THORNBER FAMILIES IN GISBURN,
Lancashire, formerly Yorkshire, England

1.   Researched Initially by Mrs. Mary Cole in California.  E-mail: cdgg47a@prodigy.com

The following family tree is based on one sent to me by Mary Cole to which I have added details from my own database and new information as it has emerged. I have added details from further wills and made new links.  I have included information on the family of John Thornber who married Ann Mount. This information comes from my work on all the John Thornbers born in the 1760s and 1770s.  This John has been identified as the son of Richard and Jane, born about 1769 on the grounds of the age given on his death certificate and the fact that he used the names Richard and Jane for two of his first three children.  It was important to distinguish between him and another John, baptised in Gisburn in 1771, the son of John and Susannah Thornber.  This has been achieved with reasonable certainty as this latter John has been traced as the one who married Mary Holgate and named his first daughter Susan.  The age given at this John's burial, fits with birth about 1770.  (See the second chart below.)   The discovery of pedigree charts drawn up by the conveyancer, Caleb Howarth, of Marsden near Colne, has been useful.

I have added the information on the family of Henry Thornber and his wife Ellen in generation 3.  This was materially aided by Phil Hudson of Settle who pointed out to me the monumental inscriptions at Gisburn relating to James Thornber of Runley Bridge, Settle, and Thomas Thornber of Vivary Bridge, Colne.

In addition I have added information on the family of Henry Thornber in generation 4 from wills.  A collection of pedigrees from the Conveyancer, Caleb Haworth of  Marsden near Colne are preserved in Colne Public Library.  Caleb Haworth drew up the will of Ann Thornber (formerly Mount).  It shows that Ann's brother was James Mount and her two surviving children were John Thornber and Elizabeth. She was the wife of John Stansfield, cordwainer of Colne.  Haworth's chart includes details of Ann's children and grandchildren. In the tree that follows the abbreviation CC refers to Hawort's chart

The information on John and Isabella Thornber (born Blakey), in generation 4, and their children has been added as a result of research on records in Colne and Manchester.

Surnames throughout are Thornber except where otherwise stated.

Abbreviations:

DC    Death certificate
MC    Marriage Certificate
C41   Census of 1841, C51, C61 etc.
CC    Conveyancer's Chart by Caleb Haworth.
 

