A LANCASTER FAMILY FROM GISBURN
SETTLING IN COLNE, LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND

Introduction

A small amount of research has been undertaken to trace the family of Elizabeth Ellen Lancaster, who married Albert Cragg in 1880. The following tree outlines the progress made so far. There is a very helpful monumental inscription at Trawden Cemetery near Colne and this is reproduced in Note 1. It is likely that Thomas Lancaster and his wife Sarah Bullock had more children that found so far and the census of 1861 and 1871 will be useful. However, we know from a newspaper obituary of Sarah Lancaster in 1923 that she had surviving at that time two sons and two daughters.

Abbreviations

BC            Birth certificate
MC           Marriage certificate
DC            Death certificate
MI             Monumental Inscription

• 1.   John Lancaster born about 1781 from marriage record.
• +    Ann Waun on 10 October 1799 at St. Mary's Gisburn. He was a weaver aged 18 putting birth about 1781 and she a spinster aged 17, itpo of M. Riley & T. Wilson
  • 2.   Mary d. John & Ann Lancaster of Nappa, born 13 Jan 1800 and bapt. 2 Mar 1800.
  • 2.   John Lancaster, son of John and Ann, born 29 Feb baptised 5 March 1804 at Gisburn St. Mary's. John is known to have married an Elizabeth from C51 and it may have been Elizabeth Parker, by banns at St. Mary's Gisburn on 20 September 1825. Details from C51 are in Note 2. John died aged 75 on 21 March 1879 and Elizabeth aged 64 on 1 January 1872.
    • 3.   Thomas Lancaster, born Newsholme, about 1829 (C51 & C81). On his marriage certificate, Thomas was a bachelor and a weaver aged 26 of Barnoldswick the son of John Lancaster, weaver. Thomas Lancaster, of 3 Skipton Road, Colne, died on 4 January 1914, aged 84. He was formerly a master grocer (DC). C81 details shown in Note 3, Will in note 5.
    • + Sarah Bullock on 15 November 1856 at Colne Parish Church. She was said to be a spinster, aged 19, the daughter of Thomas Bullock, grocer of Colne Field.  Sarah was born 1 May 1838 at Colne Field the daughter of Thomas Bullock, a weaver and Ellen Bullock, formerly Stansfield (BC). This means Sarah was only 18 on marriage. She died at 15 Garrick Street, Nelson, the home of her youngest daughter, on 24 April 1923 aged 84 (DC & MI and obituary see note 6). Thomas Bullock married Ellen Stansfield on 11 April 1830 at Colne (IGI) and some details of their family are known from C51 as shown in Note 3.
      • 4.   John William Lancaster, born 1859/60 in Barnoldswick, from C81. Weaver & local methodist preacher.
      • +    Lizzie (See note 6.)
      • 4.   Elizabeth Ellen Lancaster, born 27 October 1861 in Barnoldswick, daughter of Thomas Lancaster, cotton weaver and Sarah Lancaster formerly Bullock. (BC)
      • + Albert Cragg, born 20 April 1856 (BC) on 4 November 1880 at Colne Wesleyan Chapel (MC)
      • 4.   Thomas, born 1873/4 in Colne, from C81.
      • +    Elizabeth Preston (family information and Note 6.)
      • 4.   Emma, born about 1879 in Colne from C81, died 28 July 1956, aged 77 (MI)
      • +    Willie Eastwood, no surviving issue.

Note 1. Monumental Inscription at Trawden Cemetery

John Lancaster, of Brown Street Colne, who died on 21 March 1879 aged 75,
Also his wife Elizabeth, who died on 1 January 1872 aged 64,
Also Emma, their grand-daughter who died in her sixth year on 28 October.
Also Thomas Lancaster of 3, Skipton Road, Colne, who died 14 Jan 1914, aged 84,
Also his wife Sarah who died 24 April 1923, aged 84.
Also Willie Eastwood, who died 19 June 1940 aged 63 and his wife Emma who died 28 July 1956 aged 77, and two grandchildren who died in infancy.

Note 2. Census of 1851, Gisburn, HO 107/2255, ED 5, Horton, folio 57, page 8

Note 3. Census of 1851, Colne Field. The family of Sarah Bullock who married Thomas Lancaster.

Note 4. Census of 1881 at 5 Brown Street, Colne in Lancashire (PRO Ref RG11 Piece 4163 Folio 63 Page 1)

Note 5. Probate for the Will of Thomas Lancaster (made 8 August 1912)

1914.  Thomas Lancaster of 3 Skipton Road Colne, Lancashire, retired hay and straw merchant, died 4 Jan 1914. Probate at Lancaster on 3 April to John William Lancaster, minister of religion, Thomas Lancaster, theatre lessee, and Albert Cragg, engine driver. (The will has been obtained but contains little additional genealogical information.)

Note 6. Obituaries for Mrs. Sarah Lancaster, 1923.

The following are from Newspaper cuttings found in the family bible and probably from the Colne Times or Nelson Leader. There are at least two mistakes in the following accounts. Sarah could not have been buried in two cemeteries!

IN MEMORIAM.   Mrs. Sarah Lancaster passed to the Homeland on April 24th in her 85th year. Her maiden days go back to Skipton Road Church, Colne, where the late Sir W P Hartley was organist sixty-five years ago and she was a member of his choir. After her marriage to Mr. Thomas Lancaster, of Barnoldswick, she continued her membership and devoted service in many ways in the interests of our church there. In later years the family removed to Colne. Her interests in the Church she loved so much never waned. Her last days were spent at Nelson with her youngest daughter. The interment took place at Trawden Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. H Pickup, after an impressive service in the home. Two daughters and two sons, including the Rev John Lancaster, cherish the memory of a saintly life.

DEATH OF MRS. S. LANCASTER: Colne Octogenarian.  Another old and highly respected resident of Colne has just passed away in the person of Mrs. Sarah Lancaster, who was in her 85th year. The deceased lady was the wife of the late Mr. Lancaster, who for a long period of time was in business in Skelton Street, Colne, as a hay and straw dealer. Mr Lancaster died in February 1915 (actually 1914 from gravestone) since when, Mrs Lancaster has been living with her children in various parts. At the time of her death, she was staying with a married daughter at Nelson. The late Mrs Lancaster had been connected with the Colne Primitive Methodist Church, and was in the choir in the days when Mr Pickles Hartley was organist. The interment took place at Colne (actually Trawden) Cemetery on Saturday, the last rites being conducted by the Rev. H. Pickup, pastor of the Colne P. M. Church.

The list of floral tributes which allows the following four children to be identified:

Elizabeth Ellen and her husband Albert Cragg.
Emma and her husband Willie Eastwood.
John (The Rev John William Lancaster) and his wife Emily.
Thomas Lancaster and his wife Lizzie.

LANCASTER RESEARCH IN PAYTHORN AND GISBURN

I have been contacted by Andrew Lancaster with information on a Lancaster family of Paythorn and Gisburn. During 2006, a lot of new information has been gathered by Andrew, Ric Lancaster, Pat Gaskin and Robert Dodgson and the latest version of their work is shown on a new site for Lancaster research which Andrew has developed.  Although this family lived in the Gisburn area the connection with mine is not yet clear. The tree shown on Andrew's site is a rich source of information for those researching this name.