Biography

Joseph Ormandy was born in 1759 in Urswick, Lancashire. He was baptised on 6 May 1759 at St Mary the Virgin and St Michael’s church in Urswick. He was the son of Thomas Ormandy.

On 18 January 1795, he married Elizabeth Ingold at St Thomas the Martyr in Upholland, Lancs.

Joseph & Elizabeth had the following children between 1796 and 1815 according to baptism records from St. Thomas Church in Upholland:

  • Jane Ormandy was baptized on 19 Jan 1796. Jane died in 1799.
  • William Ormandy. Willian was baptised on 21 April 1797.
  • Isabella Ormandy was baptised on 4 February 1799.
  • Joseph Ormandy was baptised on 23 December 1801.
  • Maria Ormandy was baptised on 12 June 1803.
  • Jane Ormandy was baptised on 4 August 1805.
  • Thomas Ormandy was baptised on 5 July 1807.
  • Elizabeth Ormandy was baptised on 2 February 1813.
  • James Ormandy was born on 19 September 1815. James died a year later; he was buried in Sept 1816 at Upholland. The burial record states he lived in Blackrod.

Joseph was listed as a shopkeeper living in Upholland on each of the baptism entries from 1796 to 1815, except in 1801 when no occupation was listed.

Joseph and Elizabeth also named their next son James after his deceased brother. The second James was born circa 1821, but no baptism record has been located. The family was likely living in Blackrod or Adlington at the time.

Their youngest child, Alice Ormandy, was baptized on 6 July 1822 at Wigan All Saints Church. Joseph’s occupation was listed as a school teacher.

In 1816, the family had moved to Blackrod. According to Alice’s baptism record, by 1922 the family was living in Adlington where Joseph was listed as being a schoolmaster.

In 1798, there was a UK land tax redemption record for Joseph Ormandy.  The date of the contract is 20 June 1798. Joseph is listed as the occupier, and the proprietor is listed as a William Morris. The amount listed is 6 shillings and ¼ pence.

On 10 June 1802, Joseph Ormandy was initiated to the Freemasons. He was agd 43 and his profession listed as a grocer and living in Upholland. He joined the Lodge of Sincerity, Wigan.

Insolvent Debtor Charge and Release from Lancaster Castle Information

Joseph was locked up in debtors’ prison for several months in 1813–1814. The Lancashire county Quarter sessions documents for his imprisonment and release are held at Lancashire Archives, and the reference is QJB/59/88. Joseph was detained as a result of a suit filed by John Tipping and William Oddie acting as assignees for John Forster, a bankrupt.

Joseph petitioned for, and was granted release from prison under the terms of a recent Act (An Act for the Relief of certain Insolvent Debtors in England) that had been passed by parliament because so many people were getting locked up suddenly for being debtors. The newspapers had complained as people appealing were listed in the papers, and they were filling up the full papers leaving no room for the actual news.

The following is a description of three records related to Joseph’s bankruptcy, imprisonment, and release that are held in the archives at Lancaster Castle:

Document 1: Sworn Declaration of Joseph Ormandy

The opening paragraph read as follows:

‘I Joseph Ormandy formerly and late of Upholland Wigan in the county Palatine of Lancaster a Grocer

Upon my corporal oath in the presence of Almighty God, do solemnly swear, protest and declare, that on the sixth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, I was really and truly a prisoner in the actual custody of the keeper or Gaoler of the Gaol the Castle of Lancaster, in the prison or Gaol of Lancaster Castle, at the suit of John Tipping and William Oddie assignees of John Forster a Bankrupt

Without any fraud or collusion and that I have ever since continued a prisoner within the prison of Lancaster Castle or within the liberties thereof, at the suit of John Tipping and William Oddie assignees of John Forster a Bankrupt’

The document continues by stating he has not hidden any assets. The document is signed by Joseph Ormandy.

Document 2: A Record of a Court Judgement Directing the Release of Joseph Pursuant to the Insolvent Debtor’s Act

The judgement begins as follows:

‘A special general session of the peace, held at the castle of Lancaster, in and for the county palatine of Lancaster, on Saturday the fifteenth Day of January, in the fifty-fourth year of the reign of his Majesty King George the Third, and in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fourteen, pursuant to the statute –

Whereas it appears the Justices of the Peace assembled at this court, that Joseph Ormandy late of Upholland near Wigan in the said county

Now brought before them by John Higgin, Gentleman, Keeper of his Majesty’s Gaol the Castle of Lancaster, within the said county, was actually a Prisoner in the said Gaol, charged with the action of Trespass of the Case at the suit of John Tipping and William Oddie assignees of the estate and effects of John Forster a Bankrupt’

It goes on to say that on 6 November 1813, Joseph Ormandy had petitioned William Housman, one of the Justices of the peace to have the benefit of the statute ‘An act for the Relief of certain insolvent Debtors in England.’

A notice was to be put in the London Gazette and Lancaster Gazette.

The court ruled he could benefit from the act and be discharged and set at Liberty.

Document 3: Sworn Statement of Assets

The document states that Joseph Ormandy has no debts (odd considering the situation), and that he has no effects or estates apart from the clothes he and his family have on their backs. It states that on 15 January 1814, he is released. It states that he owes the amount of £102.2.3.

Death

In 1834, Joseph passed away in Adlington. He was buried in St Wilfrid’s church, Standish on the 2 November 1834, at age 75.


Details

  • Occupation: 1796-01-19, Upholland; Shopkeeper.

    Per Jane Ormandy’s Baptism Record.

  • Residence: 1796-01-19, Upholland; Joseph & Elizabeth Ormandy family home.

    Per Jane Ormandy’s Baptism Record.

  • Occupation: 1797-04-21, Upholland; Shopkeeper.

    Per William Ormandy’s Baptism record.

  • Residence: 1797-04-21, Upholland; Joseph & Elizabeth Ormandy family home.

    Per William Ormandy’s Baptism Record.

  • Residence: 1799-02-04, Upholland; Joseph & Elizabeth Ormandy family home.

    Per Isabella Ormandy’s Birth Register.

  • Residence: 1801-12-23, Upholland; Joseph & Elizabeth Ormandy family home.

    Per Joseph Ormandy Jr.’s Birth Register.

  • Residence: 1803-06-12, Upholland; Joseph & Elizabeth Ormandy family home.

    Per Maria Ormandy’s Birth Register.

  • Residence: 1805-08-04, Upholland; Joseph & Elizabeth Ormandy family home.

    Per Jane Ormandy’s Birth Register.

  • Occupation: 1807-07-05, Upholland; Shopkeeper.

    Per Thomas Ormandy’s Birth Register.

  • Residence: 1807-07-05, Upholland; Joseph & Elizabeth Ormandy family home.

    Per Thomas Ormandy’s Birth Register.


Footnotes

 Assignees, at least as defined today, are court officials who deal with a bankrupt person’s assets and debts as well as their actions when bankrupt. We have been unable to determine who John Forster was, but Joseph apparently owed John money which the assignees were unable to collect.

Special thanks to Angie Bland for all the research and writing that went into this bio, including the research into Joseph’s confinement in debtor’s prison at Lancaster Castle