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