Find Ancestors

I have a difficult quest. I'm trying to find a William cunliffe who was born in Burnley and lived in Burnley around 1863. He was definately in Burnley then and was possibly born between 1812 and 1835? He was a wool comber and the only one i can find for that profession married Margaret graham in Burnley in 1849. She already had at least three children out of wedlock , the first one charlotte graham born in 1840 . Or 1839.
This may not be the correct William but he is the only one i can find who was a wool comber living in Burnley approx 1863.
The William i am trying to find was also well travelled. Apparently travelled in America . The above William may have had time to travel before he married in 1849 as he was born in 1812 making him 37 at least on his marriage . And a bachelor.
Can anyone fibd signs of this William travelling to America or maybe find another wool comber living in Burnley in the 1860,s ? :-S

For reference - the couple mentioned above :

Marriage: 8 Jan 1849 Holy Trinity, Habergham Eaves, Lancashire, England
William Cunliffe - (X), 33 years, Wool comber, Bachelor, Win Hill, Habergham Eaves
Margaret Graham - (X), 27 years, Char-woman, Spinster, Win Hill, Habergham Eaves
Groom's Father: James Cunliffe, Wool-sorter
Bride's Father: George Graham, Coalman
Witness: John Ward, (X); Ann Ward, (X)
Married by Certificate by: Watkins C. Roberts, B. A.
Register: Marriages 1848 - 1855, Page 16, Entry 31
Source: LDS Film 1526142

Dea x

Online travel info starts in 1890

What did he do in Burnley in 1863 that makes you want to find him?

he wrote poetry about the cotton famine. i had wondered if there was ship info for back then, but if not then im stuck. he appeared in the burnley gazette in 1863.
:-S

He also spoke out about the American Civil War and what was taking place in America around that time. His comments were reported in several newspapers.

How does William connect with your family please?

Dea x

he doesnt dea, i was trying to find who he was , thought it would be nice for his present day ancestors to know that thy had a poet in the family . His pen name was williffe cunliam. He was still writing in the burnley gazette in 1866. Its connected to the project on the cotton famine done by exeter university.
I do have cunliffes in my family from burnley but i doubt they are connected. Well, i havent checked but anyway cunliffe is a common name in the area.

I just wondereed if anyone could find a clue as to if it was this william i have found.
I work in the library and have been involved with the project and the man who is coordinating it asked for info .
He thought that william cunliffe , williffe cunliam , was born around 1830 ish as i think he said he was described as a young man in 1863. But he would have to be a bit older than that maybe to have extensively travelled to america etc, may be wrong ?? what do people think. ?
:-) :-S

hi
there are maybe two o ther choices for william cunliffe. maybe the one who married ellen pollard nee whalen in 1860 or maybe william cunliffe born in 1836 who married elizabeth sharples. But neither of these men were wool combers . :-S

Just a thought .....................................

Looking back at those marriage details I posted above, it would appear that in 1849 William marked with a 'x' on the register rather than signing his name ???

It would seem strange that someone unable even to sign his name should be doing all that writing of poetry and articles for newspapers ?

Maybe we do have the wrong William here or maybe he just learned to write? - not impossible I suppose.

Dea x

yes. simon reeve thought the same. But there arent that many william cunliffes in burnley at that time who could be him. I think a read of all the articles to gain any clue might have to be tried. I know i shouldnt judge but i myself did think that perhaps the william cunliffe wasntt a wool comber but maybe from a political family or literary family. Like you say, if he maybe signed his name with a cross he possibly could not write . :-S :-)

can anyone see if theere are many william cunliffes living in burnley on the 1861 census or even the 1871 who maybe were born from around mid to late 1820's to mid 1830's. One who may have had funds to travel to america aand return to burnley in 1863=1867 to write lots of poems and articles and be politically active ?
p.s i did find an article in the gazette on the 11th june 1864 by him called "a trip to whalley, mitton and stoneyhurst". I think a poor wool comber would be so busy working he would not have much time in those days for trips out. I havent read the article yet but will try next week :-S :-)

coincidentally in my tree i have an ambrose cunliffe , who is related to veevers cunliffe who had a son william cunliffe born in 1835 in burnley.
It would be a big coincidence if this william cunliffe was connected to my cunliffe family.
I should check that also. But i doubt mine would have travelled to america and i think they were also very poor.
:-)

Just checking on my william cunliffes now. I have two in my tree, one born in 1833 and one born in 1835. They are connected via ambrose cunliffe who married eliza baker . John william cunliffe married my frances hocking in 1894. His dad was ambrose. But he was a blacksmith and john william cunliffe was a weaver.
ambroses brother was william cunliffe born in 1833 to veevers cunliffe .

