THORNBER FAMILIES IN GISBURN,
Lancashire, formerly Yorkshire, England

No. 2. Researched by the late Mr. A. H. Kay of Salisbury formerly of Earby
and by Merle Thornber in Australia

Mr. A. H. Kay and Merle Thornber did independent research on Thornber families in Gisburn.  Part of their work overlapped.  I have compared the two trees and found that where they overlap they are in good agreement.  I have combined the two trees and added further details from my own research, including some findings from the registers of Horton in Craven Independent, sometimes known as Horton by Gisburn.  More recently, a part of this family tree has been published in Frank Thistlethwaite's book  "A Lancashire Family Inheritance".  Most of the details match the work shown here but there are two errors in the book arising from the fact that only Gisburn records were consulted whereas I have studied registers from the surrounding parishes, wills, marriage bonds, and census returns.  One or two details from such sources have been added to the tree below.  Several members of this family were tailors.

There are other baptisms for childen of a John Thornber at Waddington in the period when John and Alice Marsden have their children in Downham: Jana, dau of Joh'is de Bradford, 8 November 1724, Jennet, dau. of Joanis de Bradford, 12 Feb 1727 and Mary, dau. of John of Grindleton on 13 September 1729. Only one marriage of a John to an Alice is known in this period and for four of the children below the names of both John and Alice are given as parents, so the marriage of John Thornber to Alice Marsden fits the subsequent baptisms at Downham.

The information on Alice* Thornber who married Thomas Riley Chew and on Thomas* Chew was provided by Roger Thomas and shown with asterisks

• 1. John Thornber (described as a tailor at the baptisms of his children)
• +  Alice Marsden, on 2 August 1714 at Waddington.
  • 2. Ann, bapt. 20 Feb 1715, Downham.
  • 2. John, bapt. 16 Sept 1716, Downham.
  • 2. Thomas, bapt. 23 Nov 1718, Downham.  Buried 13 Jan 1784, Gisburn.
  • +  Jennet Tattersall, 29 Apr 1745, Gisburn, she was buried 2 Jan 1788, Gisburn.
    • 3. John, bapt. 12 Apr 1746, Gisburn. (Possibly the one buried 29 May 1803, Gisburn.)
    • +  Susannah Roberts, married on 6 Feb 1770, Gisburn. (A Susanna Thornber was buried at Gisburn on 3 Oct 1836 aged 90, which would make her 24 at marriage in 1770. In 1791 on the birth of her youngest child Lucas, whe would be 45.)
      • 4. John, bapt. 5 Jan 1771, Gisburn; tailor; buried aged 84 on 26 Feb 1854, Gisburn. (Census 1841 & 1851)
      • +  Mary Holgate, spinster aged 23, on 14 July 1790, Gisburn.
        • 5. Susan, born 20 May 1791, bapt. 15 June 1791, Gisburn; buried 30 Oct 1791.
        • 5. William, bapt. 28 Oct 1792, Horton in Craven Independent.
        • 5. Martha, bapt. 29 Mar 1795, Horton in Craven Independent
        • 5. Mary, bapt. 11 Feb 1797, Horton in Craven Independent; buried 23 May 1797, Gisburn.
        • 5. Mary, bapt. 23 May 1810, Horton in Craven Independent.
      • 4. Jane, bapt. 25 Dec 1772, Gisburn.
      • +  James Chew, 4 July 1796, Gisburn
        • 5. Henry Chew, born 31 Dec 1796
          • 6. Thomas Riley Chew (great grandfather of Mr. A. H. Kay)
        • 5. Thomas* Chew, born 8 December 1799
      • 4. Thomas, bapt. 5 Apr 1775, Gisburn, a tailor.
      • +  Jane Howit, 1 Aug 1795, Gisburn.
        • 5. Thomas, born 26 Oct, bapt. 15 Nov 1795, Gisburn. (Information was kindly provided by Janet Billington from the 1841Census when the family were at Clarence Street, Low Moor Clitheroe. Thomas Thornber was a cotton twister. Hannah, Isaac, Maria, Elijah, Elisha and Agnes were listed; Henry may have died before 1841)
        • +  Hannah or Ann (aged 42 at 1841 census)
          • 6. Isaac Simson, 1818, Marsden
          • 6. Maria, bapt. 12 Nov 1820, Gisburn (Information from Janet Billington: Maria had an illegitimate son Henry Thornber in 1845 and went on to marry Richard Wrigley in 1848, )
          • 6. Elija, bapt. 7 Mar 1824, Gisburn
          • 6. Elisha (James) born 1826, bapt. 6 Dec 1830, Gisburn
          • 6. Henry, bapt. 6 Dec 1830, Gisburn
          • 6. Henry, bapt. 27 Apr 1834, Gisburn
          • 6. Agnes aged 4 in the 1841 census.
            
