Constantine and Mary Watmough Moore: Primary Source Documents

Birth Registration for Constantine Moore

Marriage registration for constantine Moore and Mary Watmough

Death certificate for Constantine Moore

Death certificate for Mary Watmough Moore

Mary Watmough's Birth Registration

Constantine Moore: For Genealogists

Constantine Moore with his granson Harry Blinkhorn taken in Sydney Mines. Nova Scotia, Canada

Below is a detailed time life For Constantine and Mary Watmough Moore that includes sources.

15 Aug 1845: Mary Watmaugh was born on 15 August 1845 at 11 p.m. at Bridge Street, Wigan. Her father was James Watmaugh. Her mother was Mary formerly Knight Father's profession was a collier. He made his mark when registering the birth. The registration was on the 27 Aug 1845. (Birth Registry from Lancaster County, England. A copy is held by Paul Moore.)

06 Aug 1847: Constantine Moore is born on 6th August 1846, at Blackrod. Father: Richard Moore Mother: Faith Moore late Eccels, formerly Cunliffe. Father's profession is a collier. The mark of Richard Moore of Blackrod, was made when registering the birth. (From Sue Nance (an English genealogist): “Much more interesting is the name of Constantine's mother, Faith Moore, late Eccels, formerly Cunliffe. This explains a lot. I have now traced a marriage of Richard Moore to Faith Eccleston - at All Saints Church, Wigan in 1840. I suspect, yet again, that this is a registrar error and that the name should read Eccleston on the birth certificate. I will again check with the registrar. However I am quite satisfied that this is the correct marriage certificate of the parents - Faith is an unusual Christian name and the dates etc., fit. The two surnames suggest that she was married previously and I have searched for a marriage prior to this one but as it is so close to 1837 when civil registration I have not had any luck. I would suspect that the first marriage was prior to 1837 - and you would probably find it in the registers - if you were interested.)” (Birth Certificate from Lancaster County England. A copy is held by Paul Moore. E mails from Sue Nance are held also by Paul Moore.) (FreeBMD 1837 - 1913 birth index; Moore Constantine Wigan Vol. XXI Page 03 or 103 or 403 - (something 0-03.)

1851 Census Richard Moore is living at 46 Blundell’s Lane in Blackrod with his wife, Faith, both are 36. The children are; daughters Elizabeth (9) Margret (7) Ellen (10 Months) and a son Constantine (4). Richard is a coal miner. Constantine, Margret and Elizabeth are listed as scholars. Richard was born in Blackrod, Faith in Golborne. The children were all born in Blackrod. (Note the census spells the name as Moor.) (Found at ancestry.com. A copy is held by Paul Moore.)

1851 Census: James Whatmough (sic Watmough) (34) is living with Mary (31), daughter Mary (7), son Thomas (5 ), daughter Betty (3) and son Henry (1). They live in the village of Small Bridge in St John’s Parish. Daughter Mary is a scholar. They were all born in Lancaster, County England. (Found at ancestry.com. a copy is held by Paul Moore.)

1861 Census Richard Moore (48) is living with his wife Faith (45) at 96 Tuckers Hill Lane in Haigh. The daughters are Margret (17) Ellen (10) and Charity Mary (9 months). The sons are Constantine (14) and William (8). Richard is a coal miner and Faith is a coal miner’s wife. Ellen and William are scholars. Constantine is a drawer in a coal mine. Margret is a coal Pit? Brow lab (laborer?) Everyone was born in Blackrod except Faith that was born in Golborne. .) (Found at ancestry.com. A copy is held by Paul Moore.)

1861 Census: James Whatmough (sic Watmough) (40) and his wife, Mary (39) are living on Ince Green Lane at Burrell houses (Horses?) in Ince Makerfield. Their sons are: Thomas (17), Henry (12), Peter (8) and James (5). Their daughters are: Mary (15) and Ann (2). James works in a coal mine. Thomas is a coal miner. Mary is a cotton mill operative. Peter and James are scholars. James was born in Over Hulton, Mary (wife) was born in Atherton, Thomas in Abram, Mary and Henry in Wigan, Peter in Astley, James (son) and Ann were born in Ince. (Found on Ancestry.com. A copy is held by Paul Moore.)

