A SEED FAMILY IN THE CLITHEROE AREA &
CONNECTION TO THE ISHERWOOD FAMILY

This family was researched in connection with Ellen Seed who married John Eastham on 8th April 1849 at Blackburn Cathedral. Ellen was the daughter of John Seed of Clitheroe and his wife Ann Isherwood.  Ellen was baptised at Waddington on 5 February 1832 and died at Chatburn about 1912. A parish record was found for the marriage of John Seed and Ann Isherwood:

John Seed of Slaidburn married Ann Isherwood of this chapelry by banns on 7 August 1823 at Waddington.  Witn. William Wadsworth and Robt Seed. 

John Seed appears to have married three times. First he married Ann Isherwood in 1823 and is shown with her in the census of 1841 when he was manager of the Gas Works in Clitheroe. However Ann Seed, aged 41, wife of John Seed, manager of gas works, died aged 41 of consumption on the 6 October 1841 in Clitheroe as shown on her death certificate. In the 1851 census for Clitheroe, John Seed aged 54 was shown with a wife named Ellen who was 50. In the census of 1861 for Clitheroe he is shown with Ellen and a son John, aged 12, who must have been born about 1847/8. When John died in 1870 the administration of his will showed that he had married a third time.

"Admon: John Seed, late of Clitheroe in the County of Lancashire, Waterworks Manager, who died 25 December 1870 at Clitheroe, granted to Sarah Seed of Clitheroe, widow the relict. Effects under £200."

I have an unusual copy of a birth record for Ellen Seed produced in connection with a legal dispute over her grandfather's will. It relates to a baptism and pre-dates General Registration. It is on notepaper headed "Appleton, Chatburn, near Clitheroe" and dated 1868. It states:

"In Chancery between Richard Wilson the Elder and others, Plaintiffs and John Isherwood and other defendants. This is paper writing or certificate marked S9, produced and shewn to John Standen at the time of swearing his affidavit in this cause. Sworn before me this 8th day of April 1872."

"Dixon Robinson, A Commissioner to Administer Oaths in Chancery in England"

"Baptisms solemnised in the Chapelry of Waddington in the County of York in the year 1832"

No. 922. 4 February 1832, Ellen daughter of John and Anne Seed, of Goosebutts, Clitheroe, farmer, baptised by P. Dent"

"I certify that the above is a true and faithful copy transcribed from the Register of Baptisms in Waddington Church as witnessing hand this 23 day of September one thousand eight hundred and sevent. Edward Parker, Minister of Waddington"

1841 Census Clitheroe: Folio No. 29:  page 11. Gas Works House

Note that the 1851 Census shows John was born in Slaidburn.  Ann was John's first wife, and presumably is the mother of the three children still at home.   John would be about 26 in 1823.  The first child in the census, William would be born about 1823/4.

Census of 1851, Clitheroe: HO/07/2256 Folio No. 345: Clitheroe, Gas House

This is the John Seed was known from the report of his grand-daughter, Margaret Ann Eastham, later Thornber, to be a gas maker and the manager of Clitheroe Gas Works.  It is important in establishing his birth in Slaidburn in about 1796 or 1797.

THE FAMILY OF JOHN ISHERWOOD (died 1846)

I am grateful to Colin Brown for information on our common ancestors in the Isherwood family. Colin obtainted from Thelma Rading in Australia a legal document prepared in connection with a dispute over a will. It is a chart showing details of the progeny of John and Mary Isherwood with dates for births, deaths and marriages but few placenames. It should be possible now to fill in some of the missing information from census returns and where necessary obtain additional parish records or appropriate certificates of births, marriages and deaths. However, in the meantime, I set out below the main features of the tree in case other researchers can either benefit from it or add to it. The details of the six children of John and Mary Isherwood were shown in six columns. The first four were from an affidavit sworn by by John Standen, husband of Betty Isherwood. The fifth was from an affidavit of John Isherwood, himself the fifth child and the sixth by Richard Wilson, husband of the sixth child, Ellen Isherwood. The case was being pursued in 1872, some 27 years after the death of John Isherwood in 1846. I have added the the ages and places of death for John and Mary Isherwood.

In Chancery. Wilson versus Isherwood. Draft Pedigree of the Family of the Settlor, John Isherwood who died 30 November 1846 and Mary Isherwood, his wife who died 22 January 1858. They had issue six children - five daughters and one son namely:

