Wigan Album

You are lucky to have this record of your great great grandparents, and all the better for being a genuine record of how things really were.
It's a shame that the sad story is attached to it. That's one aspect of the 'good old days' that we don't want to go back to.

Thank you for you comments, Ive been tracing my family tree and its great when you can put face's to names. But they where such hard times

Unfortunately, this practice went on more than people want to admit. Every street had a "woman" who did abortions - for a price

Brilliant photo. I am a Wilson, well my mum was. I have a database of Wigan Wilson's, it would be nice to know if your family are in it. Have a look and let me know.
www.the.wilson.name

These to in the picture are William Wilson and Elizabeth Wilson which was her maiden name aswell. His father was Charles Wilson and hers was James Wilson

Thanks for that info David. Believe it or not Elizabeth is on my database. And even more amazing, her father James Wilson was my great-grandfather. My grandad was Elizabeth's eldest brother John, which makes Elizabeth my great-aunty. Elizabeth was living at Moorfield Street when she died in March 1920 as was her dad James. Any chance of sending emailing me a high res version of the pic for my own archive? And have you any more, this is the closest I have ever got to a pic of my grandad!!

David.
This is some of the info on my website. Let me know if your great-great-great grandmother was Mary Ann. In 1901 William is living at 6 Moorfield Street, with his parents Charles and Mary Ann, Elizabeth is living at 23 Moorfield Street. In 1911 William and Elizabeth were living at 69 Summer Street, Skelmersdale near to Elizabeth's grandfather John on Berry Street. My mother was born at 32 Summer Street in 1911.

Will email a copy of this picture to you. I have not traced further back than Elizabeth yet but that information seems to ring true with what has been passed down. Ive got a couple of wedding certificates I think of the wilson side

To Eric Gaskell.
I was brought up in old Skelmersdale and we lived at no 35 ish and 73 Summer st between circa 1949 and 1958 when the houses were all demolished.
Have you any photos of the street or any other details, it was actually nicknamed "Tawd New Row" I do have a couple of pictures of family in front of no 71, 69 had already been demolished when we moved there, there was a gap.

My grandparents lived at number 69 would be great to see some pictures of the street to have an idea of what it would have been like