1851 Census

Joseph Williamson started life in the village of Brow Edge, Upper Holker (above Backbarrow – RMW). In the 1851 Census father Joseph Williamson (42) is a Brimstone XXXXX (unreadable), born Pilling, Lancs. Brimstone was probably used in either the iron industry at Backbarrow, or the gunpowder industry locally, or both. His wife Eleanor Williamson (38) is local, from Colton. The family includes daughter Hannah (13) no occupation recorded, born Colton; daughter Jane (9) Scholar, born Brow Edge, Cartmel (as were the rest of the children); John Williamson (7); Joseph Williamson (2), and William R. Williamson (9 mo).

1861 Census

Joseph Williamson has already started his working life by the time of the 1861 Census. Just a few doors away from his birth family, where his father Joseph Williamson is now a Clark (sic) at Haverthwaite Chapel (Powder Maker) [This could be Lowwood Gunpowder Works], Joseph Jnr (12) is a Lodger and servant on the Lindow family farm at Browedge, Upper Holker. Head of the household is Mary Lindow (68) Widow, Farmer of 20? Acres, born Preston Richard, Westmorland; the others being James Lindow (40) Manager of Farm, born Troutbeck, Westmorland; Mary Lindow (37) Son’s Wife, Housekeeper, born Newton Cartmel, Lancs; Mary Lindow (12) Daughter (should be grand-daughter of the first Mary Lindow), Servant, born Browedge, Upper Holker (as were the next five children); Ann Lindow (11) Daughter, Servant; Jane Lindow (9) Daughter, Scholar; Elizabeth Lindow (8) Daughter, Scholar; William Lindow (6) Son, Scholar; Isaac Lindow (4) Son, Scholar; John Lindow (5 mon) Son; and Joseph Williamson.  See furnessstoriesbehindthestones.co.uk/stories/lindow-james/

Joseph Williamson married Sarah Preston on 27 June 1870 at Cartmel, Lancs.

1871 Census

While I haven’t found Joseph Williamson in the 1871 Census, his wife Sarah was living with her parents-in-law at Browedge. The whole household was Joseph Williamson (62) Powder Maker, born Pilling, Lancs; Ellinor (sic) Williamson (57) born Colton, Lancs; Myles Williamson (14) Grandson, Laibourer (sic) born Holker Upper (sic); Ellinor (sic) Williamson (9) Granddaughter, Scholar, born Holker Upper; Sarah Williamson (22) Daughter-in-law, General Servant, born Cartmel Fell, Lancs; Mary Ellinor (sic) Williamson (5 months), born (unreadable – possibly Ramside - sic) Lancs; John Williamson (27) Basket Maker, born Holker Upper; Hannah Williamson (22) Daughter-in-law, no occupation recorded, born unknown.

1881 Census

By the 1881 Census Joseph Williamson (32) Labourer (Railway), born Cartmel, Lancs, is living at Tunnel Cottages, Dalton with wife Sarah Williamson (32) born Cartmel; and children Margaret J. Williamson (9) no occupation recorded, born Barrow, Lancs; John P. Williamson (4) no occupation recorded, born Barrow; George Williamson (2) born Dalton; and Sarah L. Williamson (8 mo) born Dalton.

1891 Census

In the 1891 Census Joseph Williamson (42) Labourer on Railway, born Browedge, Lancs is living at Flookburgh Terrace, along with wife Sarah Williamson (42), daughters Margaret Williamson (19) Domestic Servant, born Dalton, Lancs (as were all the following); and Sarah L. Williamson (10), Scholar, and sons George Williamson (12) Scholar; and Joseph Williamson (6) Scholar.

1901 Census

In the 1901 Census Joseph & Sarah Williamson are living at 4 St. Luke Street, Barrow. Joseph Williamson (52) Platelayer’s Ganger, born Cartmel, shares the house with Sarah Williamson (52) born Cartmel; George Williamson (22) Son, Dock Labourer, born Dalton-in-Furness; Sarah L. Williamson (20) Daughter, Dressmaker, Own Account, born Dalton-in-Furness; Joseph Williamson
(16) Son, Grocer’s Apprentice, born Dalton-in-Furness; and Jane Longstreth (7) Adopted Daughter, born Cartmel, Lancs.

1911 Census

They have moved to 1, Afton Street, Barrow Island by the time of the 1911 Census. Joseph Williamson (62) is now a Farm Labourer, born Cartmel; wife Sarah Williamson (62) who has been married for 40 years, had 7 children, 5 surviving, is a Grocer, Shop Keeper (Own Account), born Cartmel; George Williamson (32) Son, Single, Platelayer, born Dalton-in-Furness; and Jennie (sic) Williamson (17) Daughter, Single, Shirt-maker, Hosier and Outfitter, born Flookburgh, Lancs.

The National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1920 has:

WILLIAMSON Joseph of 38 Island-road, Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire died 26 December 1919 Probate Lancaster 19 January to Sarah Williamson widow. Effects £212 4s 11d.