Genealogy Chat

Unfortunately people in those days couldn’t always read and write so when the census man called he wrote down what he heard and the local dialect didn’t help.
I’ve found that Woan first started off as Walne then changed to Woan, Wone, Woon, Whone and several other alterations which makes it difficult.
They were a large family and everyone had a Thomas. My grandfather was a Thomas.
It should be compulsory for all children born to have a middle name. Would make it much easier for us.
Although the Walne/Woan family started off as farmers they eventually moved to Preston and worked in the mills.
It’s going to take some time to sort out all the information I’ve been given.
Thanks to everyone that has helped.
Pat.

In which case:

WALNE, THOMAS 80
GRO Reference: 1857 J Quarter in PRESTON Volume 08E Page 344


Does this mean he's not one of your Woans after all, Pat?
Or is it just a different spelling?

If all these are the correct family, then 4 must have died pre Thomas' death as newspaper says widow and 5 children

Baptism: 5 Feb 1804 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire
Jane Walne - Daughter of Thos. Walne & Alice
Born: 15 Jan 1804
Abode: Thornley
Register: Baptisms 1791 - 1813 from the Bishop's Transcripts, Page 14, Entry 23
Source: LDS Film 1656769

Baptism: 3 Oct 1807 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire
James Walne - Son of Thos. Walne & Alice
Born: 5 Sep 1807
Abode: Thornley
Register: Baptisms 1791 - 1813 from the Bishop's Transcripts, Page 18, Entry 16
Source: LDS Film 1656769

Baptism: 26 Nov 1809 St Lawrence, Longridge, Lancashire
Mary Walne - D of Thomas Walne & Alice
Born: 30 Oct 1809
Abode: Thornley
Occupation: Husbandman
Notes: Born Monday, Baptised Sunday
Register: Baptisms 1794 - 1812, Page 120, Entry 2
Source: LDS Film 1657578

Baptism: 7 Jun 1812 St Lawrence, Longridge, Lancashire
Ellen Walne - D of Thomas Walne & Alice
Born: 8 May 1812
Abode: Thornley
Occupation: Farmer
Notes: Born Friday, Baptised Sunday
Register: Baptisms 1794 - 1812, Page 155, Entry 3
Source: LDS Film 1657578

Baptism: 5 Mar 1815 St Lawrence, Longridge, Lancashire
Ann Walne - D of Thomas Walne & Alice
Abode: Thornley
Occupation: Farmer
Baptised By: The Revd. Robt. Parkinson
Register: Baptisms 1813 - 1840, Page 17, Entry 134
Source: LDS Film 1657578

Baptism: 9 Mar 1817 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire
Thomas Walne - S of Thomas Walne & Alice
Abode: Thornley
Occupation: Farmer
Baptised By: R. Smith, Curate
Register: Baptisms 1813- 1848 from the Bishop's Transcripts, Page 25, Entry 196
Source: LDS Film 1502473

Baptism: 19 Sep 1819 St Lawrence, Longridge, Lancashire
Margaret Walne - D of Thomas Walne & Alice
Abode: Thornley
Occupation: Farmer
Baptised By: The Revd. Robt. Parkinson
Register: Baptisms 1813 - 1840, Page 50, Entry 399
Source: LDS Film 1657578

Baptism: 24 Mar 1822 St Lawrence, Longridge, Lancashire
Esther Walne - D of Thomas Walne & Alice
Abode: Thornley
Occupation: Farmer
Baptised By: The Revd. Robt. Parkinson
Register: Baptisms 1813 - 1840, Page 70, Entry 555
Source: LDS Film 1657578

Baptism: 26 Jun 1825 St Lawrence, Longridge, Lancashire
Priscilla Walne - D of Thomas Walne & Alice
Abode: Hothersall
Occupation: Farmer
Baptised By: The Revd. Rt. Parkinson
Register: Baptisms 1813 - 1840, Page 101, Entry 801
Source: LDS Film 1657578

--------------------------
?? Marriage of Thomas and Alice - but a change of occupation between this and the baptism of first child 5 months later.

Marriage: 8 Sep 1803 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire
Thomas Walne - Weaver, Thornley
Alice Cowpe - Chipping
Married by Licence
Register: Marriages 1791 - 1812 from the Bishop's Transcripts, Page 12, Entry 2
Source: LDS Film 1656769

? The family in 1851

1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Bettty Farm, Alston, Preston, Lancashire, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Thomas Walne Head Married Male 68 1783 Farmer Thornley, Lancashire, England
Alice Walne Wife Married Female 68 1783 Farmers wife Goosnargh, Lancashire, England
Ellen Walne Daughter Unmarried Female 36 1815 Farmer daughter Thornley, Lancashire, England
Easter Walne Daughter Unmarried Female 28 1823 Farmer daughter Thornley, Lancashire, England
William Walne Grand son Unmarried Male 17 1834 Farm labourer Lancashire, England

Thomas is a Farmer in 1841 and Alice is a widow in 1861 (still farming)

The above burial from lancsopc

https://lan-opc.org.uk/Search/indexp.html

Burial: 26 Jun 1857 St Bartholomew, Chipping, Lancashire
Thomas Walne -
Age: 76 years
Abode: Alston in the Parish of Ribchester
Buried By: E Wilkinson Vicar
Register: Burials 1853 - 1881, Page 22, Entry 169
Source: LDS Film 1656770

This could be Thomas.
I think the best thing now would be to let the poor man rest in peace but thanks to all for their help.
Detail
Source

Name
Thomas Walne
Death Age
79
Birth Date
abt 1778
Burial Date
26 Jun 1857
Burial Place
Chipping, Lancashire, England
Search Photos
View Map
Register Type
Bishop's Transcript
Reference Number
DRB 2/48

Many thanks for looking. You’ve done your best and I can’t ask for more.
Pat.

