THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM THORNBER IN SLAIDBURN
FORMERLY YORKSHIRE, NOW LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND

Slaidburn 3

This tree starts with William Thornber, whose ancestry is shown on theh page for Slaidburn 2.  Some of the records for this branch of the family are from the Independent Chapel known as Mount Sion, Sandy Syke, at Tosside in Gisburn Forest, which I have transcribed and published. It is indexed in the IGI as Gisburn Sandy Syke Independent.

• 1. William Thornber married Jane Brennand.  William Thornber of Stony Bank, made a will on 28 April 1826.  He died on 15 February and was buried on 19 February 1828 at Slaidburn.  In the will he named his wife as Jane and made some bequests to four children, Anthony, John, William and Phoebe, the wife of Thomas Parker.  Later in the will he made provision for property to be shared among all his children and listed them as Anthony, John, Thomas, James, Hannah the wife of William Parker, Phoebe the wife of Thomas Parker, Ann the wife of James Todd, and a grandson, William.  In this second list the son William was omitted.
• +  Jane (x) Brennand, both of the parish, by banns, by R Brockbank, curate, witn: Ralph Thornber and William Brennand, on 7 January 1772 at Slaidburn. With the exception of the last child, John, the children were all baptised at Slaidburn. Jane's brother, William Brennand of Slaidburn, yeoman, in his will names among others his sister, Jane Thornber and her children, James Thornber, Hannah Parker, Anthony Thornber, Thomas Thornber, John Thornber, Phoebe Parker and Ann Todd.
  • 2. James, son of William of Stony Bank, was baptised on 8 September 1772 at Slaidburn.  James of Champion Height, died on 2 May 1840 and was buried at Slaidburn on 6 May when he was said to be aged 67.  He left a will naming his children as Ann, William, Grace, Elizabeth and James.  The first son must have died in infancy.  The children shown below with an asterisk were mentioned in the will of their uncle, Anthony, in 1858.  Anthony's will mentioned the children of James as "William Thornber, James Thornber, Ann Camb the wife of John Camb, Grace Holden the wife of Thomas Holden and Betty Wooler the wife of John Wooler, the five children of my late brother James."
  • + Elizabeth (x) Wooler, spinster of the parish of Slaidburn on 18 October 1806, by banns at Slaidburn by Joseph Bowman, curate.  Witnesses were William Thornber and William Brennand.  James Thornber, was said to be a husbandman of the parish of Slaidburn.  From information on the baptism record of one of her children we know that Elizabeth was the daughter of John Wooler of Hesbert Hall (This was a common abode in the register and does not indicate that he was landed gentry.)  The first two children were baptised at the Anglican Chapel in Tosside, (sometimes known as Houghton Chapel or Houghton by Settle, and now St. Bartholomew's) and the Anglican Church in Slaidburn. The later children were baptised at the independent chapel of Mount Sion at Sandy Syke, Tosside.
    • 3. Unknown son who died in infancy.
    • 3. William*, second son of James, labourer of Stony Bank, born 13 March 1808 and baptised on 10 April 1808 at Houghton Chapel, Tosside (Houghton by Settle).  (At Champion Height in 1841 census with sister Elizabeth, aged 20 and brother James, 15.  Folio 23, ED 2, film HO 107/1322)
    • 3. Ann*, daughter of James of Brockthorn and Betty his wife, baptised on 11 August 1811 at Slaidburn.  Ann married John Camb.
    • 3. Grace*, daughter of James Thornber, weaver of Easington, and Elizabeth Wooler, daughter of Richard Wooler of Hesbert Hall was born 17 January and baptised 13 April 1817 at Sandy Syke, Tosside.  Grace married Thomas Holden.
    • 3. Elizabeth*, daughter of James, weaver of Brockthorn, and Elizabeth daughter of Richard Wooler of Hesbert Hall, born 27 August 1820 and baptised on 3 September 1820 at Sandy Syke, Tosside.  Elizabeth or Betty married John Wooler, possibly a relative of her mother.
    • 3. James*, son of James of Height Champion, Grindleton, and Elizabeth Wooler, daughter of Rich^d Wooler of Hesbert Hall, born and baptised on 16 August 1823 at Sandy Syke, Tosside.
  • 2. Hannah, daughter of William of Stony Bank, was baptised on 27 May 1775 at Slaidburn.  She married Will Parker on 23 February 1802 at Slaidburn.  Mrs. Jessie Thornber notes that William Parker died aged 75 in 1851 and Hannah aged 75 in 1849.
