Page 306 - Just another English family (Sep 2019)

while James (c.1789), father to James, remains in the household. Samuel who had been a lodger in the 1851 Census and had now married Harriet (c.1836) and produced two children – Thomas (c.1858) and Isabella (c.1860). John (c.1805), originally married to Harriet (c.1806) seems now to be a widower but, nevertheless, he heads a household, containing his married daughter (Elizabeth Fletcher, aged 22), another daughter (Louisa, aged 17), a son (James, aged 15), and another son (John, aged 9).
The only major household to appear unannounced in the 1861 Census was the one headed by John (c.1823) who married Mary (c.1823). Where had they been prior to the 1861 Census? Anyway, they now had six children – Thomas (b. 1849), Nancy Elizabeth (b.1852), Isabella (b. 1855), Oates (b. 1857), Susey A. (C. 1860?) and Wales (b. 1864). The most notable is Oates (c.1858) who appears in Chapter 6 about Soothills elsewhere in the world.
The census still produces some surprises – for example the appearance of John and Mary – both born in Shelf, Yorkshire but now living in Dewsbury – were the unexpected feature of the 1861 Census.
Important families
There are ten families who are important in the development of the Soothill family branches and these will each be discussed separately, indicating how much is currently known of each prior to the 1861 census.
Thomas Soothill = Elizabeth
Thomas (c. 1806 and Elizabeth (c. 1806), both aged 35 and living at West Street, Halifax, were one of the main Soothill families to appear in the 1841 census. It appeared that they had eight children. By their age – 15 years – it seems that John (c.1826) and Hannah (c.1826) must have been twins. One year later William (c. 1827) arrived, followed by Samuel (c.1829), Elizabeth (c.1831), Thomas (c.1833),
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