Introduction

William Morris was unusual in that he moved from Hardington to the industrial north of England. After starting his career as a thatcher’s labourer in his youth, he relocated about 250 miles north to Rochdale. He married a woman from County Mayo, Ireland, and settled in the town. William found various forms of work related to horses, including positions as a cab driver, coachman, and groom. He and his wife had ten children, including three sets of twins.

Childhood at Hardington

 William was born at Hardington around 1838, the first of seven children born to Jacob and Mary Morris. His father was a weaver who later became a farm labourer.

The 1851 census recorded William as a thatcher’s labourer aged 12.

Life in Lancashire

As a young man, William moved to Rochdale, Lancashire. In the first quarter of 1860, he married Catherine Hughes in the Rochdale district. At the time of their marriage, William was about 22 years old, while Catherine was about 29. Catherine was born in County Mayo, Ireland, and moved to Rochdale in about 1855. She was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Rochdale.[1]

William and Catherine went on to have ten children, including three sets of twins. The first set of twins and two of the other children died young.

By April 1861, the family lived at 42 Ann Street, and William worked as a cab driver. In May 1869, they lived at Back Drake Street, and William was an ostler.[2] By April 1871, they had moved to 14 Parish Street, and William had taken on the role of a coachman. In April 1881, they lived at 36 Hanover Street, and William was an unemployed groom. By April 1891, they were living at 14 Penn Street, and William had returned to working as a cab driver. They later moved to 12 Penn Street.

William died at 12 Penn Street on 8 May 1897, at the age of about 59 and was buried at Rochdale Cemetery.[3]

After William’s death. Catherine continued living at 12 Penn Street with her daughter, Elizabeth.

She maintained good health until late November 1925, when she developed bronchial pneumonia. She died three weeks later on 17 December 1925, at the age of 95, and was buried at Rochdale Cemetery alongside William.[4]

Children

William and Catherine had ten children, four of whom died young. Two more died before April 1911, and only three survived their mother.

References

[1] Rochdale Observer, 23 December 1925, p.5.

[2] Rochdale Observer, 28 August 1869, p.8.

[3] Rochdale Observer, 15 May 1897, p.5.

[4] Rochdale Observer, 23 December 1925, p.5.