• 1.     Robert Thornber, buried 6 Oct 1729, Gisburn. 
• +      Maria Peele, on 8 Dec 1682, Gisburn; buried 14 Aug 1693, Bracewell.
  • 2.     Maria, bapt. 17 June 1683, Gisburn. 
  • 2.     Henry, bapt. 13 Jan 1684/5, Gisburn; buried 10 Dec 1761, Gisburn. (Will Oct. 1761. See footnote 2.)
  • +      Maria Clark on 29 Jan 1709, Gisburn.  bapt. 19 Sept 1686, Gisburn. (Mentioned in will). Maria also left a will made on 8 October 1771 and buried at Gisburn as Mary Thornber of Gisburn, widow, 18 January 1772. She mentions sons John, Henry and James; daughter Mary, the wife of James Titterington; daughter Margaret the wife of Francis Ayrton, daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Roger Wellack; and daughter Ann who was executrix.
    • 3.     John, bapt. 14 Sept 1711, Gisburn; mentioned in both parents' wills. John of Hill Top, Barnoldswick, left a will made 1782 mentioning wife Elizabeth; sons Richard and William; late son Henry; brother-in-law William Stanley; sister Elizabeth, the wife of Roger Wellack; his father Henry; two daughters, Martha, and Mary the wife of William Sutcliffe. John Thornber of Hill Top was buried at Gisburn on 10 July 1782.
    • +      Elizabeth Brown on 17 Apr 1735, Gisburn; bapt. 10 May 1713, Gisburn
      • 4.    Henry, bapt. 2 Mar 1736. Will made 1779; buried 29 Oct. 1779.  His will says he is of Horton Hall and mentions his wife Margaret and brothers Richard and William Thornber, who were joint executors. No children were mentioned. Witnesses were Thos. Starkie and Thos. Starkie.
      • +     Margaret  (The following children are known for a Henry in this period but more evidence is needed.  Thomas is said in the bapt. register to be the son of Henry of Horton Hall.
        • 5.    Betty, born abt. 1767/8, mentioned in will of her brother John, probably the one buried 15 June 1847 aged 79, Gisburn. DC states she was a spinster.  Informant on DC was William Thornber, who would be her nephew, and the son of Thomas shown below.
        • 5.    Thomas, bapt. 10 January 1770, Bracewell.  Lived at Hilltop Barnoldswick when daughter Ellen was born and was a grocer and shopkeeper. Buried 2 Feb 1837 aged 67 at Gisburn, Buried 2 Feb 1837 at Gisburn
        • +     Mary Petty by licence on 9 July 1797 at St. Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick.  The marriage allegation states that he was 26 and upwards and she was 21 and upwards. Mary Thornber was buried on 1 June 1841 at Gisburn and said to be from Barnoldswick.  An administration of her estate in 1848, named William as her only son, a tea-dealer, and states that she died 28 May 1841.
          • 6.     Margaret, born 9 January, baptised 19 January 1799 at St. Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick
          • 6.      Ellen, baptised 17 May 1801, St. Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick
          • 6.     William, (3rd child) born 21 June 1808, baptised 26 June 1808, at St Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick.  Wife and children from MI at Gisburn and burial registers.  He died 2 September 1871, aged 63, buried Gisburn. C51 at Barnoldswick shows William aged 41, proprietor of houses and lands with wife Abigail, aged 34, son John W. aged 11 and daughter Ellen aged 9.
          • +      Abigail, died 13 November 1885 aged 65.  (MI & Census )
            • 7.     Mary, infant, of Hill Top, died 25 May 1838.
            • 7.     John William Thornber, born 1839/40 from C51 & C81. Cotton warp dresser born Barnoldswick. Said to be of of Hill Top when he died aged 55 on 2 June 1895, buried Gisburn.
            • +      Eliza A born abt. 1846, Barnoldswick (wife and children from C81)
              • 8.    William, abt. 1872
              • 8.     Edwin, abt. 1873
              • 8.     Thomas, abt. 1876
              • 8.     Frances, abt. 1877
              • 8.     Mary, abt. 1880
            • 7.     Ellen born abt. 1841/2 (C51 & C81)
            • 7.     Elizabeth, infant died 27 January 1843 (MI)
          • 6.    Elizabeth (4th child) born 21 July and baptised 9 August 1812, at St. Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick. 
        • 5.     John born 3 Nov and bapt. 23 Nov. 1774, Gisburn.A tea dealer, buried 15 May 1846 aged 73, Gisburn. Will mentions a  sister Betty Thornber and a nephew William who would be the son of Thomas shown above. The death certificate states that John, a tea dealer was 71 and died on 11 May 1846 at Barnoldswick. Informant was William Thornber of Barnoldswick.
        • 5.     Ellen 7 June 1777,  Gisburn.
      • 4.    Richard, bapt. 14 Oct 1738, Gisburn; buried 2 Jan 1801, Gisburn.
      • +    Jane Croasdale, 17 Nov 1768, Bracewell, bapt. 9 Sept 1746, Bracewell.
        • 5.     John, bapt. 2 Sept 1769, Gisburn. Died aged 76 at Colne, 16 June 1846 (DC).  Shown in Census 1841 at Settle aged 70 with wife Ann aged 60 (ages were rounded down to nearest five). At the time of the marriage John was described as  a surgeon of the parish of Kildwick but later in life was an auctioneer.
