Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

I've had help before from you kind folks re family history researching and wonder if anyone out there can help me again. I am trying to trace the ancestors of Benjamin Pomfret of Blackburn born some time around 1810/1813. I know this is about a Blackburn family but come down the track a few years when Sarah Ann Pomfret married William Aspinall in 1858 (Blackburn) and it appears these particular descendants then moved into the Accrington/Oswaldtwistle area so hope my request is acceptable to Acc'y Web. The Benjamin I am interested in married Ellen (nee Haworth) previously Shutt (her first marriage) at St. Mary's, Blackburn in 1833.

I know who their children were but who was his ma and pa? (Hers also, if known). Forever grateful for any help.

Best wishes to all.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

This is a long shot but there were Tommy and Agnas Pomfret that lived in Blackburn on Rothesay Road ( next door to my parents and little me ) they had a son Jim and a daughter Linda . Linda can be found on friends reunited , if this is the same family Linda may be able to shed some light. Hope this can be of help.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

A search on the Internet found a Family Tree with a Benjamin Pomfret 1815-1880 married to
Ellen Haworth, Link Our Family Tree.:Information about Benjamin Pomfret
Hope this might help.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Another really long shot. But my French teacher was called Mrs Pomfret.

Witton Park High School, Blackburn.

I Think she retired just after I left in 1985.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Looks like you struck gold there Acstan. And it gives parents for both of them. Well done, Dotti should be well pleased.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

We've got some poems by a local poet called Joan Pomfret, who's also featured in the book of poems, An Accrington Miscellany.

Probably unconnected, though it's an unusual name, so she might be a descendent.

Here's one of her dialect poems, T' Mothers' Meetin'.

LD Poems T? Mothers? Meetin?

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Many, many thanks for all your replies. You really are a great bunch of people and have certainly given me lots of food for thought, and some good ideas.
Thank you for your lead to that website Acstan, but unfortunately the Pomfrets on that site (yes, I went straight to it with fingers crossed) are, I think, mainly the Lower Darwen ones. 'My' Benjamin's family came from Blackburn and his wife was called Ellen Shutt at the time of their marriage as she had been married before and was a widow, and was married under this name. Her maiden name was Haworth. So back to the drawing board.
There seem to have been a number of Benjamin Pomfrets - no imagination re names, and a bl**** lot of Pomfrets (and Haworths) all around the same time. Makes it hard to follow. Bit of a worry when the same surnames pop up on both sides of the family - his two and my two, and more so when they crop up in both his and mine! Oops!!!!
I will be following some of the leads and whether successful or not I must emphasise how much I appreciate all your comments and help.
Cheers.....

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

You've just set alarm bells off. The Tom and Agnus Pomfret of Rothesay Road had Agnus's mother living with them and she was called Haworth.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Many thanks Greeny for your interest. Will take your comments on board and try to follow-up. So many Pomfrets and so many Haworths though make it difficult to know which is which and who is who's. Ah! the joys (and frustrations) of family history research.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

.................................................. ................................

Joan Pomfret was one our all-time top dialect writers, in prose and verse. This was her maiden name. She was Mrs Douglas TOWNSEND. Joan's father was borough librarian in Darwen & Preston. She died about 15yrs ago in Gt Harwood, where she was president of the Gt Harwod Male Voice Choir. A lovely lady. She had no children. One of her best pooems was "Other folks' children"

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Used to play cricket for Enfield in the Lancashire League in the 1960s and their was often a Pomfret in the East Lancs side.

Brian Stott

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Benjamin Pomfret
L/Cpl 242003. K.O.R.L.
K.I.A. 26-10-1917.
Lived in Gt Harwood
Born in Blackburn, leaves a widow & 1 child
at Westwell St, Gt Harwood.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

This is the one you want I believe;

name: Benjamin Pomfret
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 03 Mar 1811
baptism/christening place: St. Paul's, Blackburn, Lancashire, England
birth date: 02 Dec 1810
father's name: Thomas Pomfret
mother's name: Ann

The only marriage I can come up with that ties in with the names are:
groom's name: Thomas Pomfret
bride's name: Ann Waddington
marriage date: 09 Feb 1807
marriage place: Blackburn, Lancashire, England

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Once again I thank all of you for your suggestions. Accybill I had also come up with Benjamin's father and mother being a Thomas and an Ann. However, I believe the Benjamin baptised on 3/3/1811 and born on 2/12/1810 came from Lower Darwen and not Blackburn. According to Census records 'my' Ben was born in Blackburn. Also from what I have been able to gather the Benjamin born to Thomas and Ann (nee Waddington) was born in 1818 and was the 7th of their 11 children, so that sort of puts him out of contention. I do thank you for your efforts on my behalf which are much appreciated but I think it is now back to the drawing board.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

The information I have posted is confirmed from records and show both his DOB and his Baptism (both in Blackburn).
The marriage of Thomas & Ann were also in Blackburn.

