X00392 Eleanor Westwell after 1882 - solved!

In an earlier post, I shared that I had been able to follow Eleanor Westwell’s trail only up to 1882, when she appeared as a witness at the marriage of Lawrence Ashton and Mary Ann Westwell. After that, she seemed to vanish from the records, and I wasn’t sure what became of her.

Some time ago, I came across a possible lead: an 1883 marriage entry for an Eleanor Westwell. I ordered the certificate, hoping it might finally shed light on her fate. When it arrived, the details aligned so neatly that it became clear I had indeed found the same Eleanor.

The marriage took place on 25 December 1883 between Edwin Hill and Eleanor Westwell. Several key pieces of information confirmed her identity:

• Eleanor is recorded as 18 years old, matching a birth year of 1865.
• Her occupation is listed as cotton weaver, consistent with earlier records for “my” Eleanor.
• Most importantly, her father is named as Robert Westwell, a cotton spinner - a perfect match.

With these points lining up, I’m confident this marriage record belongs to the Eleanor I had been tracing.

Once this connection was made, the rest of her story came together more easily. Eleanor and her husband Edwin appear in later census records, continuing to live in Blackburn, Lancashire, where she spent her entire life. The couple had at least one child, John Robert Hill, born around 1886.

Eleanor Westwell Hill died on 25 December 1937 at the age of 72, her cause of death recorded as myocardial degeneration.

It’s satisfying to finally follow Eleanor’s life beyond that 1882 marriage entry and to restore her place in the family’s story.

Death dates for John Westwell and Ann Ashworth - Part 3

In the previous two weeks, I have talked about finding the death information for my 4x Great-grandparents, John Westwell and Ann Ashworth Westwell and how the burial record for Elijah Westwell also showed the two of them buried in the same plot:

The question then remains, who are the other two names in the plot: Alice Westwell (died 1904) and Ethel Lomax (died 1905)?

Finding Alice Westwell (died 1904) was a little easier; the burial record for her lists her age at death of 53 years and describes her as the wife of John Westwell. Doing a little more research, I was able to place her as Alice Butterworth, 1850-1904, the wife of John Thomas Westwell, son of John and Ann.

Finding Ethel Lomax was a little bit more challenging. Her burial record puts her age at death as two years and and describes her as the daughter of "George Edward and Maggie".

A little bit more research and I was able to find a marriage record between a George Edward Lomax and a Margaret Ann Westwell, daughter of John Thomas Westwell.

So, it all fits with the rest of the Westwell family.

Death dates for John Westwell and Ann Ashworth - Part 2

Last week I talked about how I managed to find the death information for John Westwell. Next on the list is to find the death information for Ann Ashworth Westwell.

As mentioned last week, we know that Ann Ashworth Westwell died after 1891, and we managed to find a burial record for the Westwell family:

This record shows an Ann Westwell who was buried 12 January 1894 in Blackburn, Lancashire. I managed to find a corresponding death record for an Ann Westwell who died 9 January 1894, widow of a John Westwell, a cotton spinner

So, all looks good, except for one slight problem - the age at death. The age of death is given as 75 years, which would correspond to a birth year of about 1819, much later than the expected birth year of about 1811.

So I had a look at the informant, a Thomas Harrison, son-in-law and that checks out because Ann's daughter Mary married a Thomas Harrison. So it would appear that this is the correct record and that the age given for the death record might be inaccurate.

Death dates for John Westwell and Ann Ashworth - Part 1

John Westwell and Ann Ashworth are my 4x Great-grandparents. They were married 26 February 1832 in Blackburn, Lancashire. John Westwell was born around 1809 and Ann Ashworth was born around 1811.

I've been trying to find their dates of death and death information. John appears in the 1871 census and I have found Ann in the 1891 census living with her daughter and son-in-law and is listed as a widow, so John would have died between 1871 and 1891 and Ann would have died after 1891. I wasn't able to find either of them in the 1881 census to narrow the time down further.

I first had a look at John Westwell. Unfortunately, John Westwell is not an uncommon name, and the twenty year span from 1871 to 1891 is tough to narrow down. But looking at Blackburn in particular as a location, I was able to narrow the death record possibilities to two names:

The first was a John Westwell who died in Clayton-Le-Moors, Lancashire, 1 December 1880, aged 82.

This would have put his birth year about 1798 and his profession was listed as a stone mason, which doesn't quite fit, when every other record that I have found lists him as either a cotton spinner or cotton piecer.