03 Jun 1869 Marriage Certificate - Constantine Moore married Mary Watmough on the 3rd June 1869 at Our Lady's Church, Wigan (He was probably married in our Lady’s Church in Aspull but registered in Wigan). He was 22 years old and she was 23 years old. He was a bachelor and she was a spinster. He was a coal miner and she was a domestic servant. His residence at the time of the marriage was Tuckers Hill, Haigh and She lived at Meadow House, Haigh. His father was Richard Moore a coal miner and her father was James Watmough a Colliery Underlooker. The witnesses were Henry Watmough and Ellen Moore. (Marriage Certificate from Lancaster County England. Paul Moore holds a copy.)

Abt. 1870 Edward Moore is born to Constantine and Mary Moore. (Census 1871)
1871 Census: Constantine (24) is living with wife Mary (25), son Edward (1) and Mary Marsdon (?) a cousin. The address is 114 Tuckers Hill Lane Haigh. Constantine was born is Blackrod, Mary in Wigan, Edward in Aspull and Margret in Pemberton (?) Constantine is a coal miner, Mary employed in the home and Margret is a scholar. (Found at ancestry.com. A copy is held by Paul Moore.)

March 1873: Frederick Moore born to Constantine and Mary Moore. (Census 1881 and 1891) (FreeBMD Birth Index found at freebmd.org.uk. A summary is held by Paul Moore Vol. 8C Page 19)

Abt. Jul 1875: Constantine Norman Moore II is born to Constantine and Mary Moore.. (FreeBMD Birth Index found at freebmd.org.uk. A summary is held by Paul Moore Vol. 8C Page 23)

Jan to Mar 1877: Edward Alexander Moore died. He is probably the correct Edward in that the 1881 census does not list an Edward Moore. He was just 7 years old. (Vol C page 13 in the Index) (http://freebmd.org.uk/cgi/districts.pl?r=58938744&d=bmd_1310461961)

Jun 1878: Mary Elizabeth Moore is born to Constantine and Mary Moore (Census 1881)

1881 Census: Constantine (34) is living with his wife Mary (35) at 1 and 2 Church Street in Aspull. The children are: Frederick J. (8) a scholar, Constantine (5), Mary E (3) and Francis (newborn). There is a domestic servant in the home named Bridget Hartney (19) from Durham. Richard was born in Blackrod, Mary in Wigan and the children in Aspull. Constantine is listed as a general laborer at a colliery. (From ancestry.com. A copy is held by Paul Moore)
1881 City Directory: Moore Constantine, grocer, draper & provision dealer, Church street, Haigh road.

11 Oct 1882: Wilfred Moore is born to Constantine and Mary Moore of Aspull Lancashire England. . . (1891 census found on ancestry.com. Copy is held by Paul Moore) (Social security Death Index found at ancestry.com. A summary is held by Paul Moore.)

1891 Census: Constantine (44) is living with wife Mary (45) on Church Street in Aspull. (Home Shop is listed??) He is a grocer and nothing is listed for Mary. The children are: Frederick J (18) a colliery laborer, Norman (15) a grocer’s assistant, Mary E (12) a scholar, Francis H (10) a scholar, Wilfred (8) a scholar. Constantine was born in Blackrod, Mary in Wigan, and all children in Aspull. (1891Census that is found on ancestry.com. Copy is held by Paul Moore)

1901 Census: Constantine Moore (54) is living with wife Mary (55) at 71 Haigh Road I Aspull. Their sons are Constantine (24) Francis (20) and Wilfred (17). Constantine is a general laborer while his wife is list with no job. Constantine, the son, is a bus driver; Francis and Wilfred are is a railway engine stokers. Constantine was born in Blackrod, Mary in Wigan and the boys in Aspull. (Found on ancestry.com. A copy is held by Paul Moore.)

