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Thank you Mary,

This may be William / Willie Ashworth. If he and Lilian were now separated
and not yet divorced they would both be listed as married.
He may have been in the Army part time and went to War in 1914 ?
I was told if a man Joined The Colours he could still be working but was in the Army part time until a War I suppose and I think maybe this could be why Lilian gave birth to Stanley in Bishop Auckland as I was told there was a large Army place there ?
They could have moved about not sure how long she was there.
1 Oxford Terrace is not there anymore.

from the information you have given, this has to be Willie/William in 1901, with his parents ............

1901 Census

Name: Willie Ashworth
Age: 17
Estimated birth year: abt 1884
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Father: George Ashworth
Mother: Kezia Ashworth
Birth Place: Barrowford, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Barrowford
Search Photos: Search for 'Barrowford' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
Ecclesiastical parish: Barrowford St Thomas
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Registration district: Burnley
Sub-registration district: Colne
ED, institution, or vessel: 35

Piece: 3890
Folio: 62
Page Number: 16
Household schedule number: 95

George Ashworth 55 b.ca 1846, Blacks, Lancashire [Blacko, Lancashire], Builders Carter
Kezia Ashworth 55 b.ca 1846, Barnsley, Yorkshire, Cotton Weaver
Willie Ashworth 17 Cotton Weaver
Alfred Ashworth 15 Cotton Weaver
George Heys 25 b.ca 1876, Haslingden, Lancashire, Son-in-Law, Cotton Weaver
May Heys 21 b.ca 1880, Barrowford, Daughter, Cotton Weaver
Walter Heys 3/12

Address:- 18 Wilton St


and it does seem that Willie/Willy was his correct name, as I found a baptism for him, and that is the name on the CWGC site

That means that this is him, from FMP ................


British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Transcription

First name(s) WILLIE
Last name ASHWORTH
Birth year 1884
Birth parish BARROWFORD
Birth town BARROWFORD
Birth county LANCASHIRE
Birth country ENGLAND
Service number 8226
Rank -
Regiment -
Document Type Attestation
Attestation year 1904
Attestation Day 12
Attestation Month 3
Attestation age years 20
Attestation age months -
Attestation Corps 3RD LIVERPOOL REGT
Attestation service number 8226
Series WO96 militia service records 1806-1915
Box 170
Box Record Number 248
Record set British Army Service Records 1760-1915
Category Armed forces & conflict
Subcategory Regimental & service records
Collections from United Kingdom

from image:-

Single <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< !!!!
0 children under 14 <<<<<<<<<<< !!!!

Address:- 18 Gray St, Barrowford
Occupation:- Weaver
Age:- 20
Height:- 5' 3½"
Weight:- 112 lbs
Eyes:- Grey
Hair:- Brown
Tattoo on left forearm

Next of Kin:- Father George, mother Kezia, Brother Alfred, Sister Mary


Nary a mention of Lillian or children ??????????????

Do you have the marriage certificate for William and Lilian??

Who does William say is his father on that certificate??


I'm puzzled by the fact that in 1904 when he joined the Militia, Willie Ashworth stated that he was Single, that he had NO children under the age of 14, and gave his parents and siblings as his NOK .............. a complete denial of the truth if he is the one who married Lilian.

There is also the fact that Willie, with father George and mother Kezia(h) always seems to use Willie, never William .......... even on his birth registration and baptism

Births Dec 1883 (>99%)

ASHWORTH Willie Burnley 8e 297


Lancashire, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1911

Name: Willy Ashworth
Birth Date: 6 Dec 1883
Baptism Date: 19 Oct 1884
Parish: Barrowford, Lancashire, England
Search Photos: Search for 'Barrowford' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
Father: George Ashworth
Mother: Keziah Ashworth
Register Type: Parish Registers
Reference Number: PR 3170/1/2

from image:-
Born:- Dec 6 1883
Father occupation:- Carder

In 1904 Willie is living at 18 Grey Street,Barrowford and in 1911 Census age 27 he is a visitor at 7 Grey Street, Barrowford ,the age would be correct.

I did search on FMP Soldiers Died In the Great War 1914-1918 and found the same entry as you but dismissed it as he said unmarried and I did not see who his parents were.
I thought Private Willie Ashworth 8746 Kings Own Liverpool Reg 1st Battalion, born Barrowford,enlisted Warrington,Residence Nelson,Lancs was correct.
He died 28 October 1914,France and Flanders.
My father was told his father died in 1914 ?