:-)

Cant see t being one of them despite being around at the right time. :-S

William Cuncliffe
England and Wales Census, 1861
Name: William Cuncliffe
County: Lancashire
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1861
Event Place: Burnley, Lancashire, England
Ecclesiastical Parish: St James
Registration District: Burnley
Residence Note: Paradise Street
Gender: Male
Age: 32
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Stone Mason
Relationship to Head of Household: Son In Law
Birth Year (Estimated): 1829
Birthplace: ... Clough, Lancashire
Page Number: 9
Registration Number: RG09
Piece/Folio: 3065 / 8
Affiliate Record Type: Household
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
William Woodhead Head Male 66 Burnley, Lancashire
Ellen Woodhead Daughter Female 30 Burnley, Lancashire
William Cuncliffe Son In Law Male 32 ... Clough, Lancashire
Eliza Cuncliffe Wife Female 32 Burnley, Lancashire
Sarah Jane Cuncliffe Daughter Female 12 Burnley, Lancashire
Ellis Cuncliffe Son Male 10 Burnley, Lancashire
Ellen Cuncliffe Daughter Female 4 Burnley, Lancashire

England and Wales Census, 1871
Name: William Cunliffe
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1871
Event Place: Burnley, Lancashire, England
Enumeration District: 21
Gender: Male
Age: 37
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Labourer At Brewery
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birth Year (Estimated): 1834
Birthplace: Burnley, Lancashire
Entry Number: 23
Affiliate Image Identifier: GBC/1871/4148/0175
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
William Cunliffe Head Male 37 Burnley, Lancashire
Ellen Cunliffe Wife Female 37 Burnley, Lancashire
James Cunliffe Son Male 9 Burnley, Lancashire
Jane Cunliffe Daughter Female 6 Burnley, Lancashire
Maria Cunliffe Daughter Female 3 Burnley, Lancashire

William Cuncliffe
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
Name: William Cuncliffe
Residence Place: Burnley, Lancashire, England
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 25 Dec 1802
Christening Date (Original): 25Dec1802
Christening Place: Burnham, Lancashire, England
Father's Name: Thomas Cuncliffe
Mother's Name: Ann Cuncliffe

William Cunliffe
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Passenger Lists Index, 1800-1906
Name: William Cunliffe
Event Type: Immigration
Event Date: 1856
Event Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Birth Year (Estimated): 1833
Birthplace: England
Ship Name: Tonawanda

thanks, that william cunliffe born approx 1833 could be mine , that woud be such a coincidence , but who is to say he was from burnley, Can you find one returning to englnd from the states between 1856 and 1863 at all? :-S

Just read an article by Simon Rennie which states Williffe Cunlium (William Cunliffe)
was a WOOL SORTER

The one who married Margaret Graham in 1849
1851 He was a Wool Sorter
1861 Wool Sorter
1871 5,Hill Court Wool Sorter

1881 general servant

He was born 1813 died 1895

In one of his poems he mentions 8 children Dick and myself,he had a son Richard + many children.

Maryb.

yes this is true. Hence me thinking it was the one who marrried margaret graham.
He is one who would fit the bill. And i guess he could have done his travelling before he married margaret. Did people often sign with a cross though on their wedding certificate if they could actually write ?
This william who lived on whin hill(sandy gate) had a son richard as you say. and think richard died young which was mentioned in one of his poems. But simon seems to think the william cunliffe or wiliffe cunliam was a young man and in 1863 the above william cunliffe would be 53 which i guess in those days wasnt really thought of as young.
:-S