A recently found snippet in The Bury Book Of Days by Sean Frain describes what is surely Thomas' business up for sale:
"May 28th
1866 On this day, a house and grocery shop, including a carrier for the stock, came up for auction. The house and grocery business were situated in the village of Edenfield, and Mr S Jackson was the acting auctioneer. Mr Jackson had been instructed to handle the sale by a Mr Thomas Schofield of Edenfield, and along with the shop and living accommodation was to be sold a lot of valuable furniture (which was considered in very good condition), a useful and hard working draught horse, two carts, geers and cart sheets. The sale commenced at one o'clock and was well attended. .....[the sale was] conducted at the Derby Hotel in Bury Town Centre"
It can be no coincidence that the sale was in the same year as his marriage - in fact it was the following week!
He relocated to Rawtenstall and in the 1871 census was living at Cawl Meadows (later Cawl Terrace) in the Newchurch part of the town. He was still a grocer at 72 and his 54 year old wife presumably looked after the house. Three of Elizabeth's children lived with them: John (26, railway labourer), Sarah (22, a servant) and James (20, a carter). They presumably remained there until Thomas' death in 1879 on the 21st February, aged 81 when his occupation is still greengrocer! Cause of death was paralysis for 12 months which could have been a stroke as we know it today. The death was reported by James Ashworth of Cloughfold, stepson, who was probably the husband of his stepdaughter, Sarah.
Thomas was buried with his first wife, Hannah,in the family grave at Edenfield Church where the inscription on the headstone reads:
"Hannah Schofield departed this life 24th March 1849 aged 49 years
Also William, the son of Thomas and Hannah Schofield, shopkeeper and farmer who died on the 9th May 1841 aged 4 months
Also Sarah, daughter of the above Thomas and Hannah Schofield, who died 5th September 1842 aged 5 months
Also Richard, son of the above Thomas and Hannah, who died 29th August 1847 aged 8 years
Also Mary their daughter who died on the 8th July 1862 aged 35 years
Also John Schofield, son of Thomas and Hannah Schofield, approx 1 year old who died 14th July 1821
Also Thomas Schofield husband of the late Hannah Schofield who departed this life on the 22nd February 1879 aged 81 years"
This makes rather depressing reading, but it is strange to find that Thomas is also mentioned on the headstone of his parents, John and Peggy Schofield which is in the same churchyard. The inscription reads:
"Here
Resteth the Body of
John Schofield of Eden
field who departed this life
on the 23rd day of May 1843
aged 72 years
'Long time I was afflicted
And Sorrow filled my breast
Till Death he served the summons
And here I'm laid to rest'
Also of Peggy Schofield his
Wife who departed this life the
1st day of May 1849 aged 74 years
Also of Eleanor daughter of
the above named John & Peggy
Schofield and wife of
George Ramsbottom [of]
Hollins, who died Jan 12th 1859
Aged 63 years
Also of
Thomas Schofield
of Cawl Terrace Rawtenstall
who departed this life
February 21st 1879 in the 82nd
year of his age"
Despite the difference of one day in the date that he died this is undoubtedly the same person who is recorded on the other headstone.
Incidentally, John Schofield's death certificate records that he died of consumption which he had for one and a half years.
John and Peggy Schofield were my GGGG grandparents.
 |
| Gravestone in Edenfield churchyard |
 |
| Map showing Cawl Meadows - the terraces running vertically constituting Cawl Terrace |
 |
| Cawl Terrace (lower right) in relation to Rawtenstall Town Centre from a map of 1909 |
No comments:
Post a Comment