Mary Fairclough

#618, (circa 1812-7 September 1869)
ChartsFairclough Family - descendants
Mike Hill - ancestors
Last Edited11 May 2023
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fairclough-546.

Short Biography

     Mary was likely born circa 1812 in Preston, Lancashire. Mary lived in January 1835 in Cuerden, Leyland, Lancashire.

She married Robert T. Miller, an over-looker in a cotton mill in a Church of England ceremony in St. Andrew's in 1835 in Leyland, Lancashire. Robert signed his name, but Mary made a mark instead. When they married, Mary was four months pregnant with their first child. Mary and Robert went on to have eight children together.

Mary and Robert lived in Preston in 1841. Also living in the house were their two young daughters. Ten years later they were still in Preston, this time living with five of their children. They later moved to Cuerden when Robert managed the mill there.

During hard times the Miller family was a support to Cuerden Mill, especially with its school in January 1863: "Mr. Robert Miller, manager at the mill, also labours most assiduously in supervising and directing the relief administered. But this is not all. Mrs. Miller, the Misses Miller, of Cuerden, Miss Wignall, of Bamber Bridge Parsonage, and Miss Barton visit and superintend the school. When we visited it, all the females were at work. A more cheerful, busy, or contented place we never saw. No traces of distress were visible here. All were sewing away pleasantly, and everything seemed to be going on merrily. The girls were scrupulously clean, and a more rosi-faced, neatly-dressed class of females we hardly ever beheld."

Mary died on 7 September 1869 in Hulme, Manchester, of acute pleurisy at about the age of 57.
     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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The name 'Fairclough', meaning 'Fair Valley' is one long associated with Lancashire, and possibly originates all from a substantial landowning family from around Ormskirk and Standish.1 Mary Fairclough may have been born in 1811.2 She was likely born circa 1812 at Preston, Lancashire.3,4 She may have been born circa 1813 at Preston, Lancashire.5 Marriage banns for Mary and Robert T. Miller were published 14th December 1834, 21st of December 1834 and 28th December 1834 at St. Andrew's, Leyland, Lancashire.6

Mary lived in January 1835 at the village of Cuerden near the town of Leyland, Lancashire.7

She married Robert T. Miller, an over-looker in a cotton mill, in a Church of England ceremony at St. Andrew's on Sunday, 4 January 1835 at Leyland, Lancashire. Robert signed his name, but Mary made a mark instead. When they married, Mary was four months pregnant with their first child.. Mary and Robert went on to have eight children together.8,9,10,11

It appears Mary was illiterate. She presumably lived with her spouse Robert at Hopwood Street, Preston, Lancashire, on 3 May 1835.12 She presumably lived with her spouse Robert at Brook Street, Preston, Lancashire, in June 1836.13 She presumably lived with her spouse Robert at Preston, Lancashire, in February 1837.14,15 She presumably lived with her spouse Robert at St. Peters Square, Preston, Lancashire, on 31 December 1837.16 She presumably lived with her spouse Robert at Sleddon Street, Preston, Lancashire, on 21 February 1840.17

Mary Fairclough was recorded as living with Robert T. Miller in the 1841 census at Preston, Lancashire, and other records indicate this was her spouse. The 1841 census only recorded adult ages rounded down to the nearest 5 years; her approximate age was recorded as 25 years old. Also living in the house were their two young daughters.18

Five years of serious depression in the cotton industry must have affected the Miller family:
"Wages were cut, causing resentment among cotton workers across the whole of Lancashire. In August the threat of further wage cuts brought the Manchester workers out on strike. Within a week the strike spread to all the north-west mill towns. In Preston there was already widespread discontentment. Handloom weavers' wages had been cut by 25 per cent and spinners by 10 per cent."19

She presumably lived with her spouse Robert at North Road, Preston, Lancashire, on 4 October 1844.20
St. John's Preston. This church was the site of many events in the Miller family.
(source: Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_St_John's_Church,_Preston.jpg)
She presumably lived with her spouse Robert at 135 North Road, Preston, Lancashire, circa October 1850.21

Mary and Robert T. Miller became the parents of Martha Alice Miller on Sunday, 3 November 1850 at Preston, Lancashire. She was reportedly born at 2:30am.22,21

Mary Miller was recorded as the spouse of Robert T. Miller in the 1851 census at 13 Great Shaw Street, Preston, Lancashire. She was recorded as being 38 years old. Also in the household were five of their children.5