        • 5. Ann, born 7 Jan, bapt. 28 Jan 1798, Gisburn
        • 5. John, buried 19 Feb 1802, Gisburn
        • 5. John, bapt. 26 Nov 1802, Gisburn; a tailor
        • +  Sarah
          • 6. Alice*, born 17 Jun, bapt. 26 June 1825, Gisburn, died 21 April 1897, Gisburn.  She had an illegitimate son in 1847 and married Thomas Riley Chew in 1849.
            • 7. James Thornber, illegitimate son born 29 May, bapt. 4 June 1847 in Gisburn.
              • 8. Alice, Stainforth, 1873/4
              • 8. Jane, Settle, 1875/6
              • 8. Mary, Settle, 1877/8
              • 8. James, Bolton by Bowland, 1880.
              • +  Thomas Riley Chew (her 2nd cousin) 23 June 1849 Gisburn.
          • 6. Sarah, bapt. 26 Aug 1827, Gisburn, died 9 June 1844.
          • 6. Mary, bapt. 23 Aug 1829, Gisburn
          • 6. Jane, bapt. 14 Aug 1832, Gisburn
        • 5. Maria, bapt. 12 May 1805, Gisburn
        • 5. Henry, bapt. 6 Feb 1808, Gisburn, a tailor, (1841 Clitheroe Census)
        • +  Margaret (born Goosnargh)
        • 5. James, bapt. 24 June 1810, Gisburn
        • 5. Susan, bapt. 5 July 1812, Gisburn
        • 5. Agnes, bapt. 17 Dec 1815, Gisburn
        • 5. Hariot, bapt. 23 Aug 1818, Gisburn
      • 4. James, bapt. 17 July 1777, Gisburn; buried 17 June 1781.
      • 4. Betty, bapt. 25 Dec 1779, Gisburn. (She later married 1st Robert Winterbottom, and 2nd Stephen Lawson)
        • 5.  Benjamin Thornber, illegitimate son, born 9 June, bapt 20 July 1800, Gisburn.
        • +  Margaret Duckworth, 28 Sept 1828, Gisburn.
      • 4. Ann, born 22 Jun, bapt. 21 July 1782, Gisburn.
        • 5. John, illegitimate, bapt. 11 May 1806, Gisburn.
        • 5. Susanna, illegitimate, bapt. 14 Aug 1808, Gisburn.
      • 4. James, born 3 Mar and bapt. 3 Apr 1785, Gisburn.
      • +  Elizabeth Herst, 25 Aug 1804, Gisburn.
        • 5. Susanna, bapt 10 Feb 1805, Gisburn
        • 5. John, born 7 Jan, bapt 1 Feb 1807, Gisburn.
        • +  Isabella Jackson of Howgill, 6 Aug 1825, Gisburn
          • 6. James, bapt. 2 Oct 1825, Gisburn.
        • 5. Henry, born 8 May, bapt. 6 June 1808, Gisburn.
        • 5. Elizabeth, born 10 Dec 1809, bapt. 14 Jan 1810
      • 4. William, born 9 Mar and bapt. 6 Apr 1788, Gisburn; buried 5 June 1792, Gisburn
      • 4. Lucas (Luke) born. 22 Mar, bapt. 2 Apr 1791, Gisburn; weaver.
      • +  Ann Hancock, 11 Aug 1810, Gisburn.
        • 5. John, bapt. 20 Apr 1811, Gisburn
        • 5. Ann, bapt. 29 Nov 1812, Gisburn.
        • 5. Christiana, bapt. 1 Jan 1815, Long Preston
        • 5. William, bapt. 12 Oct 1817, Long Preston
        • 5. Luke, bapt. 15 July 1821, Long Preston
        • 4. Rose, born 3 Nov and bapt. 23 Nov 1794, Gisburn
        • +  Henry Mitchell, widower, 7 Nov 1833 Colne.
        • 5. Mary, illegitimate, bapt. 11 May 1817, Gisburn
        • 5. Sarah, illegitimate, bapt. 22 Nov 1818, Gisburn
        • 5. William, illegitimate, bapt. 20 May 1821, Gisburn
        • 5. James, illegitimate, bapt. 3 Mar 1830, Gisburn, buried 16 Mar 1830, aged 7 months.
    • 3. James, bapt. 8 Sept 1751, Gisburn.
    • +  Ann Marginson, 5 Jan 1773 Gisburn.
      • 4. Jane, bapt. 22 Feb 1778, Gisburn
      • +  James Smithes, 26 May 1796, Gisburn
      • 4. Thomas, bapt. 5 Nov 1780, Gisburn; buried 21 June 1781, Gisburn
      • 4. Ellen, born 19 Apr, bapt. 27 Apr 1783, Gisburn
      • +  George Whalley, 19 Dec 1803
      • 4. James, born 15 Oct. bapt. 4 Dec 1791, Gisburn, tailor  (Marriage bond states he was 18)
      • +  Ellen Wood (born Grindleton) on 12 Jan 1808, Waddington.
        • 5. Ann Wood, born 20 Oct, bapt. 13 Nov 1808, buried 30 Mar 1811, Gisburn
        • 5. Thomas, born 23 Oct, bapt. 8 Nov 1810, Gisburn (See Footnote 1)
        • + Unknown first wife
          • 6. William Thornber, born 1832, Clitheroe from census return of 1851
        • +Catherine Myers, married on 20 May 1850 at St. Mary the Virgin, Bury. She was the daughter of John Myers, butcher and from the census of 1861 appears to have had a son, Thomas Myers born about 1845. Catherine was born about 1818 from the various census ages and lived until 11 May 1907.
          • 6. Mary Thornber, born about 1853 from census returns. She married William Whittaker and had daughter, Eveline and Jane (1881 census, Clitheroe)
          • 6. James Thornber was born 8 August 1855 and died 30 June 1926. Appears still unmarried with his mother in the census returns of 1861 and 1871.
          • + 1st Wife, Johanna Lambert, married 1 March 1875.
            • 7. William Walter Thornber, born 10 September 1878
          • + 2nd Wife, Rebecca Perry born about 1860 from census information. They married after the 1891 census when James was a widower
            • 7. Albert Thornber, son, born about 1890 from 1901 census
            • 7. Ivy Thornber, daughter, born about 1892 Clitheroe (1901 census)
            • 7. Arthur Thornber, son, born about 1898 Clitheroe (1901 census)
              