The marriage cert I have is Jan 28th 1902.
Willie Ashworth , age 18 ,Weaver of Willow St ,Barrowford,father George,Card Room Master,
Lilian Horrocks age 18 a Weaver,14 Ormerod St,Father William Horrocks,Weaver.
When I looked in the newspapers for Burnley Soldiers who died in WW1 I found a photo of Willie Ashworth 8226 I think he had died.
Not sure what is right now.

He was still a minor when they married, so would have needed the permission of his father.

Did he and Lillian just separate almost immediately after the marriage, and go their own ways?

Any child she had after the marriage would have carried his surname .................


if you look at an English birth certificate, the baby does not have a surname. The first surname in the 4th column is the one that the baby is known by.

A married woman will give her husband's name, and then her maiden name.

A baby born 10 years after the death of her husband will carry that man's name because that is her legal name.

She could tell the Registrar the name of the real father if that is different .... but he then has to be there, or make a declaration that he is the father.

He Is down as William on 1911 Cencus!

Maryb.

Just confirming Mary:

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
7 Grey St Barrowford Nelson, Barrowford, Lancashire, England

Edwin Heath Head Married Male Stoker Electricity Works 30 1881 Cold Ashton Derbys
Elizabeth Heath Wife Married Female - 30 1881 Workington Cumberland
Edwin Heath Son - Male - 9 1902 Hull Yorkshire
Elizabeth Heath Daughter - Female - 6 1905 Hull Yorkshire
Victor Heath Son - Male - 5 1906 Worthington Cumberland
William Ashworth Visitor Married Male Cotton Weaver 27 1884 Barrowford Lanc

The 3 children named earlier were the children of
William Ashworth a farmer born 1873 Barton Lancs
Lilian Asworth born Barton 1879

1911 Wood Fold Goosnargh Lancs
William and Lilian Ashworth married 12 years 6 children all alive.

Maryb.

Here's that 1911 census, so Mary is quite correct. That's a different family

William Ashworth
Age in 1911: 38
Estimated birth year: abt 1873
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Barton, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Goosnargh
Search Photos: Search for 'Goosnargh' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address: Wood Fold Goosnargh
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Farmer
Registration district: Preston
Registration District Number: 476
Sub-registration district: Broughton
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Piece: 25355
Household Members:
Name Age
William Ashworth 38
Lilian Ashworth 32
Ellen Ashworth 12
Joseph Ashworth 10
George Ashworth 9
William Ashworth 7
Mable Ashworth 4
Thomas Ashworth 3
John Tomlinson 21

Another article a year earlier than the others: I actually wonder if any of her surviving children were fathered by Willie?

Burnley Express - Saturday 02 December 1905

NELSONS FACTORY GIRL'S THEFTS

On Wednesday at Preston Sessions Lilian Ashworth (22) a factory operative, pleaded guilty to stealing a watch and chain.....
The prisoner pleaded that she had been left destitute by her husband, and, furthermore had paid off certain liabilities incurred by him. She called her mother, who lives in Nelson, and she confirmed her daughter's story that she had been hard pressed for money.
She was sent to prison for three months with hard labour, on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently.
-------------------------------------------------

Have you traced Lilian's sister, Margaret Alice Horrocks- does her family have any information?

Baptism:
Name: Margaret Alice Horrocks
Birth Date: 31 Jan 1886
Baptism Date: 19 Feb 1886
Parish: Padiham, Lancashire, England
Father: William Horrocks
Mother: Olivia Mary Horrocks
Register Type: Parish Registers
Reference Number: Pr 2863/1/10
--------------------------------------------------------

1911
Name: Margaret Alice Bailey
Age in 1911: 25
Estimated birth year: abt 1886
Relation to Head: Wife
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Nelson, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Nelson
County/Island: Lancashire
Street address: 39 Forest Street Nelson Lanc
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Cotton Weaver
Registration district: Burnley
Registration District Number: 472
Sub-registration district: Nelson
ED, institution, or vessel:5 Piece: 24885

Name Age
John Bailey 26
Margaret Alice Bailey 25
Margaret Olivia Bailey 2

The UK Register of Soldiers' Effects for the Willie Ashworth died 28 Oct 1914 (no 8746, 1st Btn Liverpool regt) shows back pay of £5 17s 4d plus the war gratuity of £5 went to a widow named Lilian.

