The Life of Dorothy Weights

Dorothy Weights was born on the 16th of June 1806 in Barnacre with Bonds, Garstang, Lancashire the daughter of William Weights and Dorothy Carter. She was the sixth of their ten children.

She never married and made her living as a dressmaker in Garstang. Whether through hard work, inheritance or a little of both, she made a comfortable life for herself and divided her time between Barnacre with Bonds and Preston - finally retiring to Preston where she ended her days.

Dorothy was a devout Catholic and stood as a witness to weddings or as a sponsor (or Godparent) to several children. This photograph was kindly provided by David Threlfall.

Dorothy Weights died on 17 October 1885 in Preston.

She left a long and detailed Will remembering many of her nieces and nephews, and her sister Elizabeth and brother Joseph. (see Info from Wills below)

The only other information I have about her life comes from the various Census returns below:

1841 CENSUS OF POULTON-LE-FYLDE, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BORN IN THE COUNTY?
Dorothy Weights	F	30	Independent	Yes

NOTE:
1:	Living at Breck in Poulton-le-Fylde. (H.O.107-497, folio 0629)
2:	The description of Dorothy as Independent may just mean that she was self-employed.
3:	The above information is from a copy of the Census on microfilm at the Lancashire Record Office.

1851 CENSUS OF GARSTANG, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
Dorothy Weights	Dau.	Unm.	F	42	Dressmaker	Garstang, Lancashire

NOTE:
1:	Staying at Garstang with her mother and younger sister Sarah. (H.O.107-2270, folio 344/1)
2:	The above information is from a copy of the Census on microfilm at the Lancashire Record Office.

1871 CENSUS OF BARNACRE-WITH-BONDS, GARSTANG, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
Dorothy Weights	Head	Unm.	F	64	Retired Dressmaker	Garstang, Lancashire
Millicent Noble	Niece	Unm.	F	45	Boarding House Keeper	Garstang, Lancashire
William Coman	Lodger	Unm.	M	29	Ride Officer	Ireland

NOTE:
1:	Living at Barnacre-with-Bonds, Garstang. (RG10-4227, folio 89/1)
2:	Although Millicent is listed as being unmarried, she was actually the widow of Robert Noble.
3:	William Coman's full occupation was Ride Officer Inland Revenue.
4:	The above information is from a copy of the census on microfiche at the Lancashire Record Office.

1881 CENSUS OF PRESTON, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
Dorothy Weights	Head	Unm.	F	74	-	Garstang, Lancashire

NOTE:
1:	Living at 9 Maudland Bank, Preston. (RG11-4241, folio 20)
2:	The above information is from a copy of the Census on microfiche at the Lancashire Record Office.