FAMILY HISTORY: SWARBRICK

THE FAMILY OF MARGARET IRONFIELD

 

Margaret was the daughter of William Ironfield and Ann Crook, who were married on 19 November 1821 at
St Andrew's Parish Church in Leyland.

Margaret was born in Brindle, Lancashire on 17 May 1842 and was baptized at St Bede's Catholic Church in Clayton-le-Woods on 22 May 1842 by James Dowding.
Her Godparents were John Heys and Mary Heys.
Although the family lived in Brindle they did not baptize any of their children at St Joseph's Church in Brindle. If they lived at the southern edge of the village it may have been more convenient to go to St Bede's in nearby Clayton-le-Woods.

Margaret was the youngest of at least 5 children and the last to be baptized at St Bede's. Three of her elder sisters were baptized there: Jane, who was born on 19 October 1822; Ann, who was born on 11 August 1836; and Grace, who was born on 31 January 1839. I have not yet found where their son Hugh was baptized. He was born in Brindle c. 1826.
On the night of the 1851 Census the family were recorded in Brindle:

 

1851 CENSUS OF BRINDLE, LANCASHIRE:
NAME: RELATION: CONDITION: SEX: AGE: OCCUPATION: BIRTHPLACE:
William Ironfield Head Married M 53 Hand Loom Weaver Brindle, Lancashire
Ann Ironfield Wife Married F 51 Hand Loom Weaver Grimsargh, Lancashire
Hugh Ironfield Son Unmarried M 24 Hand Loom Weaver Brindle, Lancashire
Jane Ironfield Daughter Unmarried F 17 Hand Loom Weaver Brindle, Lancashire
Ann Ironfield Daughter Unmarried F 15 Hand Loom Weaver Brindle, Lancashire
Grace Ironfield Daughter - F 12 Hand Loom Weaver Brindle, Lancashire
Margaret Ironfield Daughter - F 8 Scholar Brindle, Lancashire
John Ironfield Grandson - M 3 - (left blank on return)
NOTES:
1: Living at Moor Lane, Brindle. (HO-107-2262, folio 192 & 193, pages 2 & 3)
2: The family were cotton weavers, almost certainly working from home.
3: John Ironfield was the illegitimate son of one of their daughters - but which one?
4: The above information is taken from microfilmed copies held at the Lancashire Archives.

 

By the night of the 1861 Census their grandson John was not at home but a granddaughter had appeared:

 

1861 CENSUS OF BRINDLE, LANCASHIRE:
NAME: RELATION: CONDITION: SEX: AGE: OCCUPATION: BIRTHPLACE:
William Ironfield Head Married M 62 Cotton Weaver & Farmer Brindle, Lancashire
Ann Ironfield Wife Married F 61 - Preston, Lancashire
Hugh Ironfield Son Unmarried M 34 Cotton & Worsted Weaver Brindle, Lancashire
Jane Ironfield Daughter Unmarried F 27 Cotton & Worsted Weaver Brindle, Lancashire
Ann Ironfield Daughter Unmarried F 24 Cotton & Worsted Weaver Brindle, Lancashire
Grace Ironfield Daughter Unmarried F 22 Cotton & Worsted Weaver Brindle, Lancashire
Margaret Ironfield Daughter Unmarried F 18 Home Maid Brindle, Lancashire
Mary Ironfield Granddau. - F 10 Scholar Brindle, Lancashire
NOTES:
1: Living at High Cop, Brindle. (RG9-3115, folio xx, page 2)
2: William Ironfield was farming 1 acre of land.
3: Mary Ironfield was the illegitimate daughter of one of their daughters - but which one?
4: The above information is taken from microfilmed copies held at the Lancashire Archives.

 

The last appearance of Margaret's parents in the Census Returns was in 1871:

 

1871 CENSUS OF BRINDLE, LANCASHIRE:
NAME: RELATION: CONDITION: SEX: AGE: OCCUPATION: BIRTHPLACE:
William Ironfield Head Married M 73 Cotton Weaver Brindle, Lancashire
Ann Ironfield Wife Married F 74 Housekeeper Highton, Lancashire
John Ironfield Grandson Unmarried F 23 Labourer in Paper Mill Brindle, Lancashire
NOTES:
1: Living at at High Cop, Brindle. (RG10-4193, folio xx, page 4)
2: Ann Ironfield's place of birth seems to have been a source of confusion and changed with each Census.
3: The above information is taken from microfilmed copies held at the Lancashire Archives.

 

NOTES:
1: Ann Ironfield died in about 1874, aged 76 years, and William died the following year, aged 78 years. I have not yet found the record of their deaths or burials.
2: The above information is taken from microfilmed copies of the Preston Cemetery burial registers held at the Lancashire Archives.

 

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