The history of my family
Robert Archibald FORREST
Cotton creeler of Blackburn, Lancashire
Ancestors
Show generations
- +
Unknown FORREST
~1754 - ~1804
William FORREST
1795 - 1844
Brick maker of Blackburn, Lancashire
 
James FORREST
1833 - 1889
Cotton spinner of Mellor, Lancashire
 
Thomas ELLISON
~1707 - bur.1793
of Billington, Blackburn, Lancashire
William ELLISON
1739 - bur.1799
Weaver of Billington, Blackburn, Lancashire
 
William STANNING
~1671 - ~1755
of Dinckley, Blackburn, Lancashire
Margaret STANNING
1713 - bur.1793
of Dinckley, Blackburn, Lancashire
 
John ELLISON
1771 - 1847
Cotton weaver of Balderstone, Lancashire
 
Thomas SOWERBUTTS
~1667 - ~1752
of Ribchester, Lancashire
Richard SOWERBUTTS
bap.1708 - ~1776
of Ribchester, Lancashire
 
Ellen SOWERBUTTS
1745 - bur.1815
of Salesbury, Blackburn, Lancashire
 
Nancy ELLISON
1803 - 1838
of Mellor, Lancashire
 
George BARNES
~1738 - ~1815
of Mellor, Lancashire
Agnes 'Aggy' BARNES
1778 - 1823
of Mellor, Lancashire
 
Richard COUNSELL
~1723 - 1797
Cordwainer of Osbaldeston, Lancashire
Margaret 'Peggy' COUNSELL
1749 - ~1810
of Samlesbury, Lancashire
 
John HINDLE
~1690 - ~1765
Weaver of Mellor, Lancashire
Ann HINDLE
bap.1724 - ~1785
of Osbaldeston, Lancashire
 
Thomas SHARPLES
~1658 - ~1749
of Osbaldeston, Lancashire
Mary SHARPLES
bap.1704 - ~1764
of Osbaldeston, Lancashire
 
Unknown [SHARPLES]
~1658 - ~1708
Robert Archibald FORREST
1860 - 1922
Cotton creeler of Blackburn, Lancashire
 
John ARCHIBALD
~1613 - ~1698
of Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland
John ARCHIBALD
bap.1654 - ~1704
of Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland
 
Helen [ARCHIBALD]
~1613 - ~1663
John ARCHIBALD
1682 - ~1743
of Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland
 
Isabell PAUL
~1654 - ~1720
of Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland
Robert ARCHIBALD
1704 - bur.1750
Coal miner of Liberton, Midlothian, Scotland
 
Isobel HENDERSON
~1684 - ~1746
of Liberton, Midlothian, Scotland
Robert ARCHIBALD
1729 - ~1791
Coal miner of Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland
 
Robert BENNETT
~1655 - ~1740
of Newton, Dalkieth, Midlothian, Scotland
Janet BENNETT
1696 - ~1760
of Newton, Dalkieth, Midlothian, Scotland
 
Christian SMITH
~1667 - ~1740
of Newton, Dalkieth, Midlothian, Scotland
Henry ARCHIBALD
1766 - 1832
Soldier - 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot of Dalkieth, Midlothian, Scotland
 
James HUNTER
~1687 - ~1737
Jean HUNTER
1731 - ~1791
of Newton, Dalkieth, Midlothian, Scotland
 
Janet SIMPSON
~1699 - ~1749
Robert ARCHIBALD
1801 - 1872
Beer seller of Skipton, Yorkshire
 
John SAGAR
~1658 - ~1733
of Askrigg, Yorkshire
John SAGAR
1695 - bur.1764
of Askrigg, Yorkshire
 
John PARKIN
~1636 - ~1720
of Kirkby Ravensworth, Richmond, Yorkshire
Margaret PARKIN
bap.1672 - bur.1702
of Kirkby Ravensworth, Richmond, Yorkshire
 
Warwick SAGAR
bap.1737 - bur.1814
Parish Clerk of Askrigg, Yorkshire
 
Elizabeth TIPLADY
~1697 - bur.1782
of Askrigg, Yorkshire
Mary SAGAR
bap.1774 - 1852
Pauper of Askrigg, Yorkshire
 
James FAWCIT
~1698 - ~1782
of Askrigg, Yorkshire
Anne FAWCIT
bap.1738 - 1782
of Askrigg, Yorkshire
 
William NICHOLSON
~1669 - ~1754
of Askrigg, Yorkshire
Mary NICHOLSON
bap.1710 - bur.1773
of Askrigg, Yorkshire
 
