38 - The Hadfield Family

You can find the full story of the Hadfield family in my book The Residents of Romiley Road, but I will add some of their details here.

The 1871 census came just months before the lives of the Hadfield family were emblazoned for all to see in the local newspapers. 35 year old Henry Hadfield was the master colour mixer at Chadkirk Printworks, and whilst his wife Sarah Jane toiled at home with 8 children to care for, he was seducing a young worker from the printworks named Mary Ward. His affair came to light when Mary gave birth to his son, Ernest.

Shortly after the events the Hadfield family moved out of Romiley to Furness Vale, where Henry became manager of the printworks there. It seems his infidelity did not affect his career and he was even made a member of the Whaley Bridge Local Board. His children married well and had successful lives whilst Sarah Jane also enjoyed her position in society. Sadly Sarah Jane became unwell and suffered from a long illness before dying aged 58. After her death Henry continued to work and play a key part in Furness Vale life, playing the piano at church events and prizegivings. Although not a Catholic, Henry supported St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in New Mills and St John’s Mission Church in Furness Vale. Henry never retired from his job at the Furness Vale Printworks and died from a stroke at age 71 whilst at the factory.

Meanwhile Ernest, Henry's son with Mary Ward, had been adopted by Jemima Stafford, a toll collector. I could find no record of Mary Ward after the court case. Ernest remained living in Hague Bar with his adopted mother until she died aged 91 in 1924. By then Ernest was the foreman of Strines Calico printworks, had married Elizabeth Ellen Osbaldiston, and had 5 surviving children.