Edward Pilkington MHW2-LFQ was born in 1811 in Scarisbrick, the third child of Ralph Pilkington, a farmer, and Alice Goore. He was baptised on 6th November 1811 at Ormskirk church. 

He married Mary Gaskell on 19th January 1836 at St. Cuthbert’s church, Halsall.  The birth of their first child, Margaret, was a year later. By 1841, Edward and Mary were running the inn by the ‘bridge’ ie Warehouse Bridge. (On the 1847 map of Halsall, the inn is referred to as ‘Warehouse Inn’). Their daughter, Margaret was 4 years old and they had 1 female servant Mary Shevlin, aged 14.

Edward’s father, Ralph along with Edward’s 2 brothers and 2 sisters were farming nearby – at North Moor Farm.  In 1845, whilst still at the inn, Edward’s daughter Margaret died aged 8 years old. She was buried at St. Cuthbert’s, Halsall on 15th March 1845. By August the following year, another daughter was born – Alice Pilkington. Sadly, however, she too died only 5 years later and was also buried at St. Cuthbert’s on 17th September 1851. During September of 1851, there were 8 funerals performed at Halsall church, 7 of which were of children.

Edward and Mary were still living and working at the inn in 1851, although, by 1858 Ralph and Ann Pilkington, Edward’s parents had both died so in 1861, we can see that Edward was then farming at North Moor – 110 acres in total. His older brother, James, took over the running of the inn, whilst his younger brother, John is living with Edward and Mary plus their 5 farm servants and 2 house servants. The couple didn’t have any more children.