Person Page 753

William Roby

Consanguinity

2nd great-grandfather of Adrian John Snelson

Interactive Pedigree Button

Person References	Ancestors Lifespan, Father, Mother, Spouse Family Tree Blood Line My Family Tree Roger Roby
Last Edited	26 September 2025

Main Events

User Reference Number	William Roby; 18204
Cause of Death	The cause of death was Cholera (12 hours certified.)
Occupation	He was a Watch FileMaker.
Note	Until the late 19th century, Prescot had been the centre of the watchmaking trade in England. The workers produced watch parts in small workshops attached to their cottages and were paid by piece work. By 1889 the American System of Watch Manufacturing meant that the Waltham Watch Company and others could produce watches at a much lower price and the town fell into decline. Watches were made in Prescot from the early 1700s.  During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was at the centre of the Lancashire  watch and clockmaking industry. The expensive, high-quality watches and clocks were produced by hand in workshops attached to the workers’ houses. Prescot was often described as a ‘town of little workshops’. The craftsmen specialised in making different components of the watches, using precision hand tools. This was, in essence, very similar to the traditional Swiss établissage system. The township gained widespread recognition as a centre for high-quality horological craftsmanship. The Lancashire Watch Company was one of the largest watch manufacturers in Prescot. The watchmaking workshops were attached to the houses and could generally be recognised by the large north-facing windows to allow as much daylight in as possible.  Work benches were raised to windowsill height. The precision tools, such as files and screwdrivers, were stored on a shallow shelf above the windowsill. The workshops would be heated by an open coal fire or a cast iron pot stove. When the natural light faded, the workshop would be lit by gas lamps. The small town thrived on the industry and in 1860 over a third of the town’s population were employed in the trade. However, during the 1870s fierce competition from cheaper, machine-made watches produced in America and Switzerland hit the local industry badly.  By 1885, after a rapid decline, most of the workshops scattered through the town had closed down. Thomas Peter Hewitt decided to revive the industry by establishing the Lancashire Watch Company in 1889.  The main factory was on Albany Road, with a warehouse in the ‘Flat Iron’ building, Eccleston Street. The high level of manual skill required to use the traditional tools used in small workshops was no longer required. The modern manufacturing process used machinery that produced large quantities of identical watch components with little need for adjustment. The watches produced in the factory had more in common with earlier American designs than traditional English fusee watches. They produced two main types of watches. Rough or blank movements, which were sold, primarily to London, and finished elsewhere. Finishing involved adding the gear train, jewels and the escapement. They also made complete, finished watches, including cases, by machine. The vast majority of Lancashire Watch Company watches were sold to other finishers, J.G. Graves was a prominent example, and only a small proportion was sold as Lancashire Watch Co, Prescot.The company struggled with debt and some dubious accounting activities. The Lancashire  Watch Company made itself the prisoner of potential demand for a huge number of specific consumer requirements. This made it difficult for them to focus on the development of new manufacturing technologies and production and marketing strategies. What the firm needed was a narrow range of standardised and mass-produced products for sale. The reality was, that they were unable to compete against the Swiss and American  watch manufacturers that had abandoned old production technologies and had modernised their business practices. In a last-ditch attempt to survive the Lancashire Watch Company attempted to compete on price and design.  They launched the ‘John Bull’ pocket watch in 1909, which was a basic model with a pin-lever movement. The movement contained no jewels, so it was highly susceptible to wear and tear. It was probably the first ‘disposable’ English watch and sold for only 5 shillings, equivalent to an average day’s wages at the time. However, only five thousand John Bull watches were ever sold, which was not enough to save the company. In total, the Lancashire Watch Company failed four times. First in 1898, because incorrect accounting was used to favour ordinary shareholders, which created unexpected losses. The company survived after restructuring. Second, in 1906, when the company’s unpaid debt forced the debenture holders to take over. Third, in 1908, when “B” debenture holders forced the company into receivership and enough debt was serviced to remain afloat. Lastly, in 1910, when all hope was lost and the company was finally liquidated. The company closed in January 1911, and the factory contents were sold by a public auction that ran for 9 days.  During its 21 years of existence, an estimated 80,000 watches were produced annually.
