Using the “pedigree” written by Nicholas Cockshutt (born c. 1863) and the records available some progress can be made in finding out more about where Edmund Cockshutt of Ball Grove (c. 14 Jan 1753), his son, Edmund Cockshutt, the Younger (b. c. 1779), his grandson Edmund Cockshutt (b. Dec 1809), his  great-grandson Joshua Cockshutt (b. c.1840) and their families. First, it would be interesting to know where they lived and worked.

A Map of Colne and surrounding areas (with notations showing the locations referred to below) can be viewed  here. Map of Colne with Notes.

Ball Grove

In the available records, “Ball Grove” is variously referred to as “Ballgreave”, “Ballgrove” and Ball Grove. From enquiries made with the local historical society, it seems likely that in the early years this would have referred to the farm that once was located just on the northern side of Colne Water in what is today Ball Grove Park.

Entry to Ball Grove Park

It seems likely that the early Cockshutts ran a woolen “fulling” mill, using fast flowing river as their source of power. The fulling process converted the raw woolen weave into cloth by beating and rinsing the greasy threads with water and soap or fine clay. This was done using wooden mallets powered by a turning wheel. The end product was a woolen material suitable for use in clothing, etc. There is evidence in the modern Ball Grove Park of a mill canal, designed to divert water from the river into a reservoir (still to be seen on site) used to store the water from which it could then released to drive the mill wheel. By the end of the 17th century, most mills around Colne were also spinning cotton. By the 1850s many had been converted to steam power.

Site of the Ball Grove Cotton Mill

The 1824 Colne Directory lists “Cockshutt Edward, gent, Ball grove” under the heading “Miscellany – Consisting of names of inhabitants not arranged in the Trades Lists”. Lancashire County Archives holds the probate documents dated December 1825 for “Edmund Cockshutt of Ballgreave”. Edmund Cockshutt of Ball Grove was buried at St. Bartholemew’s Parish Church, Colne on 30 September 1825.

St Bartholomew’s Church, Colne

Bough Gap Mill and Farm

The Bough Gap Mill was located about 500 yards further upstream from the Ball Grove Mill. It was located on land that was a part of Bough Gap Farm located to the present day on the southern side of Colne Water.

Bough Gap Farm

In April 1842, Joshua Cockshutt sold the Bough Gap cotton spinning mill and adjacent workers cottages. The following advertisement, which appeared in the Leeds Mercury newspaper on 16 April 1842, provides a good description of the Mill:

Sale of Bough Gap Mill April 1842

At the time of the sale in April 1842, according to the rent roll for the property, Joshua was the owner of and living in the house adjacent to the Mill. It is not clear whether, after the sale, he moved to the nearby Ball Grove Farm where he is recorded as living when he died on 15 August 1865.

Inghey Farm

Mentioned in at least one of the Cockshutt records is “In Heys”. Local authorities suggest that this is likely to refer to Inghey Farm, which is the neighbouring farm to the East of Ball Grove.

Inghey Farm

Longroyd

Similarly, there are several references to members of the Cockshutt family as living at “Longroyd” or “Longroad”, Colne. It is not clear whether these references refer to “Longroyd Hall” or “Longroyd Farm” located about a mile and a half north of Colne.

Longroyd Hall

 Worsaw Hill Farm

From the memoirs of Ignatius Cockshutt we know that James Cockshutt (who later went to Canada) from 1816-1826 managed one of his “grandfather’s farms” at “Worsaw Hill in Worston”.

Worsaw Hill Farm, Worston with views to Pendle Hill

A Map of the area around Pendle Hill

I remember in the late nineteen 50’s my Uncle Edmund Cockshutt telling me that the Cockshutt family had always been in textiles. He had been involved in the silk industry in Macclesfield and he said that his grandfather had owned a cotton mill. In this family history, the facts and some interpretations of the facts are included to tell the story of how the Cockshutts had finally ended the family’s long association with the weaving industries of North East Lancashire.