• 1. John Isherwood, died 30 Nov 1846, at Church Street, Clitheroe, yeoman, aged 80. The informant was Lucy Scott of Church Street, his daughter.
• + Mary Isherwood, died 22 January 1858, aged 88 at Church Street, Clitheroe. Informant was John Standen of Black Lane Clitheroe.
  • 2. Ann Isherwood, bapt 11 May 1800, married on 11 August 1823. She was buried 9 Oct 1841
  • + John Seed. They had five children
    • 3. William Seed, bapt 27 June 1824, buried 4 April 1847, a bachelor aged 22, died intestate.
    • 3. Mary Ann Seed, bapt. 17 July 1825, married 12 August 1842
    • + *** (illegible) Edleston Kirkpatrick. Beneath is written "None living" presumably relating to any children they had.
    • 3. John Seed, bapt. 4 Feb 1827, is now living
    • 3. Ellen Seed, bapt 5 Feb 1832, married 5 April 1849, is now living
    • + John Eastham (my ancestor)
    • 3. Lucy Seed, bapt 8 Nov 1835, buried 8 Feb 1840 aged 4 years, an infant.
  • 2. Mary Isherwood, twin sister of Ann above, bapt. 11 May 1800, married 7 July 1823. Mary Wadsworth, in the lifetime of her husband, but whilst they were living apart but in the same township, had an illegitimate child called Richard Wadsworth. This son is now living in Richmond near London. She was buried 5 July 1869
  • + William Wadsworth, who was buried 23 January 1844
    • 3. George Wadsworth, bapt. 20 Aug 1824, buried 24 Sept 1835 aged 11 years.
    • 3. Sarah Wadsworth, bapt. 30 Oct 1825, married 27 Sept 1845 at St. Mary's Catholic Chapel, Enfield, Clayton le Moors
    • + 1st husband. Peter Gilfoyle. A burial date of 25 Dec 1847 is given but it is not clear if this is for Peter or his wife Sarah.
      • 4. Mary, born 10 July 1846, buried 11 Aug 1846.
  • + 2nd husband, Daniel McCormack B***** (illegible) from the Bill called Daniel McCormack, 7 April 1844, when Mary was described as a spinster instead of a widow.
  • 2. Lucy Isherwood, bapt. 22 May 1803, married 10 Feb 1823
  • + Thomas Scott. They had one daughter. A burial date of 31 May 1825 is given but not clear if for Thomas or his wife Lucy but Lucy is not described as "now living" as some are on the the chart.
    • 3. Lucy Scott, bapt 27 May 1825, buried 6 Oct 1851, spinster aged 25, intestate.
  • 2. Betty Isherwood, bapt 3 March 1805, married 10 Feb 1827 when her name was given as Elizabeth. Buried as Elizabeth Standen on 31 March 1849.
  • +John Standen
    • 3. Lucy Standen, bapt 13 July 1828, married 18 June 1862, buried 16 Dec 1868
    • + Amos Booth. Had three children now living
      • 4. Frederick Booth, born 19 July 1863
      • 4. John Samuel Booth, born 21 July 1865
      • 4. Betsy Booth, born 24 Sept 1868
    • 3. Ellen Standen, bapt 3 Nov 1830, spinster, now living.
    • 3. Joshua Standen, bapt 23 Dec 1833, died an infant aged 11 years, date illegible
    • 3. Adelaide Standen, born 1 June 1837, a spinster, now living.
    • 3. John Standen, born 7 Aug 1839? (illegible), a bachelor, now living.
    • 3. Elizabeth Standen, born ** July 18**, a spinster, now living.
    • 3. Martha Standen, born 25 April 184* a spinster, now living.
  • 2. John Isherwood (the defendant), bapt 16 Nov 1806, married 16 Nov 1831
  • + Mary Hargreaves. They had 12 children
    • 3. Ellen Isherwood. Details largely illegible but died aged 22. Born or baptised 8th *** 1832, died or buried 15th June 1854, a spinster, intestate.
    • 3. Lucy Isherwood, bapt 19 May 1833, buried 22 Sept 1835 aged 2 years
    • 3. John Isherwood, bapt. 28 Dec 1834, buried 28 Dec 1858, aged 24 years, intestate
    • 3. William Isherwood, bapt. 11 Dec 1836
    • 3. George Isherwood, bapt 16 Dec 1838, married 13 *** 1862, buried 18 Feb 1869.
    • + Nancy Lund, widow now living
      • 4. John Hartley Isherwood, born 16 Aug 1863, now living
    • 3. Mary Ann Isherwood, (poorly legible) but buried 10 March 1862. May have been married in Barnoldswick
    • + John William K***
      • 4. John William K***, registered 7 Nov 1861
    • 3. Sarah Isherwood, bapt. 26 March 1843, married 16 Oct 1865 at Castlecroft Chapel, Bury. Buried 20 April 1867.
    • + Thomas Eccles
      • 4. Mary Ellin Eccles, bapt 10 Jan 1867, now living.
    • 3. Elizabeth written above Lucy 2nd born 8 or 9 January 1846. Bapt by Rev. (Ralph?) Wadsworth, independent minister in Clitheroe. Register cannot be found. Spinster, now living.
    • 3. Rachel Isherwood, born 29 March 1851? Poorly legible. Born at Chipping. A spinster. (Possibly still living as no burial can be discerned but entry is poorly legible)
    • 3. Miriam (?) Isherwood, born 16 July 1853, near Blackburn, left when a few months old to Barnoldswick. Spinster now living
    • 3. Isabella Isherwood, illegible birth date but born in Barnoldswick. Register cannot be found. An infant now living.
    • 3. Joseph Isherwood, born 22 March or May (illegible) 1857, at Barnoldswick. Register cannot be found. An infant now living.
  • 2. Ellen Isherwood, bapt 7 April 1811, married 15 Sept 1830, buried 25 June 1839
  • + Richard Wilson (the plaintiff)
    • 3. Illegible son born or bapt 1831. Married May 1855. Buried April 1859
    • + Betty Dor***** . They had two children
      • 4. Richard (?) (Illegible) Wilson, bapt 27 July 1856, now living aged 14.
      • 4. Nancy Ellen Isherwood Wilson, bapt 11 July 1858, buried 25 May 1864, aged 5 years.
    • 3. Richard Wilson, bapt. 14 April 1833, still living
    • 3. Arthur Wilson, bapt. 7 June 1835, still living
    • 3. George Wilson, bapt. 6 Aug 1837, still living (in Australia)

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