William Horrox ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

   FamilySearch ID: GWCH-7KH.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Note: Birth;ace of the Horrox Family in England, Heap, Heywood, Lancashire, ENG. The 1851 census in England states Edward was born in Heap, which is a village just west of the town of Heywood, both within Lancashire, England, located north of the larger city of Manchester. The Heap Bridge crosses River Roch and the village is often referred to as Heap Bridge. Edward would be baptized in St. George the Martyr Church, part of the Church of England. Google Map of the church location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/chx6XaQcErEBrq9m9

See an historic 1851 map of the area: https://maps.nls.uk/view/102344027#zoom=6&lat=4450&lon=4878&layers=BT

Summary of Edward's Census in 1851:

The 1851 England census recorded in Middleton, Lancashire: Edward Horrocks, coal miner, 26, living with wife Ann, hand loom weaver, 22; Mary A., 3; and William, 1 month old. Also in the home is a lodger, Leah Box, silk winder, 22; and servant Mary Murphy, 14. Everyone was born in Middleton, Lancashire except Edward in Heap, Lancashire.

Edward was a coal miner and you can read about the history of coal mining in Heywood:

https://www.heywoodhistory.com/2014/01/the-dirty-history-of-coal-mining-in.html

Edward's father Samuel's 1851 census states he was born in Prestwich, which is about 5 miles south of Heap. The church is at St. Mary the Virgin, map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BXpauX4VTJHEoWAP9

The 1851 census recorded at 80 Middle Street: Samuel Horrocks, gafe maker, 55, living with wife Mary, 54; Ann, 22, steam loom weaver cotton; James, 18, laborer at print works; Hannah, 16, steam loom weaver cotton; and Mary Ann, 13, domestic. Everyone was born in Lancashire Prestwich except Ann in Lancashire Middleton.

On the previous census page at 83 Middle Street is Samuel's brother, James Horrocks, with his family.

The 1861 England Census recorded living at 105 Little Ireland Road in Whitefield hamlet, Pilkington civil parish in All Saints ecclesiastical parish in Lancashire county: Edward Horrox, coal miner, 36; his wife, Ann, cotton spinner, 32; daughter Mary A., cotton spinner, 13; William, scholar, 10; and James, scholar, 8. Edward was born in Heywood, Lancashire, and all others in Middleton, Lancashire.

See an historic map of the area: https://maps.nls.uk/view-full/102344057#zoom=5&lat=7420&lon=2820&layers=BT

There we know in 1861 Edward Horrox was working as a coal miner in one of the mines shown as black dots on this Google Map: https://nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/collieries-of-the-british-isles/coal-mines-england/

Clicking on each mine reveals whether it was in operation in 1861. Further research can be conducted at The Northern Mines Research Society website at https://nmrs.org.uk/

It appears Edward came alone to America and later told his wife and children to come, because on 21 Mar 1865, arriving in New York on the ship City of Washington in steerage class were Ann Horrox, 35, wife, with daughter Mary Ann, 14, spinster; William, 11; and James, 9. Everyone was born in England. The ship departed from Liverpool, England, and Queenstown, Ireland.

Little did they know that 3 years later, Edward would die at age 44 at the coal mining village called Jacksons where he worked at the Jackson Colliery, likely due to a mining accident or the dangers of breathing coal dust which resulted in many miners dying young. Jacksons no longer exists but another article in Memories has information.

Edward's widowed wife Ann married another coal miner, Robert Scholes, and gave birth to two sons, but soon after Robert also died young. Ann's sons took jobs at the Jackson Colliery and they remained in Jacksons village until about 1900.

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2. Census in 1851 in Middleton, LAN, England, GBR. ³ The 1851 England census recorded in Middleton, Lancashire: Edward Horrocks, coal miner, 26, living with wife Ann, hand loom weaver, 22; Mary A., 3; and William, 1 month old. Also in the home is a lodger, Leah Box, silk winder, 22; and servant Mary Murphy, 14. Everyone was born in Middleton, Lancashire except Edward in Heap, Lancashire.

3. Census in 1861 in Whitefield, LAN, England, GBR. ² The 1861 England Census recorded living at 105 Little Ireland Road in Whitefield hamlet, Pilkington civil parish in All Saints ecclesiastical parish in Lancashire county: Edward Horrox, coal miner, 36; his wife, Ann, cotton spinner, 32; daughter Mary A., cotton spinner, 13; William, scholar, 10; and James, scholar, 8. Edward was born in Heywood, Lancashire, and all others in Middleton, Lancashire.

