The Thornber family in the Fylde
Thornber is a name you are likely to come across in exploring the history of Poulton-le-Fylde. Three generations of the family became a celebrated part of the town between the mid-1790s and the mid-1880s, even though they had roots in the Trough and Forest of Bowland. Two tombstones remain in the north part of St Chad’s graveyard, despite the mass-clearance of gravestones in 1973. One is for Elizabeth and Giles Thornber who died, respectively, in 1851 and 1860. Click the images to see enlarged versions.


The other gravestone is for seven descendants of Doctor Cuthbert Harrison, a physician and an early Presbyterian Minister. These include Richard and Mary Harrison, the parents of Elizabeth Thornber, and Paul Harrison Thornber, her youngest son, and Mary Thornber, her only daughter.

The bottom text, not in the photo, reads: “There are those whose names will live not only in the memories but the hearts of men.
Also Mary, only daughter of the said Giles Thornber died Novr. 27th 1885 Aged 79 Years.
My Presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest. Exodus 33:14.”
Further gravestones remaining at St Chad’s include more of Elizabeth Thornber’s family, including her uncle, John Harrison, and her grandparents, Richard and Elizabeth Tennant. The Tennant family grave is, unusually for St Chad’s, inscribed in Latin.
A plaque on Breck Road marks where local magistrate Giles Thornber had his family home and where he and his wife Elizabeth brought up their five children. The family tree is displayed in the adjoining image (click to see it enlarged).

Quick facts on the family
❶ William Thornber (1743-1812): Steward and Land Agent at Rossall Hall
Baptism
30 Jan 1742/43 at Melling.
Parents
Giles Thornber (1710-1775) & Hannah Wilson (1717-1764), married by licence at Melling 30 Nov 1710.
Birthplace
Lower Greenbank, near Melling.
Occupation
Husbandry at time of marriage (1740), later working at Rossall Hall, starting between 1791 and 1794 as steward / land agent for Bold Hesketh Fleetwood (1762-1819).
Marriage
Married Hannah Remington (1750-1788) by licence at Melling.
Children
Only child Giles Thornber (1776-1860), born at Lower Greenbank.
Death
Died at Rossall 29 Jun 1812, buried 2 Jul 1812 at Melling next to his wife.
Further details
After the death of his wife, aged only 38, he focused his attention on their 12-year-old son Giles, moving to nearby Wray so that his son could be privately tutored by Bryan Holmes, who specialised in early tutoring for future attorneys. William had moved to Rossall Hall by 1794, possibly after Bold Fleetwood Hesketh inherited the hall following the death of his grandfather Roger Hesketh (1711-1791). Giles, now aged 18, was entered into articles with Lancaster attorney John Dowbiggin in 1794. After his son Giles became ill in 1797, William arranged for his son’s articles to be transferred to Poulton attorney Thomas Wilson.
His work as steward to Bold Hesketh involved him arranging the reletting and auctioning of properties including, as can be seen from Lancashire newspapers, reletting Cleveleys public house and farm. He also appears to have been involved in other property auctions; this included Slaidburn in Clitheroe, from where his branch of the Thornber family originated.
We can see how importantly he felt about education from his 1808 will, which mentioned his infant grandson William Thornber (1803-1885). The witnesses to his will included his employer Bold Fleetwood, as well as Bold’s mother Frances (1735-1809), and Bold’s elder sister Anna Maria Hesketh (1760-1841), possibly indicating how highly the family regarded him.
William Thornber clearly made his mark in the Fylde, although he is now forgotten. However, his legacy included his son’s introduction to Poulton, and Giles would have a lasting impact on the town.
FamilySearch ID: KGC2-5XZ
❷ Giles Thornber (1773-1836): Steward and Land Agent at Rossall Hall
Baptism
3 Jan 1773 in Melling.
Parents
John Thornber (1745-1820) who married Ann Longstroth (1745-1824) at Tatham on 14 Jul 1770.
Birthplace
Lower Greenbank, near Melling.
Clarification
Easily confused with Giles Thornber of Poulton (1776-1860) his first cousin. Locally known as Giles Thornber of Digham, Bispham.