Mary was recorded as the wife of Robert Miller in the 1861 census with their children Frederick (14), Patty (10) and Thomas living at at 35 New Row in the village of Cuerden near the town of Leyland, Lancashire; she was recorded as being 49 years old.23

During hard times the Miller family was a support to Cuerden Mill, especially with its school in January 1863:
"The relief generally is administered under the superintendence of Mr. Daniel Arkwright, manufacturer, of Preston, who from the first, and in consequence of his business connection with Cuerden Mill, has taken a very active and laudable part in attending to the wants of the operatives, and in carrying out the liberal measures proposed by the Messrs. Dewhurst. Mr. Robert Miller, manager at the mill, also labours most assiduously in supervising and directing the relief administered. But this is not all. About two months ago this firm decided to open an industrial school in one of the rooms of their mill in the cloth warehouse, a light, well-ventilated place to the north-east of the establishment. It is supported by the Messrs. Dewhurst and Mr. R. Townley Parker, of Cuerden Hall. The former admit a number of their own hands; the latter gentleman, by his contributions, makes provision for several females residing more immediately in his own neighbourhood. The school is open four days a week - Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays - from nine till twelve, and from one till four. The average daily attendance is 150. Each of the females receives 6d per day, or 2s. per week. They make shirts, chemises, petticoats, &c, for the Bamber Bridge Relief Committee. Mrs. Miller, the Misses Miller, of Cuerden, Miss Wignall, of Bamber Bridge Parsonage, and Miss Barton visit and superintend the school. When we visited it, all the females were at work. A more cheerful, busy, or contented place we never saw. No traces of distress were visible here. All were sewing away pleasantly, and everything seemed to be going on merrily. The girls were scrupulously clean, and a more rosi-faced, neatly-dressed class of females we hardly ever beheld."24

Mary and Robert lived in May 1865 at at Cuerden Cottage in the village of Cuerden near the town of Leyland, Lancashire.25,26

Mary, as the mother of the groom, along with Robert may have attended the wedding of Frederick and Sarah Rowe in a Church of England ceremony at Manchester Cathedral on Saturday, 21 September 1867 at Manchester.. Others who may have attended include . Sarah and Frederick went on to have just one child together.27,28

Mary, as the mother of the bride, along with Robert may have attended the wedding of Emma and James Child Breach in a Church of England ceremony at St. Peter's on Wednesday, 6 May 1868 Emma's father was a cotton mill manager at Bolton, Lancashire.. Others who may have attended include Mary Child as mother of the groom and James Breach as father of the groom. Emma and James went on to have six children together.29 Mary and Robert lived in September 1869 at Hulme, Manchester.3

Mary died on 7 September 1869 at 35 Fenwick street, Hulme, Manchester, of acute pleurisy.30,3 She was a housekeeper according to her burial record.2 Her body was interred at Phillips Park Cemetery on 10 September 1869 at Manchester.2

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
1811Birth-Candidate2
1812Birth-LikelyPreston, Lancashire3,4
1813Birth-CandidatePreston, Lancashire5
Marriage BannSt. Andrew's, Leyland, Lancashire6
1835Residence-hideLeyland, Lancashire9
1835Residence the village of Cuerden near the town of Leyland, Lancashire7
1835Married Name11,9
1835MarriageLeyland, Lancashire8,9,10,11
Note memo only CR CR
1842Quotation type 319
1863Quotation type 224
1865Residence at Cuerden Cottage in the village of Cuerden near the town of Leyland, Lancashire25,26
1869ResidenceHulme, Manchester3
1869Death35 Fenwick street, Hulme, Manchester30,3
Occupation2
1869BurialPhillips Park Cemetery, Manchester2

