Trap Farm, Carleton, c.1998. My ancestral home - but not quite as I imagined it!
In the 1841 and 1851 Census, my great, great grandfather Henry Danson and family were living at Trap Farm, Carleton, near Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. I found the farm on the current Ordnance Survey Map and set out to find it on a visit to the Fylde.
Situated amidst fields on what is now a busy road, it was a sorry sight - dilapidated and overgrown.
In the 1841 Census, 30 year old Henry was there with his wife Elizabeth (Calvert), five daughters - Betty, Grace, Mary, Margaret and Ellen, his much older brother Peter and two servants.
By the time of the 1851 Census, it was a household of 13. Henry was described as a farmer of 31 acres. Eldest daughter (now married) Elizabeth was there with her three sisters and her husband Thomas Bailey, whilst second daughter Grace had left home. But there were now two sons - John and Henry plus Henry's brother Peter and two servants. How did they all fit into what looked a small farmhouse? My great grandfather James, born 1852 at Trap Farm, plus another daughter Jane, completed the family.
By the time of the next census in 1861 the Danson family was no longer at Trap.
Postscript: Two years ago I returned to Carleton, fully expecting Trap farm to be wiped off the map and replaced by a modern housing estate. To my surprise it was still there, but had undergone a transformation into a modern home.
Even in its delapidated condition I think it's a charming home. I can imagine the busyness of this farmhouse that was home to so many people. Were you able to get a photograph after it was transformed? I think it would be oh-so-exciting to return to the homesite of one of my ancestors and find the house still standing!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Nancy for your comments. Unfortunately I was not able to get a photograph of the transformed farm. It is close to what is now a busy road and we could not park nearby. Perhaps on another visit to the area. Susan.
ReplyDeletetotally charming and a fantastic find.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to let you know that I've awarded you the Ancestor Approved award for the great job you do on your blog. You can read about the award in this post http://theycametomontana.blogspot.com/2011/01/ancestor-approved.html
and you can snag the Ancestor Approved graphic there too. Thanks for sharing such a great blog with us.
I’ve awarded you the Ancestor Approved award (which Jennie awarded to me) for your blog that I really enjoy reading - thank you. You can read about the award in this post http://imagespast.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/ancestor-approved-award and you can also copy the Ancestor Approved graphic. Look forward to your further blogs :-) Happy New Year! Jo
ReplyDeleteDear Jennie and Jo, I was absolutely delighted to go into my blog this afternoon to read your comments and most of all see that you had given me an Ancestor Approved Award. I only came to blogging in August 2010 and have limited IT skills, compared to some of the impressively designed sites I have come across. I have had tremendous emjoyment from sharing my family history, featuring the photographs and making contact with fellow enthusiasts. It will take me time to some up with my top ten findings and blogs - but watch this space! Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteSusan.