THE FAMILY OF RICHARD THORNBER & ANN RAMSBOTTOM

In Twiston, Sabden, Padiham, Preston & Golbourne

Emigration of Cornelius to the USA

Much of the research on this family has been undertaken by Mike Morris, formerly of Manchester but now resident in Canada. It is based in part on census data gleaned from genealogy sites and in part on the records shown on my Thornber archive section. So far there are few birth, marriage and death certificates. Much of the genealogy on Thornber families on other pages of this site was assembled prior to the availability of data on the Internet by combing through microfilms of census records and parish registers in Lancashire libraries. The research shown on this page illustrates the problems of using on-line methods because of the frequent errors in transcription that have occured. The name Thornber, readily recognised on the original record by a practised eye, is sometimes transcribed as Thomber or even Shomber. Names like Manasseh gave the original clerks problems as well as the transcribers and in some cases simple mistakes such as writing Vrigil for Virgil make the on-line search more difficult. In some cases records have come to light by looking for Christian names only or by using wild cards in the search terms such as Tho* for Thornber.

As always in genealogy, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. People not so far found in some census returns may still turn up with surprisingly mistranscribed names.

The tree begins with Richard, who may be Richard son of George & Hannah baptised 3 April 1791 at Blackburn. The age given in the 1841 census does not fit for this assignment but further age information may be forthcoming from a death certificate or burial record.