Note	I am suspicious about this baptism - because William’s burial information says he is aged 43 years old at death in 1849, so presumable born circa 1806, not 1809. I have to confess, that I have been confused by this for 30 years or so. I could not accept that William became a file cutter in the watch components cottages when his father was a coal miner. So, this link in my Roby family tree is for me, still in play. This is the problem. Some people believe that my William Roby who married Ann Foster was the son of Richard Roby & Elizabeth Lawranson rather than William Roby & Elizabeth Tatlock. Address: St Mary's Church... says father William was a collier Literally the entry reads "Prescot William Son of William Roby, Collier & Eliz'th his wife born May 1st & Bpt 20 (or 28)” Here's an entry from the Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk :- Baptism: 28 May 1809 St Mary the Virgin, Prescot, Lancashire, England William Roby - Son of William Roby & Elizth. Born: 1 May Abode: Prescot Occupation: Collier Register: Baptisms 1766 - 1809, Page 201, Entry 29.
Birth	He was born on 1 May 1809 in Prescot, Lancashire, England, If William died in 1849, aged 43, then he was born about 1806. Our William here was born circa 1809. This is a mystery. I am now certain that Richard Roby and Elizabeth Lawranson are NOT the parents of William Roby (c. 1809-1849, file cutter of Prescot). Here's the record from the Lancashire Office of the Parish Clerk Baptism: 28 May 1809 St Mary the Virgin, Prescot, Lancashire, England William Roby - Son of William Roby & Elizth. Born: 1 May Abode: Prescot Occupation: Collier Register: Baptisms 1766 - 1809, Page 201, Entry 29 Something not quite right though as the death certificate for William Roby in 1849 says that he was 43 years old, this born c. 1806 !
Baptism	He was baptised on 28 May 1809 in Prescot Address: St Mary's Church... says father William was a collier Literally the entry reads "Prescot William Son of William Roby, Collier & Eliz'th his wife born May 1st & Bpt 28" I have to confess, that I have had this all wrong for 30 years or so. I could not accept that William became a file cutter in the watch components cottages when his father was a collier. My mistake. Here's the entry from the Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk :- Baptism: 28 May 1809 St Mary the Virgin, Prescot, Lancashire, England William Roby - Son of William Roby & Elizth. Born: 1 May Abode: Prescot Occupation: Collier Register: Baptisms 1766 - 1809, Page 201, Entry 29.
Marriage	William Roby and Ann Foster were married on 5 July 1833 in St. Helens, Prescot, Lancashire, William Roby could not write and made his mark. Ann was able to write her own name - just. Marriage: 5 Jul 1833 St Mary (now St Helen), St Helens, Lancashire, England William Roby - (X), Prescot in the Parish of Prescot Ann Foster - Prescot in the Parish of Prescot Witness: Sarah Starkey; William Taylor; Thomas Simcock Married by Banns by: Thomas Pigot Minister Register: Marriages 1813 - 1837 from the Bishop's Transcripts, Entry 359.1
	His son William Roby was born about 1834 in Prescot.
Occupation	William Roby was a watch file cutter in Prescot, Lancashire, in 1836.
	His son John Roby was born about January 1836 in Prescot, England.
Occupation	William Roby was a file cutter in 1840.
	His daughter Alice Roby was born about September 1840.
Occupation	He was a File Cutter in Prescot in September 1845.
	His daughter Mary Roby was born on 2 September 1845 in Prescot.
	His son Joseph Roby was born on 2 September 1845.
	His son Joseph Roby died in September 1847.
	His daughter Ellen Roby was born about January 1848 in Prescot.
Note	The 1848-1849 cholera epidemic in England and Wales was described by a government report as if a ‘foreign army’ had ‘held possession of the country, and slain 53,293 men, women and children’. In the mid-19th century the country faced an epidemic of filth; poorly drained, overcrowded towns created an environment ripe for diseases like typhus and cholera. In response, the government passed the Public Health Act of 1848, creating a General Board of Health to oversee sanitary measures throughout the country. A report on the pandemic in Liverpool in 1849 can bee found here https://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/Cholera.html Earlier, the Liverpool Cholera Riots of 1832 were a direct result of overcrowding in Liverpool at 100,000 people per 1 Sq Mile. In 1846, the potato famine struck Ireland, resulting in in a decade of emigration through and to Liverpool. In 1839, for every person who died of violence or old age, 8 died of specific, known diseases.2
Death	William Roby died on 8 October 1849, at age 40, in Mill Brow, Prescot, England, Address: Mill Brow, buried St Mary's Church.Death certificate says he was 43 years old … so, as he died in 1849, it looks like he was born c. 1806 not 1809. He was only sick for 24 hours and he was a relatively young man in his very early 40s. Yet, with 1 day, he was dead. Cholera. See Notes.3
Burial	William's remains were buried on 8 October 1849 in St Mary's Church, Prescot, aged 43 ... Name: | William Roby Gender: | Male Death Date: | abt 1849 Burial Date: | 8 Oct 1849 Burial Place: | St. Helens, Lancashire, England FHL Film Number: | 1482457 Reference ID: | p 111

