Harding - Mossley, Ashton under Lyne

[emmsville]

Hi my name is Emma and I am trying to find out anything I can about my grandad and his family. My grandads name was Harry Harding and he was born 13 February 1914 in Mossley, Ashton under Lyne. His mother was called Esther Harding and they both lived in Peel Street ( I think at number 3). Esther had a brother that I know of named George who was killed in WW1. My grandad Harry and his mother Esther lived in Peel Street with Esther's father. Harry's birth certificate does not name his dad, so any information would be very gratefully received. Thankyou for taking the time to read thisl.

[Woody]

Hi Emma

The 1911 census confirms a Esther H Harding (b 1893, Mossley) living with her birth family at 3 Peel Street, Mossley. Her parents had been married for 27 years and they are:

George Harding (a Mossley Corporation lamplighter b 1848, Painswick, Gloucestershire)

Lavinia Harding (b 1861 Ashton under Hill, Gloucestershire)

This marriage was registered in 1883 at Chippenham, Wiltshire and Lavinia’s maiden name was ‘Spires’.

The 1911 census tells us that Esther also had an elder sister, Ethel Mary Harding (b 1891, Mossley), and two younger brothers – George (b 1898, Mossley); Clifford (b 1903, Mossley). Thanks to Bob Kirk and his team’s recent work on Cheshire BMD, mothers’ maiden names have been added to pre-1912 birth registrations for Mossley. The mother’s maiden name attached to Ethel Mary Harding in 1891 is ‘Spiers’ which is close enough for verification purposes.

Going backwards a decade to 2 Beaty’s Yard, Mossley, the 1901 census tells us that Esther herself is actually ‘Esther Ellen’; her birth was registered in 1893 at Saddleworth which isn’t unusual for the Mossley area. The 1901 census also gives three more of Esther’s siblings – Herbert George (b 1884, Westbury, Wiltshire); Edith Annie (b 1886, Blandford, Wiltshire); and Walter Henry (b 1889, Swinton, Salford).

Going back a further decade to 1891, the family are living at 3 Stamford Road, Mossley and there are no additional siblings. Mossley burial records confirm that Lavinia died at Ashton under Lyne (Town) in 1921 and husband George at Mossley in 1926. They’re buried in the same grave plot as son Walter Henry who died in August 1909 aged 21 years.

As you say, the mother’s maiden name attached to George Harding’s birth registration is ‘Harding’ which most probably indicates that Esther was unmarried and if the possible death record in 1976 proves to be her, she never bothered. That being the case, I’m afraid the chances of identifying George’s father are virtually nil.

I kept copies of the records I looked at if you want copies