Education
Articled to Lancaster attorney John Dowbiggin aged 21, 3 months before his younger cousin was articled to the same attorney.
Occupation
Husbandman and later Steward to Bold Fleetwood Hesketh (1762-1819) at Rossall Hall and then his brother Robert Hesketh (1764-1824) of the same address. He was succeeded in this job by Frederick Kemp (1803-1883) when Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood (1801-1866) inherited Rossall Hall. Latterly described as Gentleman.
Marriage
Married Priscilla Greenwood (1789-1838) at Bentham on 11 Feb 1811.
Death
He died at Digham House in Bispham on 6 Jan 1836 and was buried 3 days later in Melling. A newspaper obituary wrongly elevated him to magistrate, the position held by his cousin, Giles Thornber of Poulton.
Further details
There were a number of parallels between cousins Giles Thornber of Bispham and Giles Thornber of Poulton. Both were both articled to the same attorney, and Giles Thornber of Bispham took a post at Rossall Hall formerly held by his Uncle William. As steward to the Hesketh family, his name frequently appeared in the property adverts. He is recorded here to differentiate him from his younger cousin.
FamilySearch ID: MWRV-XKC
❸ Giles Thornber (1776-1860): Poulton Attorney, Thornton Farmer, and Magistrate
Baptism
3 Jan 1776 at Hornby near Melling in the Forest of Bowland
Parents
William Thornber (1743-1812) & Hannah Remington (1750-1788)
Education
c1788-c1794: Tutored by Mr. Holmes of Wray;
22 May 1794: Articled for five years to Lancaster attorney John Dowbiggin;
23 Jun 1797: Transfer of articles to Poulton-le-Fylde attorney Thomas Wilson. Giles moved to Poulton for health reasons.
Occupations
Qualified as an attorney on completion of his five-year period of articles, but was not comfortable with the job. His prospects for a partnership would have been limited because his employer was also training his son to take over the practice in due course.
Giles later opted for farming, taking on a farm in Stanah, but living on Breck Street in Poulton.
In 1834 he became a county magistrate, which demonstrated the trust in which he was held.
Marriage
Marriage by licence dated 21 Feb 1803 to ❹ Elizabeth Harrison (1778-1851) on 22 Feb 1803 at St Chad’s. Giles was described as a gentleman on his licence, a title also applied to his father at Rossall Hall. It was more common to state the profession, but a gentleman had a high position in society.
His wife was descended from a non-conformist minister, and her love of history had an enduring effect on her eldest and youngest sons.
Children
The couple had 4 sons and a daughter, all of whom made their mark. ❺ William Thornber in 1803, ❻ Richard Thornber in 1805, ❼ Mary Thornber in 1806, ❽ John Thornber in 1809 and, finally, ❾ Paul Harrison Thornber in 1814.
Death & burial
He died aged 84 on 21 Apr 1860 in Poulton and was buried at St. Chad’s five days later with the Vicar, John Hull, presiding.
Further details
Despite qualifying as an attorney, his real love was farming. The 1839 tithe map shows he owned a ley field and a meadow in Stanah, each just over an acre, as well as renting a cottage and garden near there to Robert Collinson. His obituary mentions he wore his head in a powdered pigtail as a reluctant attorney, making him more of the 18th than the 19th century. As well as becoming a magistrate in 1834, he was keenly interested in the wellbeing of Poulton. He was friendly with John Fairclough, the parish clerk and his next-door neighbour, and they were both highly competitive gardeners. He was a trustee of the Poulton Savings Bank, which succeeded the Sunday School as home to the Bible Society and, with his friend Thomas Dobson the doctor, organised local events including Queen Victoria’s coronation celebrations, using the Golden Ball as their organisational headquarters. He was considered fair-minded as a magistrate, and was a great loss to the town when he died aged 84. Although he had spent the last nine years of his life as a widower, his daughter Mary and son Paul had remained at his side to support him in his twilight years.
His obituary was published in the Preston Chronicle on 28 Apr 1860. Click on this link to view it in a new tab or window.
