X00385 & X00386: John Whittle and Ellen Ainsworth Death information

Having done some research on the Taylor family and found more information about Jane Whittle, my 4x great-grandmother, I'm now looking into finding out more about her parents, John Whittle (X00385) and Ellen Ainsworth (X00386).

I had found the two of them in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census records, but hadn't found anything beyond that. So I went back to the 1861 census records. Here is the family in the 1861 census, living at 49 Forrest Street, Blackburn, Lancashire [D01609].

So, next, I had a look to see if I could find the couple in the 1871 census. I did manage to find Ellen (Ainsworth) Whittle living with her son Thomas at 48 Ordnance Street, Blackburn [D09345].

In the 1871 census, Ellen Whittle is listed as being a widow, so John Whittle must have died between 1861 and 1871.

So, I had a look at the death records between 1861 and 1871 and found a death record for a John Whittle who died 1 July 1868 in Blackburn [D09347]

There are a number of clues that suggest this is the correct John Whittle. The age, location and profession all match. The informant name of Joseph Whittle is likely their son Joseph Whittle. But most importantly, the address of 49 Forrest Street matches the family's address in the 1861 census. So I'm confident that this is the correct death record for John Whittle.

I next looked into the information for Ellen Ainsworth Whittle. I first had a look for her in the 1881 census but could not find her either alone or living with any of the family members, so it is very likely that she died between 1871 and 1881. I managed to find this death record for an Ellen Whittle who died 3 November 1874 in Blackburn [D09346]:

Like the previous record, the age and location match, and she is listed as being the widow of a John Whittle. But the deciding piece of information is the informant, a Thomas Whittle who resided at 48 Ordnance Street in Blackburn, the same residence that the family was living at in the 1871 census. So, I'm confident that this is also the correct death record.

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Sources:
[D01609] 1861 census of England, Blackburn, Lancashire, folio 127, page 30; digital images(accessed 21 Feb 2025); citing PRO RG 9/3100.

[D09345] 1871 census of England, Blackburn, folio 79, page 32, 146; digital images, Ancestry.ca, Ancestry.ca (accessed 27 Aug 2025); citing PRO RG 10/4177.

[D09346] England and Wales, death certificate for Ellen Whittle, died 3 November 1874; citing 8e/263/532, Q4 quarter 1874, Blackburn registration district, Blackburn sub-district; General Register Office, Southport.

[D09347] England and Wales, death certificate for John Whittle, died 1 July 1868; citing 8e/212/173, Q3 quarter 1868, Blackburn registration district, Blackburn sub-district; General Register Office, Southport.

A Mysterious Cluster of Loss: Taylor Family Deaths in Blackburn, 1861

While researching the Taylor family of Blackburn, Lancashire, I stumbled upon a striking and somber detail: three members of the same household died within months of each other in 1861.

• John Taylor, my 4× great-grandfather, passed away on 20 March 1861
• Jane Whittle Taylor, his wife and my 4× great-grandmother, died on 25 June 1861
• Thomas Taylor, their child, died just days later on 1 July 1861

Whenever I encounter multiple deaths in a family within a short span, I can’t help but wonder - was there an underlying cause? An outbreak? A shared vulnerability? Something more than coincidence?

I obtained the death records for all three, and here’s what they revealed:

• John Taylor – Influenza
• Jane Whittle Taylor – Bronchial phthisis and pleuritis
• Thomas Taylor – Asthenia

At first glance, these appear to be unrelated conditions. Influenza is viral, while bronchial phthisis (often associated with tuberculosis) is bacterial. Asthenia, meanwhile, is a term for general physical weakness. But all three illnesses affect the respiratory system and can be interlinked in subtle ways. Prolonged influenza can weaken the lungs and immune system, potentially leading to bronchial phthisis. Asthenia may result from either condition—or make someone more susceptible to them.

Disease and Hardship in 1860s Lancashire
The 1860s were a turbulent time for public health in industrial England, especially in densely populated areas like Blackburn. The rapid growth of towns during the Industrial Revolution brought overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited access to medical care—perfect conditions for disease to spread.

Several illnesses were rampant during this period:

• Influenza outbreaks were common and often severe. Without vaccines or antiviral treatments, even seasonal flu could be deadly, especially for the elderly or those with underlying conditions.
• Tuberculosis (phthisis) was one of the leading causes of death. It spread easily in cramped living conditions and could linger for years, slowly weakening its victims.
• Typhus and typhoid fever also struck hard, particularly in 1862 when Preston—just a short distance from Blackburn—experienced a major typhus outbreak amid the Lancashire Cotton Famine.
• Asthenia, though a vague diagnosis by today’s standards, often reflected the debilitating effects of chronic illness, malnutrition, or systemic infection.

Medical understanding was still in its infancy. Germ theory hadn’t yet gained full acceptance, and treatments were rudimentary at best. Temporary fever hospitals were erected during outbreaks, but even medical staff were at high risk—one account from Preston describes a typhus outbreak where the medical officer and 16 nurses died from the disease.

In this context, the deaths of John, Jane, and Thomas Taylor in 1861 may well have been part of a broader wave of illness sweeping through Lancashire. Whether it was a household outbreak of influenza that triggered complications, or a convergence of separate but related conditions, the tragedy reflects the vulnerability of families during this era. We may never know for certain what happened. But moments like this remind me how fragile life was in the 19th century—and how much we can learn by looking beyond the names and dates to the stories hidden in the records.

X00382 James-Betty-Charlotte Taylor Connection - Solved!

James Taylor (1845-1893) is my third great grandfather. He died on 17 April 1893 in Blackburn, Lancashire England. A hint came up in Ancestry referring me to a burial record through deceased online.