        • +     Ann Mount in Kirkby Malham on 18 November 1799.She was the daughter of George Mount, blacksmith of Malham and Ann Parkinson (CC).  Ann was born 5 June 1780 (CC) and died on 7 January 1857 as noted on papers with her will, made on 23 Sept 1852.  The Giggleswick Registers show five of the children of this couple and state that John was the son of Richard Thornber of Horton (or Halton) Green while Ann was the daughter of George Mount of Malham or Hanlith.
          • 6.    Nancy, born 10 October 1800, died 1805 (CC).  Buried 31 Mar 1805 Kirkby Malham d. of John Thornber, bailiff of Settle.
          • 6.    Jane, bapt. 8 April 1804, Giggleswick, but known to be born 7 March 1804 and said to have died 1806 from CC.  Burial found of Jane d. of John Thornber, bailiff of Settle on 4 July 1805 at Kirkby Malham.
          • 6.    Richard, bapt. 8 April 1804, Giggleswick, but known to be born 18 Feb 1802, died in 1817 from CC.  Burial of Richard, son of John Thornber of Settle aged 15 on 5 Dec 1817 at KirkbyMalham.
          • 6.    George, bapt. 25 April 1806, Giggleswick.  Died 1814 (CC)  Burial of George son of Jno Thornber of Settle aged 8 on 28 June 1814 at Kirkby Malham.
          • 6.    John, bapt. 17 July 1808, Giggleswick.  In C41 at Settle, age rounded down to 30.  John is shown in the pedigree given by the conveyancer of his mother's will.  However he is said to have married Mary Ellison on 18 July 1829 at Giggleswick. The name in the register for a marriage on 18 July 1829 is Mary Preston. The marriage bond and allegation state he was a bachelor and tailor of Settle aged 21 and upwards and she was a minor aged 20 and upwards marrying with the consent of her father, Robert Preston.  The conveyancer's chart shows that Mary died in Dec 1831 and the burial register gives the name as Mary Ellison Thornber.  It may be that her full maiden name was Mary Ellison Preston.
          • +     1st wife Mary Preston, by licence, on 18 July 1829 at Giggleswick.   She was buried as Mary Ellison Thornber, aged 21, wife of John Thornber of Settle, at Giggleswick on 20 Dec 1831.
            • 7.   William, born 9 January 1830 (CC) bapt. son of John Thornber, tailor of Settle at Giggleswick on 7 Mar 1830. (C41 at Settle aged 11)
            • 7.    Mary Ann, born 5 June 1831 (CC) bapt. Giggleswick, dau. of John Thornber, tailor of Settle and Mary, on 26 June 1831.
            • +    2nd wife of John, Sarah Wilson, 12 June 1836 Clitheroe (CC)
            • 7.    Betsy Wilson, illegitimate, born 1836, died 1 Dec 1857.  Noted in C41 Settle as Betsy Thornber aged 5.
            • 7.    George Mount Thornber,b. 1838/9, died aged 9, 28 Sept 1849.
            • 7.    Alice Thornber, born 12 March 1843 married William Wilcock
            • 7.    Nancy Thornber born 15 October 1845.
            • 7.   John Thornber born 16 Feb 1848
            • 7.    Richard Thornber born 24 November 1850
          • 6.     Elizabeth Mount Thornber bapt. 2 August 1818, Giggleswick.  In  C41 at Settle, with rounded down age of 20 under name Betsy. C51 for Colne shows at the house of John Stansfield, 39, shoemaker, his wife Betsy, aged 33, boot binder, his niece Betsy Thornber aged 14 born in Clitheroe and his mother-in-law Ann Thornber, aged 70, annuitant, born Malham. (Information from Beth Merryweather in New Zealand from HO/107/2254, ED 4a, Colne, folio 367, page 28.) The GRO index has a marriage record for Elizabeth Mount Thornber in 3rd Q 1843 at Settle.
          • +      John Stansfield, cordwainer of Colne (CC). Born about 1812 from C51.  Marriage at Giggleswick: John Stansfield of full age, bach, inspector of cotton pieces, of Colne, s. John Stansfield, soldier & Elizabeth Mount Thornber, of full age, spinster, of Settle, d. John Thornber, farrier (?), itpo William Stansfield and Elizabeth Bentley on 18 Sept 1843
        • 5.    Nancy (Ann) bapt. 18 July 1771: buried 9 May 1797, both Gisburn
        • +     Richard Roberts on 29 Dec 1795, Gisburn.
        • 5.    Henry bapt. 31 July 1773, Gisburn.(nothing is known further of Henry at this stage but it is possible that he is the Henry who married Ellen Simpson, by licence at Burnsall on 27 March 1798. A copy of the marriage bond and allegation may shed light on the origins of this Henry.
        • 5.    Mary, bapt. 26 Feb 1775, Gisburn.
      • 4. William, known from the will of his father, John, of 1782 and of his brother, Henry, in 1779. He could be the William who was a bachelor and a butcher who died in 1788. An Admon for William names his mother Elizabeth as next of kin and administratrix. A Richard Thornber, who could be William's brother was also mentioned.