• 1. Richard Thornber, born 1782 to 1786, born in Lancashire (C41). Died between 1841 & 1845. See Footnote 1.
  + Ann Ramsbottom married Church Kirk on 7 December 1812. She was born in Huncoat abt. 1793. Family in Sabden for C41, C51, C61
  • 2. George Thornber s. Richard & Ann Thornber, born 17 March 1813 & baptised St. Leonards, Padiham, 9 May 1813. George is in C41 but not with his children in C51. A George born 1813 turns up in Preston in 1851 with a new wife and there is a marriage record for them.as shown later. See Footnote 2. He appears to have died between 1861 and 1871.
    + 1st wife Fanny Smith, married 18 November 1832 at Newchurch in Pendle. In C41 at Twiston near Clitheroe where George is 25 (putting birth in 1816 but ages rounded down in this census). He is a calico printer.
    • 3. William s. George & Fanny baptised 1 Nov 1835, St. Chad's, Rochdale. Not mentioned in C41.
    • 3. Cornelius (Canelius) s. George & Nancy baptised 26 Feb 1840 St. Leonard's, Downham. (In C41). In C51 Cornelius was at 1 High Street, Clitheroe aged 11 with his aunt Amelia Smith. Amelia's sister Parthenia is there and said to be a widow aged 39 born Newkirk (Newchurch) and a cotton twister. In C61 with his uncle Manasseh. He is found in the 1870 census in the USA with a wife and child. (See Footnote 5 for details)
    • 3. Rebecca d of George & Fanny, on 16 Feb 1842 at St. Leonard's, Downham
  • + 2nd wife Ann Moor, born Breakell, widow, aged 24, daughter of John Breakell, ship's carpenter, married 23 March 1845 when George said to be a widower, aged 30, calico printer of Moss Rose Street, Preston, son of the late Richard Thornber, calico printer. Ann probably died between 1861 and 1871 as the son George turns up in Leigh Workhouse in C71 on his own.
    • 3. Ruth Thornber born c. 1852 in Preston from C61. A cotton spinner and a lodger with no family in C71.
    • 3. Richard Thornber born c. 1856 in Newton le Willows from C61. Not found in C71 so far.
    • 3. Lydia Thornber born c. 1858 in Goldborne from C61 not found in C71
    • 3. George Thornber born 1861 in Goldborne from C61 and turns up in C71, said to be 11, born Goldbourne in Leigh Workhouse
  • 2. Giles son of Richard and Ann Thornber (Ramsbottom) recorded as born 1 Sept 1814, Sabden Baptist Chapel. Unmarried labourer in 1861.
  • 2. Manasseh, baptised s. Richard & Ann at Keighley Green Methodists Burnley on 19 March 1823. In 1851 Manasseh, a calico printer, and his wife Elizabeth are lodgers with his mother in law, Elizabeth Sherburn at 79 Mill Street in Padiham. In C61 they are at 55 Myerscough Street in Padiham, and he is a gas stoker. Also in the house was Cornelius Thornber, aged 21, cotton spinner born Clitheroe. See Footnote 3 for details of this family in the census.
  • + Elizabeth Sherburn born abt 1825 in Simonstone. Marriage record states Manasseth Thornber, 22, bach, printer of Sabden, son of Rd: Thornber, printer, married Elizabth x Sherburne, 21, sp, weaver, of Simonstone, dau. Thos: Sherburne, weaver, by Js: Knox Scott, itpo James Ingham & James Noble at Whalley St. Mary and All Saints on 14 June 1845.
    • 3. John Thomas s. Manasseh & Elizabeth Thornber, calico printer of Simonstone, born 17 Oct 1845 and baptised 4 April 1846 at St. James Altham. 1846
    • 3. Elizabeth Anne d. Manasseh & Elizabeth Thornber, block printer of Padiham, born 22 June 1849 baptised 7 July 1850 at Altham St. James. She is included in C51 but not in C61 so must have died.
    • 3. Mary Jane, born abt. 1853 at Simonstone and in C61
  • 2. Ephraim baptised s. Richard & Ann at Keighley Green Methodists Burnley on 19 March 1823. GRO index entry for a death of an Ephraim in 1st Q 1842 in the Clitheroe Registration district with ref 21 321
  • 2. John son of Richard and Ann Thornber (Ramsbottom) born 21 March 1826, recorded at Sabden Baptist Chapel
  • + Isabella born abt. 1823 in Simonstone (C51 & C61). Probably the right family, as living in the right district and correct age for John in C51 of 25. Also they use the name Ephraim. They turn up in C61 mistranscribed as Shomber. See Footnote 4
    • 3. Alice, born abt. 1850 Padiham, from C51 & C61
    • 3. Rachel, born abt. 1853, Padiham from C61
    • 3. Ephraim son of John and Isabella, weaver of Padiham, born 23 Feb and baptised 25 Feb 1855 at Altham St. James. In C61
    • 3. Charles Thornber, born abt. 1859 in C61
  • 2. William son of Richard and Ann Thornber born 5 May 1830 recorded at Sabden Baptist Chapel
  • 2. Alice dau. of Richard and Ann Thornber (Ramsbottom) born 8 April 1831 recorded at Sabden Baptist Chapel
  • 2. Cornelius son of Richard and Ann Thornber (Ramsbottom) bprm 12 July 1835, recorded at Sabden Baptist Chapel. There is a probate record showing he died 23 Feb 1890 at Eyes Barn, Hapton near Burnley. See Footnote 1 for details of census information for Cornelius and his widow, Ellen.
  • + Ellen, born Padiham, abt. 1838 from C61 but born Sabden. Cornelius and Ellen are living with his mother in Sabden in 1861. There marriage is probably the one recorded in GRO index 3rd Q 1860 in the Clitheroe Registration District. By 1871 Cornelius and Ellen are at 156 Witton Terrace, Padiham when Cornelius is a power loom tackler. In 1881 they are in Padiham and Cornelius is an overlooker. By 1891, Ellen is a widow at 3 Spencer Street Padiham with unmarried children Emily, Rhoda, Eleanor, Virgil and Willie. By 1901 Ellen is aged 63 and at 51 Peel St. Padiham with Emily and William. See also Footnote 1
    • 3. Clara, born abt 1859 in Sabden, from C61. Clara Thornber dau. of Cornelius married James Edward Metcalfe son of William at Habergham Eaves, All Saints on 26 May 1890.
    • 3. Richard, born early 1861 in Sabden from C61. Richard Thornber son of Cornelius married Jane Gray dau. of James, at Habergham Eaves All Saints on 9 June 1891
    • 3. Alice Ann, born abt. 1864 in Padiham from C71. Alice Ann Thornber dau. of Cornelius married William Thomas Simpson at Habergham Eaves All Saints on 16 October 1890.
    • 3. Emily born abt. 1866 in Padiham from C71
    • 3. Rhoda, born abt. 1868 in Padiham from C71
    • 3. Eleanor (Elinor) born early 1871 in Padiham from C71
    • 3. Virgil born Padiham abt 1864 in Padiham from C81
    • 3. William born abt 1877 in Padiham from C81

Footnote 1: Additional Evidence for Richard Thornber and Ann Ramsbottom and their son Cornelius

1841 Census at Long Row in Sabden, Township of Pendleton, Clitheroe

Source Citation: Class HO107; Piece 509; Book: 16; Civil Parish: Whalley; County: Lancashire; Enumeration District: 1; Folio: 17; Page: 27; Line: 1; GSU roll: 306898.

Printer probably relates to the process of cotton or calico printing. The surname was mistranscribed as Thomber in ancestry.co.uk

Richard does not appear in the 1851 census and his wife is said to be a widow. Moreover, when the eldest son George marries in March 1845 his father is said to be deceased so Richard must have died between June 1841, when the census was taken and Marach 1845. There is a GRO index record for the death of Richard Thornber in the Clitheroe District in the March Quarter of 1844 with reference 21 291.