FamilySearch ID: LV4Z-C4D
❹ Elizabeth Harrison (1778-1851): Wife of ❸ Giles Thornber
Birth & baptism
Born at Walton-le-Dale 25 Mar 1778 & baptised there 15 Apr 1778.
Parents
William Harrison (ironmonger, 1747-1788) & Mary Tennant (1745-1803), who were married by licence 22 Jun 1777. They were both buried at St. Chad’s, as was her mother’s parents, Richard & Elizabeth Tennant. The Tennant family grave differs from others in St Chad’s as it is engraved wholly in Latin. It tells us that the family grave contains the remains of:
● Richard Tennant who died 29 June 1760 aged 55;
● His son Francis Tennant who was buried 21st May 1785 aged 38;
● Elizabeth Tennant, wife of Richard and mother of Francis, who was buried 5th April 1787 aged 78, and;
● Richard Tennant’s son Richard who died 18th December 1811 aged 75.
The inscription is given, together with a rough translation.
Siblings
Richard (1779-1854), attorney); Paul (1782-1849), who was a witness at Elizabeth’s wedding; Cuthbert (1784-1785); Agnes 1786-1815), wife of Robert Bowness (curate) and mother of Dr. Robert Harrison Bowness.
Marriage
By licence dated 21 Feb 1803 to ❸ Giles Thornber (1776-1860) on 22 Feb 1803 at St Chad’s.
Children
See ❸ Giles Thornber (1776-1860) for details.
Death & burial
She died at aged 73 in 1851 in Poulton and was buried at St. Chad’s on 29 April with the Vicar, John Hull, presiding.
Further details
Religion probably played a great place in her life. She was a descendant of Cuthbert Harrison (1626-1681), a Presbyterian minister and physician, her sister Agnes married Poulton Curate Robert Bowness, and her eldest son became an Anglican Minister. Her youngest son was also, for a time, a member of the Presbyterian Church.
As well as being married to a qualified attorney, her brother Richard was a successful London attorney, perhaps explaining why two of her sons all became attorneys.
She is said to have had a strong interest in antiquarianism, as history was then known, and she passed this on to her eldest and youngest sons.
She died aged 73 in April 1851, just two years short of the couple’s golden wedding.
FamilySearch ID: LV4Z-C73
❺ Rev. William Thornber (1803-1885): Anglican Minister
Birth & baptism
Born at Poulton-le-Fylde 2 Dec 1803 & baptised there 4 Dec 1803.
Parents
❸ Giles Thornber (1776-1860) & ❹ Elizabeth Harrison, who were married by licence 22 Feb 1803.
Siblings
❻ Richard Thornber, attorney (1805-1830); ❼ Mary Thornber, independent means (1806-1885) ❽ John Thornber, gentleman (1809-1857); ❾ Paul Harrison Thornber, attorney (1814-1883).
Education & occupation
Trained at Trinity College, Oxford. Appointed Stipendiary Curate at St John’s Blackpool on 13 Jul 1828, ordained 21 Dec 1828 & appointed Perpetual Curate at St John’s on 3 Jan 1829. Also officiated at Bispham on behalf of its Vicar, Rev. Charles Hesketh.
Marriage
On 13 Dec 1831 by licence dated 10 Dec 1831 to Alice Banks (1796-1868).
Children
Margaret Anne Thornber in 1833; Giles Harrison Thornber in 1836. Both born in Blackpool.
Death
At Coton Hill in Staffs. on 6 Dec 1885. Probate was granted to his son and daughter on 26 March 1886 on an estate valued at £1,805 13s. 1d.
Further details
Mainly remembered as author of An Historical and Descriptive Account of Blackpool and its neighbourhood, printed and published in Market Place, Poulton le Fylde in 1837. He had a quick temper for a man of the cloth and appeared in court for fighting. Nevertheless, during his time in Blackpool he was on committees assisting the wellbeing of the poor of that town. His interest in history, including natural history, is clear from his book. He had both good and bad sides to his personality. He cannot be traced on the 1881 census, but is listed in 1871 at Derby Road in Blackpool with his daughter and son. Margaret got married in 1875 to a ship owner’s son who was more than 15 years her junior, and settled in Scarborough. Giles moved to West Brompton in London, leaving an estate on his death aged 61 on 12 Aug 1897 valued at £13,384 to a 41-year-old Yorkshire-born spinster named Charlotte Tiplady.