I can't see him in Alston area in 1851 - assuming he hadn't just moved there between 1851 and 1857.

Can't see him anywhere else either, for that matter, if he really was approx 80 in 1857.

I've tried looking for other deaths in that area in 1857, in case the newspapers had somehow got hold of the wrong name - but no deaths fit. No farmers of the right age.

Brilliant although not for Thomas.
Thank you.

He had a wife and 5 children (presumably all adults if his reported age is correct):

A MAN KILLED ON A RAILWAY.—A very painful and distressing accident occurred on Tuesday, on the Preston and Longridge Railway at Alston, about f our miles from Preston. A train consisting of four stone waggons and one passenger carriage was proceeding from Longridge to Preston, when the breaksman observed two young calves, as he thought, trespassing upon the line between the metals. Presently he saw a man attempting to drive the cattle off, the railway at this point being somewhat narrow. He immediately put on the break ; but before the train was brought to a standstill the left buffer of the front waggon caught the man and threw him down , the wheel severing his leg just below the knee. The other portion of the body was carried about three yards further down the line, when the unfortunate man's head fell upon the opposite rail, and was completely scalped. The body turned out to be that of Mr. Thomas Woan, farmer of Alston. He has left a widow and five children.

Published: Saturday 27 June 1857
Newspaper: Weekly Star and Bell's News
County: London, England




On Wednesday week, a farmer named Woon, 80 years of age, was killed on the Preston and Longridge Railway while endeavouring to drive two calves from the line.

Published: Saturday 04 July 1857
Newspaper: Staffordshire Advertiser
County: Staffordshire, England

Nor can I but thank you for looking.
Sometimes an extra pair of eyes helps.
Pat.

Can't see any death record, though!

Not on GRO nor FreeBMD.

Many thanks.
Pat

Another report gives his approximate age:

A FRMER KILLED ON THE PRESTON AND LONGRIDGE
On Wednesday morning, an old man, about 80 years of age, named Thomas Woan, a farmer, was killed at the steep incline of the Preston and Longridge train ran over him while driving some . . . . off the line.
Published: Friday 26 June 1857
Newspaper: Liverpool Daily Post
County: Lancashire, England



Incidentally, the Liverpool 1858 death was a one-year-old child:
WOAN, THOMAS 1
GRO Reference: 1858 M Quarter in LIVERPOOL Volume 08B Page 259

Column headed Accidents and Offences

A man was killed at Alston on the Preston and Logaridge Railway, on tuesday week, by being knocked down by the train. Deceased (Mr Thomas Woan) was in the act of driving two calves off the line

I would be grateful of another favour please.
This is a cutting from a newspaper and wondered if someone could look at the full story.
Thank you.
Pat.

85 Stiutpobd. killed Alston, the Preston and Lognridge
02 July 1857
Railway, Tuesday week, by being knocked down the train.
Suffolk and Essex Free Press
Deceased (Mr. Thomas Woan) was iu the act nf driving

two calves off the line. On Sunday week, a young man

named Albert Keel met his death the upsetting of a

According to Lancashire b.m.d a Thomas Woan is listed as dying in 1858 but that was in Liverpool but can’t find a Thomas Woan dying in 1857 which I think would be Preston Lancashire area.

Many thanks.
Pat.

.. THE SUICIDE OF AN OLD MAN AT PRESTON. At the Police Station, this afternoon, inquest was held Mr. Coroner Parker, on Thos. Woan, aged [??.] strangled himself with piece of twine. For five years who was a slasher, had lived with his daughter. Mart Reek. He .had never threatened to destroy himself, but at times had rambled in his statements.—Elim Ann Threlfall. who yesterdav afternoon went take care of deceased
Woan told her he would rather be quiet, and did not wish to keep her there all the afternoon, she went to a neighbour..
Returning in . . . she found him sitting on the edge of the stairs, with window cord around his neck. When cut down was breathing, but only lived quarter of hour. A doctor was sent for but it would quite two hours before arrived.
—A Juror : Did the party who went for the doctor bring soy word back ¦‘
—Witness : The doctor said if the man dead could not him any good
—The Juror: But was not dead when went for him.
—The Coroner : Doctors are like other people, they have their engagements to keep.
—The Juror : But it’s strange with man the point of death.
—The Coroner : It evident the messenger conveyed the impression the doctor that the man was dead.
—A verdict of Suicide whilst temporarily insane was returned.
Published: Tuesday 20 August 1895
Newspaper: Lancashire Evening Post
County: Lancashire, England


And another bit in same edition of same paper:


SINGULAR SUICIDE PRESTON - HANGED WITH PIECE . . .
Last evening, the singular suicide of a [septoM** ] was reported the Preston police. Thomas, living with his daughter 36, left in the charge of neighbour, and in her absence he left the bedroom, and h»lf*w»y stairs placed a piece of string around his[neck ] fastened to a bar across the top of the stairs; cut down life was extinct. For six years been a victim to rheumatism, and during [?] months has been low-spirited
Published: Tuesday 20 August 1895
Newspaper: Lancashire Evening Post
County: Lancashire, England

Many thanks ArgyllGran.
Help appreciated.
Pat.

Thomas Woan, 74. of 36, Barton-street, Preston, on Monday committed suicide by hanging. He had been suffering from rheumatism for six years and had been almost bedfast for eight months, but he managed to get as far as the stairs, where he put some string round his neck, and suspended it from a hook in the wall.

Published: Saturday 24 August 1895
Newspaper: Blackburn Standard
County: Lancashire, England