In the record, there is a James Taylor buried in Blackburn Cemetery 20 April 1893, so that definitely fits the time period for a death of 17 April 1893.

But now we have an interesting research question - who are the other three people who are buried in the same location? There's a Charlotte Taylor who died 1904, a Betty Taylor who died 1901 and another James Taylor who died in 1899. None of these names or dates match the Taylors in my tree.

So, I decided to get the full burial records for each of them. The first thing that I found was that the James Taylor was not my thrid great grandfather:

This James Taylor was age one when he died and was the sone of James and Betty Taylor. James Taylor is certainly not an uncommon name, but it looks as if there were two James Taylors who died around the same time in Blackburn.

When I look at the burial records and ages for the individuals on this burial record, here is what we have:

• Charlotte Taylor - ca. 1881 - 1904, saughter of James and Betty Taylor
• Betty Taylor - ca. 1852 - 1901. rel. of James Taylor
• James Taylor - ca. 1855 - 1899, husband of Betty
• James Taylor - ca. 1892 - 1893, son of James and Betty Taylor

So, there we have the full details for the four of them. James and Betty are the parents and two of their children are Charlotte and James. None of these names or dates match with my tree. I did have a look to see if I could find more about this family. According to the marriage record, James Taylor's father is named John (same as my ancestor) but it looks like a different familyl completely. So at this point, I am concluding that there is no clear connection to my familiy and this one.

Profile: Mary Alice Taylor Lee

Ancestor Profile: Mary Alice Taylor Lee (1867–1938)
Born into the heart of industrial Lancashire, Mary Alice Taylor Lee lived a life woven into the fabric of Blackburn’s working-class history. Her story is one of resilience, family, and quiet strength—an enduring legacy that echoes through generations.

Early Life
Mary Alice Taylor was born on January 7, 1867, in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. She was baptized just weeks later on January 27 at a Church of England parish in Blackburn. Her parents were James Taylor (1845–1893) and Alice Ann Rothwell (1844–1872).

In the 1871 census, Mary is listed as a scholar living at 42 Milham Street. Her mother’s death in 1872 likely had a profound impact on her early life.

Working Years
Mary entered the workforce early, appearing in the 1881 census as a cotton weaver residing at 11 New Mill Street. She continued this occupation through the 1891 census, where she was listed as a lodger at 133 Cleaver Street, living with her sister and brother-in-law.

By 1901, she lived at 57 Moss Street, and in 1911, she was still working as a weaver. The 1921 census shows a shift—her occupation is listed as home duties, and she resided at 9 Progress Street.

Marriage & Family
Mary married Thomas Lee (circa 1866–circa 1946) on August 8, 1891, at St. Michael and All Angels Church in Blackburn. Together, they had four children:

• Eliza Alice Lee (b. circa 1893)
• James Lee (b. circa 1895)
• Clara Lee (b. circa 1902)
• Robert Lee (b. circa 1903)

Final Years & Legacy
Mary passed away on November 17, 1938, at 42 Derby Street, Blackburn. Her cause of death was listed as cerebral haemorrhage and bronchitis. She was buried on November 22 at Blackburn Cemetery.

Her life—documented through birth, marriage, death certificates, and census records—offers a vivid portrait of a woman who weathered the challenges of industrial England, raised a family, and contributed to the legacy of a town built on labor and love.

Source Citations

• Birth Certificate: England and Wales, GRO Southport
• Baptism Record: Church of England, Blackburn
• Marriage Record: St. Michael and All Angels, Blackburn
• Death Certificate: England and Wales, GRO Southport
• Burial Record: Deceased Online
• Census Records: 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921
• Father's Baptism & Census: 1851, 1861
• Mother's Birth Certificate: GRO Southport

Uncovering Mary Alice Taylor: A Hidden Branch of My Family Tree

As I delve deeper into the Rothwell family line, I’ve found myself drawn into the lives of their extended family - the Taylors. One name in particular stood out: Mary Alice Taylor, my second great grand aunt. She was the daughter of James Taylor and Alice Ann Rothwell, and sister to Jane Taylor (Place), my second great grandmother. Yet, despite her close familial ties, Mary Alice remained something of a mystery in my research.

What I Knew
From census records, I knew that Mary Alice was born around 1867 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. She appears consistently in household records through the 1891 census, living with her family. But I hadn't found anything beyond the 1891 census.

A Hint from Ancestry
Ancestry.com offered a possible clue: a marriage to a Thomas Lee around 1891. Intrigued, I began to investigate.

Sure enough, I found a marriage record dated 8 August 1891 in Blackburn between a Thomas Lee and a Mary Alice Taylor. At first glance, it seemed promising. The bride’s father was listed as James Taylor — a match. But then came a snag: his occupation was recorded as beer seller, whereas in every other record I’ve found, James Taylor is consistently listed as a striker for a blacksmith.

This discrepancy gave me pause. Could this be a different Mary Alice Taylor?

The Clue That Confirmed It
Then I noticed something compelling: Mary Alice’s address on the marriage record was 133 Cleaver Street, Blackburn. That’s the exact same address where she was living during the 1891 census—with her sister Jane and her family.

That detail sealed it for me. Despite the occupational mismatch, the address provides strong evidence that this is indeed my Mary Alice Taylor.

What’s Next?
This discovery opens up a new chapter in Mary Alice’s life—one that I hadn’t previously documented. It also raises new questions: Did James Taylor briefly work as a beer seller? Was this a clerical error? Or perhaps a side occupation not captured in other records?

That’s a research thread I’ll follow another day. For now, I’m thrilled to have reconnected with Mary Alice and added another piece to the puzzle of my family’s story.