Coton Hill in Staffs., where William Thornber died aged 82 in 1885, is the site of a former hospital for the mentally ill. Its residents were generally well-off, and it is unclear whether William was just a resident or the hospital’s Chaplain.
Postscript
His daughter Margaret was aged 41 when she married John Thompson Pegg in Brighton, although he lived in Leamington. Their daughter Elizabeth Alice Pegg was born in Leamington on 17 Dec 1875. The family moved to Scarborough where John Francis Pegg was born on 12 Apr 1878. The family name was changed first to Pegge and then to Thompson-Pegge. The death was reported in 1901 of Lieutenant John Francis Thompson-Pegge, killed by lightning on 11 Dec 1911 in South Africa. William’s daughter Margaret died aged 86 in Scarborough on 11 Apr 1920, having been widowed for over 7 years. Her daughter Elizabeth Alice Thompson-Pegg, as she became known, the great-granddaughter of Giles Thornber of Poulton, died on 17 May 1966 in Scarborough at the grand old age of 90. she had remained single and was the last known descendant of Giles Thornber.
FamilySearch ID: LV4Z-C8F
❻ Richard Thornber (1805-1830): Attorney
Birth & baptism
Born at Poulton-le-Fylde 13 Mar 1805 & baptised there 22 Mar 1805. Richard was a family name in his mother’s family, the Harrisons.
Parents
❸ Giles Thornber (1776-1860) & ❹ Elizabeth Harrison, who were married by licence 22 Feb 1803.
Siblings
❺ Rev. William Thornber (1803-1885); ❼ Mary Thornber, independent means (1806-1885); ❽ John Thornber, gentleman (1809-1857); ❾ Paul Harrison Thornber, attorney (1814-1883).
Education & occupation
On 12 Jun 1822 he was signed into 5 years articles as attorney’s clerk to Thomas Wilson the elder of Poulton by his father. On 25 Sep 1824, following the death of Thomas Wilson the elder, the articles were assigned to William Dickson of Kirkham. On 27 Dec 1825 the articles were assigned to Thomas Wilson of Poulton, the son of the late Thomas Wilson the elder. He would have completed his studies around 1827.
Marriage
On 25 Jun 1829 by licence dated 24 Jun 1829 to Ann Butcher, who may have been from Blackpool, but her details are very sketchy.
Child
The only child was Elizabeth Thornber, baptised 18 Jun 1830, buried 24 Mar 1831.
Death and burial
On 15 Aug 1830 aged 25 in Poulton, buried 18 Aug 1830 at St. Chad’s.
Further details
He worked as an attorney alongside both Thomas Wilson senior and junior and William Elletson, all of Poulton, and William Dickson of Kirkham. We do not know the cause of his death, but he wrote his will in his own hand only eight days before he died, appointing his wife Ann his executrix and sole beneficiary. However, the will was not proved until 14 Apr 1831. Thomas Danson, gentleman, and Alexander Moore, auctioneer, had to testify under oath that they knew Richard well enough to confirm the will to be written in his own hand, as there were no witnesses to its signing. The estate was valued at just under £1,500, a considerable amount for such a young man who had only just started his career.
Exactly what became of Richard’s widow Ann Thornber is unclear. She was listed in the gentry living at the same address as her in-laws in 1834, according to Pigot’s Directory, and may have remarried or left the area.
FamilySearch ID: LV4Z-CBN
❼ Mary Thornber (1805-1885): Daughter of ❸ Giles Thornber
Birth & baptism
Born at Poulton-le-Fylde 23 Oct 1806 & baptised there 1 Nov 1806.
Parents
❸ Giles Thornber (1776-1860) & ❹ Elizabeth Harrison, who were married by licence 22 Feb 1803.
Siblings
❺ Rev. William Thornber (1803-1885);❻ Richard Thornber, attorney (1805-1830); ❽ John Thornber, gentleman (1809-1857); ❾ Paul Harrison Thornber, attorney (1814-1883).