Caroline Elizabeth ARCHIBALD
bap.1834 - 1903
Lodging house keeper of Askrigg, Yorkshire
 
John FIRTH
~1738 - ~1814
of Illingworth, Halifax, Yorkshire
John FIRTH
1782 - 1854
Plasterer of Northrowram, Yorkshire
 
Betty HOLDSWORTH
~1748 - ~1814
of Illingworth, Halifax, Yorkshire
Harriet FIRTH
1801 - 1857
of Paradise, Luddenden Foot, Yorkshire
 
John RAMSDEN
~1682 - ~1767
Clothier of Halifax, Yorkshire
James RAMSDEN
1723 - 1809
of Halifax, Yorkshire
 
Sarah WATERHOUSE
~1694 - ~1767
of Halifax, Yorkshire
Samuel RAMSDEN
1751 - 1824
of Ovenden, Yorkshire
 
John STANDEVEN
~1693 - ~1768
Cloth comber of Northrowram, Yorkshire
Martha STANDEVEN
1727 - 1806
of Northrowram, Yorkshire
 
Mary PICKLES
~1699 - ~1768
of Northrowram, Yorkshire
Hannah RAMSDEN
bap.1781 - 1861
of Ovenden, Yorkshire
 
Benjamin TETLEY
~1652 - 1733
of Ovenden, Yorkshire
Benjamin TETLEY
1702 - ~1768
Wool comber of Ovenden, Yorkshire
 
Thomas HARTLEY
~1621 - ~1706
of Northrowram, Yorkshire
Martha HARTLEY
bap.1662 - 1733
of Halifax, Yorkshire
 
Ann TETLEY
1747 - 1835
of Ovenden, Yorkshire
 
John DOUGHTY
~1681 - bur.1762
of Ovenden, Yorkshire
Martha DOUGHTY
1712 - bur.1766
of Ovenden, Yorkshire
 
Spouses and Descendants
Generations
- +
Robert Archibald FORREST
1860 - 1922
Cotton creeler of Blackburn, Lancashire
  m. Catherine Ann 'Kate' PICKUP (1866 - 1922)
 
Narrative and Notes

In 1871 Robert Archibald FORREST was recorded as being 13 and a creeler in a cotton factory living at 16 Cross Field Street, Blackburn with his parents.

In fact Robert's birth was recorded as 21 Jan 1860 at his christening, which implies that he was, in fact, 11 in 1871.

There was an economic benefit of turning 14 in a cotton town in the 19th century and it is possible that Robert's father was accelerating his son's age to take advantage of the better wages that could be earner by an older boy. The Factory Act of 1844 reduced the hours of work for children between eight and thirteen years of age to six and a half hours a day, either in the morning or afternoon, no child being allowed to work in both on the same day, except on alternate days, and then only for ten hours. Young persons and women were to have the same hours, i.e. not more than twelve for the first five days of the week (with one and a half out for meals), and nine on Saturday. Certificates of age were to be granted in future only by surgeons appointed for the purpose. Accidents causing death or bodily injury were to be reported to these surgeons, who were to investigate their cause and report the result to the inspector. The factory was to be thoroughly washed with lime every fourteen months. A Register was likewise to be kept; in which were to be entered the names of all children and young persons employed, the dates of the lime-washing, and some other particulars. Certificates of school attendance were to be obtained in the case of children.

A creeler was responsible for making sure there was a constant supply of fresh bobbins for the cotton emerging from the card frames.

Robert married Catherine "Kate" Ann PICKUP in 1886. They appear together in the 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses. The 1911 census (which incorrectly named them FOSTER despite Robert signing his name as Robert FORREST) recorded that they had been married for 25 years and had had no children.

The misspelling of his name may have continued at his death in Q3 1922 - a few weeks after Kate's in Q2 1922 - where the death register records the death of Robert FORRESTER, born aged 62 in Burnley. While this would be unusual, there are no other Robert FORREST deaths in Lancashire that fit half as well.