13 Apr 1907: Constantine (54?) and Mary (55?) immigrated to Canada on the ship “Tunisia.’. He is listed as an agent, she as a wife. There is a stamp that says returned Canadians. So maybe they immigrated before 1907 and returned to England for the rest of the family. They arrived at Halifax Nova Scotia and St John’s New Brunswick. They left from Liverpool (Roll T 502)

13 Dec 1913: Constantine dies in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is a male 67 years old. He was a coal miner. He was born in England on 6 Aug 184? The person making the return was W C Moore. He is buried at St. Mary’s Church. (Death Certificate is from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Paul Moore holds a copy.)

25 Jan 1922: Mary, a widow, died in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada, where she resided. She was 76 yrs old 5 months and 10 days. She was a housekeeper. Her father was James Watmough. She was born in England on 15 Aug 1845 (written in pencil). Dr. McRae was the attending physician. She is buried at St Mary’s Church where Henry is buried. (Death Certificate from Halifax Nova Scotia. A copy s held by Paul Moore.)

Notes
While scrubbing the porch at Church St. in Aspull, Mary got an infection and her leg was amputated. She disciplined her children with her cane. (This is a family story that is not sourced. This was told to me by Gene Moore who was told this by Phoebe Moore who knew Mary Moore, her mother in law.)
If Mary is buried at St Mary’s, Constantine is probably there as well.
Francis and Phoebe Blinkhorn Moore immigrated to Canada in 1907. So we can assume that Constantine immigrated around this time.
Copyright 2011 by Paul F Moore

Constantine Moore: A Brief Biography Of My Great Grandfather:

Constantine Moore in Front of House at #1 Church Street Aspull


Although Constantine Moore was my great grandfather, I really don’t know all that much about him. I do know from his birth registration he was born to Richard and Faith (Cunliffe) Moore on 06 Aug 1846 in Blackrod, England. (His mother was a widower when she married Richard Moore. Her first Husband was an Eccles.) Constantine had several brothers and sisters: Elizabeth (born about 1842), Margaret (born about 1844), Ellen (born about 1851), William (born about 1853) and Charity Mary (born about 1862). They were all born in Blackrod. Constantine married a Mary Watmaugh on 03 Jun 1869 Our Lady’s Church in Wigan (possibly Aspull in that is the name of the church in Aspull). His family was Roman Catholic. Her family was probably Roman Catholic or Mary converted). Throughout his life Constantine was a coal miner. He moved to the nearby village of Haigh around 1861. By 1871 the family was living in the village next to Blackrod and Haigh named Aspull. In Aspull, he was a grocer as well as a coal miner. He and Mary had several children: Frederick (born in About 1873 and died about 1948 in Michigan), Mary Elizabeth (born about 1878) Constantine Norman (born about 1875) Francis (my grandfather, born 23 Nov 1880 and died in Whittier CA on 02 May 1941), and Wilfred (born 11 Oct 1882 and died in Whittier CA on 25 Sep 1970)). They were all born in Aspull. In 1907 he was involved in a migration to Nova Scotia, Canada along with some of his sons Francis and Wilfred. (The ship they took from Liverpool to Nova Scotia was named the Tunisia. It may have been charted to take immigrants to Canada.) They came to Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia with a second family, the Blinkhorns’. Two of the Moores married two of the Blinkhorns. In Canada he continued to be a coal miner until he died in 13 Dec 1913. Mary died in Sydney Mines on 25 Jan 1922. Mary was buried in the St Mary’s Church Cemetery in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia. That is probably where Constantine was buried as well.
I have one picture of Constantine that I know is him. In the picture Constantine is sitting in front of his house on #1 Church Street (It is right across the street from Our Lady’s Roman Catholic Church. It is also diagonally across from the Spencer grocery that was once owned by Constantine’s father, Richard.)
I know even less about Constantine’s wife Mary Watmaugh who is my great grandmother. There is a family story that said she had only one leg. Apparently one of her legs got infected after an injury that happened while she swept the porch at the house at #1 Church Street in Aspull. I have no proof of this. However, it should be true in that why would anyone make a story like that?
On my last trip To Aspull England I stood where the front room of the house on Church Street was located. To be precise, I parked my rental car there. It is now a parking lot of a popular restaurant. We had dinner there several times. I told the owner, a nice lady, that our rental car is parked in what once the front room on my great grandfather’s house. She seemed to be interested.