Lifestyle
She was closely associated in her early life with the Sunday School, but had no occupation to distinguish her from the other folk of Poulton, living from the investments she had either been gifted or had inherited. Having been born in her parents’ house on Breck Road, then named Breck Street, she remained there throughout her life.
Death & funeral
She died in Poulton aged 79 on 27 Nov 1885, just nine days before her brother William. Despite her privileged lifestyle and wealth, she had remained true to her birthplace. A generous obituary in the Blackpool Herald, an unusual accolade for a woman, described her as kind, amiable, and always ready to relieve the needy. She was interred in the family vault with the Rev. W. Richardson (vicar) conducting the service assisted by the Rev. Richard Thornber, son of her late brother John. Her remains were interred in the family vault in the churchyard, but with her Harrison grandparents and youngest brother rather than with her parents. Her funeral was reported on page 3 of the Blackpool Herald on 4 Dec 1885. Click on this link to view it in a new tab or window.
FamilySearch ID: LV4Z-ZZ6
❽ John Thornber (1809-1857): Gentleman
Next Panel text
❾ Paul Harrison Thornber (1814-1883): Attorney & Parish Clerk
Next Panel text
John Thornber (1804-1874): Attorney, moved to Wray
Preface
This particular member of the Thornber family has been included as he started his career in Poulton and could be confused with a 2nd cousin of his also named John Thornber. Most of his life was spent Close to his birthplace near Lancaster, but his life took an unexpected turn after turning 50 when he became a father of 7 over a short period.
Birth & baptism
Born at Bentham on 7th Sep 1804.& baptised at St. Wilfrid’s in Melling on 21st Oct 1804.
Parents & his relationship to the Thornber family of the Fylde
Christopher Thornber (1780-1849) & Margaret Garnet (1781-1850), who were married by licence at Tatham 26th Nov 1803. Christopher was the brother of William and John Thornber. His son John was born a short time before the Rev. William Thornber who was, together with his siblings, John’s second cousin; this was close family by the standards of the early 19th century.
Training & occupation
On the 10th day of August in 1824, John’s father Christopher Thornber of Bentham gave consent for his son John to enter into five years of articles with Preston solicitor Robert William Hopkins. John’s age was given as 18 years or thereabouts, whereas he was about a month away from turning 20; John’s uncle Giles Thornber, then living at Bispham but formerly land agent at Rossall Hall, acted as witness. This began John’s training as a solicitor, the title which at the time was quickly replacing that of attorney.
Residence in Poulton
From 1836 his residence, according to the voting lists for Poulton, was given as Ball Street where he owned Freehold houses and gardens; however, subsequent voting records list his properties on Tithebarn Street. The 1839 tithe map identifies these as an office (525), a house and yard (526), a garden (527) and two houses each with a garden (528/9). These were between the Tithe Barn and what is now Queensway, so appear to be on the site of the town’s main car park.
However, whilst his voting qualification remained the properties in Tithebarn Street, the 1841 list gives his abode as Wray near Lancaster, as do those for 1842-1847.
His first marriage
Ann Armitstead of Wray signed a consent on the 22nd Oct 1840 permitting the marriage of her daughter Mary Leeming to John Thornber, who would by then have been aged 36; Mary was legally a minor at 20, being under the “full age” of 21. Ann had remarried after the death in 1833 of Mary’s father, John Butterfield Leeming. Ann and her young daughter had been plaintiffs in a court case reported in the Kendal Mercury on 2nd April 1836; this may well have introduced John Thornber to them as a solicitor for one of the sides.
John obtained a marriage licence on 23rd Oct 1840, the day after Ann gave consent for Mary to marry, and they married on the 29th, witnessed by Richard and Mary Bryning, John’s brother-in-law and sister; John’s residence was listed as Poulton and his occupation as attorney. The marriage caused him to move to Wray.
1841 census record
The family are listed at Wray, near Melling. John’s is an attorney; his age is rounded down to 30 and Mary’s to 20. The remaining occupants and their given ages are: his sister Eleanor Thornber, aged 20; his married sister Mary Bryning, aged 30 and her daughter Hannah Bryning, aged 6 months. Domestic help came from Isabella Friers, age given as 20.