To read the full report, click through here Cockshutt – the last of the Cotton Spinners (v2)

This page is designed to provide all the relevant information I have about the Flack family graves in Burnley Cemetery. I have also added a summary (click through here) of the family members interred there.

The previous post I traced Grandmother Alice Flack nee Cockshutt’s (born 1890) line back to her Grandfather, Edmund Cockshutt who was born in 1862 and died when Alice was only 14 in 1904. In that post was also suggested that there may be a connection with the Henry Cockshutt, grandson of the founder of the Cockshutt Plow Company and later, the Lieutenant-governor of Ontario in Canada.

I now have the evidence showing that our Cockshutts are indeed related. I hope to post the story shortly.  These are the notes which alerted me to the possible connection prepared by Nicholas Cockshutt.

Map of Colne with Notes is available here.

The alleged family connection with the Lancashire Witches, which is also linked in some way to the Cockshutt family, deserves further research.

The first task is to validate the Cockshutt family tree from the official records. This is a relatively strait forward task back to the 1830s as the GRO has records of every birth, marriage and death registered in England and Wales, starting from July 1837. Beyond that date researchers must rely on Parish records. In this case it becomes more difficult, since several generations of our Cockshutts belonged to a Methodist sect known as the “Inghamites”.

Reproduced below is a Pedigree Chart of Alice Cockshutt tracing her Cockshutt ancestors back to Edmund Cockshutt born about 1692.

Pedigree Chart for Alice Flack born 1890

More complete details of the research conducted so far is in a separate report at The Flack-Cockshutt story (v2) (click through).

As you will note immediately, the Cockshutt pedigree only goes back to 1692, not far enough to provide any clues about a connection with Alice Nutter who was executed in 1612. A search of the available parish marriage records found no Cockshutt-Nutter marriages back to 1500.

Alice Nutter Statue in Roughlee, Lancashire

Prominent Pendle historian, John A Clayton notes on his web page at http://www.pendlewitches.net/index.html :

“The family line of Nutter, through Alice Nutter’s children, appears to have died out. There are, however, direct descendants through her daughter Elizabeth and son Miles but these would be people with other surnames among which are Hargreaves, Jackson and Robinson. Certainly, a number of local families with the Nutter surname will be distantly related to Alice Nutter’s husband, Richard Nutter.”

There are some aspects of the family story that might lend some weight to the “legend”.

First there is evidence that our Cockshutts were still practicing Catholics in 1729 when “Edmundus Cockshutt, son of Edmundi Cockshutt of “Longroad” was baptised. This would fit with some theories about the Lancashire witches being persecuted for their Catholicity. She made no statement either before or during her trial, except to enter her plea of not guilty to the charge of murdering Henry Mitton by witchcraft. The prosecution alleged that she, together with Demdike and Elizabeth Device, had caused Mitton’s death after he had refused to give Demdike a penny she had begged from him. The only evidence against Alice seems to have been that James Device claimed Demdike had told him of the murder, and Jennet Device in her statement said that Alice had been present at the Malkin Tower meeting. Alice may have called in on the meeting at Malkin Tower on her way to a secret (and illegal) Good Friday Catholic service, and refused to speak for fear of incriminating her fellow Catholics. Many of the Nutter family were Catholics, and two had been executed as Jesuit priests, John Nutter in 1584 and his brother Robert in 1600.

To put the political climate for Catholics in 1612 into perspective, it will be noted that between 1535 and 1679 more than 40 people had been executed as traitors for being prominent Catholics (source).  Contemporary critics of the Catholic practices argued that the the Catholic belief in “transubstantiation” in Catholic Mass was a form of witchcraft.

Second, Alice Nutter was unusual among the accused in being comparatively wealthy, the widow of a tenant yeoman farmer. The Cockshutts were connected with several estates including a farm at Worsaw Hill near where these events took place.

