Hi Peter, I've checked the GRO index for the years 1900-1910 for a possible marriage of John Higson and Annie Martin, but haven't found one. I've looked for John Higson on the 1891, but the only one I've found that would seem probable is aged 25, widower, living at 61 Junction Road. I have not found William. There is also a Peter Higson, aged 26, coal miner, living nearby. I've also checked the MI's for Deane, but as before, the only graves are much older than early 20th century. Valerie
Thanks Valerie Can you tell me if the actual burial register for Deane covering 1910-11 is available for inspection? Our experience so far is that many of the Pretoria victims graves do not have stones, so no MIs, and some have MIs in cemeteries different from where they were buried. However, we have a newspaper report that one of the victims, James Worthington (born in Middle Hulton - Deane Parish) was buried in Deane churchyard, so it is likely that other Deane parishoners were buried there to. When I first asked you some while ago, we had a very long list which has been considerably shortened (found 22 at Heaton/Tongue), and now we are picking off the scattered strays (only this week I found one each in Preston, Wigan and Darwen). John Higson is one of those "here we go again" cases. In 1901 census there is a JH 34 at Blackrod Coal miner widower with son William 12. And there is JH 35 at Deane Coal miner widower with son William 13. Either of the John and Williams could have been the Pretoria victims. However, Annie Martin was a 'servant' in the Deane JH household, and Pretoria compensation records show that payment was made to Ann Higson "wife" whose children were all called Martin. I have a note that the Blackrod JH in 1891 was with wife Sarah and sons James 4 and Wm 1, so I guess the one you found at Junction Rd is the 'real' John Higson. For the Pretoria project I am trying to find out where everyone was born and when, and to whom they were related. That means a lot of census work, but we are progressing nicely and should have a very comprehensive data set on the Westhoughton site before next Dec 21st. Regards Peter Wood