Mary Burrows, daughter of James Burrows and Alice Gertrude O'neill, born 25th May 1910 in Skipton Yorkshire.

In 1911 she was 10 months old and lived with her parents at 6 Mount Pleasant, Skipton.

Mary married Arthur Walker in 1935 in Skipton and the couple lived in Skipton.

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Because Mary was the oldest child it fell to her to 'help' bring up her siblings. According to my mum, she was more of a mother to them than her own mother. Times must have been difficult as a child, growing up through the first world war and having a disgraced father who was dishonourably discharged from the Army before he even got past his training, I always wonder whether other women in Skipton had things to say to them.

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As with a lot of families at the time, working in mills was a reliable occupation, both Mary and Arthur both worked in the mills. At the time of the 1939 census, Mary was in hospital after having just given birth to my mum and Arthur was at home with the eldest daughter. 

The war years must have been hard for them with a new baby and a young child, then along came a third daughter in 1942. Mum tells me that her aunties would swap their sweet rations for clothing rations as they were young women and would rather have clothes than sweets.

I used to go and sleep there and sometimes would wake up screaming when I heard strange noises, it was the steam trains filling up with water and they made loud hissing noises. My brother hated going to Granny and Granddad's, Granny came across as very strict, she had a voice like a foghorn but I was lucky as I was her favourite grandchild, or so I was told. When my brother and I did sleep there, we had to share a bed and would argue, then a booming voice would shout through from the next room, If you don't shut up, I'll come in there and smack your arses! 

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Mary started with Rheumatoid Arthritis at a fairly young age, she gave up work and by the time I was a teenager she was bed bound. I used to regularly go and visit her and help around the house. 

Mary died on Christmas Eve 1978 in Airedale Hospital, she had been in a coma and my mum and I went to visit her, it was nice as she woke up and spoke to us, she was pleased to see us. It was the years of taking Aspirin for her condition that finally killed her. Her ashes are at Waltonwrays cemetery in Skipton.

 

 

 

The photographs below are two sisters, Mary and Anne Burrows young and older. Left is Mary with little sister Anne, right an older Mary wtih Ann.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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James Burrows was quite a character to research. Son of Richard Burrows and Mary Walsh, he was born on 22nd October 1886 at Lane Ends, Habergham Eaves, Burnley, Lancashire. 

In 1891 he lived with his father and siblings as a lodger at 13 Unwin Street, Habergham Eaves, the landlady was Elizabeth Mcmullen from Belfast Ireland.

In 1901 he was living at 5 Blackburn Court Burnley with his father, stepmother Elizabeth and brother Thomas.

James married Alice Gertrude O'neill on 25th March 1908 in Skipton Registry Office, the witnesses were Joseph O'neill and Hannah O'neill. 

James and Alice had 11 children: Mary (1910-1978), Josephine (1911-1911), Thomas (1913-1977), James (1915-1916), Edward (1920-?), John (1922-?), Harry (1926-1928), Margaret (1926-1926), Anne (1927-?), Anthony (1929-?), Richard (1929-?).....Anthony and Richard were twins. The couple had quite a tragic time with their children as can be seen by the death dates for some of them. 

In 1911 the family were living at 6 Mount Pleasant Skipton, James was a boat man on the Leeds-Liverpool canal and Alice was a cotton spinner. They had Alices' brother staying with them, William O'neill aged 13. More about William in the O'neill page.

James changed occupation and became a stone mason, the picture below shows him at Skipton Castle with a fellow worker, they removed the stone to refurbish it, if that's the right word. It is above the steps as you enter the Castle and refers to the re-building of the castle by Lady Anne Clifford.

When the first world war arrived James volunteered and enlisted on the 26th August 1914 at Skipton. According to his military record he had served with the Army before. 

His description was that he was 5'5" tall, dark complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. Both arms tattooed.  Religion: Roman Catholic. His regiment was the 9th Bt Duke of Wellingtons West Riding Regiment and his service number was 11933. 
His military record is certainly not one to be proud of. He was disciplined many times:

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In 1926 the family were living in Eastgate by the canal in Skipton. Son Harry aged 2 was out playing with his 6 year old brother John when he fell into Springs canal and drowned. 
In the 1939 register he was living with Alice at 49 Greatwood Avenue and was a stone mason/bricklayer.
James died on the 14th September 1951 at 31 Branch Road, Skipton from Lung Cancer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Burrows on the left at Skipton Castle, middle with a grandchild, left Eastgate with Springs Canal.

 

The Parents of James were Richard Burrows and Mary Walsh/Welsh. Richard was born in Brierfield, Lancashire in 1851, son of James Burrows and Margaret Nutter.

In 1861 he was living with his parents and a brother in Little Marsden, Lancashire. Aged 10 he was working as a corder in the mills, his brother Henry aged 15 was a coal miner.

In 1871 Richard was in the military at Antony Rame & Maker in Cornwall, I haven't found any military records for him and I'm assuming that it's the same Richard.

Richard appears to be missing in 1881 so may have been abroad in the army.