It seems entirely possible that Alice Nutter was a secret Catholic and called in at what was a secret mass – later to be claimed to be a meeting of a witches coven?

Whilst it is true that several Nutter families live in and around Pendle to this day, there is no firm evidence that there is a link between our Cockshutt family and Alice Nutter and her family.

Alice Cockshutt married Dr Frederick Henry Douglas Flack on 22 January 1914 at St Mary’s Parish Church, Nelson, Lancashire. The wedding was reported in the Advertiser Newspaper headed “Fashionable Nelson Wedding” on 24 January 1914, as follows:

We know that Alice Mary Flack nee Cockshutt, mother of Dr Henry Edmund Douglas Flack and Bertram Anthony Flack, was born on 13 June 1890 in Bamber Bridge (near Preston) to Edmund Cockshutt and Emily Cockshutt nee Meredith.

Edmund Cockshutt and Emily Meredith were married in 1888 in Fylde, Lancashire.

Edmund Cockshutt

Edmund Cockshutt and his family, Emily, wife aged 27, and Alice aged 1 are recorded in the 1891 Census as residing at Cumberland House, 100 Brownedge Lane, Walton le Dale, Lancashire, together with a domestic servant and a domestic nurse. Edmund is recorded as Head of the household; aged 29; born in Preston; Lancashire; Cotton Spinner manufacturer; Employer.

(Edmund Cockshutt, Alice’s father, is probably identical with the Edmund Cockshutt whose birth was registered in Preston born in the December quarter of 1861 although this does not match with the age stated in the 1891 Census)

Emily Cockshutt nee Meredith was born 27 July 1863 in Manchester, Lancashire. She was the daughter of Charles Meredith, born 2 May 1807 and Alice Anne Meredith nee Harrison, born 1 November 1832.

Following the death of Edmund Cockshutt on 14 June 1904, Alice’s mother, Emily married Smith Roberts in the March quarter of 1905. Their son Charles Roberts was born 23 December 1905.

Smith Roberts

The 1911 Census shows Alice Cockshutt living with her mother, younger sister Margaret May Cockshutt (born June quarter 1891 at Preston), her younger brother Edmund Cockshutt (born 7 December 1893 at Preston) and her step brother, Charles William Roberts (born 23 December 1905) as follows:

1911 Census for the Roberts family

Edmund Cockshutt

Margaret May Cockshutt

One of the more interesting aspects of Alice Flack, nee Cockshutt and her brother Edmund Cockshutts’ upbringing was the religious affiliations. A more detailed article on this aspect can be viewed here. Click through Our Cockshutt Family History – Cockshutt-Roberts

Nicholas Cockshutt provided the following notes that take the Cockshutt pedigree back to the early 18th century. The information in the notes have not yet been verified from authoritative records. As further research confirms the details, summaries will be posted here.

One of the aspects of Nicholas Cockshutt’s Notes that requires further investigation, is the reference to James Cockshutt “who went to Canada in 1825. This James Cockshutt is said to be the founder, with his son Ignatius, of the famous Cockshutt Plow Company in Canada. Henry Cockshutt, son of Ignatius was to become the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Canada.

James Cockshutt b c1775

Ignatius Cockshutt b 24 Aug 1812

Henry Cockshutt seated second from the right.

Further research of official records will be needed to verify this pedigree, however there are further interesting aspects of the Cockshutt family history which are explored in my second post at “What more do we know about the Cockshutts?” (click through)

Tony and Jean Flack, later in life

Jean Winifred Mellor married Bertram Anthony Flack on 16 October 1948 at Southport, Lancashire.

Jean Winifred Mellor was born 22 July 1926 at Southport to John Victor Mellor and Winifred Illingworth.

John Victor Mellor is probably identical with a person of that name whose birth was registered in the District of Wirral, County Cheshire born in the June Qtr of 1899 on 24 May 1899.

and who was baptised the St Bridget’s Church of England West-Kirby, Cheshire on 6 July 1899

which shows that his parents were Robert Mellor, Commission Agent and Jenney (sic) Mellor.

