William Allen

1833 - 1913

William was born in Flagg in 1833 ⁽¹⁾, the youngest son of Samuel and Elizabeth. He was baptised at St John the Baptist's in Chelmorton on 25th October the same year ⁽²⁾. He had a sister Mary Ann about 6 years older than him, and a brother Samuel about 3 years his elder ⁽³⁾. There may also have been some elder half brothers and a half sister living in the same house from his father's first marriage, but this is unclear - see his father's page for more details.

In March of 1838 he suddenly became an only child when his brother Samuel and his sister Mary Ann both died in the space of less than a fortnight ⁽⁴⁾. So by the time of the 1841 census ⁽⁵⁾ William was the only child living with his parents. His Uncle Thomas, his mother's younger brother ⁽³⁾ also lived with them.

His father died in April 1850 ⁽⁶⁾. A couple of months later his uncle Thomas got married, and his new Aunt Charlotte moved in with them ⁽⁷⁾. This was the living situation in March the following year, when the census ⁽⁸⁾ shows William to have followed in his father's footsteps as a lead miner. He was presumably working with his uncle Thomas, as his father had before him ⁽³⁾. His mother died in 1858 ⁽⁹⁾.

He married Mary Ann Wood at St John the Baptist's in Chelmorton on 20th March 1861 ⁽¹⁰⁾. According to the marriage certificate she was originally from Hurdlow, but was living in Flagg prior to the marriage, which is obviously how they met. At the time of the marriage he is still described as a miner from Flagg, but just 18 days later, at the time of the next census ⁽¹¹⁾, he is shown as an agricultural labourer on his new father-in-law's farm in Hurdlow, where he and Mary Ann were then living.

It appears that William and Mary Ann didn't spend too long living with his in-laws. Their eldest son William was born there ⁽³²⁾, but the family was back in Flagg by the time of his baptism on September 21st ⁽¹²⁾. Their next son, Samuel, was born in 1863 ⁽¹³⁾. They may have moved house in around 1866 into a "one up, one down cottage at the end of Flagg beyond the school" ⁽¹⁴⁾. Their next child Joseph was born towards the end of 1867, also probably in Flagg ⁽¹⁵⁾. Their youngest son George was born in November 1870, by which time they were definitely living in Flagg ⁽¹⁶⁾. George's birth certificate indicates that William had reverted to lead mining, however just 4 months later in the census of April 1871 ⁽¹⁷⁾ he is shown as a "Farmer of 10 acres". It seems likely then that he was both farming and mining, as ten acres would not be a very large farm to provide his only income. It is also likely that he was only renting the land ⁽¹⁸⁾. His youngest child, and only daughter, Martha Ann was born towards the end of 1874 ⁽¹⁹⁾.

The 1881 census ⁽²⁰⁾, is the only time we see George and Mary Ann together with all their children under one roof. It seems that George had given up on the farming by then and is once again described as a Lead Miner. Son Joseph died very soon afterwards ⁽²¹⁾, and by 1891 sons William Henry and George were living and working at Highfield House Farm in Flagg ⁽²²⁾, leaving just Samuel and Martha still living with William and Mary Ann ⁽²³⁾ This is also the last time we see William described as a miner. It may be that his age forced him to stop working underground. Whatever it was, by the time of his son George's marriage in 1898 ⁽²⁴⁾ he is described simply as a labourer, and in the 1901 census ⁽²⁵⁾ he is a general labourer. Eldest son William Henry had moved back in with his parents at this time.

His wife Mary Ann died in November 1904 ⁽²⁶⁾. In the census of 1911, he was working as a stone breaker, and living with his unmarried son William, unmarried daughter Martha Ann, and his grandaughter Mary Ann ⁽³²⁾.

William died in 1913. Family folklore says that he used to play the "one stringed fiddle" at local dances, and on the way back from one of these one night, walking home along Slipperlow Lane from Taddington to Flagg, he collapsed drunk in the snow and died. This story is shown by an artcle in the next week's High Peak News ⁽³³⁾, and by his death certificate ⁽³⁰⁾, to contain some truth, but it seems that he wasn't playing the fiddle the night he died. He was buried in Taddington on 19th March ⁽³¹⁾.