      • 4. Mary Thornber daughter of John Thornber baptised Gisburn 4 November 1742. She is mentioned in father's will of 1782 as wife of William Sutcliffe. Mary Thornber of Barnoldswick, spinster, married William Sutcliffe of Barnoldswick, farmer by licence on 6 July 1778. Witn: John Sutcliffe and John Shackleton. St. Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick.
      • 4. Martha Thornber mentioned in the will of her father, John Thornber of Hill Top in 1782. Note that there was a Martha of Hill Top who had a child: Joseph Bracewell son of Martha Thornber of Hilltop, illegitimate, baptised 26 November 1781 at Barnoldswick, St. Mary le Ghyll.
    • 3. Maria, bapt. 27 Sept. 1713, Gisburn, mentioned in mother's will as wife of James Titterington. They married 22 December 1763 at Gisburn.
    • 3. James, bapt. 5 May 1718, Bracewell; mentioned in both parents' wills.
    • 3. Elizabetha, bapt. 3 Nov 1720, Gisburn; mentioned in both parents' wills.
    • + Roger Wellack, 11 Aug 1740, Clapham, Yorks, by licence.
    • 3. Henry bapt. 4 May 1723 baptised 4 May 1723, Gisburn; mentioned in both parents' wills. Henry Thornber of Cotes in the parish of Barnoldswick made a will mentioning wife as Ellen, sons John, James and Thomas, daughters Mary Bracewell, Ellen Dewhurst and Ann Thornber. Henry Thornber of Coats Hall, was buried at Gisburn on 6 April 1783.
    • +Ellen Bulcock of Barnoldswick on 5 November 1748 at St. Mary le Ghyll, Barnoldswick.
      • 4. John bapt. 2 September 1749, Gisburn.  Lived in Colne and then in Manchester, buried 17 June 1824 at Gisburn.  (Trade Directories) Mentioned in father's will of 1783.
      • +  Isabella Blakey on 24 July 1774 at Long Preston by licence.  The marriage bond and allegation on 23 July 1774 state that John Thornber of High Ground in the parish of Long Preston, bachelor, was a farmer, aged 24 and upwards, and Isabella Blakey of Long Preston, a spinster of 23 and upwards.  John himself and Henry Tower a farmer of Hall Fields in Long Preston were bondsmen. John Hardacre and Mary Hardacre were witnesses at the marriage.
        • 5.    Henry son of John and Isabella Thornber of Long Preston, bapt. 14 January 1775 at Long Preston, buried 1 Nov 1805 at Gisburn.
        • 5.     James Thornber, bapt. 2 Mar 1777, Colne. In view of the dates and place, and the names of his children, he is probably the James who married Ann Hartley in 1798. The children John and Isabella would be named after his parents and Robert after his younger brother who died in 1805 aged 14. Other children that almost certainly belong to this family are baptised at St. Bartholomew's but the father is first a farmer and later a shopkeeper. However the use of the name Henry Hartley Thornber seems strong evidence that he and his twin brother James Blakey Thornber are sons of James Thornber and Ann, formerly Hartley. Note too that the use of the name Blakey goes back to James's mother Isabella Blakey.  All these ideas were confirmed with information from Beverley Hammond and Lorraine Griffiths in Australia.  Beverley provided from a family bible the times and dates of births of the children as shown below.  This source revealed three additional sisters, Jane, Sarah and Ellen.  They may have been baptised in Manchester as the family moved there and lived in Market Street for a time.  (separate tree for descendants of James & Ann)
        • + Ann Hartley on 28 October 1798 at Colne St. Bartholomew
          • 6.    Mary, born 19 Apr 1800 at 3 am, bapt. 25 May 1800, Colne St. Bartholomews, dau of James & Ann, farmer.  Mary migrated to Australia in about 1853.  She travelled with Mary Ann Holland, possibly her daughter, who was born about 1842.   Lorraine Griffiths, descended from Mary's sister Sarah below, has found a death record in Victoria in August 1863 for Mary Holland, aged 64 the daughter of John Thornbee (sic) and Annie Hartley.
          • +     William Holland, bachelor and warehouseman, at St. Mary's Manchester on 2nd November 1825.
          • 6.    John, born 4 March 1802 at 12.45 am, bapt. 10 April 1802, Colne son of James & Ann, cotton manufacturer.
          • 6.    Margaret, born 19 July 1804 at 3.45 am, bapt. 16 Sept 1804, Colne, dau. of James & Ann, cotton manufacturer.
          • 6.    Isabella, born 29 May 1806 at 8 am. bapt. 6 July 1806, Colne, St. Bartholomew's, son of James & Ann, cotton manufacturer.
          • 6.    James Blakey, born 13 July 1808 at 7.15 am, bapt. 18 Sept. 1808, Colne, St. Bartholomews, son of James & Ann, shopkeeper.
          • 6.    Henry Hartley, born 13 July 1808 at 7.30 am, bapt. 18 Sept 1808, Colne, St. Bartholomew's, son of James & Ann, shop keeper.
          • 6.    Robert, born 21 October 1810 at 3 am, bapt. 16 Dec. 1810, Colne, St. Bartholomew's, son of James & Ann, cotton manufacturer.
          • 6.    Ann, born 9 May 1813 at 11.20 am, bapt. 22 August 1815, Colne, dau. of James and Ann, cotton manufacturer
          • 6.    Jane born 31 July 1815 at 12.30 pm
