My particular interest is in William Brierley, born circa 1826/7, son of Mary and James (Jonas) Brierley of Cockden, and (elder) brother to Benjamin. This is part of a research project I'm doing for the Family and Community History Society (FACHRS) on gardeners.
I know the Brierley family have been a subject of much discussion on the forum over the years and I have gleaned a lot of interesting information from previous posts to supplement my research, but there is one mystery that I haven't been able to solve.
William's occupation is listed in the 1871 census as a 'grocer' in Cop Row, but in 1881 he is listed as a 'gardener' (while brother Benjamin is listed as the grocer), and then in 1891 William is listed as a 'retired grocer' living at a copyhold cottage in Church View. What I want to know is: what sort of gardener William became; where; and who for? Was he perhaps what we would nowadays call a market gardener (perhaps supplying the family grocers shop with fresh produce), or was he perhaps employed by one of the local manors or estates (Extwistle Hall; Towneley or Bank Hall?). He certainly had a cousin (confusingly also called William, and who also lived in Cop Row) who was a gamekeeper for General James York Scarlett in 1881, presumably when Gen. Scarlett was resident at Bank Hall; did he get William (snr) the gardening job?
Any clues gratefully received!
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