• William Henry, born 1861 ⁽¹²⁾. Apart from a spell working for Joseph Needham on Highfield House Farm ⁽²²⁾, he supposedly lived all his life in a one up-one down cottage at New Buildings, Flagg ^{(14) (25)}. He was said to have been a stone waller of great repute. He never married. He died about 1947 ⁽²⁹⁾.
• Samuel, born 1863 ⁽¹³⁾. Married Mary Bradbury in 1897⁽²⁷⁾, although it seems likely that they already had two children together before this (Samuel and Emma Ann). They had at least three more child after they were married - Harold c1899, Doris c1902 and Ellen c1905.
• Joseph, born 1867 ⁽¹⁵⁾, died 1881 ⁽²¹⁾.
• George has his own page.
• Martha Ann, born 1874 ⁽¹⁹⁾. Was still single and living with her parents in 1901 ⁽²⁵⁾.

1. Probably in October, but certainly between 8th June (because his age is given as 7 in the census of 7th June 1841 ⁽⁵⁾) and 24th October (the day before his baptism ⁽²⁾).
2. Baptism entry in Parish register of St John the Baptist's, Chelmorton reads:

   When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parents Christian Name	Parents Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
   October 25 [1833]	William	Samuel & Elizabeth	Allen	Flagg	Miner

3. See his parents' pages for details
4. Parish register of St Michael's, Taddington lists Samuel's burial on 18th March 1838, and Mary Ann's on 29th March 1838.
5. Census of 7th June 1841 reads:
   Place: Flagg
   

   Sam l Allen	50	L Miner
   Eliz. Do	45	.
   William Do	7	.
   Tho s Oldfield	35	L Miner

6. His father's Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

   When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
   Twenty Ninth April 1850, Flagg	Samuel Allen	Male	62 years	Miner	Dropsy 4 months, not certified	Thos Oldfield, Present at the death, Flagg	Twenty ninth April 1850

7. Marriage Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

   1850 Marriage solemnized at Monyash in the parish of Bakewell in the County of Derby

   When married	Name and Surname	Age	Condition	Rank or Profession	Residence at the time of marriage	Father's name and Surname	Rank or Profession of father
   July 8th	Thomas Oldfield	45	Bachelor	Miner	Chelmorton	George Oldfield	Farmer
   	Charlotte Forest	39	Spinster	Servant	Monyash	William Forest	Weaver

   Married in the Chapelry of Chelmorton according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church

   in the presence of [William] Cantrel, [Alice Cantrel]

8. Census of 30th March 1851 reads:
   Place: Flagg
   

   Elizabeth Allen	Head	Widow	54	Householder	Derbyshire, Taddington
   William do	Son	U	17	Lead Miner	do, Flagg
   Thomas Oldfield	Brother	Mar	46	Lead Miner	do, Taddington
   Charlotte do	Wife	.	40	Dressmaker	do, Chestefield

9. His mother's Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

   When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
   Tenth January 1858, Flagg	Elizabeth Allen	Female	59 years	Widow of Samuel Allen (a Lead Miner)	Asthma, no medical attendants	Thomas Oldfield, In attendance, Flagg	Eleventh January 1858

10. Marriage Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    1861 Marriage solemnized at Chelmorton in the parish of Bakewell in the County of Derby

    When married	Name and Surname	Age	Condition	Rank or Profession	Residence at the time of marriage	Father's name and Surname	Rank or Profession of father
    March 20th 1861	William Allen	27	Bachelor	Miner	Flagg	Samuel Allen	Miner
    	Mary Ann Wood	27	Spinster	-	Flagg, late of Hurdlow Town	William Wood	Farmer

    Married in the Church of Chelmorton according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after banns

    in the presence of John Cantrell, Alice Mycock

11. Census of 7th April 1861 reads:
    Place: Hurdlow
    

    William Wood	Head	Mar	50	Farmer of 100 acres	Staffordsh, Elkston
    Martha Wood	Wife	Mar	49	Farmer's wife	Derbysh, Glutton Bridge
    Joseph Wood	Son	Un	22	Farmer's Son	Derbysh, Earl Sterndale
    Mary Ann Allen	Daur	Mar	27	Farmer's Daur	Derbysh, High Needham
    William Allen	Son-in-law	Mar	27	Agricultural Lab:	Derbysh, Flagg

12. Baptism entry in Chelmorton Parish Register reads:
    

    When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
    Sepr 21st [1861]	William Henry son of	William Mary Ann	Allen	Flagg	Labourer