They live next to local auctioneer Nathaniel Armitstead whose age is given as 60 and Mary’s stepfather; Ann Armitstead aged 40 and Mary’s mother; and finally Mary Atkinson aged 14, Atkinson being the maiden name of Ann Armitstead.
His second marriage
His first marriage was cut short by the death of his first wife Mary in 1845 aged only 24; she was buried on 5th May in Wray, and there appears to have been no children.
Aged 41 he took out a marriage licence on 5th Feb 1846 to marry Ellen Altham, formerly Thornton, the 41-year-old widow of John Cumberland Altham; the marriage took place two days later.
The couple moved in at Burton in Lonsdale, where Ellen came from. The 1851 census includes the couple, both aged 46, with John described as an annuitant, suggesting that they were living from their joint savings. Their live-in help was Ann Wilson aged 19. However, the death of Ellen on 5th February 1855, aged only 50, made John a widower for the second time in his life, again with no children from the marriage.
His third marriage
His third marriage fell in the third quarter of 1857 and was in Skipton. Ann Wilson was born about 1831 and a child by that name was baptised 5th Feb 1832 as the illegitimate daughter of Margaret Wilson of Burton in Lonsdale and may well have had a younger brother John. Christmas Day of 1867 saw the baptisms of five of their children. Margaret was born 26th Mar 1858, John on 24th Jul 1860, Giles on 24th Oct 1862, William on 17th Jul 1864, and Christopher on 14th Mar 1866. There were two more baptisms, Thomas on 2nd Aug 1868, and Ellen on 2nd Oct 1870. John Thornber had become a father for the first time aged 53 and was aged about 66 when Ellen was born. There was, of course, an age gap of over 26 years between husband and wife.
The 1861 census shows John Thornber as an annuitant, as in 1851, but things had changed by 1871. John was now aged 66, but the family needed extra income with seven children aged from 1 to 13. John returned to his old profession of attorney, whilst Ann was, unusually for a solicitor’s wife, now a bread baker. However, the two youngest children would probably not have many memories of their father.
Death and burial
In January 1874 appeared the following announcement:
Burton-in-Lonsdale – On the 13th inst., Mr. John Thornber, retired solicitor, aged 72 years.
He was in fact only aged 69, but maybe the 7 children had aged him prematurely.
Further details
For such a methodical man, it is strange that there is no apparent record of his probate. His wife survived him by some 18 years, and was still a baker in the 1881 census. His sons John, Giles, and William were still living with their mother in 1881 and were all general labourers. By 1891 Giles was a potter’s labourer and Christopher was a silk spinner’s clerk. Their father, despite his obvious academic prowess, appears to have led the life of a modest provincial solicitor, and not passed any of his skills to his children.
FamilySearch ID: KWJW-RYY
Sources and Acknowledgements
This article on the Thornber family was contributed by Ian Upward. With the exception of Rev. William Thornber, a scholar in the history of Lancashire, little appears in print about the other members of the family.
The website https://thornber.net/, created by Craig Thornber, provided an invaluable insight into a complex family. The British Newspapers Archives includes a rich vein of articles, advertisements, and family obituaries. Thanks are also due to the many Online Parish Clerks who have helpfully transcribed local parish records. I have quoted the FamilySearch ID of many members of the family, part of an index to records maintained by the Church of Latter-day Saints on its subscription-free website FamilySearch; in all cases I have fact-checked the accuracy of the records, correcting them where needed. The Alumni Lists of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, as well as that of Rugby School gave further information on the family. The Clergy of the Church of England Database provided appointment details for members of the family who took holy orders.
The wills of William Thornber of Rossall, Richard Thornber of Poulton, and Giles Thornber of Bispham, can be viewed at Lancashire Archives at Bow Lane in Preston.
The graves of some members of the Poulton branch of the family can be seen in the churchyard of St Chad’s Church on the side adjoining Ball Street, Poulton.
Ian Upward. 27 June 2024