The ages of adults were usually rounded down to the nearest five in the 1841 census putting Richard born between 1782 and 1786. Ann appears in the 1851 census below and this fixes her year of birth about 1793. Given the gaps between Giles and Manasseh, there may be other children not recorded or who were still births or died in infancy.

Manaseth (Manasseh) and Ephraim must be twins.

1851 Census at 8 Long Row, Sabden in the Township of Pendleton and Borough of Clitheroe

Source Citation: HO107; Piece: 2256; Folio: 351; Page: 3; GSU roll: 87279.

1861 Census at 8 Long Row, Sabden in the Township of Pendleton in the Borough of Clitheroe

Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 3088; Folio: 28; Page: 2; GSU roll: 54076

By this stage we see Giles still at home with his mother. Cornelius has married and started a family. Moreover he is moving up in the world in that a tackler is a more skilled job than a power loom weaver. There is a GRO index entry for the marriage of a Cornelius Thornber in the 3rd Q of 1860 in the Clitheroe Registration District with ref; 8e 351

1871 Census at 156 Witton Terrace, Padiham

Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 4153; Folio: 51; Page: 27; GSU roll: 846735

1881 Census at 23 Pendle Street, Padiham

Source Citation: Class RG11; Piece 4157; Folio 31; Page 15; GSU roll 1341996

Alice Ann who should be 17 is not shown but there is an Alice aged 15. I think Alice and Emily must have been mixed up in either 1871 or 1881. By 1891 Cornelius has died

Census of 1891 at 3 Spencer Street, Padiham

Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 3373; Folio 10; Page 11; GSU Roll: 6098483

There is an GRO index record in the first quarter of 1890 for a Cornelius who died aged 55 in the Burnley District which fits the Probate Index Record of:

1890. Cornelius Thornber. Administration of the personal estate of Cornelius Thornber, late of Eyes Barn, Hapton, near Burnley in the County of Lancaster, power loom overlooker, who died 23 February 1890 at Eyes Barn, was granted to Ellen Thornber of Eyes Barn, widow the relict on 27 March 1890. Personal estate of £230.

Census of 1901 at 51 Peel Street in the Civil Parish of Padiham

Source Citation: Class RG13; Piece 3878; Folio 55; Page 25.

By 1901, Ellen's son Richard has married and is in Hapton. Virgil has not been found in 1901.

Census of 1901 at Eaves Barn, Hapton, Ecclesiastical Parish of Padiham & Rural District of Burnley

Source Citation: Class RG13; Piece 3876; Folio 32; Page 4.

Footnote 2: Further information on George Thornber

We have two marriages for George Thornber and significanlty the record of the second marriage notes he is a widower and his father was Richard Thornber. His age is consistent with his birth in 1813 in each of the census records in which he appears. There are some inconsistencies in his place of birth between census returns. However, there are no other records so far for George Thornbers born in the period around 1813 and so it is fairly safe to assume that we are dealing with only one George, who was son of Richard Thornber and Ann Ramsbottom.

Georges first marriage was at Newchurch in Pendle to Fanny Smith on 18 November 1832 and in the 1841 census he is found at Twiston near Downham in Lancashire.

Census of 1841 in the Township of Twiston and Borough of Clitheroe

Source Citation: Class HO 107/510; Piece 510; Book 4; Civil Parish of Whalley; Enumeration District 21; Folio 21; Page 8; GSU Roll 306899.

Ages of adults were rounded down to the nearest five so this fits with George, born in March 1813, being 28 by June 1841. A further child, Rebecca d of George & Fanny, was baptised on 16 Feb 1842 at St. Leonard's, Downham. An earlier child William s. George & Fanny Thornber baptised 1 Nov 1835 at St. Chad's, Rochdale probably died in infancy. Oddly, the baptism record for Cornelius at Downham puts the mother's name as Nancey.