My Great, Grand Aunt Margaret Moore: A Pit Brow Lassie Part IV

(From the Bottom Up)
First and Second Photos: Mr. James Spencer and Mrs. Margaret Moore Spencer

Third Photo: Margaret Moore’s birth and marriage registrations listing Richard and Faith Moore as parents and James as her husband. The father of James was Peter Spencer.

Fourth Photo: The Spencer Grocery. It looks like the sign above the door is an ad for soap.

Fifth Photo : Newspaper article on their 50th anniversary.

Sixth Photo: Grave of James and Margaret Moore Spencer in Blackrod, Lancashire, England. They are listed at the bottom.

Bottom Photo: Me with some descendents of the Spencer/s: Eileen Hawkins and Leo Turner.

2011 Copyright Paul F Moore

My Great, Grand Aunt Margaret Moore: A Pit Brow Lassie Part III

Margaret Moore Spencer

So whatever happened to Margaret Moore, the daughter of Richard Moore and the sister to Constantine Moore, my great grandfather? She began her life at 17 working on of most difficult and dangerous jobs, a pit brow laborer. But it turns out she ended up well.

She married James Spencer, a coal miner, in Nov 1862. By 1881 they had nine children. They are (in 1881) Mary (8), Peter (16), John (14), Richard (18 sic 12), Elizabeth (10), Ellen (8), Teresa Faith (also spelled Tresa) (4), James Harold (2) and Thomas Allen (3 months). Then came the big break. Sometime after 1881, the Spencer’s moved to 41 Haigh Road in Aspull which was previously owned by Margaret’s father, Richard Moore, who had started a little grocery store there. James Spencer became not only a coal miner but also a merchant. Ten years later the 60 year old James Spencer is a full time grocer. He is out of the mines. In November of 1912, the Spencer’s celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. By this time you can infer they are making it into the middle class. The celebration was a big family affair. They were given a silver plated fruit, cake and flower bowl by their children. They received a blessing from the pope because of their hard work at the local Roman Catholic Church. (James was the manager of the local Catholic school.) . Some of their their descendents live in Aspull or nearby to this day. I met a few of them.


For those interested in more detail of Margaret Moore Spencer:

1841: James Spencer is born is Haigh, Lancashire England. (1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses from ancestry.com. Summaries are held by Paul Moore.)

24 Feb 1844 Margaret Moore is born and is baptized at St Mary’s in Wigan on 3 Mar 1844. She is the daughter of Richard Moore and Fides (Faith in Latin) Moore. The godparents are James? and Jane Moore. (Birth registration is from the General Registers Office in England. A copy is held by Paul Moore.)

1851 Census Richard Moor (sic Moore) is living at 46 Blundell’s Lane in Blackrod with his wife, Faith, both are 36. The children are; daughters Elizabeth (9) Margret (7) Ellen (10 Months) and a son Constantine (4). Richard is a coal miner. Constantine, Margret and Elizabeth are listed as scholars. Richard was born in Blackrod, Faith in Golborne. The children were all born in Blackrod. (Note the census spells the name as Moor.) 1851 Census Richard (36) is living in Blackrod (p 15 entry 46). He is living at Blundell’s Lane. (1851 census found at ancestry.com. A summary is held by Paul Moore.)

1861 Census: Richard Moore (48) is living with his wife Faith (45) at 96 Tuckers Hill Lane in Haigh. The daughters are Margaret (17) Ellen (10) and Charity Mary (9 months). The sons are Constantine (14) and William (8). Richard is a coal miner and Faith is a coal miner’s wife. Ellen and William are scholars. Constantine is a drawer in a coal miner. Margret is a coal pit? brow lab (laborer?) Everyone was born in Blackrod except Faith who was born in Golborne. (1861 Census found at ancestry.com. A copy is held by Paul Moore.)

