George (Sylvia's paternal great-great grandfather) married Mary Rudman, and together they had thirteen children. The eleventh child was named Jonathan (in burgundy and italics), born in 1855. Jonathan had a son, also named Jonathan (in green and italics), born in 1903 (Sylvia's paternal grandfather). That Jonathan had a son named Clifford (Sylvia's father).

George Barcroft and Sarah Howorth

Sylvia's paternal great-great-great grandfather, George Barcroft, married a second time (after his first wife passed). This union to Sarah Howorth (in 1819) produced two more sons: James, born in 1820, and Jonathan (in turquoise and italics), born on January 26, 1825.

Father and Son Became Famous Handlers

Jonathan (born in 1825) became a famous handler; he was Sylvia's paternal great-great grandfather's half brother. He married Sarah Mercer, and together they had nine children: Jeremy, Phoebe, Martha, Ann, Elizabeth, James, George (in orange and italics), Sarah Faith, and Jonathan. Their seventh child, George, was born on his father's 30th birthday (Jan. 26, 1855). George would have been Sylvia's paternal great grandfather's half cousin.

Census Records

In the 1841 British census George Barcroft (who had become 60 years of age) and his second wife, Sarah, were listed as being a "farmer" and a "farmer's wife" residing at Scout Moor Bottom. George and Sarah's son, Jonathan was also listed as living there and working as a shepherd, age 15. Jonathan's older brother, James, was also listed and working as a "joiner." A joiner was/is a word often used to describe a person engaged in carpentry work.

In the 1851 census, George Barcroft, then 70, was listed as a farmer of 200 acres who employed two men. No mention was made of his wife, Sarah Howorth Barcroft; she had likely passed away by that time. George Barcroft likely also passed away not too long after the 1851 census was taken. George's son, James, now 31, was listed as still residing there and employed as a "joiner." A daughter-in-law, Sarah, age 26, was also listed. She was likely Sarah Mercer married to Jonathan. Both James and Jonathan married women named Sarah. However, the census listed five grandchildren. Four of the five names listed as children belonged to Jonathan and Sarah Mercer Barcroft. Another grandchild was also listed, named Henry, who may have been the first child born to James and his wife, Sarah (their first child was named Henry). Jonathan was not listed, but he may have been away at the time. Census takers often did not record a person's name unless they were present at the time they were taking the census information.

Sylvia came across a small ad from a newspaper. The article was retyped and quoted below:

"Scout Moor, Shuttleworth

Important to sheep-breeders, Graziers, Farmers, Mr. SAMUEL JACKSON has been favoured with instructions from Mr. J. Barcroft, to SELL BY AUCTION, at his Farm and Premises, Scout Moor, Shuttleworth, near Bury, Lancashire, on Thursday, the 20th of September, 1860, in consequence of the expiration of the lease in the said Moor:—

FIVE HUNDRED and TWENTY LONK SHEEP comprising 130 Ewes, from two to five years old; 100 Ewe Hogs; 105 Gimmer Lambs; 51 Wethers, from two to four years old; 14 Wether Hogs; 109 Wether Lambs; 14 tups and Rams, from one to five years old; and three Tup Lambs.—Sale to commence at eleven o'clock in the forenoon.

N.B.—The Auctioneer is wishful to call special attention to the above superior stock of tups, wethers and ewes, some of which have merited prizes at the agricultural shows.

The above farm is distant about two miles from Ramsbottom Station on the East Lancashire Railway."

In the 1861 census, Jonathan was again listed at Scout Moor Bottom. He was now age 37; he was listed as a farmer of 100 acres. Jonathan's wife, also named Sarah, age 36, was listed in that census as a "wife and housekeeper." All of their nine children were listed, with George being age six.

James, and his wife, Sarah, also had a son named George; he was born in 1859, and he died in 1916. It would be easy to confuse James's son, George, with Jonathan's son, George, when looking up newspaper articles because both men exhibited lonk sheep and became judges of them at agricultural events. George was a member of the Lonk Sheep Society.

In the 1871 census, Jonathan was not listed at Scout Moor Bottom, but rather at Dinkley Hall Farm in Lancashire. He was then age 47 and listed as "a shepherd of his own listed sheep." His wife, Sarah, age 46, was listed as still living at Scout Moor Bottom, along with three of her children. George, age 16, was listed as being a shepherd. Perhaps when Jonathan lost his lease, his family was permitted to remain in the house built at Scout Moor Bottom? Or perhaps he obtained a new lease? Records do not answer such questions.

In the 1881 census, Jonathan was once again not listed at Scout Moor Bottom; rather he was listed as being a "visitor" at Hampson's Farm, located at Sharples, Lancashire. However, the census did show him as a retired farmer. Jonathan's wife, Sarah, then 55, was still living at Scout Moor Bottom and listed as a farmer's wife. George, age 26, was still residing there and employed as a farm labourer. Perhaps Lord Derby no longer leased out the land, but employed George to tend the flock? That might explain why two servants were listed as residing there. The ruins of the Scout Moor Bottom farm home demonstrate the home had once been quite large (see "Photos" page).

In the 1891 census, George, now 36, was listed as a farmer's son. His mother, Sarah, is listed as being age 66.

Jonathan continued to handle dogs almost to the end of his life; he was listed in the "Western Mail" report of September 20, 1900, as handling "Brown Bob" to a 6th place at the Ely race course trial (Cardiff, South Wales). He passed away May 30, 1901 at age 76. He was buried at St. John in the Wilderness churchyard in Shuttleworth. The Barcroft gravesite headstone was photographed, and this image appears at the end of George's obituary ( see the "Obituary" page).

Eventually, George Barcroft moved from Scout Moor to New Hall in Edenfield where he worked until he died at age 64. Based upon trial reports, this occurred approximately in the years between 1910 and1912. This image shows a home on the land where George lived until his death. It has been reported that this home was built on land purchased in 1538 by a Mr. Laurence Rawstone, and that the property was later rented out as farm buildings in 1888.

The wording of the below article tells us that George competed in an agricultural event with his lonk rams.

The Ramsbottom Observer article of July 30, 1915, indicated:

"At the Royal Lancs. Agricultural Society's Show, which opened at Blackburn yesterday, Councillor G. Barcroft, Edenfield, obtained a fourth prize with a lonk shearing ram, also a fourth prize in the lonk ram class. Both exhibits were in the open section."

Another article tells us that George competed in an agricultural event with his lonk tup.

The Ramsbottom Observer article of October 15th, 1915, described:

"At the seventh annual fair under the auspices of the Whitworth District Sheep Breeder's Association on Saturday, Councillor G. Barcroft, of Edenfield, was awarded first prize in the lonk tup lamb, open section. Lady Thursby's exhibit came second."

In October of the following year, George exhibited four Lonk sheep and was awarded three first places; the other entry won second place.

George died October 5, 1919. A nice tribute appeared in the Ramsbottom Observer dated October 10, 1919, which obituary was retyped and appears on the "Obituary" page.

Photos

Obituary

Trialing To 1900

Trialing after 1900

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