangnall was born on 30 September 1792 in Westhoughton, Lancashire (VS). He married Martha Brindle (JM053) about 1821 in Westhoughton (VS). Martha was also from Westhoughton and was born on 21 July 1799.

Thomas and Martha probably had at least 9 children:-

  • Mary (HM182) b.18 August 1822 in Westhoughton;
  • Thomas (HM183) b. 26 October 1823 in Westhoughton;
  • John (GM125) b. 27 November 1825 in Westhoughton;
  • Lawrence (GM126) b. 11 January 1829 in Westhoughton;
  • James (GM214) b. 5 August 1832 in Westhoughton;
  • Richard (GM127) b.c.1834, christened 30 March 1834 in Westhoughton (MS);
  • William (GM215) b. 24 December 1837 (RoB Bolton 1837 Q4 V.21 p.158 ?) in Westhoughton;
  • Adam (GM216) b. 16 July 1843 (VS) in Westhoughton (so far I have found RoB Bolton 1842 Q2 V.21 p.205 and RoB Bolton 1843 Q1 V.21 p.186);
  • Margaret (GM258) (RoB Bolton 1843 Q4 V.21 p.177 ?).

In 1841 at the time of the census Thomas and Martha were living at a row of houses called “Mangnalls’ Houses” with seven of their children. I don’t think they owned the houses, I think they were called that because there were probably four terraced houses of which two were occupied by different Mangnall families. Thomas was 45 years old and working as a silk weaver. No occupation is shown for Martha.

The 1851 census shows that Thomas was a hand loom weaver living with at the New White Lion with Martha, John, Lawrence, James, Richard, William and Adam.

The 1861 Census shows that Thomas and Martha were living on their own at Wade Lane next door to the White Lion Inn. It may be that they had not moved but that the houses next to the White Lion were now known as Wade Lane. Thomas, 68, was a hand loom cotton weaver and Martha, 61, was a hand loom silk weaver.

At the time of the 1871 Census Thomas and Martha were stilll living on Wade Lane in Westhoughton looking after their grandchildren John (FM268) and Martha (FM269) whose father, Thomas (HM183), was in the States. Thomas senior was still a Cotton weaver even though he was now 78, and Martha was a silk winder at the age of 71.

By the time of the1881 Census Thomas jnr (HM183) had left for America with some of his children but Thomas snr was still living in Westhoughton at 5 Market Street with Martha and Laurence (GM126). Interestingly, Martha is shown to be a retired silk weaver rather than a retired midwife!

In the Register of Deaths we have found the following entries for which we have not yet obtained death certificates:-

  • Martha Mangnall Bolton 1883 Q4 Vol.8c page 210 aged 84
  • Thomas Mangnall Bolton 1884 Q1 Vol.8c page 216 aged 91

Many thanks to Virginia Mangnall Schmecker, Tom Mangnall and Margaret Southgate for helping with information. Virginia and Tom are direct descendants of Thomas.

MS – dates supplied by Margaret Southgate


[Last updated 13 Dec 2009]