Burial: 8 Oct 1849 St Mary the Virgin, Prescot, Lancashire, England
William Roby -
Age: 43 yrs.
Abode: Prescot
Buried by: H. Walker
Register: Burials 1846 - 1855, Page 112, Entry 882
Source: LDS Film 1657597

If he died in 1849 aged 43, then he was born in 1806 give or take a year. This does not make any sense. His wife Ann Foster died about 1 March 1891 in Highfield Place, Prescot, Lancashire.

Census

Label and Year

Manual

Census 1841

William Roby Id #18,803 (Principal) was at home on Census night 6 June 1841 at Parrs Square, Prescot, Lancashire; On this Census return, William is said to be 30 years old - however, in 1841 you could declare your age to the nearest 5 years, so that would mean 1811 as a birth year - within 5 years, which would point to a birth year between 1806 and 1816. As for Ellen Roby aged 60 - who can she be ? [[Principal Role]] [[Witness Role: Head of household]] Original Documents, Source and Citations here

Citations

1. [S1865] England Select Marriages 1538-1953
2. [S1460] Tracing Your Liverpool Ancestors, ROYDEN, Mike. 2014 Edition. Pages 73, 98, 102, 108, 109 , 113, 118. Pen and Sword Family History. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England.
3. [S1459] GRO Online Digitised (DR) Deaths

Margery Kinsey

Interactive Pedigree Button

Parents

Main Events

Also Known As	Margery Kinsey was also known as Margery Baskervyle.
Residence	She resided in Blackden.
User Reference Number	She; 7080
Marriage	Margery Kinsey and Thomas Baskervyle were married about 1560.
	Her daughter Margaret Baskervyle was born before 16 February 1563 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her son Lawrence Baskervyle was born about 1566.
	Her son Thomas Baskervyle was born in 1566 in Old Withington, Cheshire.
	Her son Richard Baskervyle was born before 24 April 1569 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her son Richard Baskervyle died in January 1570.
	Her son Henry Baskervyle was born before 24 January 1571 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her daughter Ellen Baskervyle was born before 3 January 1574 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her son John Baskervyle was born before 11 September 1576 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her daughter Ellen Baskervyle died in January 1577.
	Her daughter Katherine Baskervyle was born before 11 February 1578 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her son William Baskervyle was born before 14 May 1579 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her daughter Katherine Baskervyle died in July 1579.
	Her daughter Bridget Baskervyle was born before 5 August 1580 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her son William Baskervyle died in March 1581.
	Her son John Baskervyle died in May 1581.
	Her son Edward Baskervyle was born before 15 October 1581 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her son Edward Baskervyle died in January 1582.
	Her daughter Elizabeth Baskervyle was born before 28 July 1583 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her daughter Elizabeth Baskervyle died in September 1584.
	Her son Randle Baskervyle was born before 11 March 1585 in Goostrey, Cheshire.
Christening	Margery was christened on 11 March 1586 in the local parish church, Goostrey, Cheshire.
	Her husband Thomas Baskervyle died in May 1588.
Death	She died in March 1591.
Burial	Margery's remains were buried on 22 March 1592 in the local cemetery, Goostrey, Cheshire, [[Principal Role]] [[Witness Role: Buried]].