          • 6.    Sarah Thornber, born 11 Dec 1817 at 6.45 pm.  Sarah emigrated to Australia, married Thomas Foster and had a daughter Emma, born 10 January 1854, who went on to marry Isaac Gledhill on 10 December 1872.
          • 6.    Ellen Thornber, born 9 February 1820 at 3.15 am.
        • 5. Nelly, bapt. 27 Dec 1778, Colne
        • 5. John, bapt 7 Jan 1781 Colne, buried 10 Feb 1782, Gisburn
        • 5. John, bapt. 10 Oct 1782 Colne
        • 5. Thomas, bapt 9 Jan 1785 Colne
        • 5. Nancy, bapt. 16 Apr 1786 Colne
        • 5. Isabella, bapt. 27 Apr 1788 Colne
        • 5. Margaret, bapt. 5 July 1789 Colne, buried 4 Oct 1789, Gisburn
        • 5. Margaret dau. of John & Isabella, late of Colne, now of Manchester, buried 6 November 1810
        • 5. Robert, bapt. 8 May 1791 Colne, buried 24 Sept. 1805 at Gisburn.
        • 5. Mary, born 3 Mar 1793 and bapt. 28 Apr 1793.
      • 4. Mary dau. of Henry, bapt. 5 January 1751 at Gisburn. A Mary is mentioned Henry Thornber's will of 1783 as Mary Bracewell but it is not clear if this is the same person. A Mary Thornber who was a widow married William Bracewell at Barnoldswick on 11 April 1782. This Mary could have been the widow of the Henry Thornber mentioned three entries below. He was not mentioned in his father's will.
      • 4. Margaret, dau. of Henry and Ellen Thornber of High Ground, bapt. 1 September 1753 at Long Preston. She is not mentioned in her father's will of 1783 and is probably the Margaret daughter of Henry Thornber of High Ground, buried at Gisburn on 16 December 1769.
      • 4. Ellen, dau. of Henry and Ellen Thornber of Hellifield, baptised on 16 May 1756 at Long Preston, mentioned in her father's will of 1783 as Ellen Dewhurst. She married Thomas Dewhurst on 23 November 1782 at Gisburn. See Footnote 4 below
      • 4. Henry, son of Henry and Ellin Thornber of Hellifield, bapt. on 4 May 1758 at Long Preston but not mentioned in his father's will of 1783.
      • 4. James, son of Henry and Ellin Thornber of Hellifield, bapt. on 1 June 1760 at Long Preston.  Lived at Runley Bridge near Settle and died 9 August 1810, buried at Gisburn (MI). His estate was administered by his wife Alice, sworn 25 Aug 1810 and passed 6 November 1810 as under £2,000. Mentioned in his father's will of 1783. See footnote below.
      • + Alice Ellison, by licence on 23 Dec 1799 at Giggleswick. She died 19 April 1847 aged 70, buried at Gisburn (MI).  For the four children below, the Giggleswick registers name the father as James Thornber of Settle, the son of Henry Thornber of Cotes or Coates Hall and the mother as Alice, daughter of James Ellison of Settle.
        • 5. Henry, 1st son bapt. 25 Dec. 1800, Giggleswick, died 1 May 1820, aged 19, buried at Gisburn (MI)
        • 5. James, 2nd son, bapt. 11 July 1802, Giggleswick, died 16 Oct 1822 aged 20, buried Gisburn (MI)
        • 5. John, 3rd son bapt. 27 Nov 1804, Giggleswick, died 9 May 1845, aged 40, buried Gisburn (MI), (Death Cert. 9 May 1845, aged 40, smallpox, 30 years after vaccination, a cotton manufacturer.)
        • 5. Ellen, bapt. Giggleswick 28 Feb 1808. Ellen Thornber d. James Thornber manufacturer of Runley Bridge married William Henlock, gent, s. John Henlock, gent, of Great Ouseburn on 20 Dec 1849 at Giggleswick by licence itpo John Crosley, Thomas Redmayne jnr & Henry Redmayne (I have been contacted by Alice Barrigan who has researched this family.  She believes that the witness is not John Crosley but Dr. John Crosby, a friend of Branwell Bronte.  See www.jakesbarn.co.uk in the Great Ouseburn section)
      • 4. Thomas, son of Henry and Eleanor Thornber of Hellifield, bapt. on 24 January 1762 at Long Preston.Cotton Manufacturer (See link to full family of Thomas Thornber of Vivary Mill) Mentioned in his father's will of 1783
      • 4. Ann Thornber, under 21 in 1783 when mentioned in her father's will. Baptism not found.
    • 3. Anna, bapt. 14 Dec 1725, Gisburn, mentioned in mother's will as single in 1771.
    • 3. Margreta, bapt. 22 Aug 1728, Gisburn. Mentioned in mother's will as wife of Francis Ayrton. They married on 13 August 1748 at Gargrave.
  • 2. Isabella, bapt. 2 Dec 1686, Gisburn.
    + James Watson in Gisburn 21 October 1707 (Information from Denis Watson)
  • 2. James (Jacobus), bapt. 18 Mar 1691/2, Gisburn.
  • 2. Robert, bapt. 12 Aug 1693, Bracewell.
  • 2. John Thornber, known only from the will of his aunt, Isabella Peele, made in 1695. In view of the name of his eldest son, he may be the John who had children baptised as Robertus in 1716 at Gisburn, Barbary on 18 Jan 1718 at Bracewell, Hannah on 2 Nov 1720 at Bracewell and John on 17 Nov 1722 at Bracewell. The will of Isabel Peele of Bracewell, spinster, dated 16 January 1695/6 granted on 29 September 1696 names: Isabell, John and Robert Thornber, sons of Robert Thornber of Bracewell, brother-in-law. Children not yet 21. Also Mary Thornber of Bracewell, Henry, James and Isabel Thornber. A James Thornber was an appriser of the inventory in September 1696.