No I had not thought of that I would not know how to start. I have limited access to research. I just have a month to month on Genes Reunited now I am retired.
I do try to find info on FMP and Ancestry.co.uk but can only get so far as more info needs a subscription.
Very much appreciating all the help everyone is giving me even though it is all confusing I am trying to piece it together.
It would be wonderful if Lilian's sister Margaret did pass on any family history to her family.how to find that out would be an issue I think.
I did trace the family of my grandfather Wille Ashworths brother Alfred he had a son Arthur a first cousin to my father Stanley but Arthur's family said they new nothing at all of Willie.

MarieC- great info re back pay and war gratuity confirming Lilian as his wife.

MarieCeleste.

Is there any way you can going the papers to show when Wille Ashworth 8746
joined the Army as that may show who his family was. Thank you.

Think this is the article with the photo that was mentioned earlier:

Burnley Express - Saturday 07 November 1914

BARROWFORD MAN MISSING
Another Burnley Reservist reported missing id Private Willie Ashworth 8746 of the King's Liverpool Regiment. Private Ashworth is a native of Barrowford, and after serving in the army he settled down at Barrowford only removing to Burnley a few weeks before the outbreak of war. Private Ashworth was well known at Barrowford for his work in connection with the local ambulance brigade. About a month ago his wife received a letter from him stating he was quite well. though he had had a rough time and never had his clothes off his back for a month. He wrote the letter in the trench amid flying shells and bullets. On September 28th his wife received an official notification that he had then been missing a fortnight.

Another article- a little more info (an address for Lilian!!):

Burnley News - Saturday 28 November 1914

Barrowford Man Killed in Action

Mrs Ashworth who resides at 210 Accrington Road, Burnley, received a communication fron the war office on Thursday morning that her Husband, Private Willie Ashworth of the King's Liverpool Regiment has been killed in action on 28th October at a place not known. Private Ashworth was a Barrowford man and he and his wofe were formerly associated with the Ambulance Division. He enlisted in 1904 and served 3 years with his regiment in India after which he returned to Barrowford. He and his wife came to reside in Burnley in June, and he worked as a weaver at Messrs Proctors in Stoneyholme. His last letter was dated October 9th when he stted he had been in the trenches 9 days and had not had the clothes off his back for a month. He expressed the hope that he would be able to come home at the end of the war, but would be lucky to do so. Whilst he was writing the letter bullets and shells were whistling round.
Private Ashworth had been officially reported missing but it was before he wrote the letter- which, however, did not contain any reference to having being missed.

Amazing what you are all finding for me.
My father used to tell me his mother was a nurse or had a connection
to something medical but I put that down to him having a nice dream in his head but maybe there could be a slight truth if Willie his father was with the ambulance brigade. For a little boy growing up in a workhouse I think he was giving himself a family life telling me that his mother was something to do with nursing and his father went to War and died in 1914. He also said his mother died of cancer ?He did know both parents worked as weavers.
I am thinking that most of his information was given him as an adult young man in Burnley by local people. He worked as a gardener for the local corporation in the local parks.

"connected with the ambulance brigade" doesn't really seem to fit with Lillian working in a factory, and ending up in court and jail ?????

another little tidbit from this site

http://www.burnleyinthegreatwar.info/burnleyrollofhonourmena/ashworthwillie8746.htm

http://www.burnleyinthegreatwar.info/nelsonleaderwarrecord/ashworthwillie9746fnelsonleaderbook%20(3).JPG


he had served 3 years in India, finished his service in 1905, and had to serve 9 years on the reserve. He only had a month left when WW1 began.

There is another little bit .................

http://www.burnleyinthegreatwar.info/nelsonleaderwarrecord/ashworthwillie9746gnelsonleaderbook%20%283%29.JPG

he leaves a wife but NO CHILDREN


????????????????????

I think we are back to the other Willie Ashworth.
Willie Ashworth 8746 writing home to his wife could not have abandoned Lilian so he cannot be the father it does not fit.
I am thinking that maybe Willie Ashworth 8226 age 30 married Lilian Horrocks in 1902 and 2 years later in 1904 left her. The Lilian who went to jail had a baby but was it his if he said he had no children or maybe it died.