Notes |
- LDS Ancestral File submissions often connect this David Firth with the family of William Firth and Mary Lofthouse of Clayton, Yorkshire, but this is often based on source [WYAS-1792a] which has a christening date in mid-1792. Most evidence, though, indicates that our David Firth was instead the son of David Firth of Marsden, Yorkshire. First, this individual is unquestionably the father of Mary (Firth) Chadwick, as she is enumerated in his household in 1861, one year after the death of her husband, Allen Chadwick. This individual consistently listed his birthplace as “Marsden” in all English census records from 1841 through 1861. Duplicate christening records exist, both in Marsden and in Almondbury, for “...David son of David Firth. And finally, this individual was married to Martha Shaw in 1820 approximately 9 months before the birth of their eldest daughter, Maria. This fact is recorded in parish records that were originally held at All Hallows Cathedral, Almondbury, Yorkshire. David Firth of Clayton was married to Martha Wood fully 10 years earlier. [3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13]
- The birth dates of David and Martha (Shaw) Firth and their four daughters were listed on a sampler embroidered by their daughter, Mary. Robert Stanley Fairbanks noted this fact and the dates in [Fairbanks-1978]. However, by the time of Ruth Edna (Tutein) Fairbanks’ death, that sampler had been lost. It has not been discovered in the years since. [2]
- “Sellars Clough” is probably a reference to the modern “Cellars Clough”, an area along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal just to the northeast of Marsden along the A62 near Sparth Reservoir. This is the location of the Cellars Clough Mill, a woolen mill that opened in the late 19th century and was owned by brothers Samuel and Copper Firth. [1, 6]
- The age listed for David Firth in both the 1851 and 1861 English census returns is consistent with [Fairbanks-1978] [2, 3, 8]
- [England-1861a] has David Firth’s residence on “Leach Street”. The contemporary name for this is “Leech Street”, and Page 1 of that same source, lists the name correctly. The misspelling appears to be a census taker’s mistake. [3]
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