2. | William Sixsmith was born on 28 Apr 1806 in Ashton in Makerfield Lancashire, England (son of unknown and Betty Sixsmith); died on 18 Apr 1864 in Mill Lane, Ashton in Makerfield; was buried on 21 Apr 1864 in St Thomas, Ashton In Makerfield. Other Events:
- Baptism: 23 May 1806, All Saints, Wigan Lancashire
Notes:
Census Listings:
1841 The Brittannia, Mill Lane, Ashton In Mackerfield age 35 publican
1851 The Brittannia, Mill Lane, Ashton In Mackerfield Head, married, age 44, Innkeeper & Framer of 3? acres
1861 The Brittannia, Mill Lane, Ashton In Mackerfield Head, married, age 54, Victualer
There seems to be some confusion here as to the Mill Lane where "The Britannia" was situated.
Mill Lane refers in this case to the stretch of road, commencing at the "Robin Hood" and running to and including Old Rd. Presumably it was so named because it ran, from both directions to the "Steam Engine" spinning mill built in 1827, behind where the old Police Station now stands on Old Road and immediately to the East of the presumed route of the Roman Road through Ashton. This "Mill Lane" first appears in St.Thomas Parish registers in March 1829.
The Britannia Inn is recorded in Baines Lancashire in 1825 when the licensed victualler was Thomas Crompton and he remained in that position until his death (of dropsy) in March 1836, aged 59 years.
The public house was then taken over by William Sixsmith and his wife Mary(nee Pimblett) both of whom were born in Ashton in Makerfield but had been resident at Travey House Rainford between 1834 and 1836. William Sixsmith died in April 1864 of "a disease of the head". His daughter Ann Sixsmith married Charles Potter Dobb, the son of the Ashton malster, in Nov.1864 and they appear to be the proprietors of the Britannia in Dec. 1865.
Charles Potter Dobb died in 1866 and Ann married again to Daniel Thornley (b. Lostock) in August 1867.
Parish Registers record them as licensed victuallers of Mill Lane in October 1869 but by the time of the 1871 census, they were the licensees of "The Britannia" New Rd, Ashton in Makerfield and in 1881 "The Britannia" 3, Wigan Rd. Both these referring to Britannia Inn at Brynn, next door to the railway station.
As several properties, between the "Dye House" and the "Steam Engine" (including the Britannia Inn) disappear from Mill Lane between the 1861 and 1871 censuses I wonder if these were demolished when Bryn St. was created and extended through to join up with Mill Lane. Hence the new pub with the same name and the same licensees in a different location.
If this hypothesis is correct then the old "Britannia Inn" would have been in the area of the bottom of Bryn St. with the library in front to the left. Hope this solves the confusion as to "Mill Lane."
Baptism:
William Base child of Betty Sixsmith of Ashton
Died:
Burial: 21 Apr 1864 St Thomas, Ashton in Makerfield, Lancs.
William Sixsmith -
Died: 18 Apr 1864
Age: 57
Abode: Mill Lane in Ashton
Cause of Death: Disease of the head
Buried by: J H Bullivant, Curate
Register: Burials 1861 - 1874, Page 77, Entry 615
Source: LDS Film 1885663
William married Mary Pimblet on 14 Jun 1830 in St Oswald, Winwick, Lancashire. Mary was born in 1802 in Ashton in Makerfield Lancashire, England; died on 5 Apr 1863; was buried on 8 Apr 1863 in St Thomas, Ashton In Makerfield. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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