Ollery Hall Farm - Edward Kirk

Edward Kitk ( Credit : E. Blair)
Edward Kirk 🌳 was born at 42 High Street, Skelmersdale on 11th April 1873 to Elizabeth Fazakerley 🌳(originally from Scarisbrick) and Edward Kirk,🌳 a labourer at the local colliery. Unfortunately, Edward senior died in 1878 when his little boy was only 5 years old. A year later, on 25th September 1879, Elizabeth, married Thomas Sephton,🌳 an agricultural labourer from Southport Road in Scarisbrick and that is where we see them in the 1881 census.
1881 Census Thomas & Elizabeth Sephton and Edward Kirk
Edward’s half-brother, Edmund 🌳was born on 17th April the following year, however, tragedy struck the family once again when Elizabeth died during childbirth. Edward was left an orphan at 9 years old and baby Edmund would never know his mother. Edmund was christened the day after his birth – the same day his mother was buried.
Burial record of Elizabeth Sephton 18th April 1882
Baptism record of Edmund Sephton 18th April 1882

When the 1891 census was taken in April of that year, Edward was working as a farm servant at Ollery Hall Farm, Halsall for Mary Howard and family. In fact, he was still there when the next census was taken in 1901; at that point, his occupation was a carter.

Edward next appears in the marriage records, having married Mary Agnes Edwardson 🌳 in January 1904. Mary was a servant for Mrs. Jane Shawe, a widow who lived in Asmall Lane, Scarisbrick. However, Mary Agnes was also the daughter of Martha 🌳 and Thomas Edwardson 🌳; Martha being the daughter of Mary Howard 🌳, the farmer Edward worked for at Ollery Hall Farm. So in effect, he had married into the family he worked for.
When Edward marries Mary Edwardson, his employer at Ollery Hall farm is his wife's grandmother, Mary Howard.
Edward & Mary with baby Elsie, 1905 (Credit: E. Blair)

Edward and Mary’s wedding as well as their first two children’s births were registered in West Derby which suggests the Kirks could have lived in that area initially.

However, by the time the 1911 census was taken, they had returned to Halsall and were living down Small Lane South with their three children: Elsie 🌳 who was 7 years old and at school, Thomas 🌳 aged 4 and baby Harold 🌳 who was 9 months old. All was going well for the Kirk family.
Map of Ormskirk Union Workhouse, c. 1908
Men's ward, Ormskirk Union Workshouse c. 1900's (Credit: workhouse.org.uk)

Not so for Edward’s step-father, Thomas Sephton; in 1911, at the age of 74, he was living as an inmate of the Ormskirk Union Workhouse, Wigan Road, Ormskirk. It isn’t clear exactly what led to this situation – perhaps ill health? No information is recorded as to his marital status, occupation or place of birth – it simply states ‘unknown’. Thomas Sephton died in December 1912.

1911 Census Ormskirk Union Workhouse
The Kirk family c. 1920's (Credit: E.Blair)

Eventually Edward and family moved to and settled in Burscough Street, Ormskirk as Edward had found work as a carter. 

During the war years, when he was in his late 60s, Edward was employed as a general labourer at a local brewery.

British POW's taken in Kos, 1943 (Credit: Wikipedia)

Their youngest son, Harold, had a very different war; he was in 74 Squadron of the RAF during WW2 and was a prisoner of war having been captured by the Germans during the Battle of Kos in 1943. Eventually, he was rescued by the Americans and sent home to his wife, Hilda and the rest of the family in Ormskirk.

Family Album

Edward and Mary Kirk and their 3 married children's family tree
Edward and Mary Kirk
Elsie and James Taylor
Thomas and Annie Kirk
Harold and Hilda Kirk

Credit E. Blair for family photographs

St Mark's churchyard, Scarisbrick, Lancashire

Edward Kirk died in January 1953, aged 79 years, followed by his son Thomas who passed away in 1954 and then sadly, Mary Agnes who died on 27th June 1955 at the age of 78.

Edward and Mary were buried together at St. Marks’ churchyard in Scarisbrick – where Edward’s mother, Elizabeth Kirk/Sephton, was laid to rest 70 years earlier.