Timeline
Personal Family World
Date
Age*
Event
Place
Oct 1857
-2
Death of sister Margaret Archibald FORREST 
High Street, Blackburn, Lancashire
21 Jan 1860
0
Birth 
12
Blackburn, Lancashire
1 Feb 1860
0
Baptism 
St Mary the Virgin, Blackburn, Lancashire, England
bef 1861
1
Death of brother James FORREST 
 
7 Apr 1861
1
Census 
3
17 Harrison St, Blackburn, Lancashire
Q3 1868
8
Death of sister Harriet FORREST 
4
Blackburn, Lancashire
2 Apr 1871
13
query Caution: Recorded age does not match calculated age (11).
Census 
5
16 Cross Field Street, Blackburn, Lancashire
2 Apr 1871
11
Occupation: Cotton creeler 
6
Blackburn, Lancashire
15 May 1875
15
Marriage of brother Firth FORREST and Letitia 'Lettice' WILKINSON 
Zion Primitive Methodist Chapel, Blackburn, Lancashire, England
Q1 1886
26
Marriage of brother John FORREST and Selina HIGGINSON 
7
Blackburn, Lancashire
Q2 1886
26
Marriage to wife Catherine Ann 'Kate' PICKUP 
8
Blackburn, Lancashire
Q4 1887
27
Marriage of sister Nancy FORREST and James BLACKBURN 
9
Blackburn, Lancashire
5 Dec 1889
29
Death of father James FORREST 
10
The Infirmary, Blackburn, Lancashire
1 Feb 1890
30
Marriage of brother William FORREST and Rose Ann PARKES 
11
Christ Church, Blackburn, Lancashire
Q3 1890
30
Marriage of brother James FORREST and Barbara HAWORTH 
12
Blackburn, Lancashire
5 Apr 1891
29
query Caution: Recorded age does not match calculated age (31).
Census 
13
74 Greenfield Road, Colne, Lancashire
19 Oct 1897
37
Marriage of sister Harriet FORREST and Richard BLACKBURN 
14
St Paul's, Blackburn, Lancashire, England
31 Mar 1901
37
query Caution: Recorded age does not match calculated age (41).
Census 
15
Vale Street, Nelson, Lancashire
Q1 1903
43
Death of mother Caroline Elizabeth ARCHIBALD 
16
Blackburn, Lancashire
2 Apr 1911
48
query Caution: Recorded age does not match calculated age (51).
Census 
17
16 Whitehall Street, Nelson, Lancashire
aft 1915
55
Death of brother John FORREST 
18
 
Q2 1922
62
Burnley, Lancashire
Q3 1922
62
Death 
Burnley, Lancashire
5 Oct 1930
70
Death of brother William FORREST 
20
75 Rockcliffe Street, Blackburn, Lancashire
Q1 1931
71
Death of brother Firth FORREST 
Blackburn, Lancashire
11 Oct 1944
84
Death of sister Nancy FORREST 
21
Blackburn, Lancashire
Q1 1946
86
Death of brother James FORREST 
22
Blackburn, Lancashire
22 Feb 1956
96
Death of sister Harriet FORREST 
23
475 Revidge Road, Blackburn, Lancashire
Documented age, Calculated age, Estimated age
Citations
1 - Free BMD

Births

Mar 1860

FORREST Robert Archibald - Blackburn - 8e 279

2 - St Mary the Virgin, Blackburn Parish Records

Blackburn, St Mary the Virgin in 1860

Born: Jan 21st

Baptised: Feb 1st

Name: Robert Archibald

Parents James (Spinner) and Elizabeth Forrest

Abode: Harrison St

3 - UK 1861 Census - 7th April 1861
Citation imageCitation image

Daniel Stott - Head - Mar - 43 - Cotton Spinner - Lancashire Moons Mill

Mary Stott - Wife - Mar - 43 - Housekeeper - Lancashire Blackburn

Jane Stott - Daur - Un - 17 - Cotton Weaver - Lancashire Blackburn

Mary A Stott - Daur - Un - 15 - Cotton Warper - Lnacashire Blackburn

Elizabeth Forrest - Boarder - Mar - 27 - Cotton rover - Yorkshire Askrigg

Firth Forrest - Boarder - - 7 - Scholar - Lancashire Blackburn

Robert Forrest - Boarder - - 1 - - Lancashire Blackburn

4 - England & Wales, Death Registration Index 1837-2007 and United Kingdom Deaths 2007-2017

First name(s)

Harriet

Last name

Forrest

Gender

Female

Birth day

-

Birth month

-

Birth year

1868

Age

0

Death quarter

3

Death year

1868

District

Blackburn

County

Lancashire

Volume

8E

Page

223

5 - UK 1871 Census - 2nd April 1871
Citation image

James FORREST, Head, Mar, 38, Spinner Cotton, Lancaster, Mellor

Elizabeth FORREST, Wife, Mar, 37, Housekeeper, Yorkshire, Ascrig

Firth FORREST, Son, Unm, 16, Spinner Cotton, Lancaster, Blackburn

Robt Archibald FORREST, Son, Unm, 13, Creeler in Cotton Factory, Lancaster, Blackburn

