Martha Stopforth (1834-1906)

My great grandmother, Ellen Ruddock (ne� Hesketh) is burried at Newburgh in the grave of Martha Stopforth (ne� Abram). The inscription reads:

Yet her husband Edward is not mentioned as burried here. My first theory was that Martha was a Hesketh, perhaps my great grandmother's aunt. On looking at the 1881 census I found that Martha was Edward Stopforth's 2nd wife:

Dwelling: Newburgh
Census Place: Lathom, Lancashire, England
Source: FHL Film 1341899 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 3756 Folio 59 Page 8
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Martha STOPFORTH M 50 F Newburgh, Lancashire, England
Rel: Head
Occ: Boatmans Wife
Margery STOPFORTH U 18 F Newburgh, Lancashire, England
Rel: Step Daur
Occ: Barge Assistant
Jane STOPFORTH 10 F Newburgh, Lancashire, England
Rel: Step Daur
Occ: Scholar
Mary STOPFORTH 8 F Newburgh, Lancashire, England
Rel: Step Daur
Occ: Scholar

I found her husband and his sons on their canal boat:

Dwelling: Canal Boat Walter
Census Place: Kirkdale, Lancashire, England
Source: FHL Film 1341882 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 3685 Folio 69 Page 2
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Edward STOPFORTH M 44 M Newbrough, Lancashire, England
Rel: (Head)
Occ: Master
Thomas STOPFORTH 15 M Newbrough, Lancashire, England
Rel: Son
Occ: (...)
Ralph STOPFORTH 13 M Newbrough, Lancashire, England
Rel: Son

Edward would probably have been ferrying Coal from Wigan to the canal side Factories such as Tate & Lyle, which was in Kirkdale. Curious coincidence that my great grandmother Ellen Hesketh married Thomas Ruddock at St. Mary's Church, Kirkdale (1906). Another interesting point is that Ellen had a younger brother called Ralph Hesketh who was brought up with my grandfather and one of the Stopforth boys is also called Ralph.

On a chance meeting of my parents with Ralph Hesketh's son, he was able to tell them that his grandmother's name was Margery Hesketh which seems to fit the Margery Stopforth on the 1881 census who has a borther called Ralph. It's logical that she would name a son after her brother. This would mean that the relationship between Martha Stopforth and my great grandmother is that she was my great grandmother's step-grandmother.

Margery Stopforth b.1863

Therefore, Margery Stopforth is my great great grandmother.

Edward Stopforth b. 1837

And Edward Stopforth is my ggg grandfather.

Stopforth Marriages

According to Robert Cheetham Houghton in his book "Burscough Boatmen, their Marriages & their Boats", many boatmen took advantage of the time their boats were moored in Liverpool docks, unloading coal from the Wigan coalfields at the different factories, to get married. They usually chose St Nicholas (known as the "Sailor's Church") in Chapel Street, just by the Pier Head.

I have found two marriages for Edward Stopforth at this Church:

Edward Stopforth married Martha Abram on 10th October 1877

This is later than his youngest child from his first marriage.

Edward Stopforth married Ellen Atherton on 19th July 1858

This is earler than the date of the eldest child living with the family in 1881. So they seem to fit. I also found a christening which may be of an elder son than those living at home in 1881 who, either died as a child or had left home by this time:

Edward Stopforth christened on 13th July 1862 at Maghull, Lancashire.
Father: Edward Stopforth
Mother: Ellen

Robert Cheetham Houghton's book also records a marriage of:

Thomas Stopforth married Margaret Abram in 1895

I imagine this is Edward Stopforth's son who is 15 in 1881, marrying a niece of Martha Stopforth (ne� Abram)'s?

Marriages

1858

Edward Stopforth

Ellen Atherton

19th July 1858

St. Nicholas, Liverpool

1876

Jane Bowker (ne� Stopforth)

William Grant

6th Jan 1876

St. Mary's, Kirkdale

1877

Edward Stopforth

Martha Abram

10th Oct 1877

St. Nicholas, Liverpool

1883

Mary Grayson (ne� Stopforth)

William Rigby

21st July 1883

St. Mary's, Kirkdale

1895

Thomas Stopforth

Margaret Abram

1895

Christenings

1862

Edward Stopforth

Father: Edward Stopforth

Mother: Ellen

13th July 1862

Maghull, Lancashire

1865

Ann Stopforth

Father: Edward Stopforth

Mother: Ellen

16th July 1865

Maghull, Lancashire