        • 5. John, born 13 Nov, bapt. 6 Dec 1812, Gisburn
        • 5. Abraham, bapt. 19 Mar 1815, Gisburn
        • 5. William, bapt. 29 Jan 1817, Gisburn
        • 5. Jane, bapt. 7 Mar 1819, Gisburn
        • 5. Joshua, bapt. 27 May 1821
        • +  Ann
          • 6. Joseph, 1844, Waddington.
          • 6. Isaac, 1847, Waddington.
          • 6. Jane, 1849, Waddington.
        • 5. James, bapt. 19 Sept 1823, Gisburn
        • 5. William, bapt. 18 June 1826, Gisburn
        • 5. Isaac, bapt. 19 Feb 1828, Gisburn
    • 3. William, bapt. 11 Apr 1756 (This is not the William who married Ann Proctor, see Slaidburn)
  • 2. Richard, bapt. 30 Jan 1721, Downham, buried 30 Sept 1761 at Downham.
  • +  Susana Tasker. She was a spinster and both were of the chapelry of Downham, married on 15 May 1743, Downham
    • 3. Ellen, bapt. 21 Nov 1743, Downham
    • 3. Mary, bapt. 25 Dec 1745, Downham
    • 3. Anne, bapt. 12 Oct 1747, Downham Note that there is a record for RICHARD, base born son of ANN Thornber, baptised at Downham on 14 May 1775. This is likely to be the Richard Thornber who married Hannah Laithom on 4 September 1803. See Downham page.
    • 3. John, bapt. 8 Mar 1750, Downham
    • 3. Robert, bapt. 22 Apr, buried 15 May 1753, Downham
    • 3. Alice, bapt. 26 June 1756
  • 2. William, bapt. 23 Mar 1725, Downham
  • +  Alice Parker, 16 Jan 1748, at Whitewell.
  • 2. Mary, bapt. 28 Dec 1727 Downham
  • + Wm. Lancaster, 1 Oct 1749 at Clitheroe
  • 2.Roger, bapt. 31 May 1732, Downham.

Footnote 1

I have been contacted by Peter Thornber whose gg grandfather was a Thomas Thornber, born about 1811, the son of James Thornber a tailor. He married Catharine or Catherine Myers at St. Mary the Virgin, Bury on 20 May 1850. She was born about 1818 and was the daughter of John Myers a butcher. She died 11 May 1907. Peter's great grandfather, James Thornber, was born 8 August 1855 and died 30 June 1926. His first wife Johanna Lambert on 13 March 1875 and they were the parents of Peter's grandfather, William Walter Thornber, born 10 Septembr 1878. Subsequently James Thornber married Rebecca Perry and had further children.

This family fits with the Thomas son of James who married Catherine on my chart, gives additional information and poses some questions. My chart has Thomas having a child William born about 1832 rather than the James mentioned by Peter Thornber. Examination of the census returns provides more information.