John FORREST, Son, Unm, 7, - , Lancaster, Blackburn

Nancy FORREST, Daur, Unm, 6, - , Lancaster, Blackburn

James FORREST, Son, - , 1, - , Lancaster, Blackburn

6 - UK 1871 Census - 2nd April 1871

James FORREST, Head, Mar, 38, Spinner Cotton, Lancaster, Mellor

Elizabeth FORREST, Wife, Mar, 37, Housekeeper, Yorkshire, Ascrig

Firth FORREST, Son, Unm, 16, Spinner Cotton, Lancaster, Blackburn

Robt Archibald FORREST, Son, Unm, 13, Creeler in Cotton Factory, Lancaster, Blackburn

John FORREST, Son, Unm, 7, - , Lancaster, Blackburn

Nancy FORREST, Daur, Unm, 6, - , Lancaster, Blackburn

James FORREST, Son, - , 1, - , Lancaster, Blackburn

7 - England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005

Name

John Forrest

Event Type

Marriage

Registration Quarter

Apr-May-Jun

Registration Year

1886

Registration District

Blackburn

County

Lancashire

Event Place

Blackburn, Lancashire, England

Volume

8E

Page

491

Affiliate Line Number

140

John Forrest probably married one of the following people

Name

Selina Higginson

Name

William Henry Procter

Name

Jana Walmsley

8 - England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005

Name Robert Forrest

Event Type Marriage

Registration Quarter Apr-May-Jun

Registration Year 1886

Registration District Blackburn

County Lancashire

Event Place Blackburn, Lancashire, England

Volume 8E

Page 621

Affiliate Line Number 150

Robert Forrest probably married one of the following people

Name Mary Eddlerton

Name Elizabeth Haworth

Name Thomas Mercer

Name Kate Ann Pickup

9 - Blackburn - Forrest marriage registration reference

Marriages Dec 1887

--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------

BLACKBURN James Blackburn 8e 596

FORREST Nancy Blackburn 8e 596

10 - UK General Registry Office Death Certificate
Citation image

Superintendent Registrar's District BLACKBURN

Registrar's Sub-District Blackburn Southern

1889 DEATHS in the Sub-District of Blackburn Southern in the County of Blackburn

No - When and where died - Sex - Age - Occupation - Cause of death - Signature, description and residence of informant - When registered - Signature of registrar

97 - Fifth December 1889 The Infirmary Blackburn U.S.D - James Forrest - Male - 54 years - Cotton Spinner of 42 Primrose Hill Blackburn - Bronchitis Certified by J Wheatly M.B. - John Forrest Son 42 Primrose Hill Blackburn - Sixth December 1889 - Richard Henry Catterall Registrar

Dec 1889 Blackburn 08E 304

11 - UK General Registry Office Marriage Certificate
Citation image

1890 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of Christ Church, Blackburn in the County of Blackburn

No: 271

When married - Feb 1 1890

Name and Surname - Age - Condition - Rank or Profession - Residence at the time of marriage - Father's name and surname - Rank or Profession of father

William Forrest - 18 - Bachelor - Piecer - Crossfield Street - James Forrest (Deceased) - Piecer

Rose Ann Parkes - 18 - Spinster - Weaver - Primrose Hill - Henry John Parkes - Brick Layer

Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church by ___ or after Banns by me R Moss

This marriage was solemnized between us: William Forrest, Rose Ann Parkes in the Presence of us, James Washington, Leah Alexander

12 - England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005

Name

James Forrest

Event Type

Marriage

Registration Quarter

Jul-Aug-Sep

Registration Year

1890

Registration District

Blackburn

County

Lancashire

Event Place

Blackburn, Lancashire, England

Volume

8E

Page

583

Affiliate Line Number

243

James Forrest probably married one of the following people

Name

Barbara Haworth

Name

James Pickop

Name

Zipha Brandle Sharples

13 - UK 1891 Census - 5th April 1891
Citation image

Robert Forrest - Head - M - 29 - Mule Spinner - Lancashire, Blackburn

Catherine A Forrest Wife - M - 27 - [C p ?] winder - Lancashire, Accrington

14 - St Pauls Church, Blackburn

October 19 1897

Richard Blackburn - 30 - Bachelor - Hay and Straw Dealer - 136 Duke's Brow - John Blackburn - Gardener

