I am interested the Billingham family who were whipmakers. Thought to be always from Manchester, I believe they actually migrated from Daventry via Birmingham in the early 1800's. In particular I'm looking for Thomas and Lydia Billingham and birth information on a son, Abraham (my ggreat grandfather).
You probably have all of this but just in case Groom Thomas BILLINGHAM, Bachelor, of Daventry - made his mark Bride Lidia WILLOUGHBY, Spinster, of Daventry - made her mark Marriage 05 Jan 1809 Holy Cross, Daventry, Northamptonshire Witnesses Joseph PEBODY and Sarah HICKMAN Married after Banns. Register Number 346 Children of Thomas and Lydia BILLINGHAM. All baptised at Holy Cross, Daventry, Northamptonshire Maria DOB. 03 Sep 1809 Bap. 28 Sep 1809 Father Occupation, Whip-maker Jane DOB. 10 Oct 1810 Bap. 27 Dec 1810 Father Occupation, Labourer (?) Elizabeth Bap. 08 Jun 1813 Father Occupation, Whip-maker Mary Ann Baptism 07 Jun 1814 Register Number 146 Father Occupation, Whip-maker Could this be the baptism registration of Lydia Lyddia WILLOUGHBY DOB. 12 Mar 1786 Bap. 26 Dec 1786 Holy Cross, Daventry, Northamptonshire Father Jno. Mother Jane If it is then Lydia would have been 22 years old when she married Thomas. I'm unable to find a baptism for an Abraham with parents Thomas and Lydia. I have found 2 others, one born around the same time and one born much later than these children. Abraham Billingham christening: 23 August 1818 Litchborough, Northamptonshire father: Joseph Billingham mother: Ann Billingham Abraham Billingham christening: 1 July 1845 Daventry, Northamptonshire father: Samuel Billingham mother: Maria There is a baptism in Birmingham with parents Thomas and Lydia BILLINGHAM John BILLINGHAM DOB, 16 February 1816 Bap. 25 February 1817 St. Martin's, Birmingham, Warwickshire Father Thomas Mother Lydia If this is the same family it means they left Daventry sometime between the Bap. of Mary Ann in 1814 and the Bap. of John in 1817.
1841 census, Silver St Manchester. Elizabeth Billingham 55, born Lancashire Abraham Billingham 21, Whip Maker, born Lancashire HO107; 571/4/6/7
Marriage, Dec 25th 1844 at Manchester Cathedral. Abraham Billingham full age, bachelor, Whip Maker, 14, Silver St, father Thomas (Whip Maker) Rosannah Harrison, full age, spinster, 20, Silver St, father William (Roller Maker)
As you can see from post #2 Jane's father is entered as a Labourer even though on the previous and all subsequent baptisms he is a Whip maker. The posts #3 and #4 by Moo () Abraham is a Whip maker. On the baptism of Abraham and Rosanna's son in 1849 Abraham is entered as a Labourer. William Edward BILLINGHAM Born: 24 Mar 1849, Silver Street Baptism: 18 Apr 1849 St Simon and St Jude, Manchester, Lancashire Father Abraham, Labourer Mother Rosannah Baptised by: John Bywater Register: Baptisms 1842 - 1849, Page 188, Entry 1502
Marriage Manchester Cathedral, 10th Sept 1828. Thomas Billingham widower, Whip Maker, to Elizabeth Campbell, spinster.
There is a burial for Lydia BILLINGHAM in 1826 in Chorlton Upon Medlock, Manchester. I do not have full access to see the complete date.
Abraham and Rosannah are on various censuses, if you don't have them BrollyLady do say and details can be posted.
Wow. You've all been so busy. Thank you. I was a little doubtful I was on the right track (wouldn't be the first time I've run up a wrong branch). Lydia has been hunch on my part because her age has been questionable, married at 22 but supposedly 36 when she was buried in 1826? And I still can't prove her link to Abraham. Abraham has been inconsistent with his age and name (Billingham/Billington) despite being able to write. He claims to have been born in Manchester about 1818 -1821 but I can't find a record of baptism. As for the sisters, I found two possible marriage records where the name used is Bellingham. Whip making seems to be the only consistent link between them. There is also another, Joseph born about 1823 and died 1827 in Liverpool. Again I can not find a baptism record but the link is his father Thomas, who was a Whip maker. Oh Boy!! I would appreciate any suggestions as to where to look next.
Hi there BrollyLady, It might be worth whizzing off an email to one of our linked Family History Societies - the Manchester and Lancashire - to see if they can point you in the direction of any will that Thomas might have left. With any luck, it might name his children as well as his widow.
The burial record for Joseph BILLINGHAM appears in Ancestry's Non-conformist registers and took place at the Necropolis Burial Ground, Everton on 1 July 1827 son of Thos & Elizh of Duncan St, aged 4 and cause of death was "Accident" - just in case you do not have full details. The actual marriage record of Thomas BILLINGHAM, widower, Whip Maker & Elizabeth CAMPBELL, spinster, both of the parish, shows that it took place on 10 September 1826 at Manchester Cathedral. I checked the marriage date because of the burial record of Joseph which showed the parents to be Thomas & Elizabeth in 1827. Janet
There is also a marriage at Manchester Cathedral on 18 October 1836 between John BILLINGHAM, bachelor, Whip Maker & Elizabeth WILES, spinster, both of the parish. Could he be the son of Thomas & Lydia?? Full details of the marriage of Maria BELLINGHAM at Manchester St John on 1 September 1839, she being shown as a spinster of full age, father Thomas BELLINGHAM, Whip Maker, to George WARBURTON, full age, widower, can't read his occupation, father Joseph WARBURTON, Coach Maker. Janet
Just had to look at the occ. of George Warburton, seems to be 'reed maker' yet on 1851-1861 he is a wood turner. Perhaps the reeds were as for musical wind intruments such as pipes or the time.
Reedmaker: 1) Made weaving reeds - a reed is a comb-like device for 'beating' the weft thread into place as it is passed by the shuttle, the warp threads passing between the teeth of the reed 2) Made reeds or pipes for musical instruments 3) Made reed cloth 4) Made tapestry combs (Source: Index of Old Occupations)
We must be on the same wave length, I spent an hour checking out their website last night and decided to make contact with them after the holidays.
I checked out the MLFHS last night and they had a list of reed makers for the Manchester area and George was on there. The reeds are part of the looms used for weaving.
There must be something in the wind! Last night I got an email from John and Elizabeth's gggranddaughter so hopefully she can help with my queries and I can help her with hers.
This is one of the reasons for my discontent, Elizabeth is stated as Joseph's mother when he died in 1827 aged 4 and Elizabeth is listed as Abraham's mother in the 1841 census. My instincts tell me Thomas was bitter about Lydia's early death and to ensure the children's acceptance of Elizabeth, he refused to acknowledge Lydia's existence. Unfortunately I can't find a certificate to prove it!!
