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the marriage details of William & Maria from the parish register of St Peter's

17 Sept 1887
William Henry Rigby age 21 bachelor piecer 26 Ashmore St William Rigby plasterer
Maria Bland 20 spinster spinner 32 Nelson St Joseph Bland churn maker (deceased)

witnesses Frederick Henry Wilson & Margaret Minnoch

I also found maybe a relation

15 May 1857
Edward Rigby 48 widower gardener 35 Back Bolton St Edward Rigby gardener (deceased
Elizabeth Smith 45 widow John Smith farmer (deceased)

the probate I would guess of the 39 yr old William as he is the first one in the list so the one who died in the j/f/m qtr

RIGBY William. 3 September 1861 Letters of Administration
of the Personal estate and effects of William Rigby late of Preston in the county of Lancaster - Mechanic a Widower deceased who died 15 February 1859 at Preston aforesaid left unadministered by Esther Rigby Widow the grandmother and guardian of John James Rigby a Minor the only Child of the said Deceased were granted at……..
effects under £300.

I thought it interesting that his son was called John James

Hi. The John James thing is interesting as there is a John James listed twice in the Rigby family, one born 1867, the other born 1896. The name runs in the family. What is confusing me is that it says that he was the only child of the deceased. Does that mean that he was the only minor as his other children were all over the age of 18? Does it mean that Esther could be Williams mother?

Is your other post about Edward Rigby a death record?

Thank you so much for that. It gives us something to work on.

Just thought. It mentions that William was a widower when he died. Mary, his wife remarried in 1862.

Hi. searched for John James on BMD. Two listed, one born 1852 mmn Ball. The other born 1859 mmn Jolly. Doesn't look like it's ours. Have found an Edward Rigby born1858, mmn Cottam. There's no other births listed between 1840 and 1858. It's a long time between births! This is so confusing. I really appreciated your help, couldn't do it on my own.

The easy answer first!

The record I posted for Edward Rigby was a marriage. I found it when trawling to find William & Maria's. Edward was 48 so born about 1811.

I would guess that the John James mentioned in the probate is not a direct relation as that William was only approx 39 years old, so possibly the John James born 1852. Just thought it was worth recording.

I looked at the census records for 1851 & 61 and there seemed to be 3 William Rigby's who were either born Woodplumpton or lived there.

there were 3 children mmn = Cottam born after 1837 which seems to indicate a death of a parent after 1840.

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1837
Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Mother's Maiden Name Reference
RIGBY George Preston Preston COTTAM PRES/1/1

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1838
Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Mother's Maiden Name Reference
RIGBY James Preston Preston COTTAM PRES/5/26

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1840
Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Mother's Maiden Name Reference
RIGBY Margaret Preston Preston COTTAM PRES/11/62

Both William and Mary are listed on 1851 census. No mention of James though, perhaps he died. Did you find the Edward listed for 1858?

Hi. Just done the maths. Mary would have been 55 when Edward was born. Obviously not Mary Cottam who's the mother.

Hi. Still not found out anymore about William Rigby b1808. What's the chance that he was born somewhere else? There seems a lot of Rigby's from the Wigan area. Please don't forget about me Lancashire Ann the next time you are at the records office. Thank you so much.

Hi Lancashire Ann. Might have made a break through regards William Rigby b 1808. Been on Family Search new item. They have a William listed in burials for 27 Dec 1859 Preston Twp ( what's Twp) age 55, occupation Pavior. I have Paver down on 1851 census. No mention of family though, but birth is 1804.

I would guess Twp means township which could mean anywhere within the township of Preston which would include places like Broughton, probably Woodplumpton, Bamber Bridge etc. the pavior bit sounds promising.

Wonder if that means he was buried in the municipal cemetery?

I have just been looking at the lancashire catalogue

going right back to page 1 of this thread there was an igi submitted record of a William baptism so of Nicholas Rigby & Catherine Smith. We dismissed it as it said the place name was Plumpton rather than Woodplumpton.

However I have just found the marriage bond between Nicholas & Catherine

Marriage Bond
Date 05/09/1796
Description Groom surname: Rigby
Groom forename(s): Nicholas
Groom age: 21
Groom occupation/status: Labourer
Groom marital status: not given

Groom domicile:
Place 1: Woodplumpton
Place 2: St.Michael upon Wyre
Place 3: Lancashire


Bride surname: Smith
Bride forename(s): Catherine
Bride age: 20
Bride martial status/occupation: Spinster

Bride domicile:
Place 1: Woodplumpton
Place 2: St.Michael upon Wyre
Place 3: Lancashire

Place of marriage:
Church: not given
Place 1: not given
Place 2: St.Michael upon Wyre
Place 3: Lancashire

so maybe still worth keeping in mind

That's great Ann. Thank you so much

Hi (again). Time to call it a day I think. Been on Family Search, there's a William Rigby born 1808 died 1808, father Nicholas Rigby, burial Plumpton Wood. Thank you for all your help these last couple of months, but I have to admit that I'm well and truly beaten! Thank you again.