Footnote 1 James Thornber of Runley Bridge from 'The Water Spinners', by Chris Aspin

I am grateful to Bob Hayhurst for pointing out to me a new book 'The Water-Spinners', by Chris Aspin, published by Helmshore Local History Society, priced £24.95. (ISBN 0 906881 13 7). This book shows a brief family tree starting with Henry Thornber and Ellen Bulcock, married at Barnoldswick in 1748 as shown on my tree above where Henry and Ellen are in generation 3. Their children include John (1749-1824) baptised at Gisburn and married to Isabella Blakey at Long Preston in 1774. He became a linen draper in Colne and Manchester. He is said to have been a partner in the Runley Bridge enterprise until 1807. No further details are given of Mary, baptised in 1756 or Henry baptised in 1758. The daughters Margaret, Ellen and Ann are not mentioned. However, the book includes new information on the two remaining sons, James and Thomas. James is described as a cotton manufacturer at Runley Bridge and a partner in Bridge End Mill at Settle. Thomas Thornber is shown, as I have discovered, to be first of all a farmer and grazier then a butcher at Barnoldswick and Colne. He became partner in the Runley Bridge mill and at Bridge End Mill in Settle and founded Vivary Mill in Colne.

Chris Aspin gives an account of the location of the Runley Bridge Mill near Settle and draws on information from fire insurance companies and trade directories. In June of 1786 James Brennan, a merchant of Settle acquired the land at Runley Close and built a twist factory. In December of that year he insured the factory with the Sun fire office. By May of 1791 the mill was in the hands of John, James and Thomas Thornber. In 1795 John Thornber, mentioned in the Universal British Directory as a linen draper, grocer and cotton manufacturer, insured Runley Bridge and Higher Mill. The company traded as John Thornber and Company. James Thornber lived at Runley Bridge and managed the mill. James and Thomas became partners with William Garth and Giles Redmayne in Bridge End Mill in Settle. The partnership of the three brothers at Runley was ended by mutual agreement in 1807. James ran the mill until his death in 1810.