13. The 2nd April 1871 census ⁽¹⁷⁾ gives his age as 7, while the parish register at Chelmorton lists his baptism on 7^th June 1863. This would seem to indicate that he was born April, May or early June of that year. The index of registrations of births shows that a Samuel Allen was registered in the second quarter of 1863 in Bakewell district.
14. Information from living relatives states that William's son William Henry "lived in a one up, one down cottage at the end of Flagg village beyond the school, where parents William and Mary had lived with their 5 children. They moved in when William was 5 and he continued to live in the same house until he died in about 1947". However, this story may not be totally accurate as at the time of the 1891 ⁽²¹⁾ census, William Henry was a farm servant, living on the job at Highfield House Farm, along with his younger brother George .
15. The 2nd April 1871 census ⁽¹⁷⁾ gives his age as 3 and his place of birth as Flagg. However, his baptism is recorded in the parish register of Sheldon on 26^th January 1868. The index of registrations of births show a Joseph Allen was registered in the fourth quarter of 1867 in Bakewell district.
16. Son George's Birth Certificate from the Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where born	Name	Sex	Name and surname of father	Name, surname and maiden surname of mother	Occupation of father	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Fifth November 1870, Flagg	George	Boy	William Allen	Mary Ann Allen, formerly Wood	Lead Miner	William Allen, Father, Flagg	First December 1870

17. Census of 2nd April 1871 reads:
    Place: Flagg
    

    William Allen	Head	Mar	37	Farmer of 10 acres	Derbyshire, Flagg
    Mary A Do	Wife	Mar	36	Farmer's wife	Do, Sterndale
    William Do	Son	.	9	Scholar	Do, Do
    Samuel Do	Son	.	7	Do	Do, Flagg
    Joseph Do	Son	.	3	Do	Do, Do
    George Do	Son	.	5 Mo	.	Do, Do

18. He is not listed in the 1873 return of owners of land.
19. The 1881 census ⁽²⁰⁾ gives her age as 6, and the index of registrations of births shows that a Martha Ann Allen was registered in the fourth quarter of 1874 in Bakewell district. However, she wasn't baptied until 1878 in Chelmorton:
    

    When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
    Dec 8	Martha	William & Mary Ann	Allen	Flagg	Labourer

20. Census of 3rd April 1881 reads: (Note that Martha Ann has been mis-entered as Mary Ann)
    Place: Flagg
    

    William Allen	Head	Mar	47	Lead Miner	Derbyshire, Flagg
    Mary Ann do	Wife	do	46	do do's wife	do, High Needham
    William do	Son	Unm	19	Lead Miners Son	do, Flagg
    Samuel do	do	do	16	do do do	do, do
    Joseph do	do	do	13	Scholar	do, do
    George do	do	do	10	Scholar	do, do
    Mary Ann do	Dau	.	6	do	do, do

21. Burial entry from parish register of St Michael's, Taddington reads:
    

    Name	Abode	When buried	Age
    Joseph Allen	Taddington	April 13th [1881]	13

22. Sons William and George in the Census of 5th April 1891 reads:
    Place: Highfield House, Flagg
    

    Joseph Needham	Head	M	55	Farmer	Flagg, Derbyshire
    - various other -	-	-	-	- people in -	- the household -
    William Allen	Serv	S	28	Farm Servant	Flagg, Derbyshire
    George do	Serv	S	18	do do	do, do

23. Census of 5th April 1891 reads:
    Place: Flagg
    

    William Allen	Head	M	56	Lead Miner	Flagg, Derbyshire
    Mary Ann do	Wife	M	58	.	Earlsterndale, do
    Samuel do	Son	S	27	General Labourer	Flagg, do
    Martha do	Daur	S	16	.	do, do

24. Son George'sMarriage Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    1898 Marriage solemnized at Chelmorton in the parish of Bakewell in the County of Derby

    When married	Name and Surname	Age	Condition	Rank or Profession	Residence at the time of marriage	Father's name and Surname	Rank or Profession of father
    Oct 19 1898	George Allen	27	Bachelor	Labourer	Flagg	William Allen	Labourer
    	Mary Hodgkinson	21	Spinster	-	Flagg	Matthew Hodgkinson	Farmer

