X00377 Richard Rothwell and the discover of Ellen Rothwell

I had posted previously about Richard Rothwell, born about 1855 and the challenge of finding out who his parents were (X00377). One of the noted next actions was to look for birth/baptism records for a Richard Rothwell, born about 1855 in Blackburn, Lancshire.

I could not find any Richard Rothwell baptisms in Blackburn in the years around 1855 and there are no Richard Rothwells in the GRO indexes registered in Blackburn from the years 1853 to 1857. There are some Richard Rothwells born in Haslingden in the time period, which could be possibilities, although none of them are born to a mother with a maiden name of Airey.

So, it would appear that either the name, birthdate and/or birth location are incorrect for Richard Rothwell, or the birth was not registered or not indexed properly. It also seems unlikely that Margaret Airey Rothwell was the mother, given that the date is likely before her marriage with James Rothwell; perhaps Richard was the son of James H.R. Rothwell with another woman (his marriage certificate liss his as a bachelor, so no indication of a previous marriage). Or perhaps the son of one of the other children of Henry and Alice Rothwell.

Current Possibilities:

• Richard Rothwell is the son of James H.R. Rothwell and a woman other than Margaret Airey
• Richard could be the child of an unmarried Rothwell daughter
• There could be an additional child of Henry and Alice Rothwell that I haven't yet discovered

Until I have more definite proof, I've marked Richard as unconnected in my tree until I have definite proof of who the parents might be.

Next steps:

• Continue to look for birth/baptism records for Richard Rothwell - Although there were no Blackburn birth records found, there were a few Richard Rothwells born in Haslingden
• Trace James H.R. Rothwell in later years (X00376)
• Look for Richard Rothwell in later census records, marriage or death records (note that he was alive in 1889)
• Trace other children of Henry and Alice Rothwell to see if that yields anything

On a side note, as I was trying to find a birth registration for Richard Rothwell, I did a search to find other births with the surname of Rothwell and a mother's maiden name of Airey. I did manage to find a birth registration for an Ellen Rothwell, daughter of James Rothwell and Margaret Airey, born 27 December 1857 in Blackburn.

Sadly, Ellen died six months later of congenital phthsis. This does, however give a little bit more information about James Rothwell and Margaret Airey (X00376).

On yet another side note, I did come across another birth record for a William Airey Rothwell, born 29 November 1856 in Haslingden, but the parents were John Rothwell and Elizabeth Airey. Not from the same family, but perhaps a distant connection.

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possibility * not registered * Not registered in blackburn * Indeexed incorrectly

X00380 Richard Rothwell EOL

I had posted earlier about X00372 where I found the parents of Henry Rothwell to be Richard and Mary Rothwell. I also found that Henry was born in 1811 in Haslingden, Lancashire. So, the next step was to see if I can find more info about the next generation.

I had a search through the Haslingden marriage records from that time period and managed to find a marriage record in Haslingden in 1803 for a Richard Rothwell and Mary Ratcliffe.

Interestingly enough, the marriage right below it on the page is between a Richard Rothwell and an Anne Kindle on the same day.

When I had been searching earlier I also found a death record record for a Richard Radcliffe Rothwell, an innkeeper who died in 1842 aged 50, which would suggest a birth year of about 1892. Far too young for it to be the same one, but it does suggest a connection between the Rothwell and Radcliffe families.

So, lots to investigate with my newly-found 5x great grandparents, Richard Rothwell (X00380) and Mary Ratcliffe (X00389). More to come.

X0293 How Did Percy Douglas lose his leg

Some time ago I posted aboux X00293 raising the question of how did Percy Douglas lose his leg. In the post I mentioned that the next steps would be to look for obituaries to see if any of them mentioned anything

I did manage to find obituaries for Percy Douglas in both the Owen Sound newspapers:

And the Kalamazoo newspapers:

Unfortunately, neither of them had anything to say about losing a leg. I have not been able to find any news articles or documents that say anything about a lost leg, other than the draft registration card. This one remains a mystery.

Profile: Henry Rothwell 1811-1875

Ancestor Profile: Henry Rothwell (1811–1875)

Birth & Early Life
Henry Rothwell was born on 1 August 1811 in the market town of Haslingden, nestled in the rolling hills of Lancashire, England. He was baptized just a few months later on 20 October 1811 at the local parish church, marking the beginning of a life deeply rooted in the industrial heart of northern England. He was the son of Richard and Mary Rothwell, whose own stories remain elusive in the historical record.

Marriage & Family
On 22 July 1833, Henry married Alice Hacking in Blackburn, Lancashire. Their union spanned over four decades and produced nine children:

• Nancy Rothwell (b. 1828)
• Richard Rothwell (c.1834–1844)
• James Hacking Ratcliffe Rothwell (b. 1835)
• Mary Rothwell (c.1836–1903)
• Henry Rothwell (c.1838–1840)
• Martha Alice Rothwell (1840–1899)
• Ellen Rothwell (1842–1844)
• Alice Ann Rothwell (1844–1872)
• Elizabeth Rothwell (b. 1846)

Their family life was marked by both joy and sorrow, with several children passing away young—a common tragedy in Victorian England.

Occupational Journey
Henry’s working life paints a vivid picture of the laboring class in 19th-century Lancashire. He held a variety of roles, each reflecting the gritty resilience of a man who adapted to the demands of a rapidly industrializing society:

• Horsekeeper & Ostler (1833–1836): Early records show Henry working with horses, a vital role in transportation and trade.
• Porter & Carter (1840s–1870s): He transitioned into roles involving the movement of goods, often recorded as a carter or porter in Blackburn.
• Labourer & Foundry Worker: By the 1860s, Henry was employed in a foundry, contributing to the industrial backbone of the region.

His residences—High Street, Back Lane, Salford, Ewood Bridge, Swarbrick Street, and Peter Street—map a life spent in the bustling neighborhoods of Blackburn.

Final Years & Death
Henry in a hotel in Blackpool, Lancashire on 25 July 1875 while vacationing there. The cause was broncho-pneumonia, a respiratory illness that claimed many lives in the era before antibiotics.

He was laid to rest on 28 July 1875 at Blackburn Cemetery, a final return to the town that had shaped his life.

Legacy
Henry Rothwell’s story is one of perseverance, family, and quiet strength. Through decades of hard labor and personal loss, he helped build the foundations of modern Blackburn. His descendants carry forward the legacy of a man who lived humbly but left a lasting mark.