By 1851 there is no sign of George in the Clitheroe District but one for a George in Preston. Meanwhile, Cornelius can be identifed in a record in Clitheroe

Census of 1851, at 1 High Street, Clitheroe

Source Citation: Class HO107; Piece 2256; Folio 351; Page 3; GSU roll 87279

Cornelius is living with his maternal aunt, but there is also a Parthenia Thornber who is a mystery. Relationships are always given to the head of household. It would be natural to consider the possibility that Parthenia was the mother of Cornelius but given the other evidence from marriage and baptism records we believe that his mother was Fanny, or as given at his baptism, Nancey. Parthenia remains a mystery as no references to Parthenia Thornber or Parthenia Smith have been found in the 1841 census. Similarly, Parthenia Thornber and Amelia Smith have not been found in the 1861 census. However, Cornelius can now be identified as the one who in 1861 is aged 21 and lodging with his Uncle Manasseh. He emigrated to the USA. (Given the uncommon use of the name Priscilla, other connections with this family may be the births of two Parthenia Thornbers recorded in General Registration - one in Burnley for the March Quarter of 1855 with reference 8e 149 and one in Burnley for the December Quarter of 1855 with reference 8e 405)

To tidy up this part of the investigation, it would be useful to find the death of the Fanny Thornber in the period between the baptism of her last child in February 1842 and the 1851 census. There are GRO index records for Fanny Thornber in the March quarter of 1842 in the Clitheroe District with reference 21 311, which could be consistent with Fanny dying in childbirth or shortly afterwards. It is likely that the burial took place at Downham if the family were in Twiston in the previous year. The child Rebecca has not been found in the 1851 census.

We now move on to look into what happened to George, the father, who is clearly not with what appears to be his sole surviving child Cornelius. There is a George who turns up in Preston in 1851 but who states that he was born in Preston whereas the information we have so far is that he was born and baptised in Padiham. He was a lodger

Census of 1851 at 16 Byron Street, Preston

Source Citation: Class HO107; Piece 2266; Folio 341 Page 42; GSU Roll 87291

The age given for George is perfect for birth in 1813 but the occupation and place of birth are different to the 1841 census and the baptism record for Downham. In 1861, George Thornber is in Goldborne and saying he was born in Freckleton.

Census of 1861 in the Civil Parish of Golborne, (near Newton-le-Willows) Lancashire

Source Citation: Class RG9; Piece 2799; Folio 31; Page 12; GSU Roll 543030

By 1871 there is no trace of George but his daughter Ruth aged 20 is a cotton spinner and a lodger with a family called Anderton in Golborne. Source Citation: Class RG10; Piece 3910; Folio 80; Page 23; GSU roll 842048

A George Thornber aged 11, said to be born in Golborne, is an inmate of a Workhouse in Leigh. This probably indicates that he is an orphan. Source Citation: Class RG10 Piece 3915; Folio 36; Page 25; GSU Roll 8420

Footnote 3. Additional Information on Manasseh Thornber

Census of 1851 at 79 Mill Street Padiham

Source Citation: Class HO107; Piece 2253; Folio 104; Page 27; GSU Roll 87276

The Ancestry.co.uk transcription of this item has Sherburn mistranscribed as Pherburn and Thornber mistranscribed as Thomeber. This record shows that Manasseh married Elizabeth Sherburn. The baby Elizabeth Ann does not seem to have survived until 1861.

Census of 1861 at 55 Myerscough Street, Padiham

Source Citation: Class RG9; Piece 3075; Folio 23; Page 9; GSU roll 543074

This new Cornelius is a visitor and is five years younger than the previous one encountered, moreover his is a spinner rather than a weaver. It is likely that he is Manasseh's nephew. In the adjacent property, numbered 56, we find Manasseh's mother-in-law, now listed as Betty Sherburn, aged 61, with daughter Ester Sherburn, aged 32 and unmarried. Also in the house are grandson Henry Sherburn, 18, an engine stoker at a cotton mill, grandson Samuel Sherburn aged 8 and granddaughter Jane Sherburn aged 4. Manasseh must have died between 1861 and 1871 as his wife is in the 1871 census a widow.

Census of 1871 at 55 Myerscough Street, Padiham

Source Citation: Class RG10; Piece 4154; Folio 28; Page 11; GSU Roll 846735

By 1881, John T. Thornber aged 35 was an unmarried border at 3 Ryecliffe Street, Padiham with a family called Law. He was a cotton weaver. (Source Citation: Class RG11; Piece 4158; Folio 57; Page 2; GSU Roll 1341996. Mary Jane and Elizabeth/Betty Thornber have not been identified in the 1881 census.

Footnote 4: Further information on John & Isabella Thornber

Census of 1851 at 91 Mill Street, Padiham.

Source Citation: Class HO107; Piece 2253; Folio 106; Page 30; GSU Roll 87276

Census of 1861 in Padiham (Street name illegible)

The record in Ancestry.co.uk has been mistranscribed with Thornber read as Shomber. Source Citation: Class RG9; Piece 3975; Folio 50; Page 31; GSU Roll 543074

Footnote 5. Cornelius Thornber in the USA

USA Census 1870 for 11 August 1870 in Ward One, Fall River, County of Bristol, State of Massachusetts.

US Census of 1880 in Fall River, Massachusetts.

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