The second option was a John Westwell who died 20 January 1874 in Blackburn, aged 63 and is listed as a cotton piecer:

As well, the informant is an Ann Westwell, which also fits. The age is off a bit, suggesting a year of birth of 1811, rathern than 1809, however the rest of the rest of the information matches

I had set aside this query for a while, but when I was gathering information on another member of the Westwell family, Elijah Westwell I found some more information. I managed to find Elijah Westwell's burial record, and then checked the other names of individuals buried in the same plot

In the same plot as Elijah, is a John Westwell who was buried 24 January 1874, and looking at the full burial record it appears to be the same John Westwell as in the second option - the one who died 20 January 1874. So, I'm confident in determining that this is the correct death record for John Westwell.

Benjamin Westwell Death information

Benjamin Westwell is the second son of John Westwell and Ann Ashworth, my 4xGreat Grandparents. I'm trying to sort out the information about the Westwell family and one of the pieces of information I'm looking to find out is when he died.

I managed to find a death record that matches with a death date of 23 November 1859:

The age, location, residence and profession all match. Unfortunately, the informant doesn't give us a definite piece of evidence - it was likely a neighbour.

I did also find a burial record for the same Benjamin Westwell that also notes that he is the son of John Westwell.

With that, I am confident that this is the correct Benjamin Westwell.

Interestingly enough, I found this news article from the Preston Chronicle, dates 24 November 1860, almost exactly one year later:

The article talks about a Benjamin Westwell, from Blackburn who would have died 19 November 1860. Unfortunately, I can't find any other evidence of the 1860 death - not in any other newspaper articles. There are no other Benjamin Westwells in the GRO death indexes for 1860. There is a Benjamin Westell, who died in the 4th quarter of 1860 in Blackburn, age 58, so perhaps that could be it and there is a spelling mistake somewhere - either with the news article or death indexes. Either way, it would appear that there are two different Benjamin Westwells who died almost exactly a year apart, but the Benjamin Westwell in the news article is not the same one.

X00169 Robert Westwell in 1865 news article - Solved!

A number of years ago I was searching through some online newspapers searchinf for ancestors. I did a search for Robert Westwell and came across this article in the The Times, dated 17 November 1865

The article talks about properties being sold in Blackburn on Cleaver Street and Larkhall Street and names Robert Westwell as one of the current occupants and I had wondered if this was the same Robert Westwell as mine.

Looking at the information that I have now, I can see that Robert Westwell was living on Audley Lane in March of 1865 and not on either of the streets mentioned in the article.

It is entirely plausible that he could have moved around from place to place - after all, he was 26 years old in 1865 and did move around quite a bit from the looks of it. But based on the evidence that I have, I don't have enough to conclude that the Robert Westwell in the article is the same one.

X00393 What happened to Robert Westwell (b. 1868) after 1891 - Research Strategy

What Happened to Robert Westwell After 1891?

A Research Plan for Tracing a Missing Lancashire Soldier

Every family historian eventually meets an ancestor who simply slips out of the records. For me, one of those people is Robert Westwell, born in 1868 in Blackburn, Lancashire, and last seen in the 1891 census, where he appears as a soldier living at 30 Riley Street. After that, he vanishes from the usual civil sources. No marriage. No death. No obvious emigration. Nothing.

When an ancestor disappears just as they reach adulthood, it’s often a sign that their life took a turn that doesn’t leave a straightforward paper trail. In Robert’s case, the clue is right there in the census: soldier. That single word opens up a whole new set of research avenues.

This is the research plan I’m using to uncover what happened to him.

1. Start With the 1891 Census Military Clue

The 1891 census lists Robert as a soldier, but doesn’t name his regiment. Identifying that regiment is the key that unlocks everything else.

My next steps

• Re‑examine the census page: Look closely for marginal notes, depot names, or other soldiers whose regiments can be identified.
• Study local military context: Research which regiments were recruiting or stationed in Blackburn in the late 1880s and early 1890s.
• Check newspapers: Look for enlistment notices or lists of local men joining specific battalions.

If I can determine his regiment, I can follow him through muster rolls, overseas postings, and service records.

2. Search British Army Service Records (1870–1920)

Men born in the late 1860s often served under terms such as 7 years active plus 5 years reserve, 12 years regular service, or militia service before or after regular enlistment.

Record sets to explore

• WO 97: Chelsea Pensioners (soldiers discharged to pension before 1913).
• WO 96: Militia attestation papers.
• WO 363 / WO 364: First World War service records (in case Robert lived long enough to serve again).
• Regimental muster rolls: Series WO 12 and WO 16, which track movements and postings.

