Christopher Whitmore Family Tree and Genealogy

John James Hodcroft 1870 - 1963

John James Hodcroft was born in 1870 in Standish. Bradley Lane which continues into Platt Lane and is essentially the the same road, and he lived there all of his life. He had a sister Clara Ellen, older by 2 years who died aged 7, and named his first daughter Clara Ellen (my grandmother). He also had sisters Margret A. and Sarah H. and a brother Charles H.

His parents were John and Sarah. In 1898 he married Elizabeth Ellen Gudgeon, having at least 7 children together, and is seen in 1901 as a coal miner.

His wife was Elizabeth Ellen Gudgeon b.1871 from Standish.

He was known as Jimmy

Birth of John James Hodcroft

It is the 1901 census that by following the history of Clara Hodcroft that introduced her father John J. Hodcroft. He was born in 1870 in Standish.

Registration of the birth of John James Hodcroft 1870

Surname	Forename(s)	Year	Sub-District	Registers At	Region	Reference
HODCROFT	John James	1870	Standish	Wigan & Leigh	Lancashire	STND/15/216

*Source LancashireBDM

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1871 census Bradley Lane Worthington				Where born
John Hodcroft	36	Head	Colliery Brakesman	Stretford
Sarah	28	Wife		Cheshire Ashton upon Mersey
Clara Ellen	3	Dau		Lancs Worthington
John James	1	Son		Lancs Worthington

John James is shown in the 1871 census living at Bradley Lane... aged 1 with his father John, aged 36 from Stretford with his mother Sarah aged 28 from Ashon Upon Mersey, and sister Clara Ellen aged 3.

Do you have any old fotos, pre 1960, Documents, Birth Certificates etc. or Stories that you can contribute to help to improve this page? Email me

 

1881 census Platt Lane Worthington				Where born
John Hodcroft	45	Head	Colliery Brakesman	Stretford
Sarah	35	Wife		Cheshire Ashton upon Mersey
John J	11	Son	Scholar	Lancs Worthington
Margaret A	8	Dau	Scholar	Lancs Standish
Sarah H	5	Dau	Scholar	Lancs Standish
Charles H	1	Son		Lancs Worthington

The 1881 census John James Hodcroft aged 11 is living with his family at Platt Lane, Worthington. His father John is aged 45, employed as a colliery brakesman. His mother Sarah is shown as aged 35. His sisters are Margret A. aged 8, and Sarah H. aged 5. He also has a brother Charles H. aged 1.

I am informed that Charles Henry Hodcroft married and although has family living in Standish to this day, the Hodcroft name no longer has links with Standish. Margaret emigrated to America and Sarah Hannah died young in an accident. Source: Geoff Syner (Grandson of Charles Henry Hodcroft) ( added 27/12/2009 )

Marriage to Elizabeth Gudgeon

 

1898	1898

John James Hodcroft married in 1898 to Elizabeth Ellen Gudgeon at St Wilfred church, Standish.

There was controversy over the marriage because the Gudgeons were staunch catholics, even though John James had never been to the catholic church his daughters had him converted to the catholic faith on his deathbed.They told my him that it was so he could be buried with his wife at St Maries R.C. church. Source: Family Recollections

 

Surname	Forename(s)	Surname	Forename(s)	Church / Register Office	Registers At	Reference	Year
HODCROFT	John James	Gudgeon	Elizabeth Ellen	St Wilfred, Standish	Wigan & Leigh	C28/4/443	1898

*Source LancashireBDM

Related Topics:
- Elizabeth Ellen Gudgeon

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In 1901 John J. aged 31,was living at Platt Lane, Worthington in the parish of St. Wilfreds with his wife Elizabeth E. aged 30, and two children, Clara aged 2 and John aged 1. He was a coal (hewer) miner.

1901 census Platt Lane Worthington				Where born
John J Hodcroft	31	Head	Miner	Lancs Worthington
Elizabeth E	30	Wife		Lancs Standish
Clara E	2	Dau		Lancs Worthington
John	1	Son		Lancs Worthington

A coal hewer worked at the coal face and it was probably the hardest job at the colliery, lying on ones side hitting the coal face with a pick. His stretch (called a breadth) would then be blown with powder and the debris shoveled away.

The Children

Surname	Forename(s)	Year	Sub-District	Registers At	Region	Reference
HODCROFT	Clara Ellen	1898	Standish	Wigan & Leigh	Lancashire	STND/34/478
HODCROFT	John	1900	Standish	Wigan & Leigh	Lancashire	STND/36/53
HODCROFT	Theresa	1904	Standish	Wigan & Leigh	Lancashire	STND/39/276
HODCROFT	Stephen	1906	Standish	Wigan & Leigh	Lancashire	STND/40/489
HODCROFT	Elizabeth	1909	Standish	Wigan & Leigh	Lancashire	STND/42/328
HODCROFT	Evelyn	1910	Standish	Wigan & Leigh	Lancashire	STND/43/243

*Source LancashireBDM

Above are the locations of the birth certificates.

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1911 Census

Both John James Hodcroft and Elizabeth Ellen are present in the 1911 census.

Schedule type	Last names	First names	Sex	Birth year	Age in 1911	District	County/other
HOUSEHOLD	HODCROFT	JOHN JAMES	M	1870	41	Wigan	Lancashire

Timeline

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Many thanks go to Geoffrey Syner and his mother Hilda Syner (nee Hodcroft), daughter of Charles Henry Hodcroft, for providing additional information and their recollections.

This Page Last Corrected and Updated 21/01/2010