John Victor Mellor is recorded as serving in the Royal Navy during World War 1. A copy of the “Medal Card” can be viewed here. John Victor Mellor Medal Card

Details of further research into the Mellor family can be viewed here. The Mellor Family Research

So far in this series of Blogs, I have allocated the great majority of the space to the search for my Flack ancestors. It’s now about time I published what we know about another remarkable family – the Haywards.

Barbara Hayward’s Birth Registration

Our mother Barbara Flack nee Hayward was born on  28 December 1915 in Middlesborough, Yorkshire England, the second eldest of five daughters to Ernest Hayward and May Hayward nee Chambers.

The only photograph I have of the family is the one below taken about 1962.  From the Left are Ernest and May Hayward, Jill Maddocks, Joan Jacobs (nee Hayward), Philippa Jacobs and Margaret “Peggy” Maddocks (nee Hayward). Seated is Susan Shaw (nee Hayward) with her son Andrew. Missing are Geraldine Buckenham (nee Hayward) and Barbara Flack (nee Hayward).

1957 Geraldine Hayward on Brighton Beach

Ernest Hayward and May Chambers were married in 1909 in Middlesbrough. It is not clear why Ernest was in Middlesbrough, although it appears that his father, Matthias was a traveling salesman and it seems possible that the family spent some time in Yorkshire where Matthew met and married May Chambers.

I have copied the 1891 Census return for 1 Grange Road Rochester, which lists:

• Matthias Hayward, Lodger, aged 40, “Traveller”, born Hampshire, Gosport;
• Margaret Hayward, Lodger, aged 32, born Cheshire, Weaverham;
• Ernest Hayward, Lodger, aged 3, born Southport and
• Arthur Hayward, Lodger, aged 1, born Southport;

The 1901 Census return for  64 Leonard Street Warrington lists Margaret Hayward (“own means”), wife, aged 43, born Weaverham and Ernest Hayward, son, aged 13, born Southport Lancs.

The 1911 Census lists Ernest Hayward, aged 23, born Southport, a Clerk in Wire Works and May Hayward, aged 19, born Middlesboro,  as living at 8 Lonsdale Street Southport with their 1 month old daughter Margaret May Hayward, born Middlesboro (Yorks).

A search of the few World War service records that do exist revealed that Ernest Hayward served in the 595th Company, Royal Engineers first in the Territorial Army, enlisting on 29 January 1912 rising to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 as “Supervising Clerk” at Chatham Barracks where he was discharged “fit” on his own request on 15 November 1919.

Ernest Hayward Military Records p3

Ernest Hayward

WO1 Ernest Hayward, Royal Engineers

The family oral tradition is that Ernest Hayward joined the Southport Borough before the Second World War and rose to become the Town Clerk of Southport before retiring in the 1950s. He was a keen philatelist and book collector. He was proud to show visitors to their Blundell Drive Southport address his “Penny Black” stamp.

Ernest Hayward died at Southport on 26 August 1965. A simple Death Notice and Return of Thanks appeared in the Southport Newspaper.

Ernest Hayward’s siblings were:

• Harold Hayward
• Edgar Hayward
• Arthur Hayward, born 1890 Southport, Lancashire
• Elsie Hayward born 1893 Southport, and
• Clarice Hayward born 1895 Southport

Arthur Hayward served in the Territorial Army before World War 1  and served in Egypt during the was rising to the rank of Captain in the Royal Field Artillery.

Arthur Hayward’s Medal Card

After the war he became quite a famous artist with pictures recognised by the Royal Academy.

Arthur Hayward. RA

The Cornwall Artists Index provides a summary of his work.Arthur HAYWARD _ cornwall artists index

Clarice Hayward never married.

