XBO Ollery Hall Farm – Margaret Ferguson

Margaret Ferguson's journey to Ollery Hall Farm

Margaret 🌳 was born in Birkdale on Friday 22nd June 1888, the seventh child of Mary Heron and Francis Joseph Ferguson (Frank), a joiner.

Two years later their eighth child was born – a little boy who was named George. Traumatically, only a few days after her baby’s birth, Mary died of puerperal fever (also known as childbed fever which is a bacterial infection of the female reproductive tract that can occur after childbirth) and peritonitis (an infection of the inner lining of the abdominal wall and abdominal organs).

Expecting to find Frank and his children in the 1891 census, it was a surprise to discover that he had vanished! Baby George was living with his maternal grandmother in St. Helens, meanwhile his seven siblings (including Margaret) were still living in Birkdale but with their paternal grandmother, Sarah Ferguson who was 69 years old at the time.

The 1901 census tells us Sarah Ferguson had moved to 57 Kew Road in Birkdale, however, only granddaughter, Mary (then 18 and a housemaid) and grandson Charles (who was 14 and a window cleaner) were still living with her. Eldest grandson, Frank Duncan as well as Gertrude and George were living with their maternal grandmother in St. Helens.

So what happened to James, Annie and Margaret? In 1901 James was living in the Corporation Lodging House, Hood Street, Ancoats in Manchester; his occupation was recorded as a bootmaker Common Lodging Houses . Annie was fifteen years old and a general servant at 14 Albert Road, Southport. Margaret was 12 years old and living in New Cut Lane, Halsall.

The children’s grandparents had died by 1908. All the Ferguson children kept their surname they were given at birth, except for Margaret who had been adopted some time between 1891 and 1901. She was living with farmers Elizabeth and Thomas Wareing on New Cut Lane and her name appeared on the census as Margaret Wareing, with a remark stating she was an ‘adopted child’. Note also that her place of birth was recorded as ‘not known’.

Who were Margaret’s adoptive parents?

Elizabeth Brade 🌳 and Thomas Wareing 🌳 were the couple who adopted Margaret to raise as their own daughter. To say that they had suffered heartbreak during their marriage is an understatement in the extreme…

Elizabeth Brade was born c.1847 in Crossens to Ann Hesketh and James Brade, a farmer. Thomas Wareing was born in Banks c. 1839 to Jane Riding (Jenny) and Stephen Wareing, also a farmer.

According to the 1861 census, the Brades and the Wareings were living at Hesketh Moss, Lancashire and the two families would have been well acquainted. A few years later, James Brade 🌳 and family moved to Halsall Moss. His 17 year old daughter, Elizabeth became pregnant by Thomas Wareing and in August 1865, baby Stephen 🌳 was born (named after his paternal grandfather). Later that year, on 13th September 1865, Elizabeth and Thomas were married at St. Cuthbert’s church, Halsall and on the same day, baby Stephen was christened.

Two years later, a baby sister was born – Ann 🌳 came along in the autumn of 1867 (named after her maternal grandmother). Ann was baptised on 20th October 1867 also at St. Cuthbert’s church. Sadly, both children died in January 1868 – Stephen was 2 years old and Ann was only 5 months.

Elizabeth became pregnant again and their third child was born in October 1870 – another boy who was also named Stephen 🌳 ; he was baptised at St. Cuthbert’s church, Halsall on 23rd October the same year. A little brother followed in the spring of 1873 – James 🌳, who was baptised on 15th June that year.

Tragically, history repeated itself; Stephen became ill and died of diphtheria on 29th July 1873 – just a few weeks after the birth of his brother James. Elizabeth’s brother Richard 🌳 was the informant on the death certificate. Stephen was buried on 31st July 1873 at St. Cuthbert’s church.

Remarkably, baby James didn’t contract the infection and continued to thrive until adulthood. Elizabeth and Thomas had no more children of their own.

As previously mentioned the Wareings adopted Margaret; she was still living with them in 1911 on New Cut Lane. It is from this census that Margaret is referred to as ‘Maggie’ and ‘farmer’s daughter’ as well as her place of birth being given as ‘Halsall, Lancashire’ which suggests a much more informal, natural relationship with her adoptive parents than we saw in the 1901 census. Their son, James was married with children by that time too so Elizabeth and Thomas would have enjoyed being grandparents no doubt.

Everything was going well for the Wareings until James died in October 1913; this meant that Elizabeth and Thomas had outlived all four of their natural children and only had Margaret as their adopted daughter.

Margaret was still living with her parents on New Cut Lane at this point; she had caught the eye of local lad, George Robert Marshall 🌳 who lived down the road where he worked as a labourer for Peter Barlow 🌳. George was the son of Isabella Ballantyne 🌳 and John Marshall 🌳 of Halsall. In 1915 (Reg. Quarter Apr.May.June) Margaret and George were married; being in the thick of war, however, it wasn’t long before George was required to sign up and so he joined the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment 12th Battalion. Tragedy came knocking once more. Margaret’s mother, Elizabeth, passed away just a few months after Margaret and George’s wedding; her funeral was held at St. Cuthbert’s church on 18th September 1915.

Then, just twelve months after their marriage, George was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme on 16th September 1916. He was only 21 years old.

Private 13797 George Robert Marshall was buried at the Thiepval Memorial and Anglo-French Cemetery, Picardy, France.

Margaret and her father Thomas, both now without their respective spouses, continued to live together on New Cut Lane. Thomas reached the grand age of 81 and passed away in January 1920, meaning that Margaret would have to vacate the farm. She was alone once more. Fortunately, she was taken in by her brother-in-law, James Marshall 🌳KJLH-43S and his wife Mary , who lived at 262 Liverpool Road, Birkdale. James worked as an agricultural labourer for Richard Wareing, the farmer at Grantham West Farm, New Cut Lane in Halsall (1921 census). The farm is now known as West Crantum Farm.

It wasn’t too long before Margaret found happiness again when she met William Richard Cunnington 🌳 of Ollery Hall Farm. They were married on 24th January 1924 at St. John’s church, Birkdale and initially set up home in Birkdale village before moving into Ollery Hall Farm with William’s family

She was now Margaret Cunnington of Ollery Hall Farm.