    Married in the Church of Chelmorton according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England after banns

    in the presence of Matthew Hodgkinson, Jane Hodgkinson

25. Census of 31st March 1901 reads:
    Place: New Buildings, Flagg
    

    William Allen	Head	M	67	General Labourer	Worker	Derbyshire, Flagg
    Mary Ann do	Wife	M	67	.	.	do, Sterndale
    William do	Son	S	39	do do	do	do, Flagg
    Martha Ann do	Daug	S	26	.	.	do, do

26. Wife Mary Ann's Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Twenty Seventh November 1904, Flagg, RD	Mary Ann Allen	Female	70 years	Wife of William Allen, a General Labourer	Broncho Pneumonia (5 Days), Fatty Heart (2 years 6 months), Certified by [Astable?] Wood MRCS	X The mark of William Henry Allen, Son. Present at the Death. Flagg	Twenty ninth November 1904

27. The index of registrations of marriages shows a Samuel Allen and a Mary Bradbury were registered married in the second quarter of 1897 in Bakewell district.
28. The 1901 census shows their 3 children as Samuel Allen Bradbury age 5, Emma Ann Allen Bradbury age 4 and Harold Bradbury Allen age 2. The fact that the youngest two were apparently born before their parents marriage, and have the middle name Allen, whilst the one born after their marriage has the middle name Bradbury seems likely to be because the first two were illegitimate, but Samuel accepted paternity of them.
29. According to living relatives.
30. Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Found dead Sixteenth March 1913 Slipperlow Taddington RD	William Allen	Male	75 years	Labourer	Exposure following injuries received in accidental fall	Certificate received from Sydney Taylor Coroner for the Hundred of High Peak re Inquest held Seventeenth March 1913	Eighteenth March 1913

31. Burial entry from parish register of St Michael's, Taddington reads:
    

    Name	Abode	When buried	Age
    William Allen	Flagg	March 19th 1913	75 years

32. Census of 2rd April 1911 reads:
    

    William Allen

    Head

    75

    Widower

    Stone Breaker

    Rural District Council

    Worker

    Flagg, Derbyshire

    William Allen

    Son

    49

    Single

    Stone Waller

    Estate Work

    Worker

    Hurdlow Town, Sterndale, Derbyshire

    Martha Ann Allen

    Daughter

    36

    Single

    House Keeper

    Worker

    At Home

    Flagg, Derbyshire

    Mary Ann Allen

    Grand Daughter

    2

    Flagg, Derbyshire

    Number of Rooms: 4
    Postal Address: Flagg, N^r Buxton
33. Article in High Peak News of 22nd March 1913 reads:
    FLAGG.
    MELANCHOLY DEATH OF MR WILLIAM ALLEN.
    FOUND INJURED ON THE ROADSIDE.
      At the Reading Room on Monday, Mr Sydney
    Taylor, Coroner, Buxton, held an inquiry into
    the circumstances attending the death of Wil-
    liam Allen (75), of Flagg, who was found dead
    on the road leading from Taddington to Flagg
    on Sunday morning.
      William Allen, son, said his father left home
    between 12.30 and 1 o'clock on Saturday to go
    to Mor Grange Farm, Taddington. He did
    not come back at night, but they were not sur-
    prised, as there were several places he might
    have stayed at. Deceased had nothing the
    matter with him, and he had never had a doctor in his life.
      Charles Gould, Priestcliffe, farmer, said he
    was at the Waterloo Inn on Saturday night.
    Deceased came in about 8.30 and stayed till 10
    o'clock. There was no sign of drink about him
    when he came in, and he only had one pint.
    He was all right when he left. It was
    A ROUGH AND DARK NIGHT.
      Henry Bagshaw, Moor Grange Farm, said
    deceased left his place at 4 o'clock on Saturday.
    About 10 o'clock on Sundat morning witness
    found deceased one-third of the way from the
    top of Slipper Low hill, lying on his left side
    by the side of the road. His head was about
    two feet from the wall. He was slightly huddled
    up, and his head was on the grass as if he was
    asleep. He was quite dead. The road was
    frozen. His footprints were well marked, and
    ended where he fell.
      Dr Thomas Fentem, of Bakewell, who had
    made a post-mortem examination, said the
    upper end of the left arm was fractured. There
    was a reddening of the knees, probably pro-
    duced by crawling. The body was quite healthy.
    The probable cause of death was exposure, as
    the result of the injury.
      Police constable Hallam said deceased had 1s.
    8d. on him, which his son stated was about the
    amount he should have.
      A verdict was retuned of "Died from exposure
    consequent upon injury received in an acci-
    dental fall."