Page 85 - Just another English family (Sep 2019)

four children – all boys. Certainly one of the males seemed to have sired a daughter, named Rachel Rhoda, who was born in 1856.
Apart from William (1835-?), the names are not very clear in the 1861 census. There is Lynn (1851-?), John Greaves (or Graves) (1855-?), and James Greaves (or Graves) (1857-?). The sixteen year gap between the births of William and Lynn does produce some residual doubts as to whether this is just one family. Anyway, as for the subsequent silence about all members of this Soothill family, they do perhaps seem likely candidates for emigration.
In terms of occupation and residence, the lack of information provides no scope to speculate about change. Nevertheless, this family living in Bradford at the time of the 1861 census is involved in a different range of occupations than most other Soothills in the census. The head of the household, Francis, is shown as a house keeper, while his wife, Rachel is identified as a charwoman. The son, 26-year- old William is shown as a groom, perhaps working in the same household as his father and mother. Another son whose name is not clear in the census shows the tough times for youngsters as he is a 10-year-old employed as a factory worker.
John (1818-?) and Nancy Soothill
Entries in the 1861 census
❖
Name
Sex/ Relationshi p
Age
Occupation
Where born
Current address
81