William Thomas Rigby (1867 - 1939)

Born 1867 in St Helens, Lancashire, England

Husband of Mary (Garner) Rigby — married 28 Feb 1897 in St Peter's church, Parr, Lancashire, England

Died 1939 at about age 72 in St Helens, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

William Rigby was born about 1868 in St Helens. No father is listed for him in his marriage record as transcribed on FamilySearch, which probably means his parents weren't married. Therefore of the several William Rigby births registered in Prescot in 1867-9, his is probably the one registered in the final quarter of 1867 as William Thomas Rigby.

Assuming this is correct, then his mother was Alice Rigby. In 1871, she was working as a colliery labourer, and she and William (who was three) were living with her mother, Ellen Harrison. Alice had another illegitimate child in about 1873, before marrying Alfred Johnson in 1884 in St Helens Parish Church. Alfred had two sons, Peter and Walter, so William acquired two stepbrothers a number of years younger than himself in 1884. And a son was born to Alfred and Alice in about 1886, a half-brother for William.

By 1891, William was working as a collier.

William married Mary Garner on February 28th 1897 at St Peter's church in Parr, St Helens (Anglican). His age was given as 29, hers as 28; both were previously unmarried.

By 1901, William and Mary were living in Berrys Lane, Parr. They had one son, George, who was three. William was working as a collier.

By 1911, William was still working in the colliery, but had qualified as a fireman. This was a more responsible post, like a deputy, and firemen were trained to fire off gas.

Mary died in 1938 in St Helens at the age of 69, and was buried at St Nicholas' church in Sutton (Anglican). William died in 1939 at the age of 71, and was buried in the same grave. Their address in both records was 27 Station Road.

Research Notes

Buried together in grave EV12 at St Nicholas:

  Mary Rigby 7 Nov 1938 aged 69 (abode 27 Station Road)

  William Rigby 1 Apr 1939 aged 71 (abode 27 Station Road)

  Edith Rigby 3 Oct 1963 aged 56 (abode 27 Station Road)

  George Rigby 7 Sep 1965 aged 68 (abode Rainhill hospital)

Sources

• Birth registration listed on https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp

• Marriage "England, Lancashire, Parish Registers 1538-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ65-RV7L : 8 November 2017), William Rigby and Mary Garner, 28 Feb 1897; citing Marriage, St Peter's Church, Parr, Lancashire, England, volume , Lancashire Record Office, Preston; FHL microfilm 1,849,640.

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KD6X-8H3 : 11 December 2017), Alice Rigby in entry for Ellen Harrison, 1871.

• Stepfather "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27L-YX3W : 13 December 2017), Peter Johnston in household of Alfred Johnston, Parr, Lancashire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 67, Piece/Folio 3737/144, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,076.

• "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:778G-DT2 : 10 December 2017), William Rigby in household of Alfred Johnson, Parr, Lancashire, England; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Lancashire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9LV-6ZB : 8 April 2016), William Rigby, St Helens, Lancashire, England; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing St Helens subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWY9-NBD : 2 August 2017), William Rigby, St Helens, Helens, Lancashire, England; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

The civil registration index, and the England and Wales censuses, are Crown Copyright.