4. He immigrated on 21 Mar 1865 to New York, New York, NY. ⁵ Arriving in New York on the ship City of Washington in steerage class were Ann Horrox, 35, wife, with daughter Mary Ann, 14, spinster; William, 11; and James, 9. Everyone was born in England. The ship departed from Liverpool, England, and Queenstown, Ireland.

5. Census in 1870 in Jacksons, Schuylkill, PA. ^{8 9} The 1870 U.S. census recorded in Mahanoy Township two Horrax households:
Henry Horrax, miner, 25, with wife Sarah, 23; and daughter Maggie, 2. Henry was born in England, the others in Pennsylvania.
The widow Ann Horrax, 40, keeping house, living with her son William, laborer, 19; James, laborer, 17; son Alphie, 4; and daughter Mary A., 23. Also in the home is Mary A.'s son, Thos. E. Jackson, age 2, born in Pennsylvania. Everyone else was born in England.
Who was the father of 2-year old Thomas Jackson? Likely it is the Thomas Jackson on the following census page:
Thomas Jackson, laborer, age 20, along with Margaret J. Jackson, 12, and Lizie M. Jackson, 10, were all living in the household of coal miner John Long, 40, and his wife Margaret, 36. Perhaps Margaret was first married to a Jackson?.

6. Census in 1880 in Jacksons, Schuylkill, PA. ^{1 9} The 1880 census recorded Ann Scholes, widow, 50, living with her sons with Horrox surname: William Horrox, coal miner, 29; James Horrox, coal miner, 26; Alfred Horrox, works in mine, 13; and Thomas Horrox, at school, 11. Also with them are Ann's stepsons with the Scholes surname: Robert Scholes, 18; John Scholes, 12. Everyone was born in England, except John in Maryland, and Alfred and Thomas in Pennsylvania. The Horrox father and Scholes father and Ann were born in England. Note: His PA Death Certificate reveals Thomas Horrox was actually the son of Ann's daughter Mary Ann Horrox and Thomas Jackson.

7. Census in 1900 in East Union Township, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹⁰ The 1900 census recorded William Horrox, laborer in coal min, 41, born Mar 1859, married for 18 years to Ellen, 37, Apr 1863; living wih their children: Edward, farm laborer, 17, Apr 1883; Richard, 15, Apr 1885, James, 13, Feb 1887, Annie, 11, Feb 1889, Emma, 8, Jun 1891; and Alfred, 2, Jan 1898. William and his parents were born in England. Ellen was born in Pennsylvania and her parens in Wales. Their children were all born in Pennsylvania. William owned his home.

8. Newspaper: Philadelphia Inquirer: James Horrox Kills 10 Year Old Boy, 14 Oct 1901, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ¹¹ TWO QUARREL; ONE IS SHOT
Special to The Inquirer. SHENANDOAH. Pa., Oct. 13.
Brandonville, a farming village located three miles north of this city, was the scene of a fatal shooting yesterday afternoon. James Horrox. aged 15 years, and Edward Ball, aged 10 years, quarreled Friday afternoon last over the respective merits of horses owned by their parents and the interference of farm hands alone prevented them from coming to blows.
Yesterday afternoon Horrox, with gun In hand, started toward the hen coop, Intending to shoot a large hawk which was hovering about. On his way he met young Ball, and it is alleged fired the contents of the gun Into his legs. Ball died at the Miners' Hospital to-day from the shock. Horrox was arrested and committed without bail charged with the shooting.

9. Newspaper: Shenandoah Evening Herald, 30 Oct 1901, Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA. ¹² Father Engaged Counsel.
William Horrox, father of James Horrox, the 14-year-old boy is jail charged with the murder of Edward Ballrushis, has engaged James J. Bell, Esq., to defend his son. This is the case in which James Horrox shot his nine-year-old companion while squirrel hunting near Brandonville, on October 12th. The Coroner's Jury impaneled to investigate the case exonerated young Horrox from all blame by rendering verdict of "accidental shooting." Friends of Ballrushis became dissatisfied with the verdict and had Horrox taken in custody.
The arrest was made on the day Ballrushis was buried, and as the funeral proceeded in one direction young Horrox was being burried in another to jail.

