The Parsonses of Sabden (Part 3 Thomas Parsons Cotton Manufacturer)

Thomas Parsons, one of William and Mary's ten children, was born in 1807. He married Susannah Irving of Read in 1830 in Whalley parish church like his parents. 

At the time of the 1841 and 1851 censuses Thomas and his family were living in Sabden Bottoms. This is a small row of terraced houses at the end of the village of Sabden off Whalley Road, and now called Whins Avenue.

Thomas was a Grocer at the time and he and Susannah had eight children - Benjamin, William, Mary Ann, Edward, Selina, Jeremiah, Martha and Sarah.

Whins Avenue, Sabden, formerly The Bottoms

By the time of the 1861 census Thomas and his family had moved to Spen Brook, a small village a few miles away close to Newchurch in Pendle.

Thomas is described as a 'Cotton Manufacturer 288 looms employing 48 men 18 boys 25 women 20 children total 111'. He was now a widower and living with four of his children, including Martha.

Above - the mill today, part of a new housing development Left - coming into Spen Brook from Newchurch. The mill chimney is in the distance

Thomas was in partnership with Roger Osbaldeston as Cotton Manufacturers at Spen Brook Mill. Roger was from Blackburn and lived in Sabden, and had married Thomas's eldest daughter Mary Ann in 1855.

Roger and Mary Ann Osbaldeston

The following notice appeared in The Burnley Advertiser on 20th December 1862.

Partnership of Parsons and Osbaldeston dissolved

Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved. 

With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

On 22nd October 1864 The Morning Advertiser gave a list of 'Country Bankrupts' from The London Gazette. Included was: Thomas Parsons, Spen Brook, Lancashire, cotton manufacturer.

Shortly afterwards, Thomas was in business with his son Jeremiah in co-partnership together in the firm of Parsons & Son, cotton manufacturers at Victoria Mill, Sabden. Once again Thomas was listed as bankrupt, along with Jeremiah, in the London Gazette on 10th December 1866. On 13th April 1867 The Burnley Gazette carried a notice of a Sale by Auction under The Bankruptcy Act 1861 regarding Thomas Parsons & Son, Bankrupts, at Victoria Mills, Sabden, Near Whalley.

Victoria Mill was situated opposite Sabden Bottoms and is now the scene of a residential development.

Site of the old Victoria Mill, Sabden

Next time: The move to Cornholme