Annie Mary Astley (Hartley) Bell

1858 - 1944  (86 years)

• Name	Annie Mary Astley (Hartley) Bell
  Born	5 Jan 1858	52 Montague Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, England
  Gender	Female
  Died	3 Mar 1944	Blackburn, Lancashire, England
  Person ID	I000247	Ancestorium
  Last Modified	5 Dec 2022

  
  

  Father	William Henry Bell,   b. 1828, Blackburn, Lancashire, England ,   d. 1885, unknown  (Age 57 years)
  Mother	Priscilla Hartley,   b. 1836, Blackburn, Lancashire, England ,   d. Jun 1916, Blackburn, Lancashire, England  (Age 80 years)
  Married	5 Nov 1863	St John the Evangelist, (Poulton-Le-Fylde?), Blackpool, Lancashire, England
  Family ID	F00205	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Albert Birtwistle, of Springfield House, Blackburn,   b. 1849, Lower Fold, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England. ,   d. 10 Feb 1921, Cheadle Royal, Cheadle, Cheshire, England  (Age 72 years)
  Married	22 Sep 1881	St Leonard, Balderstone, Lancashire
  Children	1. Gertrude Mary Birtwistle,   b. 25 Oct 1882, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England ,   d. 2 Feb 1960, Old Cottage, Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England  (Age 77 years)   2. William Birtwistle, of Withnell. DSO,   b. 18 Jul 1884, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England ,   d. Jan 1974, Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island, USA  (Age 89 years)   3. Madge Birtwistle,   b. 12 Feb 1886, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England ,   d. 21 May 1962, Blackburn, Lancashire, England  (Age 76 years)   4. Hilda (Twin) Birtwistle, of Nothcote, Langho,   b. 23 Aug 1887, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England ,   d. 1975, unknown  (Age 87 years)   5. Amy (Twin) Birtwistle. of Nothcote, Langho,   b. 23 Aug 1887, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England ,   d. UNKNOWN, unknown   6. James Astley Birtwistle,   b. 19 Feb 1889, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England ,   d. 1974, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England  (Age 84 years)   7. Henry Oscar "Ocky" Birtwistle,   b. 10 Oct 1890, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England ,   d. Sep 1972  (Age 81 years)   8. Mary Birtwistle,   b. 22 May 1892, Blackburn, Lancashire, England (or 1880) ,   d. 1891, unknown   9. Albert Ernest Birtwistle, of Nothcote, Langho. MC,   b. 5 Jan 1894, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England ,   d. 1973, (or 1979?) Darwen, Lancashire, England  (Age 78 years)   10. Norman Birtwistle, MC,   b. 1896, Great Harwood, Lancashire, England ,   d. 8 Oct 1918, Killed in WW1, France  (Age 22 years)   11. Gilbert George Birtwistle,   b. 1900, (or 1898) Great Harwood, Lancashire, England ,   d. Mar 1975, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England  (Age 75 years)   12. Doris Birtwistle,   b. Jun 1902, Lancashire, England ,   d. Dec 1974, England  (Age ~ 72 years)
  Family ID	F00203	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Annie Astley Bell (Annie Mary Hartley).jpg

  
  

