52 residents #19 Henry Jackson

Henry Jackson’s chief claim to fame in Springhill was as a member of the committee which built Sion Sunday School (now used for worship) in 1902. Despite being a committee member and despite the building having 14 foundation stones, he did not lay one of them. Wonder if he upset somebody?

finance committee Sion new school 1902 200


In 2014 this picture was reprinted in the ‘Yesteryear’ section of the local paper with a caption provided by the member of Sion who submitted the picture. He identified Jackson as the last headmaster of Newchurch Grammar School and the first of BRGS (EH Holden of 52 residents week 17 being the second).

Unfortunately this is incorrect.

The first headmaster of BRGS was called Thomas Ernest, not Henry
TE Jackson was not a Baptist but a staunch Churchman and lay reader at St Nicholas.

So what of Henry?

He is buried in the graveyard as Sion:
gravestone 56 Jackson 200


HENRY JACKSON/ WHO DIED AUGUST 1st 1918/IN HIS 65
TH YEAR/ALSO OF ALICE HIS WIFE/WHO DIED DECR 6TH 1920/AGED 74 YEARS/ALSO ELIZABETH BELOVED WIFE OF/JOSEPH SMETHURST/WHO DIED JAN 8TH 1949/AGED 66 YEARS.

That has him born ~ 1854 and Alice ~ 1846.

He was born the son of Joseph and Ann Jackson, grocer, of Bacup and latterly Union St, Hareholme. He married Alice Bridge q3 1876 in the Haslingden registration district.

1901 census (RG 13/3850) Henry (b Bacup) was living at 10 Peel St with wife Alice (b Rawtenstall) and children:
Alfred B single age 23 b Rawtenstall
Annie single age 21b Rawtenstall
Lizzie single age 18 b Rawtenstall
Harry King single age 14 b Cloughfold
Harold B single age 7 b Cloughfold
and niece Emily Bridge single age 18 b Bolton
Henry was employed as Cotton Mill Storekeeper

1911 he was still there, by now employed as a Doctor’s clerk.
They reported 8 children of whom 5 were living and 3 had died.

Working backwards, in 1891 (RG 12/3348/F) he was a 8 Peel St with his family and his brother in law Abel Bridge, sister in law, niece and nephew. The enumerator has documented Abel’s place of birth down to the farm - wish they were all this helpful!

1881 he was a cotton warper living in Springside, Rawtenstall. He and Alice lived next door to John and Betty Bridge with children including son Abel.

Elizabeth Jackson married Jospeh Smethurst q3 1905 in Haslingden reg district (8e 0311).




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