Harriet Forrest - 24 - Spinster - Winder - 22 Crossfield Street - James Forrest (deceased) - Spinner

Witnessed by: William Anderton, Ann Green

15 - UK 1901 Census - 31st March 1901
Citation image

Event Place: Nelson, Lancashire, England

County: Lancashire

Civil Parish: Nelson

Ecclesiastical Parish: Great Marsden St John

Sub-District: Nelson

Registration District: Burnley

Residence Note: Vale Street

Gender: Male

Age: 37

Occupation: COTTON SPINNER

Relationship to Head of Household: Head

Birth Year (Estimated): 1864

Birthplace: Blackburn, Lancashire

Schedule Type: 47

Page Number: 9

Robert Forrest - Head - Male - 37 - Cotton Spinner - Blackburn, Lancashire

Catherine A Forrest - Wife - Female - 35 - Cotton - Winder - Accrington, Lancashire

16 - UK General Registry Office Death Certificate
Citation image
17 - UK 1911 Census - 2 April 1911
Citation image

16 Whitehall Street Nelson, Nelson, Lancashire

First name(s)

Last name

Relationship

Marital status

Sex

Age

Birth year

Occupation

Birth place

Robert

Foster [in error]

Head

Married

Male

48

1863

Cotton Spinner

Lancs Blackburn

Kate

Foster [in error]

Wife

Married

Female

47

1864

Winder Cop

Lancs Accrington

Charles

Laverty

Visitor

Single

Male

25

1886

Decorator

Lancs Bolton

Signature: Robert Forrest

Postal Address: 16 Whitehall St Nelson Lancs

18 - Blackburn, Christchurch Parish Records
Citation image

First name(s)

James

Last name

McVan

Age

25

Birth year

1890

Marital status

Bachelor

Occupation

Labourer

Year

1915

Marriage year

1915

Marriage date

22 May 1915

Place

Blackburn, Christ Church

Denomination

Church Of England

Diocese

Blackburn

Residence

73 Florence St

Father's first name(s)

John

Father's last name

McVan

Father's occupation

Spinner

Spouse's first name(s)

Elizabeth

Spouse's last name

Forrest

Spouse's age

23

Spouse's birth year

1892

Spouse's occupation

Weaver

Spouse's marital status

Spinster

Spouse's residence

30 Cronfield St

Spouse's father's first name(s)

John

Spouse's father's last name

Forrest

Spouse's father's occupation

Spinner

Licence or banns

Banns

Witness 1

Thomas Coulton

Witness 2

Selina Forrest

County

Lancashire

Country

England

Archive

Lancashire Record Office

Archive reference

PR 3074/1/15

19 - England & Wales, Death Registration Index 1837-2007 and United Kingdom Deaths 2007-2017

First name(s)

Catherine A

Last name

Forrest

Gender

Female

Birth day

-

Birth month

-

Birth year

1864

Age

58

Death quarter

2

Death year

1922

District

Burnley

County

Lancashire

Volume

8E

Page

335

20 - UK General Registry Office Death Certificate
Citation image

Certified Copy of an Entry of Death

1930 Death in the Sub-District of Blackburn South Eastern in the County of Blackburn CB

No - When and where died - Sex - Age - Occupation - Cause of death - Signature, description and residence of informant - When registered - Signature of registrar

169 - Fifth October 1930, 75 Rockcliffe Street WD - William Forrest - Male - 59 years - Operative Cotton Spinner - I(a) Carcinoma of the Pelvic Colon No P.M. Certified by H.F.Mullan MRCS - J Forrest Son 75 Rockcliffe Street, Blackburn - Sixth October 1930 - J.R.Stack Registrar

21 - England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019

BLACKBURN Nancy of 10 Manor-road Blackburn widow died 11

October 1944 Administration Lancaster 22 November to Harriet

Firth Blackburn spinster Effects £190 17s 2d

22 - England & Wales, Death Registration Index 1837-2007 and United Kingdom Deaths 2007-2017

First name(s)

James

Last name

Forrest

Gender

Male

Birth day

-

Birth month

-

Birth year

1870

Age

76

Death quarter

1

Death year

1946

District

Blackburn

County

Lancashire

Volume

8E

Page

489

23 - England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019

BLACKBURN Harriet of 8 Minnie-terrace Blackburn widow died

22 february 1956 at 475 Revidge-road Blackburn Adminis-

tration Lancaster 28 March to William Blackburn commercial

traveller. Effects £325 17s 6d.