41 - The Ramsden Family

Charles and Eliza Ramsden moved to Romiley from Ashton-under-Lyne in the 1860s. In 1871 they were aged 38 and 34 and they had 5 children aged between 1 and 11. Their eldest George Henry had already entered the world of work, spending half of his time at school and half at the cotton mill where his father worked as an engine driver.

Eliza was born Eliza Guinness and her family originally came from Dublin and Tipperary. Many of her family members had emigrated to the United States by 1871, settling in Providence, Rhode Island. Eliza's father worked as a liquor dealer there and her brother had a newsagent's.

On 27th September 1871 Charles and Eliza lost their 6 year old son William to an infectious disease. They buried him at St Chad's 3 days later but they would never return to visit his grave. The family decided to leave everything they knew behind and, 6 weeks after the death of William, try their luck in America.

They joined Eliza's family in Rhode Island and Charles found work in the mill as an engineer. Within 6 years they were naturalized Americans.

Sadly the move to America did not prevent another death in the family. Their youngest daughter Kate died aged 15 and their daughter Elizabeth died as a result of childbirth. One of their daughters, Mary, married her first cousin William Ramsden and had 8 children.

Eliza passed away from liver cancer aged 53 and Charles died in 1918 aged 86.

You can find out more about the Ramsden family in the book "Residents of Romiley Road" which will be coming soon.