  • 2. Anthony, son of William of Stony Bank, was baptised on 1 January 1778 at Slaidburn.  He had no known issue, and died on 28 November 1858.  His will mentioned his surviving siblings and many nephews and nieces.  The information in this will allowed much of this section of the tree to be assembled.  It also provides definitive proof that Anthony's brother Thomas married both Betty Whittle and Isabella Whittle, as the children from both families are mentioned as Anthony's nephews and nieces.  Census information for 1851 (film HO 107/2256 folio 133) for Stony Bank, Easington, shows Anthony as head of household, aged 73, farming 122 acres.  He was living with John Parker, unmarried nephew aged 24, farm servant and Ellen Parker, unmarried niece aged 23 a housekeeper.  There was also a Thomas Thornber, unmarried servant of 19.  All four were said to be born in Easington.  In his will Anthony left the remainder of his estate after legacies, to his nephew, John Parker.
  • 2. Phoebe, daughter of William of Stony Bank, was buried on 27 July 1780 at Slaidburn.
  • 2. Phoebe the second.  There must have been a second daughter of William called Phoebe, born after 1780.  She married Thomas Parker on 8 October 1814 at Slaidburn.  Six of her children are mentioned in the will of her brother, Anthony as "William Parker, James Parker, Ann the wife of Matthew Thornber, Grace the wife of Thomas Robinson, and Ellen, the wife of Stephen Robinson, five of the children of my late sister, Phoebe Parker, wife of William Parker.  I bequeath all the rest of my estate upon my nephew John Parker, son of my late sister, Phoebe."
  • 2. Willm. son of William of Stony Bank, was baptised on 23 September 1781 at Slaidburn.  William was a weaver of Slaidburn when he married.
  • + Alice Isherwood of the same parish, on 23 February 1805, by banns at Slaidburn, by James Bowman, curate.  Witnesses were John Isherwood and James Thornber.  The two sons, William Thornber, a school master, and Matthew, a mason, were mentioned in the will of their uncle, Anthony.
    • 3. Willm son of William of Stony Bank and Alice, was baptised on 25 August 1805 at Slaidburn.  This is the William who was a school master as shown by his uncle Anthony's will.
    • + Margaret Hopwood on 9 June 1829 at Slaidburn.  A headstone removed from the flooded churchyard of Dale Head village shows that William Thornber, schoolmaster, died on 21 December 1881 aged 76.  His wife Margaret died on 13 September 1881, aged 73, and was buried at Dale Head.  Also mentioned on the stone are a son, James, died 23 July 1858 aged 18, and a daughter, Ann, who died on 2 November 1863 aged 21.  (See footnote 1)
      • 4. John the son of William and Margaret Thornber, grocer of Newton, was baptised at Slaidburn on 16 May 1830.  The 1851 census (film HO 107/225 Folio No 184: Village of Newton, property 4a) shows John Thornber aged 20, head of household, a National School Master born in Newton, Yorkshire and his sister, Ellen, aged 19, a school mistress also born in Newton.  The 1861 the census for Slaidburn (RG9/3084 folio 38 page 11) showed John in Newton, aged 30, as a certificated school master, born in Newton with a wife Phebe, aged 28, a school mistress without certificate, born in Clapham.
      • 4. Ellen, daughter of William and Margaret Thornber of Newton, shopkeeper, was baptised 13 November 1831 also at Slaidburn.  There is also a burial record for an Ellen Thornber of Newhouse, aged 21, on 31 December 1852 at Slaidburn.
      • 4. Phoebe daughter of William and Margaret Thornber of Newton, grocer, baptised 17 November 1833 at Slaidburn.
      • 4. Alice daughter of William and Margaret Thornber of Newton, grocer, baptised on 3 January 1836 at Slaidburn.
      • 4. Mary, born c. 1838 from census.
      • 4. James, born c. 1840, died 23 July 1858, aged 18.
      • 4. Ann, born c. 1842, died 2 Nov 1863 aged 21.
      • 4. Elizabeth, born c. 1846, census of 1851.
      • 4. Hannah, born c. 1850.
    • 3. Matthew son of William, weaver, and Alice formerly Isherwood, was born on 7 August and baptised on 21 September 1806 at Bolton by Bowland.
    • + Ann Parker, his cousin, the daughter of Phoebe mentioned above on 15 February 1830 at Slaidburn.  The family has been found in the census returns of 1851 and 1861 as shown in Footnote 2. The following baptism records have been found.