10. Newspaper: The Miners Journal, 19 Nov 1901, Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA. ¹³ BOY ON TRIAL FOR MURDER
James Horrox on Trial For the Killing of Edward Ball Last Month.
The case of James Horrox, who is charged with the murder of Edward Hall is on trial before Judge Shay in court room No. 2. The case was called at 2.30 o'clock, and at 3.30 o'clock the work of empanelling the jury had been completed. In addressing the jury Deputy District Attorney Noecker explained that the Commonwealth would not ask for a verdict of murder in the first degree and for that reason no questions relating to conscientious scruples against capital punishment had not been asked the jurymen.
The Story of the Crime
The story of the alleged crime is as follows - The defendant was out gunning on Saturday, October 12th, and while near the house of Joseph Ball, it is alleged called to Edward Ball to come out into the woods. The little fellow went, and after refusing to get a.piece of bread for the defendant was shot in the right leg and afterward died from the effects of the wound.
Dr. Ressler, of Ringtown, testified to having been called to dress Edward Ball's leg and described the wound to the jury as having affected the middle third of the right leg. In his opinion the wound had been caused by a shot gun which had been discharged in close proximity to the leg. After dressing his wound, Dr. Ressler said he had sent him to the hospital and afterward heard that he had died there.
He demonstrated in a practical way the manner in which he thought the parties must have stood when the shooting occurred. On cross-examination, Messrs. Bell and Durkin, for the defense, tried to show that death was due to hemorrhage, which the boy underwent before he received medical attendance. He thought that on the day in question, the coagulation of blood would have been favored by the chilly atmosphere.
The Brother Testifies.
Joseph Ball, the brother of the dead boy, remembered the day the shooting occurred, and the subsequent events connected with the tragedy. He told how he found the brother; he was very pale, and there was a great deal of blood about. The injured boy thought he was going to die and told how Horrox shot him. Horrox had not told him that he had shot the boy for about an hour and a half after the deed was committed. On cross examination he stuck to his story which the defense could not shake.
The parties are all from Union township, and the prosecution is in the hands of Deputy District Attorney Noecker and H. O. Bechtel.
The following is a list of the jurors: Stephen Reese, Ashland; John H. Messerschmidt, Rush; John J. Lauer, Ashland; John Lugan, Pottsville; Wm. McHale, Cass; Thos. Haughney, Mahanoy City; John F. Stoudt, West Penn; Joseph Herb, Mt. Carbon; Jos. Campbell, Porter Twp.; E. L. Shissler, Minersville; Fred D. Bushar, Pottsville; Isaac T. Lewis, Mahanoy City.

11. Newspaper: Shenandoah Evening Herald, 20 Nov 1901, Shenandoah, Schuylkill, PA. ¹⁴ James Horrocks Is Acquitted
Not Guilty of the Murder of Young Ball.
Pottsville, Nov. 20 -- The jury in the case of James Horrocks, the Brandonville youth charged with the murder of Edward Ball, of the same place, last evening at 7:25 o'clock found a verdict of not guilty. The case occupied the entire day. Messrs W. B. Durkin and James J. Bell made a successful fight in behalf of the defendant, the latter addressing the jury in a forciful manner. The commonwealth was represented by Deputy District Attorney Noecker and H. O. Bechtel.
The Commonwealth having asked for a verdict in the second degree, Judge Shay in his charge laid down the law as to homicide and manslaughter. The jury was out about four hours. The youthful prisoner, after thanking his attorneys, left for his home at Brandonville to-day.

12. Census in 1910 in Union Twp., Schuylkill, PA. ¹⁵ The 1910 census recorded Edward Horrocks, 26, living with wife Adaline V., 27; Josephine H., 5; Ethel M., 4; Chas. W., 2; and Mildred I., 3 months. Also in their home is Edward's father, William Horrocks, widowed, 59, born in England. Everyone else was born in Pennsylvania, except Adaline in New York.

13. Cause of Death: chronic bronchiis for 6 years, contributory: cardiac disease and chronic nephritis, 25 May 1910, Union Twp., Schuylkill, PA. ⁴

14. Occupation: coal miner on 25 May 1910 in Union Twp., Schuylkill, PA. ⁴

William married Ellen Parcell about 1882. (Ellen Parcell was born in Apr 1863 in Minersville, Schuylkill, PA,^{16 17} died on 15 Jan 1939 in Girard Manor, Schuylkill, PA, United States ^{16 17} and was buried on 18 Jan 1939 in Brandonville, Schuylkill, PA ^{16 17}.)