Search tips

• Use surname variants: Westwell, Westwall, Westwill, Westall, Wesdell.
• Leverage birthplace fields: Search for Blackburn, Lancashire, or simply “Lancs” when available.

These records often include physical descriptions, next of kin, overseas service, and discharge details — all invaluable for tracking a man who moved frequently.

3. Investigate Overseas Military Service

If Robert continued in the army, he may have served abroad. Men of his age were commonly posted to India, South Africa, Egypt or Sudan, Malta, Gibraltar, or Ireland.

Records to check

• Boer War medal rolls (1899–1902): In case he served in South Africa.
• India General Service Medal rolls: If his regiment was posted to India.
• Regimental casualty lists: To identify those wounded or killed in action.
• British Army overseas death indexes: For deaths registered outside England and Wales.

If he died abroad, his death may not appear in English civil registration indexes at all.

4. Look for a Military Death or Burial

If Robert died while serving, several specific types of records might preserve his story.

Key record types

• British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects: Often list next of kin and place of death.
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths (GRO): Index entries for deaths occurring abroad.
• Regimental burial registers: For men buried on overseas stations or garrison cemeteries.
• Local memorials: Occasionally, pre–First World War conflicts are commemorated on town or church memorials.

These records can not only confirm a death but also tie Robert to specific campaigns or locations.

5. Consider Emigration After Military Service

Many Lancashire men emigrated after completing their army service, taking the skills and experience they gained into civilian life overseas.

Where to look

• Passenger lists: Ships bound for Canada, the United States, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
• Naturalization records: In countries where he may have settled permanently.
• Overseas marriages and deaths: Civil registrations outside England and Wales.

It’s entirely possible that Robert left no further English records because he started a new life somewhere else.

6. Search for a Marriage or Civilian Life After Discharge

If Robert survived his army service and returned to civilian life in Britain, he may reappear in more familiar sources.

Records to revisit

• Marriage indexes and certificates: Look for a groom named Robert Westwell of the right age.
• Parish registers: Especially in Blackburn and surrounding Lancashire parishes.
• Electoral rolls: After 1918, as suffrage expanded.
• The 1939 Register: If he lived into the Second World War period.

When examining marriage entries, I’ll pay special attention to the name and occupation of the bridegroom’s father, looking for a match to Robert’s known father, also named Robert Westwell.

7. Explore Local Newspapers

Newspapers can be the missing link for soldiers whose official records are thin or incomplete.

What I’ll be looking for

• Enlistment announcements: Notices of local men joining a regiment.
• Service reports: Mentions of Blackburn men serving overseas.
• Injury or death reports: Articles about casualties from the town.
• Desertion or court‑martial notices: Rare, but occasionally reported.
• Homecoming stories: Soldiers returning after campaigns.

Useful search terms will include “Westwell Blackburn soldier”, “Private Westwell”, and “R. Westwell Blackburn”.

8. Use DNA as a Long‑Term Strategy

If the paper trail remains stubbornly cold, DNA might still tell part of Robert’s story.

What DNA might reveal

• Descendants overseas: Indicating emigration after military service.
• A second family: Children born in a different region or country.
• Surname changes or variations: Explaining why documentary searches fail.
• Clusters of matches: Pointing to a geographic area where Robert (or his descendants) may have settled.

DNA is a long‑term, collaborative approach, but it can sometimes answer the questions the records cannot.

9. Re‑evaluate All Known Records

Before drawing any conclusions, it’s always worth revisiting the records I already hold for Robert and his family.

Records to review

• Robert’s baptism and birth records: Double‑check all details and any marginal notes.
• All census entries: Look again for neighbours, lodgers, or notes that might hint at military connections.
• His parents’ records: Wills, burials, or obituaries that might refer to a son “serving abroad” or “deceased”.
• His siblings’ lives: Marriage records or obituaries sometimes mention brothers and their whereabouts.

Sometimes the clue we need is already in our files, waiting to be noticed.

Final Thoughts

Robert Westwell’s disappearance after 1891 isn’t unusual for a young man in military service. Soldiers moved constantly, served overseas, and sometimes died far from home. But the combination of military records, newspapers, and emigration sources gives us a strong chance of discovering his fate.

This research plan lays out the path forward — and with a bit of luck, one of these avenues will finally reveal what became of Robert after he left Blackburn behind.