Richard married Mary Welsh or Walsh in Keighley, Yorkshire on 26th December 1884, Mary had been in Keighley workhouse with three young children, Harry Joseph and John and was an unmarried mother. Richard and Mary moved to Habergham Eaves in Burnley between 1885 and 1886  Son Anthony was born in Keighley in 1885 and James was born in Habergham Eaves in 1886 followed by Thomas Burrows in 1889. His wife Mary died in 1890 aged 37 and was buried in a public grave in Burnley. Grave number 422, abode Hulme Street. 

Richard was living at 13 Unwin Street, Habergham Eaves, Burnley in lodgings owned by Elizabeth Mcmullen in 1891 with his sons, John Walsh was living with them but had the surname Burrows. 

Richard married his landlady Elizabeth McMullen on 26th December 1891 at St John's Church Gannow. She was born in Belfast, Ireland.

In 1901 the family still lived in Burnley in Blackburn Court, Richard was a Barge/boatman on the canal.

In 1911 Richard was a mate on a coal barge named 'Piers', the description of his occupation was Bargeman, coal colliery. Elizabeth was a boarder living with a family named Howarth at 15 Cumberland Street, Newtown, Skipton, Yorkshire.

Elizabeth died in Skipton in 1914 and Richard died in the Union Infirmary, Burnley in 1916, it looks as though the couple lived separate lives but that's only specualtion because of where they both lived in 1911 and where they died. 

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Son Anthony was a Barges mate in 1901 but it is unknown what happened to him after this date. There are no further records found for Thomas. Of the three Welsh children, John went on to live with Richard and his sons, Joseph is found on the 1891 census and is recorded as 'adopted' and is living with a family named Cavanagh, it isn't know what became of Harry.

 

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Parents of Richard were James Burrows and Margaret Nutter. James was born in Marsden Lancashire about 1814, son of Henry Burrows and Ellen Whalley and was baptised at St Peters Burnley on 23rd January 1816.

James married Margaret Nutter on 19th August 1841 at Habergham Eaves, Burnley and they had at least five children: William, Sarah A, Henry, Richard, Elizabeth.

In 1851 the family were living in Little Marsden at Lindred Lane, James' occupation was a stone mason, two children were employed, William was a cotton spinner aged 17, Sarah A was a power loom weaver aged 14.

In 1861 the family were still in Little Marsden but at a different address, James was still a stone mason, his wife was listed under 'domestic affairs', son Henry aged 15 was a coal miner, and Richard worked in the mill aged 10.

 

James died in 1866 in Little Marsden and was buried 8th Feburary 1866 in St Pauls, Little Marsden.
In 1881 Margaret was living in Habergham Eaves, son Henry was still at home and by now was a Stone Mason. 
Margaret died in 1882

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The parents of James were Henry Burrows and Ellen Whalley. Henry was born about 1784 in Marsden and baptised at St Bartholemew in Colne on 3rd October 1784. Ellen was born at Houghton Tower, Preston about 1787.
The couple were married at St Peter's Church Habergham Eaves on 25th December 1806. They had ten children: Sarah, Ann, John, Omerod, James, Ellen, Henry, Susannah, Elizabeth, William. 
Omerod emigrated to Massachusets USA. 

In 1851 the family lived in  Clitheroe, Henry was a block printer, his son Henry was a chemist and calico printer, his daugher Elizabeth was a miliner and another son was an engraver to calico printer. 

There were just Henry and Ellen on the 1861 census, Henry was a calico printer. He died in July 1861 in Clitheroe.

Ellen died in 1868.

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The parents of Henry were James Burrows and Margaret Norcross. James was born in Little Marsden and was baptised in St Bartholemews in Colne on 28th October 1750. Margaret was born in Marsden in 1751 and also baptised at St Bartholemews on 18th August 1751.
The couple were married at St Bartholemews, Colne on 1st April 1771. They produced 13 children: William, Sally, James, Nancy, Peggy, James, Betty, Peter, Henry, Richard, Susanna, Mary, Eleanor.
James died in Colne in 1824, Margaret died in 1820 and was buried at St Bartholemews, Colne.

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The Parents of James were James Burrows and Mary Thornton. James was born in Colne in 1723, Mary was also born in Colne in 1724. They married on the 7th July 1744 at St Bartholemews, Colne and went on to have nine children: Abel, James, Betty, Peggy, John, Nancy, Sally, Nelly, Peter.
James died in 1801 in Little Marsden and buried at St Bartholemews, Colne. Mary also died in 1801. 

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The parents of James were Abel Burrows and Mary/Maria Coverley. Abel was born in Rochdale in 1692 and Mary possibly in Colne in 1697. They were married on the 22nd April 1716 at St Bartholemews, Colne. Children found were: John, James, Mary.
Abel died in 1741 at Little Marsden and was buried in Colne. Mary died in Little Marsden in 1759.

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The father of Abel was John Burrows (Burras) who was born in Rochdale about 1670, spouse not known, apart from Abel there was another child found, Grace. Death unknown for John.

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