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Thomas Shaw

1820 – ? (after 1901)
3rd Great-Grandfather

1820 – Birth of Thomas Shaw

Thomas Shaw was born at Gibson’s Farm in Nateby (nr Garstang) in 1820. He was youngest of two sons born to Thomas Shaw and Mary Bell. He had three older and two younger sisters.

He was baptised at St Helens, Churchtown (about 2 miles south of Garstang) on 19th November 1820.

1833 – Marriage of Brother, John Shaw

Thomas’ older brother John, was born circa 1810 married Ellen Goose of Barnacre at St Helen (Churchtown) on 31st December 1833.

1835 – Father’s Right to Vote

Whilst we knew Thomas’ father was a farmer, it was not initially clear which farm our branch farmed.

Recently, another source of information has come online which lists the persons in Nateby eligible to vote and most importantly, their farms.

Thomas also confirmed his place of birth as Gibson’s Farm when he was called to give a statement in court in 1863 – contested right of way.

Preston Herald – Saturday 11 July 1863

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001667/18630711/086/0007

Thomas Shaw farmed at Gibson’s Farm and either his brother or son, looks to have farmed at Brown’s Farm. Thomas Shaw Jnr’s future wife’s family are shown to be at Curwen’s Farm.

https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/series?xCenter=3189533.46261&yCenter=3074831.70019&scale=63360&viewScale=181417.4208&mapLayer=nineteenth&subLayer=first_edition&title=Ordnance%20Survey%20and%20Ordnance%20Survey%20of%20Scotland%20First%20Series&download=true

1839 – Death of Uncle, John Shaw

In trying to piece together this branch of the family, I obtained a couple of wills for Thomas and John Shaw of Nateby. Luckily this will did help piece together the family.

The will of John Shaw (1791 – 1839) mentioned a brother, Thomas, and a sister, Ann Seed. In the will, money was left to a nephew Robert Seed (a Robert Seed was working for Thomas Shaw at the time of 1841 Census and likely son of sister Ann Seed), a cousin Elizabeth Raby (records of a Mercer marrying an Elizabeth Raby – John’s mother was a Mercer) and a nephew John Shaw (believed to be John Shaw’s (1810-1841) – Thomas’ oldest son).

Most interestingly, John’s will also mentioned an illegitimate daughter Mary Winder born in 1817 who he had with Betty Turnbull. Mary married a Richard Winder and they had 11 children together. They named their first born son, John Shaw Winder (1845).

It appears from the parish records, John (1791-1839) and his wife, Hannah Cross, had a baby in 1802 but sadly he died in 1804. As far as we can tell, they had no more children – and would probably have been mentioned in his will if they were alive at time of his death.

1841 Census

Primrose Hill, Nateby, Garstang

Thomas (1820) was living at home with his parents, Thomas Shaw and Mary (nee Bell).

Source Citation 
Class: HO107; Piece: 495; Book: 13; Civil Parish: Garstang; County: Lancashire; Enumeration District: 10; Folio: 6; Page: 7; Line: 5; GSU roll: 306886
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/3264252:8978

1841 – Marriage & Death of Brother, John Shaw

John Shaw had three children with his first wife, Ellen Goose.

• Mary (1834-1843)
• John (1836-1901)
• Lucy (1837-1857)

Following Ellen’s death in 1838, John remarried a Jane Rawlinson of Kirkland on 5th Feb 1841 at St Helens (Churchtown).

Sadly, John and Jane had less than a year of married life together as John died in December that year. He was buried at St Helens (Churchtown) on 19th December 1841.

1842 – Death of Mother, Mary Shaw

Thomas’ mother, Mary, died on 25th August 1842 aged 58 years of age. Her death was registered by her husband who was present when she died. Her cause of death was recorded as “Decline”, most likely to be a failure to thrive.

She was buried at St Helen’s (Churchtown) on 28th August 1842.

1846 – Marriage to Elizabeth Swindlehurst

Thomas married Elizabeth Swindlehurst at The Parish Church, Garstang on 10th May 1846. Elizabeth was one of nine sons and daughters of William & Ann Swindlehurst who also farmed in Nateby (most likely, Curwen’s Farm).

Robert Swindlehurst and Henry Crane were witnesses on the day.

A little unusual as both families were residents for the parish church they married in, Thomas and Elizabeth were married by Licence instead of Banns.

There’s several reasons this could be down to. One is that they did not want the Banns read out in the parish church for three weeks.

The licence was granted 6 days before their wedding day so perhaps there was a need for speed. I haven’t discovered an earlier child being born before Mary Ann in mid-1847.

They may just wished to have shown family and neighbours that they could afford the licence to marry as was common in the 1800s.

1847 – Birth of daughter, Mary Ann Shaw

Their eldest daughter was Mary Ann born in 1847 and christened on 25 July 1847 at St Helen’s (Churchtown).

We struggled to track her down but it looks likely that she moved to Barrow with the family and married an Architect called Samuel Wood in Barrow-in-Furness. In 1871, they were living at 23 Paradise Street with their oldest child – Herbert Leslie aged 5 months. In 1881, they had moved to Great Yarmouth living at 31 Trafalgar Road with Herbert, Clifford, Florence and Harold – Harold being born in Great Yarmouth.