Footnote 2.

The will of Henry Thornber, the Elder, of Greengates, township of Gisburn, yeoman. Dated 6 October 1761, granted 17 December 1761. Names his son James, rents from lands called Edge and Calvay-heads in the townships of Brogden and Barnoldswick. Also mentions son John Thornber and daughter Elizabeth Wellock and land called Wood-end in Salterforth and son Henry Thornber with a wife who is not named who is an executrix. Witnesses were J. Barcroft, Mattw. Willson and John Isherwood.

Two Monumental Inscriptions at Gisburn

William Thornber of Hill Top, Barnoldswick, died 2 September 1871, aged 63, also Abigail his wife, died 13 November 1885 aged 65, also infant, Mary, died 25 May 1838, also infant, Elizabeth, died 27 January 1843, also John William their son, died 2 June 1895 aged 55, also Ellen Heaton of Barnoldswick.

In Memory of James Thornber of Runley Bridge near Settle, who died 9 August 1810 aged 52 years, also Henry son of the above who died 1 May 1820 aged 19, also James son of the above who died 16 October 1822 aged 20 years, also John son of the above who died 9 May 1845 aged 40 years also Alice wife of the above James Thornber who died April 19th 1847 aged 70 years.

William and Abigail Thornber

Census of 1841 at Barnoldswick, Yorkshire. Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 1315; Book: 3

William Thornber 30 grocer, born Yorkshire
Abigail Thornber, 20, born Yorkshire
John Thornber, 1 born Yorkshire
Mary Thornber aged 20 cotton weaver, not born Yorkshire

Census of 1851 at Barnoldswick, Yorkshire. Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2278; Folio: 225; Page: 26; GSU roll: 87463.

William Thornber, 41, proprietor of houses and lands, born Barnoldswick, Yorkshire
Abigail Thornber, 31 wife, born Newsham, (Newsholm?) Yorkshire
John W. Thornber, 11, son, scholar, born Barnoldswick
Ellen Thornber, 9, daughter, scholar, born Barnoldswick

Census of 1871 at Hill Top Farm House, Barnoldswick. Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 4261; Folio: 55; Page: 4; GSU roll: 848084.

William Thornber, 62, farmer of 7 acres, born Barnoldswick
Abigail Thornber, 52, wife, farmer's wife, born Gisburn, Yorkshire
John Wm. Thornber, 30, Cotton Warp Dresser, born Gisburn
Ellen Thornber, 28, Cotton Winder, born Barnoldswick.

Census in 1881 at Hilltop Farm Cottage, Barnoldswick, Yorkshire
 

Abigail THORNBER head, widow, 62, born Gisburn
Ellen THORNBER dau, unmarried, cotton winder, 40, born Barnoldswick

By this time John Wm has married and is found with his wife Eliza. A. and five children.

Census in 1881, Barnoldswick, Yorkshire

John W. THORNBER M 41, head, cotton warp dresser,  all family born in Barnoldswick
Eliza A. THORNBER M 35, wife
William THORNBER 9, son, scholar
Edwin THORNBER  8, son, scholar
Thomas THORNBER, 5, son, scholar
Frances THORNBER 4, dau.
Mary THORNBER 1  dau.

Footnote 3. The Will of John Thornber Tea Dealer

A copy of the will of John Thornber shown above in Generation 5. was made from which these details were abstracted. It is written in a very difficult and spidery hand and signed in a very shaky manner by the testator. After the usual instructions to pay all debts, funeral and testatory expenses he leave what remains to his nephew William Thornber of Barnoldswick, subject nevertheless to an annuity of £8 to his sister, Betty Thornber of Damhead near Barnoldswick, to be paid to her in half yearly instalments by his nephew for the duration of her natural life. Made 5 Jan 1846. He died on 11 May 1846 and the will was proved 1 June 1846 under £300.

Footnote 4. The Dewhursts and Sylko Thread

Alice Barrigan has written about the Ellen Thornber, daughter of Henry & Ellen, who married Thomas Dewhurst at Gisburn in 1782. She is writing up some history for her family who are descended from Ellen and Thomas.  Thomas diversified from farming into textiles and founded the business which became J Dewhurst & Sons.  His son John was a major millowner in Skipton, and Dewhursts was a household name for years with its Sylko thread.

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