• Notes

  See also "The Astley Connection?" http://descentfromadam.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/the-astley-connection/ and "The Astley Connection Revisted" https://descentfromadam.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/the-astley-connection-revisted/ Northcote Manor http://www.northcotemanor.com/history.htm Northcote Manor (now a Hotel) has this at its web site under Northcote Manor A Brief History: Annie Mary Birtwistle took up residence in 1929, and was the widow of Albert Birtwistle, a prominent local business man who was a cotton spinner and manufacturer. The house was bought for the pricely sum of £4,550. Northcote remained in the hands of the Birtwistles for 50 years, during this time ownership changed hands from Hilda to Amy Birtwistle and then finally to Albert, who passed away in 1979. http://www.northcotemanor.com/who_we_are/the_manor.htm Below is a marriage of Albert Birtwistle, the dates and names raise some questions about his wife being Annie Astley Bell or Annie Mary Hartley it seems these are the same person. Marriages at the Church of St Leonard in the Parish of Balderstone Marriage: 22 Sep 1881 St Leonard, Balderstone, Lancashire, England Albert Birtwistle - Full Cotton Spinner Bachelor of Osbaldeston & Great Harwood Annie Mary Hartley - Full Spinster of Witton (Parish of) Groom's Father: William Birtwistle, Cotton Spinner Witness: James Astley; James Porter Married by Licence by: W.Haslewood Register: Marriages 1838 - 1900, Page 47, Entry 94 Source: PR3072/1/1 http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Balderstone/stleonard/marriages_1838-1900.html Generations 1-3: Biographies,Obituaries, etc https://descentfromadam.wordpress.com/2020/02/07/generations-1-3-biographiesobituaries-etc/ February 7 2020 -Justin Kirby I have written previously about how Annie Mary is probably the natural daughter of Priscilla Hartley and possibly William Henry Bell. We know she was the daughter of Priscilla Hartley and was born on 05/01/1858 at 52 Montague Street, Blackburn. But no father is named on the birth certificate, and Annie`s marriage certificate (to Albert Birtwistle) has no father named either. As Priscilla didn’t marry William Bell until 1863, I suspect that he was not Annie’s father. But who knows, and maybe Geneaologial DNA may yield some answers one day. We do have some great photos of her, Albert and their large family though. And I am guessing my mother has some fun anecdotes. From Justin Kriby December 2011 I had the following through from Mandy Grimshaw: Annie Mary Hartley was the daughter of Priscilla Hartley. She was born on 05/01/1858 at 52 Montague Street, Blackburn. No father named on the birth certificate. Annie’s marriage certificate (to Albert Birtwistle) has no father named either. As Priscilla didn’t marry William Bell until 1863, I suspect that he was not Annie’s father. But who knows? Below from The Astley Connection? http://descentfromadam.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/the-astley-connection/ July 1, 2011 by Justin Kirby, her great grandson I have a theory that Annie Mary Hartley was the illegitimate daughter of Priscilla Hartley (Seems even more now, Dec 2011, since no father is mentioned on her birth certificate). In the 1861 census, there’s an Annie Mary Hartley aged 3 living with her Victualler grandmother Ann Hartley at the Navigation Inn in Blackburn. Anne Hartley’s daughter Priscilla is also living there unmarried aged 25. Now maybe Annie Mary Hartley was the daughter of her uncles Ralph, John, William or even the illegitimate daughter of her aunt Mary, but it seems more likely she was the daughter of Priscilla. According to an email to cousin Hamish from Debbie Hughes, it seems Priscilla Hartley (b: 1836 Blackburn) married William Henry Bell (b:1828 d:1885) in 1863 Fylde, Lancs. If Priscilla was born in 1936 this would tally with her being 25 in the 1861 Census. She would have been 27 when she married William Henry Bell … and possibly 22 when Annie Mary was born. According to Debbie, William Henry Bell and Priscilla Hartley had the following Children: Albert William b: 1864 Blackpool Ralph b: 05/11/1865 Accrington James Cunliffe b:1867 Accrington Henry* b: 1870 Accrington Berth Ann b:1872 Accrington Florence Sarah: b:1874 Accrington Mabel Priscilla b: 1876 Accrington There’s no mention of an Annie although Debbie Hughes had heard of her back when she was in contact with cousin Hammish in 2008, but didn’t know where she fitted in. I looked at Debbie Hughes’ family tree last night and she now seems to have Annie Mary Hartley as the daughter of Priscilla Hartley and unknown father, which is the same conclusion I’ve come to. I’m trying to contact Debbie to see whether she has any sources like a birth certificate or whether this is based on deduction from the census records. What’s interesting is that Annie Mary Hartley is living with (her brother?) Henry Bell at the house of her aunt Mary (née Hartley) and her husband James Astley in the 1881 census. Perhaps this is why our great grandfather was christened James Astley. I can’t find out where Annie Mary Hartley was living in the earlier 1871 census. Her siblings William A, Ralph, James and Henry Bell were living with their parents William H. Bell and Pricilla. The sisters Bertha, Florence and Mabel Bell hadn’t been born yet. 10 years later in 1881 census there’s only Albert W (probably same person as William A in earlier census), Bertha, Florence and Mabel still living with their parents William H. Bell and Priscilla. Ralph and James are boarding at Sandringham School in North Meols District of West Lancashire, and as mentioned Annie Mary and Henry are staying with their Aunt Mary. So maybe there is some truth to John Grayling’s story about some of the Bell Children living with an Astley Aunt and my guess is that it was their aunt Mary Astley (neé Hartley) as she doesn’t appear to have children. I’m also guessing that Annie Mary Hartley was known as Annie Astley Bell to avoid questions about her illegitimacy. Note from Hamish There is still the possibility Annie Mary Hartley b Abt. 1858 may have been the daughter of Ralph Hartley (b 1840) or William Hartley (b 1830) shown here as her uncles. Although I think Justin's theory that she was Priscilla's daughter is the most likely. Even more now (Dec 2011) since no father is mentioned on her birth certificate. In the 1861 census she appears in her grandmother’s house: RG9 P. 3100 Fol 125 Pg. 25 69 Eanden (?) Navigation Inn, Blackburn Ann Hartley Head Wid 54 Victualler B. Lancs Oswaldtwissle Priscilla ~ Dau Un 25 B. Lancs Blackburn Annie Mary Hartley Grand daughter 3 B. Blackburn John Cunliffe Father Wid 80 b. Lancs Oswaldtwissle. Blind Hellen Cunliffe Serv. Wid 52 Servant B. Lancs Accrington ++++++++++++++++ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 Name Annie Mary Birtwistle of Northcote Lodge, near Blackburn, widow Death Date 3 Mar 1944 Death Place Blackburn Probate Date 7 Jun 1944 Probate Registry Llandudno 7 June William Birtwistle, James Astley Birtwistle, and Albert Ernest Birtwistle cotton spinners and manufactures. Effect 24245(pounds) 13s 3d https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1904/images/32858_611411_1971-00253?ssrc=pt&treeid=169193647&personid=352195554387&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=17054744 & https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/17054744:1904?ssrc=pt&tid=169193647&pid=352195554387