One more son was born in 1884, Samuel, and Samuel (snr) died in 1884.

Mary later remarried a Simon William Thomas on 7th April 1886 at The Parish Church in Great Yarmouth. Witnesses were Edward John Lupton and Louisa Godfrey. Mary’s father is recorded as Thomas Shaw, Farmer and both the bride and groom were widowed and residing in Caistor Street.

Mary died in December 1920 and was buried in Great Yarmouth on 1st Jan 1921.

1849 – Birth of son, Hugh Shaw

Hugh was the eldest son and was christened at St Helen’s (Churchtown) on 29 April 1849. He married Sarah Anne Marsh 26th August 1872 at St George, Barrow-in-Furness, witnessed by Thomas Park & Pamela Marsh (X).

They had eight children together before Sarah died in 1892.

• Clara Shaw (1892 – )
• Thomas Shaw (1874 – )
• William Shaw (1877 – ) died before 1881
• Emma Jane Shaw (1879 – )
• Sarah Ann Shaw (1881 – )
• William Henry Shaw (1884 – 1885)
• Herbert Shaw (1886 – )
• Edward Shaw (1888 – )

Hugh remarried Annie Richardson in 1896 in Barrow-in-Furness.

Hugh died in March 1928 aged 77 and is buried in Barrow Cemetery along side Annie who passed away in 1922.

1851 – Birth of daughter, Elizabeth Shaw

Elizabeth Shaw was born in 1851 and christened on 30th March 1851, born one month prior to the 1851 census.

Whilst we know she moved to Barrow-in-Furness, we don’t know anything about her after the 1861 Census – whether she married or when she died.

1851 Census

Nateby, Lancashire

Source Citation
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8860/images/LANHO107_2270_2270-0472 

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1853 – Birth of son, Thomas Shaw

Thomas Shaw was born on 23rd March 1853 and christened at St Helen (Churchtown) on 24th April 1853, six months or so before the death of the grandfather he was named after.

He married Isabella Thompson on 29th July at St George, Barrow-in-Furness and they had nine children together. All the children were born in Barrow-in-Furness except Hannah May who was born in Carnforth. This branch of the family were recorded as living in Carnforth on the 1901, 1911 and 1921 Census, although at the time of the 1939 Register was taken, Thomas had moved back to Barrow-in-Furness.

• Walter Shaw (1877 – 1979)
• Elizabeth Shaw (1879 – 1956)
• Thomas Shaw (1881 – )
• Ellen Shaw (1883 – )
• Jane Shaw (1886 – )
• William Shaw (1888 – )
• Isabella Briggs Shaw (1891 – 1931)
• John Edward Shaw (1893 – )
• Hannah May Shaw (1896 – )

Isabella died in December 1926 in Barrow and Thomas lived to the grand old age of 88 and passed away in 1941. They are buried together at Barrow Cemetery.

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1853 – Death of Father, Thomas Shaw

Thomas Shaw Snr died aged 73 in October 1853 (although his age was recorded as 71 on his death certificate). He was buried at St Helen, Garstang on 31st October 1853.

He did leave a will that stated he was a farmer in Nateby. He appointed his son, Thomas Shaw, and two sons-in-law, George Fisher and William as Trustees and Executors. He bequeathed his two grandchildren, son and daughter of his late son John, the sum of one pound to be paid to them when they turned 21. The executors were also requested to sell his household goods, Furniture, Farm husbandry Gear and Farming Stock into ready money. Any money arising from this to be split into six equal parts as follows

• Daughter Betty, the wife of George Fisher
• Daughter Mary, the wife of William Corless
• Daughter Ellen, the wife of William Seed
• Son, Thomas Shaw
• Daughter, Hannah Shaw
• Daughter, Sarah Shaw

Whereas my son-in-law, William Corless stated truly and firstly indebted to me in the sum of one hundred pounds for principal and interest up to the day of the date of this my will and it being my mind and will that the paid sum of one hundred pounds shaw be accounted for into my Executors for the purposes of this my will together with all interest that may become due in respect thereof shall be paid to my said Executors by the said William Corless and in case he shall refuse or neglect to do so, then in such case thereby revoke the bequest to my said daughter Mary, the wife of William Corless.

Will dated: 5th November 1849
Witnessed: John Dugdale & Thomas Noble
Value of Estate: under one thousand five hundred pounds

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1855 – Birth of son, William Shaw

My 2xGt Grandfather, William Shaw, was born in Nateby on 24th February 1855 and like his siblings, was christened at St Helen (Churchtown) on 25th March 1855.

He married Harriet Elizabeth Lewis (Elizabeth) on 4th June 1879 at St George’s, Barrow-in-Furness with Christopher G Braithwaite and Sarah Alice Shaw (William’s sister) as witnesses.

They had eight children and tragically, Elizabeth died after giving birth to William in 1893.