Elsie Hayward

Ernest Hayward’s father was Matthias Hayward who was born the 4th son of James Hayward and Suzanna Hayward nee Taylor, in 1851 in or near Gosport, Hampshire.

The 1851 Census shows James Hayward and family resident at 1 Galimony (?) Street Portsmouth Hampshire and in 1871 resident at London Yard, Banbury, Oxfordshire as follows:

1871 Census for James Hayward and Family

This Hayward page will be updated as more information becomes available.

Lt Surgeon Bertram Flack, RN., was born 3 February 1882 at Burnley, Lancs. England, 3rd and youngest son of the six children, born to William Henry Douglas Flack and Eliza Alice Flack, nee Parker.

He was baptised on 12 March 1882 at St Stephens Church Burnley. The Baptism Register records that his parents were William Henry Douglas and Eliza Alice Flack, living at “13 Fair View”, that the father’s trade of profession was “Banker’s Clerk” and that the officiating minister was Rev James Cranbourne (?).

It is not know where Bertram Flack attended school, although it is likely that he attended Burnley Grammar School, where his father had been head boy. The later Medical Directory (see below) indicates that he studied medicine at Victoria University of Manchester (Owens College).

The Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh’s “Register of Licentiates” contains a listing of those “Candidates who have passed the Final Examination” and an entry dated 22 October 1910, lists Bertram Flack of “Brookside, Scott Park, Burnley”. He was officially registered as a medical practitioner on 29 October 1910.

1910 to 1914. A later Medical Directory shows that he undertook his medical residency at Torbay Hospital, Torquay and later served at the Royal Hospital Devenport and Royal Navy Hospital at Chatham.

1914 to 1918. The Navy Lists and personnel records for the years 1914-1919 list Lt Surgeon Bertram Flack “(tempy.)” appointments as follows:

1914 HMS PENBROKE (RN Barracks, Chatham.)

1915 HMS HAMPSHIRE (Cruiser sunk 5 June 1916)

1916 HMS PRINCESS MAUD (Fleet Auxiliary sunk 10 June 1918)

1916 HMS VIVID (RN Barracks, Devonport)

1917 RNAS LONGSIDE (Airship station, Aberdeenshire)

1917 HMS VIVID (RN Barracks, Devonport)

1917 HMS ROYAL ARTHUR (Guard ship Scapa Flow, Orkney)

1918 HMS PENBROKE (RN Barracks, Chatham.)

1918 HMS CYCLOPS (Scapa Flow, Orkney)

HMS Hampshire

HMS Cyclops

RNAS Longside airship used for anti-submarine patrols in the North Sea

The Royal Navy Medal Roll shows that Surgeon Lt. Bertram Flack was awarded 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was demobilised on 17 February 1919.

The Medical Directory 1919 lists “Flack, Bertram, “Brookside,” Scott-pk, Burnley, Lancs. (Tel. Burnley 627) – L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Ed., L.R.F.P.S. Glas. 1910; (Owens Coll. Manch.); Temp. Surg, RN.; late Hon.Surg. Torbay Hosp. Torquay & Asst. Res.Med Off. Roy. Albert Hosp. Devenport, & Roy. Navy Hosp. Chatham.”

Bertram Flack died suddenly, aged 37, on 16 June 1919 at the Nursing Home at 18 Shear Bank Road Blackburn, Lancs. England. The family oral tradition says that he died in the Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1919. The cause of death listed on the Death Certificate was “Lobar Pneumonia”. His death was registered at Blackburn by his brother F.H. Flack of 54 Railway Street Nelson on 17 June 1919.

Probate was granted in London on 9 August to William Henry Douglas Flack, bank manager and his effects were valued at 985 pounds 14 shillings. The certificate stated that he lived at Underleigh Darwen, Lancashire and that he died on 16 June 1919.

Bertram Flack is buried in the Flack family grave in Burnley Cemetery.

Grave No. 4230 Burnley Cemetery