Jane Horrocks and the Cotton Kings

[RichardCrane]

Whilst exploring her great-grandmother (Sarah Cunliffe)'s working life in a cotton mill, Jane was advised to investigate the cotton kings of Samuel and John Horrocks by Jean Leonard (a former cotton weaver). Following a visit to the Harris Museum in Preston, Jane met two men who showed her how she's connected. Going back many generations of John Horrocks (Jane's father's family), the two men found Adam Horrocks (the common ancestor) and then, down another line of Horrocks links Jane with Samuel and John Horrocks (the cotton kings).

My ancestors on my father's family (the Cranes) were cotton weavers in Preston, Lancashire which ironically is where Samuel and John Horrocks' cotton firm was based. So, it's most likely that my ancestors were employed by the Horrocks!

[RichardCrane]

Following the research about the Cotton Kings of Preston, Jane found out that her father's side of the family worked in the bleaching industry. She explained that her family were "grafters; they have being hard done by." Jane followed this sentence to explain that she has an imagary of "community", however, she admitted that it's something she ran away from.

Like Jane Horrocks, my Grandad Crane was born in Lancashire and was the only member of the Crane family to move down south for a better life.

Fred Dibnah was my hero, who taunt me about industrial Lancashire, and then, Jane Horrocks came along and taunt me about industrial Lancashire through her family history.

[RichardCrane]

As I mentioned in the first message, my father's family (the Cranes) came from Preston in Lancashire and I suggested that there's a possibility that they worked for the cotton mill owners, John and Samuel Horrocks. Would the local archives in Preston have records of employees of the cotton mills? Would they prove that my ancestors [i]did[/i] work for them? Anyone in Lancashire, can you help me please?

Richard Crane

[Vanda2]

I am very interested in the Horrocks Cotton Kings as I have been told by an Aunt that our Horrocks family from Lancashire (I know there are a lot of them) are related to them. After watching the programme with Jane Horrocks I would really like to contact the 2 men who have the Horrocks family tree. Please does anybody know how I can get in contact with them? Thanks for any help [:)]

[RichardCrane]

Vanda 2,
the two men that Jane Horrocks met were Reverend Joseph Gilbert and Jim Francis. Joseph explained how Jane Horrocks was connected to the Cotton Kings, whilst Jim explained to Jane that the Horrocks family lived in one town for many generations.

Good luck with your family research,
Richard Crane.

[Vanda2]

Thanks Richard that's brilliant :D

[RichardCrane]

When Jane Horrocks revealed to her father John Horrocks that they were related to the Cotton Kings, he was very surprised considering he always told Jane and her brothers that they weren't connected with the famous Horrocks.

Also, Jane discovered that after John Horrocks (the cotton mill owner) died, the managers of the mills took over the company as John Horrocks' own sons and grandsons didn't have any business skills.

Richard Crane

[karene]

Hi Richard,

I sincerely hope you can help me. I would like to find out if my family is related to the "Cotton Kings". I have not had much luck in my search and have bearly managed to trace my great grandfather. I recently saw the programme on Jane, and would also like to get a copy of the family trees that Reverend Joseph Gilbert and Jim Francis had. I have managed to find out that my family were in Lancashire, and my great grandfather, Samuel Horrocks, was Cheif Inspector at the Wigan Police Station. He married an Alice Anne Middleton and they had 7 children. I estimate that Samuel was born around 1882, and received some information that he may have died in 1959 at the age of 77.
Any advice on where to go from here, or information you may have, would be greatly appreciated.
Karen.

[RichardCrane]

Karene,
I'm sorry to inform you that I can't really help you with your research into your family history. I'm interested in the "Cotton Kings of Preston" because my father's family (the Cranes) lived and worked in Preston as cotton weavers. So, I'm interested in knowing if my ancestors were employed by them, considering my theory is - if Jane Horrocks' home town Rawtenstall had both two mills owned by the Whitehead family, Samuel and John Horrocks (the Cotton Kings) must've owned all the mills in Preston. Perhaps, you, Karene could help me with my research if possible?

Again, I'm sorry that I can't help you with your research into your family history, please accept my apologises,

Richard Crane

[karene]

Hi Richard,

Thank you for your reply. It is a pity you are unable to help, but I will keep searching. Living so far away from the U.K does make it a bit harder, but Im sure if I persevere it will be worth it. If I do manage to find any information that may help you, I will be sure to pass it on.

Karen.