      • 4. Hannah dau. of Matthew Thornber, weaver, of Stonybank and Ann, dau. of Thomas Parker of Stonybank, born 22 March 1830 and baptised 12 April 1830 at Sandy Syke, Tosside.
      • 4. Thomas son of Matthew Thornber of Stephen Moor and Ann, dau. of Thomas Parker was born on 11 February 1832 and baptised on 22 February 1832 at Sandy Syke, Tosside.
      • 4. Alice dau. of Matthew Thornber, farmer of Guys, and Ann, dau. of Thomas Parker, was born 20 July 1834 and baptised on 14 August 1834 at Sandy Syke, Tosside.
      • 4. Phoeby, dau. of Matthew Thornber, farmer, Guys and Ann, dau. of Thomas Parker, born and baptised on 2 March 1836 at Sandy Syke, Tosside.  Phoebe Thornber, an infant, of Stephen Moor was buried on 1 July 1836 at Slaidburn.
      • 4. Grace dau. of Matthew Thornber, farmer of Guys, Stephen Moor, and Ann, dau. of Thomas Parker was born 27 May 1837 and baptised on 1 June 1837 at Sandy Syke, Tosside.  Grace Thornber, an infant, of Stephen Moor is recorded as buried on 4 August 1837 at Slaidburn.
      • 4. William 6^th (child) of Matthew Thornber, farmer of Stephen Moor and Ann, dau of Thomas Parker was born and baptised on 29 September 1838 at Sandy Syke, Tosside.
      • 4. Ellen, dau. of Matthew and Ann, baptised 21 June 1840, at Clapham.
      • 4. Ann born about 1845, Easington.
      • 4. Anthony born about 1848, Easington.  There is a monumental inscription at Dale Head recording Anthony Thornber, died 31 Jan 1892 aged 44, (Information from David Pollard and Norman Thornber, see also footnote 3.).  We know little of the children except the eldest, Thomas Matthew.
      • + Rebecca Nelson.   Marriage at Giggleswick:  Anthony Thornber aged 23, bachelor, stonemason, of Settle, s. Matthew Thornber, stonemason and Rebecca Nelson, 25, spinster, servant of Stackhouse, d. Thomas Nelson, labourer, by banns, by W. Coulthurst, itpo William Silverwood & Margaret Nelson on 21 August 1869
        • 5. Thomas Matthew Thornber born 1870 died 1937, a stonemason, who married Ann Croasdale and had seven children.  All the family are buried in the chuchyard at Longridge.
          • 6. Anthony, born 1892, died 1972, a stonemason.
          • 6. Henry (Harry) died 1988, a stonemason.
          • 6. Annie, born 1906, died 1906.
          • 6. Margaret Caroline, b. 7 Jan 1894 and died 1979.
          • 6. Eric, born 8 Oct 1904 and died 21 June 1990.  He married Edith Winder (born 15 April 1906) at Preston, Lancashire.  These are the parents of my correspondent, Norman Thornber.
          • 6. Thomas, born 1899, died 1899.
          • 6. Thomas, born 15 Feb 1911 and died 10 Apr 1968.
        • 5. Margaret Thornber born c. 1873, Settle.
        • 5. John Thornber, born c. 1875, Settle.
        • 5. Rebecca Thornber, born c. 1876, Settle.
        • 5. Caroline, born c. 1880, Bailey, died of on 16 Nov 1893(?) aged 14 and buried at Dale Head.
      • 4. Matthew, born about 1852, Easington
      • 4. Caroline, born abt. 1856, Easington.
      • 4. Rebekah, born 1860, Easington.  Rebekah married George Cockshutt of Clitheroe and had a daughter, Mary Cockshutt 1887-1955. (Information from David Pollard)
    • 3. Ellen, daughter of William, a weaver and Alice, formerly Isherwood, was born on 29 February and baptised on 27 March 1808 at Bolton by Bowland.
  • 2. Thomas was born about 1788 but no baptism record has been found.  However he is known from the wills of his father and brother, from his marriages, the baptism of his children and from census records.  The family of Thomas is covered on a separate page.
  • 2. Ann, must have been born about 1790.  She is known from the wills of her father and brother, Anthony.  She married James Todd of Lower Stony Bank on 10 May 1810 at Slaidburn.  The will of her brother, Anthony, mentioned children "James Todd, Anthony Todd, Jane the wife of David Bond, Betty the wife of Christopher Parsons, and Hannah the wife of James Parker, the five children of my late sister, Ann Todd."
  • 2. Ellen, daughter of William of Botham was baptised on 14 December 1794 at Slaidburn.  She married William Oddy on 24 June 1816 at Slaidburn.
  • 2. John, son of William and Jane of Stony Bank, was baptised on 25 February 1795, at Tosside (Houghton by Settle).  He is mentioned in his father's will.  He is believed to be the John Thornber of Stony Bank, buried at Slaidburn, aged 53, on 14 August 1848.

