The undermentioned Houses are situate within the Boundaries of the
Parish of Wigan
Municipal Borough of Wigan
Municipal Ward of Queen Street
Parliamentary Borough of Wigan
Ecclesiastical District of St. Thomas

Road, Street, &c., and No. or Name of House Name and Surname of each Person Relation to Head of Family Condition Age of Rank, Profession or Occupation Where Born
Males Females
Princess St no. 43 Hy. Mawdesley Head Married 55   Provisions Dealer Lancashire Wigan
Ellen Mawdesley Wife Married   49   Lancashire Wigan
Ann Mawdesley Daughter Unmarried   20   Lancashire Wigan
Evan Mawdesley Son   15   Scholar Lancashire Wigan
Mary Mawdesley Daughter     14 Scholar Lancashire Wigan
Ellen Mawdesley Daughter Unmarried   1o Scholar Lancashire Wigan

[Census microfilm reference number RG 9/2775 page or folio 121. The 1861 census was taken on the night of 7 April.]

Research Notes

There is good evidence that the Ann Mawdsley listed in this census record went on to marry Edward Barton and become Henry Harold Harrison’s grandmother.

  • She is the right age. Her age in the 1861 census is 20; Ann Barton lists her age in the 1871 census as 30.
  • Her father’s name is Henry. Ann Mawdsley’s marriage certificate to Edward Barton lists her father’s name as Henry.
  • Alice Barton was born at 43 Princess Street according to her 1863 birth certificate. It is not shown as the address of Alice’s mother, Ann Mawdsley but of her grandmother, Ellen Mawdsley who registered the birth.. Alice Barton also listed Princess Street as her address on her marriage certificate.
  • Henry Mawdsley is a provisions dealer. In later life Ann Barton became a provisions dealer after her husband died.

On the other hand the 1861 census “Ann” is shown to come from Wigan, whereas Ann Barton consistently listed her birthplace as Skelmersdale which is some 10 miles or so from Wigan.