29 Nov 1862: Margaret Moore marries James Spencer at Our Lady’s Church in Aspull by Henry Jones. Margret is the daughter of Richard Moore and lives in Haigh No information is given about James. The witnesses were Constantine Moore of Haigh and Mary Moore of Aldington. (Marriage Certificate from the General Registers Office in England. A copy is held by Paul Moore.) (Newspaper Article: Wigan Advertiser on their Golden Anniversary printed 12 Dec 1912. Kept as an e mail file from Leo Turner.)

1871: James (30) and Margret Spencer (27) are living at 90 Ends Lane (?) in Aspull. Their children are Mary (8), Peter (6), John (4), Richard (2) and Elizabeth (3 months). James is a coal miner. Mary, Peter and John are scholars. James was born in Haigh, Margret in Blackrod. All the children were born in Aspull. (1871 census from ancestry.com. A summary is held by Paul Moore.)

1881: James (40) and Margret Spencer (37) are living at 51 Haigh Lane in Aspull. Their children are Mary (8), Peter (16), John (14), Richard (18 sic 12) and Elizabeth (10) Ellen (8) Teresa Faith ((4) James Harold (2) and Thomas Allen (3 months). James, Peter and John are coal miners. Mary is not working. Richard, Elizabeth Ellen and Teresa are scholars. James was born in Haigh, Margret in Blackrod. All the children were born in Aspull. (1881 census from ancestry.com. A summary is held by Paul Moore.)

Between 1881 and 1891: The Spencer’s move to 47 Haigh Road in Aspull. This was the former home of Richard Moore, Margret’s father. Richard Moore lived in this home when he died on 07 April 1884. Faith Moore, Margaret’s mother moved in with her daughter Charity Junsworth and her husband, Robert. (England and Wales National Probate Center (Index of Wills and Administration) 1961 to 1974) (1881 and 1891 censuses from ancestry.com. Copies are held by Paul Moore.)

1 May 1887: John Spencer, son of James and Margaret Spencer, died. He is buried in Blackrod (Headstone at cemetery in Blackrod. Photo is held by Paul Moore.)

23 Dec 1887: Oswald Spencer died. He was the son of James and Margaret Spencer. He was 1 year and 9 months old. (Headstone at cemetery in Blackrod. Photo is held by Paul Moore.)

1891: James (50) and Margret Spencer (47) are living at 47 Haigh Lane in Aspull. Their children are Mary (28), Peter (26), Richard (22) and Elizabeth (20) Ellen (18) Teresa Faith ((17) James Harold (12) Thomas Allen (10) and Joseph (8). James is a coal miner and grocer, his wife. Margret, is a grocer, Peter is a coal miner. Richard is an omnibus driver/groom that is not employed, Elizabeth is dress maker, Ellen is not employed, and Teresa is a dress maker’s apprentice, James, Thomas and Joseph are scholars. James was born in Haigh, Margret in Blackrod. All the children were born in Aspull. (1891 census from ancestry.com. A summary is held by Paul Moore.)

09 Jun 1896: Richard Spencer died. He was the son of James and Margaret Spencer. (Headstone at cemetery in Blackrod. Photo is held by Paul Moore.)

1901: James (60) and Margret Spencer (57) are living at 47 Haigh Lane in Aspull. Their children are Teresa Faith (24) James Harold (22) Thomas Allen (20) and Joseph (17). James is a grocer with an outdoor license. Teresa is not employed. James is a hostler groom (stable boy). Thomas and Joseph are cabinet makers. James was born in Haigh, Margret in Blackrod. All the children were born in Aspull. (1901 census from ancestry.com. A summary is held by Paul Moore.)

