The Henry Harold Harrison Family

Biography

Alice Barton’s sister, Annie was born on St Patrick’s Day in 1872 to Edward Barton and Ann Barton at 25 Douglas Street, Wigan. She was the fifth of their seven children.

Sometime before Annie’s second birthday, the Barton family moved to the Corporation Inn, a pub in Poolstock, where her father became the innkeeper. Annie may have worked at the inn as a young girl. By the time of the 1881 census, when Annie was age 9, Edward had given up innkeeping, and the family had moved to Harrogate Street in the centre of Wigan.

In 1885, Annie’s eldest sister, Alice, married Henry Harrison. On the night of the 1891 census, Annie was staying with Henry and Alice at the Honeysuckle Inn; her sister, Ellen, was also at the inn that night. Annie was age 19 and employed as a general servant. It is not clear whether she was working and/or living at the Honeysuckle, or just visiting her sister that evening.

Annie’s parents experienced some sort of marital disruption around 1890. This may have been related to a journey her father took to New York. Her mother, Ann, became a grocer at 90 Warrington Lane to support the family.

In the spring of 1891, Annie became pregnant. In October of that year, she became an unwed mother to her first child, Ethel Barton. Three months later, on 15 January 1892, she married Thomas Thompson, a coal miner. We assume that Thomas was Ethel’s father.

Thomas and Annie initially lived with Ann Barton at 90 Warrington Lane. Their second daughter, Alice Ann, was born there in 1893. Eventually, Thomas and Annie moved to their own home at 69 Byrom Street in Poolstock. They had four children at that address between 1895 and 1901. Thomas continued to work as a coal miner. Annie’s father, Edward, moved in with them as a boarder at some point.

At the time of the 1901 census, Thomas and Annie were living at 69 Byrom Street with their six children. Thomas continued to be employed as a coal miner. Edward Barton, estranged from his wife Ann at age 61, was living with his daughter’s family as a boarder.

It is likely that Thomas and Annie had several more children after 1901, as Annie was only age 29 that year. Annie’s father, Edward, died in the spring of 1904. In November 1912, Annie’s mother, Ann, passed away. Annie was with her mother when she died and registered the death. We know from that record that Annie and Thomas were living near Ann at 14 Mason Street, Wigan at the time, a home they would occupy for the rest of their lives.

Annie Barton died at 14 Mason Street in December 1920 at age 48. She is buried at Wigan Cemetery. Her husband Thomas outlived her by thirteen years. Thomas died at 14 Mason Street in December 1933 at age 65 and is buried with his wife.

Research Notes

The publication of the 1911 census would be helpful in providing more information.

Source Documents

• Birth Certificate of Annie Barton (1872–?)
• Death Certificate of Annie Barton (1872–1920)

Details

• Residence: 1872-03-17, 25 Douglas Street, Wigan;

  Per Birth Registration.

• Residence: 1881-04-03, 20 & 22 Harrogate Street, Wigan;

  Per 1881 Census. Annie was age 9 and living with her parents.

• Occupation: 1891-04-05 ; General Servant.

  Per 1891 Census.

• Residence: 1891-04-05, Honeysuckle Inn, Poolstock, Wigan;

  Per 1891 Census. It is not clear whether Annie was living at the Honeysuckle or just there at the time of the enumeration.

• Residence: 1891-10-22, 90 Warrington Lane, Wigan; Ann Barton's home.

  Per Ethel Barton’s Birth Certificate.

• Occupation: 1891-10-22, Wigan, Lancashire; Domestic Servant.

  Per Ethel Barton’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1892-08-20, 90 Warrington Lane, Wigan;

  Per Marriage Registration.

• Residence: 1893-02-08, 90 Warrington Lane, Wigan; Ann Barton home.

  Per Birth Certificate of daughter Alice Ann Thompson. It is possible that Annie just went to her mother’s home to have the baby, but on balance it appears that Thomas and Annie moved in with Ann.

• Residence: 1895-05-22, 69 Byrom Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Thomas & Annie Thompson family home.

  Per Mary Ann Thompson’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1897-05-07, 69 Byrom Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Thomas & Annie Thompson family home.

  Per James Edward Thompson’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1899-06-11, 69 Byrom Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Thomas & Annie Thompson family home.

  Per Florence Thompson’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1901-03-26, 69 Byrom Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Thomas & Annie Thompson family home.

  Per Annie Thompson’s Birth Certificate.

• Residence: 1901-03-31, 69 Byrom Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Thomas & Annie Barton family home.

  Per 1901 Census for Thomas Thompson & family.

• Residence: 1904-06-20, 69 Byrom Street, Poolstock, Wigan; Thomas & Annie Thompson family home.

  Per Edward Barton’s Death Certificate registered by Annie.

• Residence: 1913-12-01, 14 Mason Street, Wigan; Annie Thompson's residence.

  Per Ann Barton’s Death Certificate. Annie Thompson registered the death.

• Residence: 1920-12-18, 14 Mason Street, Wigan; Thomas and Annie Thompson family home.

  Per Annie Barton’s Death Register.

• Residence: 1920-12-22, 14 Mason Street, Wigan; Thomas and Annie Thompson family home.

  Annie was living in this place at the time of her death, according to the Wigan World cemetery index.

• Burial: 1920-12-22, Wigan Cemetery & Crematorium;