68 - The Denerley Family

Susan Dennerley (there are many spellings of this name) was born Susan Laxton in Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire. In 1851 she was living with her agricultural labourer family as she looked after the house.

She married Ellis Dennerley in 1855. He was born in Bredbury and was baptised at Hatherlow. He had worked as a railway labourer and would later work as a mason.

They settled in Woodford, Northamptonshire where their children Sarah Ann and John Thomas were born, but then moved back to Bredbury in the 1860s where they had Mary and Joel.

When we meet the Dennerley family on Romiley Road in the 1871 census they would have been in mourning. Ellis passed away in March 1871 and his burial was a day before the census.

Susan found work as a hat trimmer and remained on Romiley Road with her children until her death in 1897.

By then, Sarah Ann had married William Barrowcliffe. William worked on the railways in Romiley as a signalman but the family moved to Godley Green farm after the wedding. They were joined by Sarah Ann's sister Mary.

Around 1906 the three moved to South Burnie, Tasmania with Sarah Ann and Mary's uncle John Laxton. John bought a property in Wivenhoe, which he left to William when he died. William Barrowcliffe was an active member of the community and the local school. He died in 1919.

Sarah Ann and Mary continued to live on Strahan Street until their deaths in 1945 and 1942 respectively,

John Thomas Dennerley remained in England, working as a felt hatter. He married Ada Collins and they had 3 daughters, Polly, Susan Alice and Beatrice. They lived at 13 Higher Hatherlow. John Thomas died in 1936.

Finally, Joel Dennerley had a very troubled life. Joel also worked in the hatting industry but after a short stay at the workhouse, on the 14th September 1891, he was admitted to Parkside Lunatic Asylum. His records are available online (including a photograph) and tell us that Joel had a fear that he was being chased by the Mayor's daughter who was enamoured with him, and that his bowels were withered up making it impossible to sleep for fear of dying. The official reason for admission was "self abuse" (masturbation). Joel was very confused when questioned and took a long time to answer questions. He said he had taken a boat to America and left a girl there. During his stay at the asylum he was sometimes violent, smashing windows and attacking people. He died on 1st February 1919 in the hospital.