30 Nov 1912: The Spencer’s celebrate their golden anniversary on the 30 Nov instead of the 29th because the Saturday the 29th was more convenient. The celebration started at a holy mass at Our Lady’s Church in Aspull/Haigh. Before the mass the family assembled at Our Lady’s School. The photographer was a nephew, Fred Moore of Sea View, Haigh. He took pictures of the couple, the couple with grandchildren and the entire group. Tea was severed by Miss H Hinton of Wigan. Father Calloway toasted the couple noting all the extraordinary service they had given the church especially by James Spencer who acted as a school manager. Father Calloway stated that through the bishop the his Holiness the Pope blessed the couple by writing; “our Holy father the pope with all his heart blesses James and Margret Spencer on the occasion of their golden wedding and lovingly prays God grant them every joy and blessing.” They received an exact copy of the blessing. The oldest child, Peter, spoke and toasted the couple. They were given a silver plated fruit, cake and flower bowl engraved with “Presented to Mr. and Mrs. Spencer on their golden anniversary by their children. Haigh, Nov 1912. Other speeches were given by sons James, Thomas Allen and Joseph. Mr. Spencer thanked the priest and his children for the present which will be displayed prominently in their home. Family member sang songs. Fred Moore showed lantern views (slides?) (Newspaper Article: Wigan Advertiser on their Golden Anniversary printed 12 Dec 1912. Kept as an e mail file from Leo Turner.)

28 Jun1920: Margaret Moore Spencer died. (Headstone at cemetery in Blackrod. Photo is held by Paul Moore.)

23 Dec 1923: James Spencer died. . (Headstone at cemetery in Blackrod. Photo is held by Paul Moore.)




2011 Copyright by Paul F Moore

My Great, Grand Aunt Margaret Moore: A Pit Brow Lassie

Pit Brow Lassies


On the 1861 English census that lists the family of Richard Moore, there is an entry for a Margaret Moore. She was just 17, about the age of an American high school senior. Next to her age is listed her employment. It says that she was a pit brow lab. I am pretty sure that the lab is short for laborer. My great grand aunt was one of the famous Wigan pit brow lassies. (I also heard that my grandmother Phoebe Blinkhorn was also a pit brow lassie. I have never been able to confirm this. It would not surprise me at all if she was.)

After the coal was brought to the surface, some it ended up by the opening of the mine. This coal would soon stack up sometimes growing into a little hill. This was called the pit brow. Women were hired by the miner owners of mine to work the pit brow by collecting coal, sorting it and doing a number of odd jobs on the surface of the mine that often were very dangerous. The women who worked the pit brow were called pit brow women or more commonly pit brow lassies. Margaret Moore, the daughter of Richard and my great, grand aunt was such a pit brow lassie.

The pit brow lassies were generally young, in their teens, and worked the pit brow until their late 20’s or early 30’s. They would quit when they married. However, there were many exceptions to this rule. The oldest lassie I know of was 73 when she retired after working 62 years. She must have started working at mine when she 11 years old. (Davies p. 118).

These women would work in very distinctive outfits. They would wear a shawl over head to protect their hair form all coal dust. They would men’s pants. At first the pants were noticeable. As time passed they started wearing a skirts over the pants to hide them. (I have read that men would come to the pits just to see these women wearing pants. I would guess to a Victorian gentleman watching the lassies wearing pants would be the modern day equivalent of visiting a strip club.) Many of the women would carry a basket with a grid on the bottom which they would use to sort the coal. On their feet they would wear the wooden clogs that were pretty much the same as the men would wear in the mines.

It was dangerous work. In his book, Alan Davies, has four pages of samples of women and children who were injured and or died at the pit brows. This is just a small sample of what he has in his book. I believe his book has just a small sample of the number of women and children injured a killed. (Davies pp 112 – 115)

Priscilla Jones, 4 years old, died by a tub rolling down a dirt heap. Her aunt placed her there.
Margaret Barker, 17, was crushed between coal trucks.
Ellen Taylor, 15, fell into a tub of hot water and scalded to death.
Mary Heyes, 20, crushed to death.
Elizabeth Farrimond, 16, ran over by a railway wagon

To Be Continued:


Sources

Davies Alan, The Pit Brow women of the Wigan Coalfield, Tempus Publishing Limited, Gloucestershire, 2006.

Lane, Dave, Pit Brow Lasses, Lulu (www.lulu.com) 2005.

Photo is from the website wiganshades.pwp.blueyonder.co.kk. http://www.wiganshades.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pitbrow2.jpg

Copyright 2011 Paul F Moore