A Genealogy Journey

The story of my Snailham ancestors is one of deep roots in the Lancashire soil. The name is first introduced into my family tree with Rebecca Snailham, my 2x great grandmother, born in the village of New Longton in 1864. Rebecca was the youngest of nine children. Her parents, Thomas Snailham and Elizabeth Dobson, raised a family that navigated the shifting economic landscape of the 19th-century – transitioning between farming, trade, and innkeeping.

Longton to Grimsargh

The family’s history is tied closely to two main locations: Longton and Grimsargh. Rebecca’s father, Thomas, was born in Longton but moved to Grimsargh as a young boy following the early death of his father, William Snailham, a husbandman who passed away in 1821 at just thirty years old.

After William’s death, his widow (also named Rebecca) remarried and became Rebecca Bibby. This second marriage introduced a half-brother, Richard Bibby, into the family circle alongside Thomas’s sisters, Dinah and Dorothy.

A Family on the Move

Thomas Snailham was a man of many trades and locations. Before finally settling back in New Longton around 1859, he and Elizabeth led a nomadic life across the county, seeking opportunities in Longton, Lea, Grimsargh, Goosnargh, and Garston. This period of their lives was defined by Thomas’s various roles as a farmer and a publican.

Snailham Family Tree

Landlord

Whilst in Lea, Thomas was innkeeper of the ‘Smiths Arms’ public house. Click here to read more.

Following that, Thomas was innkeeper at Preston’s ‘Ribbleside Inn’, Broadgate. On leaving Preston, the family moved to Tun Brook Head Farm, Grimsargh.

The Ribbleside Inn was occupied prior to and after Thomas, by younger brother William Snailham. William left the public house after fourteen-years as landlord and became a provision dealer around the corner on Taylor Street.

Nicholas Snailham

Thomas was named as an executor of his grandfather Nicholas Snailham’s estate. Nicholas died in 1840 aged eighty-four. The will was proved in October of that year.

Nicholas Snailham was a landowner in Longton. The homestead featuring a farm house, garden and meadows was located between Royalty Lane and Pope Lane.

Grimsargh tithe apportionment records from 1842 show Thomas Snailham as a land owner of various fields, orchard, woodland and meadows alongside a farm house. The census confirms the tithe record and names the property as ‘Snailhems‘. This property was occupied in 1841 by a Mr. Thomas Marsden. The total quantity of land then was forty-six acres.

‘Snailhems’ was located not far from Grimsargh Village Hall, on land bordering the Tun Brook. Perhaps this was the Snailham family home before his father William’s death. The 1851 census describes the Snailham farm as being thirty-four acres. The electoral register for the same year elaborates further as ‘share of freehold’, giving a clue to the families financial position past and present.

Garston

This Snailham family also spent time in Garston.

Thomas had property on Wood Street in Garston, evidenced in later electoral roll records. Thomas is described as a shopkeeper on records between 1854-1856.

Research suggests that the family may have lived on/or close to ‘Out Lane’ – later Woolton Road – in the village of Garston.

Quoting information found on the Garston historical society’s website, ‘Out Lane’ was so narrow that carts could only run in one track. A public health report of Garston village in 1854, describes poor drainage and “cess pools” as deep as the water wells. Rainwater was collected in tanks for drinking via lead gutters and many of the residents privies were not water tight and leaking into alleyways.

Two of the Snailham children died whilst in Garston from diphtheria and scarlet fever; diseases common to rapidly growing Victorian towns.

1868

“A respectable looking elderly man”

A newspaper article from 1868 gives a rare insight into Thomas Snailham’s character as well as his political point of view. The article came as a result of mistaken identity at a polling booth in front of St Georges Hall on Lime Street, Liverpool. Thomas, who was described as a “very respectable man” by a solicitor of the court who recognised him, was released once the mistake had been realised. Thomas stated during this court room examination that he had travelled from Garston to register his vote for Mr. Charles Turner & Mr Richard Asheton Cross, both conservative politicians. Thomas at this time was aged fifty-four.

A newspaper article from the same day, describes the scene as Garston voters arrived in their carriages to register their votes.

Thomas and Elizabeth in New Longton

My 3x great grandmother Rebecca spent her young life growing up in New Longton, close to Sheep Hill Lane. She was nearest in age to her brother James Snailham born in 1861. More than half of the Snailham children passed away prematurely. Evidence shows that the children died from common, contagious childhood illnesses, including tuberculosis, known at the time as the ‘robber of youth’.

