[rtbarton]

I'm getting somewhere slowly, not with my original question though!

In 1841 a George & Mary Whittaker had 12 kids. If this level of fertility applied to previous and subsequent generations that will explain why Accrington is inundated with 'em!

In 1891 I have a William Whittaker living on Burnley Rd, near Dowry St, who was a "Wringing Machine Manager." One son was a "mechanic, wringing machines", other son a "clerk at machine works."

1901 William is "Laundry machine maker", No2 son is "Clerk at ironwork company." They still live on Burnley Rd

No1 son is "foreman, wringing machine shop" he now lives on Owen Street.

I haven't found anything on the 1911 census yet.

I'm putting all this together in a website, I'll post the URL in due course.