Clitheroe Census 1851 (Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2256; Folio: 148; Page: 42; GSU roll: 87279) shows

Thomas Thornber, aged 40, a tailor born in Gisburn.
Catharine Thornber his wife was aged 33 and born in Clitheroe.
Ellen, mother, aged, 63, a seamstress born in Grindleton. (She would be Ellen Wood before marriage).
William Thornber, son, aged 19 born in Clitheroe (He must be the son of an earlier wife.)

Clitheroe Census 1861 (Source Citation: Class: RG 9; Piece: 3087; Folio: 14; Page: 22; GSU roll: 543076.)

Thomas Thornber, aged 47, an innkeeper, born Gisburn
Catherine Thornber, aged 42, innkeeper's wife, born Clitheroe
Mary Thornber, aged 8, daughter, scholar, born Clitheroe
James Thornber, aged 5, son, scholar, born Clitheroe
Thomas Myers, stepson, unmarried, aged 16, domestic servant, born Clitheroe
Anne Smith aged 22, servant, unmarried, house servant, born Skipton, Yorkshire
John Wilson, aged 50, lodger, unmarried, shoemaker, born Claughton, Lancashire
Michael Barry aged 25, lodger, army recruiting sergeant, born in Ireland.

The inclusion of Thomas Myers a stepson is interesting in this census. He must have been an illegitimate son of Catherine, born about 1845 some four years before she married Thomas in 1850

Clitheroe Census of 1871 (Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 4164; Folio: 23; Page: 40; GSU roll: 846740.)

Catherine Thornber, aged 53, head of household, widow, innkeeper, born Clitheroe
Thomas Myers, son, aged 26, servant, born Liverpool. (Said to be born in Clitheroe previously)
Mary Thornber, daughter, unmarried, aged 18, innkeeper's daughter born Clitheroe
James Thornber, aged 15, son, draper's assistant, born Clitheroe
Margaret Walker aged 28, widow, domestic servant, born Preston, Lancashire.
James Walker, aged 1 yr 3 months, border, born Clitheroe
Mary J Wood, aged, 26, visitor, unmarried, born Chorley, Lancashire

By 1881, Catherine Thornber is living with her daughter and son in law and is described as the mother-in-law aged 63. They are at Brownlow Arms, Market Place Clitheroe

Clitheroe Census of 1881 (Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 4171; Folio: 116; Page: 44; GSU roll: 1342000.)

William Whittaker, aged 36, head, married, hotel keeper, born Walton, Lancashire
Mary Whittaker, aged 28, wife, married, born Clitheroe
Eveline Whittaker, aged 4, daughter, born Clitheroe
Jane B. Whittaker, aged 2, daughter, born Clitheroe
Catherine Thornber, aged 63, widow, annuitant, born Clitheroe
Together with eight servants, barmaid, cook, chambermaid, kitchenmaid, nurse, coachman, ostler and boots

By 1891, William Whittaker has died but Catherine, aged 73, is still living with her daughter, Mary Whittaker, said to be a widow of independent means. They reside at 19 Kay Street. There was also John Myers aged 8, born in Clitheroe said to be a son. The name Myers fits for Catherine's own son who was 16 in 1861 so he may be a grandson of Catherine rather than a son of Mary Whittaker.

James Thornber, the son of Thomas and Catherine, was tracked down in the 1891 census.

Clitheroe Census of 1891 (Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 3388; Folio: 49; Page: 41; GSU Roll: 6098498.) At 33, Whalley Road

James Thornber, 34, widower, beer house keeper, born Clitheroe
Thomas Thornber, 14, son, born Clitheroe
William Thornber 12, son, born Clitheroe
Rebecca Perry, 29, single, general servant
Annie Perry 1 month, born Clitheroe. It is not stated if this child is a boy or a girl but on inspection of the record it could be a mistranscription and the child may be Albert as shown in the next census.

It would appear that Rebecca Perry started out as a servant and subsequently married James. She has already a one month old baby registered in her surname as she is described as single.

Clitheroe Census of 1901 at 72 Whalley Road

James Thornber, 44, coal and grocery carter, worker, born Clitheroe
Rebecca Thornber, 41, wife, born Clitheroe
Thomas Thornber, 23, son, single, brewers' agent, born St. Helens.
Albert Thornber, 11, son, born Clitheroe
Arthur Thornber, 3, son, born Clitheroe
Ivy Thornber, 9, daughter, born Clitheroe

The birthplace of Thomas has been given as St. Helen's, whereas it was down as Clitheroe in the 1891 census. (Note that the parish church of Waddington is St. Helen's. Could he have been baptised there?) By 1911 (Source Citation: Class: RG14; Piece: 24984.) the same family with children Albert, Ivy and Arthur are still at 72 Whalley Road Clitheroe. Rebecca is reported to have had four children of whom three are still alive.

This information has now been incorporated into the family tree shown above.

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