Thomas Snailham, Elizabeth and the surviving children, settled in the same area as where Nicholas Snailham had once lived, on land off Royalty Lane.

Thomas Snailham passed in 1882. Below is a copy of a newspaper auction announcement after Thomas’s death featuring details of the family home.

Thomas was buried at St Mary’s Churchyard, Penwortham. The gravestone includes details of his father William and grandparents Nicholas Snailham and Jane.

Elizabeth died six years later in 1888.

Transcription

This stone raft the remains of William Snailham son of Nicholas and Jane Snailham who departed this life September 30th 1821 aged 30 years.

Mourned my friends at my decease. The Christians death is certain peace. Life now uncertain, death now sure. Sin gave the wound, but Christ the cure.

Also Nicholas Snailham, father of the above who departed this life on the 5th September 1840 aged 84 years. Also Jane widow and mother of the above who departed this life on the 16th November 1840 aged 79 years.

Also Jane daughter of the above William and wife of Lawrence Carr, who departed this life on the 6th day of March 1851 aged 58 years. Also Rebecca Edleston daughter of the above, who departed this life on the 25th day of January 1877 aged 58 years.

Also Thomas, grandson of the above Nicholas and Jane Snailham who departed this life on the 8th day of march 1882 aged 86.

James and Rebecca Snailham

Rebecca’s brother James Snailham, lived on Kellett Lane before settling later in life to a terraced house on Station Road in Bamber Bridge. James was employed by Joseph Deacon at Old Lemon House Farm for a period of time in the 1920’s.

James eldest son William left for Canada to pursue wireless communications just as his elder cousin Thomas had. William obtained a position within the air department of the C.P.R (Canadian Pacific Railway) and served during WW2 as a wireless operator. William’s final fateful flight was with the RAF Transport Ferry command in 1941. William died when the plane he was a crew member of crash landed after engine trouble. More about Williams war story and the other Snailham men can be found on the links below. Also included is Ellen Snailham’s granddaughter Betsy Bailey, who played her part during WW2 as an air raid warden in Bamber Bridge.

Rebecca Snailham’s son Thomas, my gt grandfather, served in both world wars. Likewise a number of cousins also played their part, for example James Snailham who enlisted aged sixteen with the Chorley PALS. James was the first born son of Ellen Snailham, daughter of John Snailham, brother of Rebecca.

John Snailham’s son John Jnr is commemorated on the Clayton-le-Woods roll of honour. John’s war record with more details of his service has yet to be found.

The history of this branch of the Snailham family is a testament to the mobility and resilience of the Victorian working class in Lancashire. From the 18th century landholdings of Nicholas Snailham in Longton to the 20th-century military service of his descendants, the family’s journey is meticulously documented through tithe maps, census returns, and parish registers.

While this summery traces the direct line of Rebecca Snailham and her immediate kin, the broader Snailham tree continues to branch out across the county. The records suggest a family that was consistently “respectable” – in the words of the 1868 court report – maintaining their social standing through farming, trade, and a commitment to their community and country.

The study into my Snailham family tree is far from complete. Current areas of focus include:

• Investigating the specific share of “freehold” mentioned in the 1851 Electoral Register.
• Furthering the search for John Snailham Jnr’s service details following his mention on the Clayton-le-Woods Roll of Honour.

Genealogy is also a collaborative effort. Knowing that there are many Snailham’s out there researching their roots in Lancashire, I hope that this short study may be useful. If we are related via this branch of family, please get in touch to share your connection!

Name variations: Snalam, Snalem, Snailhem, Snailham

An interesting history of the surname ‘Snailham’ can be found on the Surname Database linked below:

www.surnamedb.com

_{Sources and Further Reading}

• _Ancestry
• _{Find my past}
• _{The Genealogist}
• _{Family Search}
• _{British Newspaper Archive}
• _{Lancashire Record Office}
• _{General Register Office}
• _{Lancashire Archives}
• _{Tithe apportionment records}
• _{Electoral Registers}
• _{Grimsargh, The story of a Lancashire village – By David Hindle}
• _{Longton, a village history – By Marjorie Searson}
• _{The story of Garston & its church – By Rev, J.M.Swift}
• _{Tracing your Lancashire Ancestors – By Sue Wilkes}
• _{Garstonhistoricalsociety.org}
• _{St Mary’s Parish Church, Penwortham}