Died
3rd May 1921
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Eliza Hickman (7684)
Unfortunately this headstone is lying flat. Fortunately, it is on its back, so can still be read. The ornate top of the stone is now at the foot, but its quality is evident.
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
ELIZA HICKMAN
DIED MAY 3RD 1921
“AT REST”
To which has been added
ALSO THOMAS HICKMAN,
DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND OF THE ABOVE,
DIED SEP. 9TH 1930.
“THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD”
AND LILY HICKMAN,
THEIR DAUGHTER,
DIED DEC. 29TH 1968.
1881 Census
In the 1881 Census living at 40 Cook Street, Barrow, were Thomas (looks like Francis) Hickman (31) Boiler Maker, born Gorwood (sic – almost certainly Gornal Wood, Dudley), Staffs; Eliza Hickman (32) born Worcestershire; Maria Hickman (8) Scholar, born Barrow (as were all the children); Mary H. Hickman (6) Scholar; Annie J. Hickman (4) Scholar; and Lottie Hickman (1) (sic – she is Lily in the other Censuses).
There may be a connection with another grave pictured by Sankey, that of Frederick and Betsy Willetts, whose daughter married Nathaniel Hickman from Rowley Regis, Staffs. However, Hickman is a fairly common name in the West Midlands, and I have been unable to prove a link.
1891 Census
By the 1891 Census Thomas has made a significant career change. Living at 120 Anson Street are Thomas Hickman (41) Insurance Agent, born Pensnett, Staffs; Eliza Hickman (42) born Pensnett, Staffs, and their children, all born in Barrow, Maria Hickman (18) Pupil Teacher; Mary H. Hickman (16) Pupil Teacher; Annie J. Hickman (14) Scholar; Lily Hickman (11) Scholar, and Thomas J. Hickman (1).
1901 Census
Still at 120 Anson Street in the 1901 Census are Thomas Hickman (51) Superintendent, Wesleyan and General Assurance Society, born Dudley, Staffs; Eliza Hickman (52) born Dudley, Staffs; Maria Hickman (26) Teacher at Board School, born Barrow; Mary Hickman (25) Teacher at Church School, born Barrow; Annie Hickman (23) no occupation recorded, born Barrow; Lily Hickman (21) no occupation recorded, born Barrow; and Thomas S. Hickman (11) no occupation recorded.
In 1902 Annie J. Hickman married John W. Warnes, and Mary H. Hickman married Robert Cleland, both at the Abbey Road Methodist Church (Cumbria BMD)
1911 Census
In the 1911 Census at 132 Hartington Street, Barrow, are Thomas Hickman (61) Married, Insurance Superintendent, born Sedgley, Staffs; Lily Hickman (29) Single, no occupation recorded, born Barrow; and Thomas Stanley Hickman (21) Ship Draughtsman, born Barrow. Where was Eliza on Census night? (See below)
Thomas Hickman obviously had a successful life in Barrow.
The National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1930 had:
HICKMAN Thomas of 8 Carlton-avenue Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire died 9 September 1930 Probate Lancaster 23 October to Thomas Stanley Hickman liberal association agent and John James Spilman chemist. Effects £1215 8s.
John James Spilman was his son-in-law, having married Maria Hickman in 1903 at Abbey Road Methodist Church. (Cumbria BMD) This helped me find Eliza Hickman in the 1911 Census, where Ancestry has transcribed her as Eliza Hickman Spilman, so the usual search did not work.
1911 Census
The 1911 Census has living at 626 Holderness Road, Hull, East Yorkshire, John James Spilman (33) Chemist and Pharmacist, born Markington, Yorkshire; Maria Spilman (36) born Barrow-in-Furness, Lancs, to whom he has been married for eight years, with three children, two living; Doris Emmeline Spilman (5) born Hull, Yorks; Lily Marjorie Spilman (3) born Hull, Yorks; Eliza Hickman (62) Visitor, born Pensnett, Worcestershire; and Mary Ellen Broadly/Bradley (17) Servant, born Hull, Yorkshire. The child who died was Thomas Oswald Spilman, born in Barrow Q4 1903; baptised in Barrow 10 January 1904, and died in Hull Q3 1904.
1871 Census
Thomas Hickman had started life in Barrow before the 1871 Census, where he can be found as a Boarder at 53 Crown Street, Barrow. This changed its name to Keppel Street at about this time, having been both Crown & Keppel just previously. (Thanks to Jean McSorley for the information). Thomas is a twenty-one year-old Labourer, born Staffordshire. There are three other Boarders in the house, all Labourers born in the West Midlands.
No-one is certain why Edward Sankey took photographs of graves in the period 1910-1920 or later. Were they advertising the skills of his friend William Hull, or later Hull and Fairbairn? Were they to be made into postcards that the bereaved family could send to members who were not able to attend the funeral?
The historic photograph is from the Sankey Family Photographic Collection, courtesy of Cumbria Archives.