Footnote 1.

The family of William Thornber and his wife, Margaret Hopwood, was found in the 1841 census (film HO 107/1322, folio 15, ED 6, Parish of Slaidburn, Township of Easington) at the School house.  All the members of the household were said to be born in Yorkshire.  William, a school master was 35; his wife Margaret, 30; and the children were John, 11; Ellen, 9; Phebe, 7; Alice, 5; Mary 3; and James, 6 months.  William was a shop keeper or grocer in the 1830s as shown by the baptism records for the early children.

Beth Merryweather found the family in the 1851 census for the Township of Lawkland, parish of Clapham, Settle Union, HO 107/2277, ED 2 folio 228 page 3 at Eldroth.  At that time William was a schoolmaster aged 45 with Margaret 42 and the following children: Alice, 15, a school mistress; Mary, dau, 13 scholar; James, son, 10, scholar; Ann, daughter, 8, scholar; Elizabeth, dau. 5, scholar; all born in Slaidburn and Hannah, aged 1, born in Clapham. In 1861, the census shows the family at Dale Head School (RG9/3084, folio 27, page 4) with William, 55, a schoolmaster, his wife Margaret, 52, a school mistress, and two daughters, Ann, aged 18, employed at home and Hannah aged 11, a scholar.  All were said to be born in Slaidburn.

By the time of the 1881 census William and his wife Margaret were living in Rathmell.  He was said to be 75 and born in Sherburn, a retired schoolmaster and his wife was said to be 72 and also born in Sherburn, Yorkshire. (Source: FHL Film 1342026 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 4298 Folio 111 Page 4)

The probate index gives the following details for William:

1882.  William Thornber. Administration of the personal Estate of William Thornber of Rathmell near Settle in the County of York, widower who died 21 December 1881 at Rathmell was granted at Wakefield to John Thornber of Quernmore near Lancaster in the County of Lancaster, Schoolmaster the son and one of the next of kin on 6 January 1882. Personal estate of £155.

Footnote 2.

Census of 1851: Lane Ends (Film HO/107/2255, Folio No. 133)

Census of 1861: Lower Stony Bank, Easington (RG9/3084, Folio 21, p. 8)

Anthony Thornber mentioned in his will a great nephew, Thomas, son of Matthew.  He is probably the Thomas living with Anthony at the time of the 1851 census and said to be 19.  There may be a confusion in Anthony's will as two great nieces are also mentioned as Ellen, wife of Richard Laytham, and Ann wife of Matthew Thornber, both daughters of Matthew Thornber.  We know that Matthew the son of William married his cousin Ann Parker, but no evidence of their daughter Ann marrying another Matthew has been found.  It looks as if in the course of making the copy of the will that I inspected a line was inadvertently repeated.

Footnote 3.

Norman Thornber informs me that Anthony, his great grandfather, died aged 44 from silicosis, the result of being a stonemason, he was buried with his daughter Caroline, who died of appendicitis on 16 Nov 1893 aged 14.  Anthony Thornber of Settle with the consent of his father, Matthew Thornber, of Four Lane Ends, near Slaidburn, was apprenticed to John Winskill as a Stonemason dated 1867.  He was not allowed to marry during this two year term, but in 1869 married Rebecca Nelson, (born 1845 at Martwaithe near Sedgewick, mother's name Alice) from Stackhouses at Giggleswick.  Rebecca died in 1920.  The following record was found for Giggleswick:

Anthony Thornber aged 23, bachelor, stonemason, of Settle, s. Matthew Thornber, stonemason and Rebecca Nelson, 25, spinster, servant of Stackhouse, d. Thomas Nelson, labourer, by banns, by W. Coulthurst, itpo William Silverwood & Margaret Nelson on 21 August 1869

Census of 1881: Bailey Green, District of Aighton, Bailey and Chaigley, Lancashire
PRO Ref. RG11 Piece 4170 folio 96 page 8

Bernard Steele has sent me the full inscription of the gravestone at Dale Head, as follows.

In loving memory /of/ Anthony Thornber /of Longridge/ who died/ January 31, 1892/ aged 44 years/ also Elizabeth/ Caroline Thornber/ who died November 16th 1893/ aged 14 years.

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