Family

Robert T. Miller (1805-14 Jun 1874)
Children

Citations

  1. [S1381] Richard McKinley The Surnames of Lancashire p.205.
  2. [S1157] England & Scotland, Select Cemetery Registers, 1800-2016 (www.ancestry.com) Name: Mary Miller; Age: 58; Record Type: Burial; Birth Date: abt 1811; Death Date: abt 1869; Burial Date: 10 Sep 1869; Burial Place: Manchester, Greater Manchester, England; Cemetery: Philips Park Cemetery; Cemetery Section: I; Grave Number: 745; Cemetery Notes: Consecrated; Occupation: Housekeeper.
  3. [S538] The Preston Chronicle, Preston, Lancashire, England, 'Deaths' 25 Sep 1869 p.5.
  4. [S398] National Census for England, 1861 (online image) Civil Parish of Cuerden, Registration district Chorley, sub district Leland, peice 3117 folio 93 p.26.
  5. [S392] National Census for England, 1851 (online image) Parish of Preston, Ecclesiastical District of Holy Trinity Church, Borough of Preston p.488.
  6. [S776] Leyland Parish Registers for St. Andrew, http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Leyland/standrew/…
  7. [S702] Lancashire Anglican Parish Registers, Lancashire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754 - 1936 Banns - Name: Robert Miller; Gender: Male; Event Type: Marriage; Event Date: 28 Dec 1834; Parish: Leyland, Lancashire, England; Spouse: Mary Fairclough; Register Type: Parish Register.
  8. [S776] Leyland Parish Registers for St. Andrew, Register: Banns 1832 - 1849, Page 55, Entry 273; Source: LDS Film 93953.
  9. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, Marriages 1834 - 1837, Page 41, Entry 122, LDS film 93953.
  10. [S833] Boyd's Marriage Index 1538-1840 Transcription findmypast.com, (www.findmypast.com) Marriage year: 1835; Place: Leyland; County: Lancashire; Country: England.
  11. [S242] General Register Office, England - Marriage Certificates, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Births, 1850 Preston district, Preston sub-district No. 499.
  12. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, Baptisms 1832 - 1836, Page 348, Source: LDS Film 1278755.
  13. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, Baptisms 1836 - 1838, Page 27, Entry 210 Source: LDS Film 1278755.
  14. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, Register: Burials 1832 - 1837, Page 430, Entry 3437.
  15. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, Register: Burials 1832 - 1837, Page 429, Entry 3429.
  16. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, 1836 - 1838, Page 254, Entry 2031 Source: LDS Film 1278755.
  17. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, 1838 - 1840, Page 244, Entry 1951.
  18. [S397] National Census for England, 1841 (online image) Class: HO107; Piece: 499; Book: 11; Civil Parish: Preston; County: Lancashire; Enumeration District: 41; Folio: 31; Page: 17; Line: 1; GSU roll: 306888. (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/View.aspx).
  19. [S1308] Grace's Guide (https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/) Horrockses, Miller and Co - https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Horrockses,_Miller_and_Co.
  20. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, 1842 - 1845, Page 347, Entry 2771.
  21. [S228] General Register Office, England - Birth Certificates, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Births, 1850, Preston district, Preston sub-district, No.499.
  22. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, Batch/Film C007135 Serial/Sheet 5593.
  23. [S398] National Census for England, 1861 (online image) Civil Parish of Cuerden, Registration district Chorley, sub district Leland, piece 3117 folio 93 p.26.
  24. [S538] The Preston Chronicle, Preston, Lancashire, England, 'The Distress' 24 Jan 1863 p.6.
  25. [S242] General Register Office, England - Marriage Certificates, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Births, Jun Qtr.1865, Manchester Vol.8e, p.512.
  26. [S824] The Blackburn Standard, Blackburn, Lancashire, England, Wednesday 17 May 1865 p.3.
  27. [S758] Manchester, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930 (Cathedral) Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com) Marriage Date: 21 Sep 1867; Parish:      Manchester, St Mary, St Denys and St George; Father's Name: Robert Miller; Archive Roll: 735.
  28. [S538] The Preston Chronicle, Preston, Lancashire, England, 28 Sep 1867 p.5.
  29. [S454] Parish Registers for St. Peter's, Marriages 1865 - 1869, Page 183, Entry 365.
  30. [S400] General Register Office, England - Death Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Deaths, Chorlton Registration District, 1869, Sep Qtr., Vol.8c, p.460.
  31. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, Baptisms 1832 - 1836, Page 348.
  32. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, Baptisms 1836 - 1838, Page 27, Entry 210.
  33. [S246] Preston Parish Registers for St. John, 1836 - 1838, Page 254, Entry 2031.
  34. [S228] General Register Office, England - Birth Certificates, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Births, Preston Registration District, 1846, Sep Qtr., Vol.21, p.638 (Mary Fairclough mentioned on Fredrick's birth certificate indicates that other births to Robert Miller and Mary Fairclough are from this same family).