• Sarah Alice Shaw (1879 – 1944)
• John Shaw (1881 – 1961)
• Ellen Shaw (1882 – 1970)
• Hannah Shaw (1886 – 1943)
• Dinah Shaw (1887 – 1925)
• Elizabeth Shaw (1889 – 1979)
• Jane Shaw (1891 – 1930)
• William Shaw (1893 – 1934)

William was a widower since his wife died in child birth with last son William. Ellen and her sisters were still very young and he had worked digging gravel on the south end of Walney, coming home only at the weekend. The girls were left in the care of a succession of housekeepers, mostly not very good but according to family stories, he had amassed enough to give Ellen and his other daughters a deposit for a house and this is when they moved to Roose Road from Derby Street in the early thirties – a big improvement in living conditions for the remainder of the family left at home.

– thanks to Andrea Griffiths (nee Napier) for this information

William died aged 78 at 5 New Street, Barrow-in-Furness on 20th April 1933 – home of daughter Sarah Alice Robinson.

He was buried at Barrow Cemetery on 22nd April alongside his wife, Elizabeth.

Cemetery Info: Section 2: Plot 124

William did leave a will and probate was granted to Ellen Griffiths (nee Shaw formerly Jackson) and son-in-law, William Ayres.

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1857 – Birth of daughter, Catherine Shaw

Catherine Shaw was born in 1857 and christened on 29th March 1857 at St Helen (Churchtown). She was a dressmaker by trade.

She didn’t marry until she was nearly 40 – to George Gray in Dalton-in-Furness in 1896 and they didn’t have any children that we are aware of.

By 1901, George & Catherine had moved down to Derbyshire and her father, Thomas Shaw was living with them at the time. There is no trace of Thomas, Catherine or George after the 1901 Census.

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1859 – Birth of daughter, Sarah Alice Shaw

Sarah Alice was born in Claughton (nr Garstang) in 1859 – the only one to be born outside of Nateby! but she was still christened on 31st July 1859 at St Helen (Churchtown).

We don’t know what happened to Sarah after the 1871 census – did she marry … did she die young?

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1861 Census

Nateby, Lancashire

Source Citation
Class: Rg 9; Piece: 3153; Folio: 133; Page: 7; GSU roll: 543088
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/9724992:8767

1861 – Birth of daughter, Ellen Shaw

Ellen was born in Nateby in 1861, and baptised at St Helen, Churchtown on 11th August 1861.

At the time of the 1881 Census, she was a milliner by trade.

It appears Ellen died on 16th December 1882 aged 21. Not 100% sure this is our Ellen, but dates fits and she is no-where to be found after the 1881 census.

1863 – Birth of daughter, Hannah Shaw

The youngest of Thomas and Elizabeth’s children was Hannah. She was born in Nateby in 1863 and christened at St Helens (Churchtown) on 28th June 1863.

Shortly after her birth, the family uprooted from Nateby to Barrow-in-Furness.

Nothing more is known about her since the 1891 Census when she was living at home with father, Thomas, and sister, Catherine.

1871 Census

Salthouse Villas, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire

Source Citation
The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 4243; Folio: 113; Page: 12; GSU roll: 848078
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/25312348:7619

1881 Census

33 Carlisle Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire

Source Citation
Class: RG11; Piece: 4287; Folio: 36; Page: 65; GSU roll: 1342024
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/7572/images/LANRG11_4285_4289-0466

Modern Day view of the current 33 Carlisle Street (taken from Google Maps).

It was a very typical 2-up, 2-down terraced house – living conditions would have been very cramped with William, Elizabeth and baby, Sarah Alice Shaw, plus Thomas, Elizabeth three youngest daughters all living here together at the time. 7 adults and a baby.

1882 – Death of Daughter, Ellen Shaw

Ellen passed away aged just 21 years of age in Barrow.

1889 – Death of Wife, Elizabeth Shaw

Elizabeth died 17th August 1889 at 50 School Street in Barrow. She was 63 years old.

Elizabeth is buried at Barrow Cemetery in the same grave as her son Thomas Shaw and his wife, Isabella. No headstone was erected.

Cemetery Info: Section 1, Grave 1376.  
Grave is now classed as full and no headstone was erected.

1891 Census

50 School Street, Barrow-in-Furness

Source Citation
The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 3482; Folio: 121; Page: 33; GSU roll: 6098592
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/21449305:6598

Modern Day view of 50 School Street (from Google Maps). This was where Elizabeth Shaw died in 1889 and at the time of this 1891 census, just Thomas and two of his daughters were living here.

1901 Census

1 Holt Villas, London Road, Alvaston, Derbyshire

Source Citation
Class: RG13; Piece: 3207; Folio: 63; Page: 7
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/18891299:7814

It’s been difficult to track down Holt Villas, but it look likely it was the main A6 (London Road) heading through Alvaston. Holt Villas appears to be a block of houses, more or less opposite Spencer Street.

Again, photo thanks to Google Maps.

Sources

Ancestry
Barrow Cemetery Office
British Newspapers Archive
Find My Past
GRO

Photos:
Photos of houses are screenshotted from Google Maps

Websites:
https://www.achurchnearyou.com
https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps

About Post Author

Karen

https://hweb.uk

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