I cannot vouch for them being your relatives as any data needs to be verified.

The only way to confirm any data is to take a look at the Baptism and marriage records which are held in Preston.
They are available to view at the Archives Office as is a wealth of information on microfilm

Lancashire Archives - Lancashire Archives

It is where I would go if I were seeking to obtain information on relatives beyond 1837.

If you call them they are very helpful and will advise on what you need to do.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

If you know that Benjamin married in 1933 then his marriage records should show his parents.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Hi Accybill. I do thank you once again for your replies. Trying to sort out Pomfrets from Pomfrets is proving to be very frustrating and I agree with you that it seems I am going to have to see the official birth and marriage records to get the right answers. The church records of Benny Boy's marriage don't show his parents, so no short cuts there, and it looks like the answers will lie solely in the official records. Again, many thanks for your efforts on my behalf.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

1871 Census
Father Benjamin Pomfret is living at Milton street, Blackburn with his son's family at the age of 64, Born Lower Darwen.
Mother Ellen Pomfret is living at Fox Street, Blackburn with her son's family at the age of 67, Born Lower Darwen.
Joseph Shutt who she is living with is her son with Evan Shutt and Ellen Haworth married 1st December 1827, Blackburn.
1871 Census say's both Benjamin and Ellen were born in Lower Darwen.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Hi Acstan. VERY many thanks for all that information, you have certainly given me a lot to think about. I didn't have the info re the 1871 Census. The names, dates, etc., gel with what I have (plus now I have more info thanks to you) all except the bit about Benny-boy and Ellen being born in Lower Darwen. Can anyone tell me if Lower Darwen was actually part of Blackburn in those days as this would explain things, as on the 1851 Census when they lived at 5 Back Union Street, Blackburn they were all recorded as being born in Blackburn. Of course details weren't always noted correctly so this could explain it. As I live in South Australia information re Lancashire families is sometimes hard to find so I do thank very much.
Am assuming from the amount of info you have that you are related to this family.
Cheers!

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Dotti34 do you know what the Pomfret's did for a living just asking as there is a chemist shop in Preston on Lancaster road called "Pomfret's chemist" its been there ever since i can remember and its still open to this day.
just wondering if this could be any relation ?:)

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Just a hobby Dott, not related. Your tree is a hard one to crack !

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Hi Mick. Have a feeling the Pomfrets in this family line were factory workers - though Benjamin's church marriage record cites him as being 'stripper bachelor'. I seriously doubt that this meant he took it all off for a living, more like it was a job in the mill! It is possible the chemist could be some relation down the track but there were so many of this name, would like to know where they originated from.
While I am answering you Mick I would like to take this opportunity to say how much I enjoy the Acc'y Web - love to read the rapport (sometimes a bit cheeky but often very funny) between your regular correspondents. Keep up the good work!

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Acstan - Wow! you must be a glutton for punishment (ha ha) - it's enough just trying to follow our own family lines. You deserve a medal!

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

A few months ago someone else on here was asking about what a stripper in a mill would do - I think it was a bobbin stripper. Can't find the thread but anyway here is a job description:

689.685-022 - BOBBIN STRIPPER (tex. prod., nec) - DOT Dictionary of Occupational Titles Job Description

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

Hi Susie - Mmm! I guessed it was something like that, pity - just for a moment there I thought I had discovered some hidden (or not hidden, depending on the facts) talent that was in my other half's family. Especially so as Benjamin's daughter, Sarah Ann, who (if my records are correct) was the great-great-grandmother of him indoors was also a stripper. Now THAT would have been something to tell the kids about....

On a more serious note, they must have had very tough lives in those days - hard work for little pay, day-to-day living always a struggle, but they would have accepted this as being their lot in life. Very sad to see how many people signed documents with a X because they couldn't read or write, especially the females. Opens your eyes a bit, delving into the past.

Re: Pomfret family of Blackburn
 

It was a tough life and the Census records show that many "very" large families resided in a 2up 2 down house (some even smaller homes) with no real sanitation.