Stories From History And More

Sailing Ship Hannibal - James Fulton Pringle (1788-1847) The ship Hannibal creaked and groaned as she made her way across the wide Atlantic Ocean. Plunging waves, storms and swells were the norm as she plied her regular route between New York and Liverpool. A sailing ship of 440 tons she combined her cargo with a small but growing number of passengers. Four formal cabin passengers were increasingly supplemented by emigrants placed in the grim “steerage” area of the ship. On this leg of the route between Liverpool and New York there were ten passengers in steerage including three children aged between 1 and 6 years travelling with their unaccompanied mother. Emigrants travelling in steerage were frequently in a desperate situation, trying to escape poverty with the chance of finding a new life in places like the United States of America. Among these passengers in May 1827 were Henry Blackbourn and four members of his family……. Origins When Richard Blackbourn and his wife Martha uproot...

  The story which follows reflects the tragedy of an all too common personal circumstance and societies reaction to it. Yet also shows possible evidence of personal reaction and proud defiance in the face of such circumstance.   Anne Blackburn, the twenty two year old daughter of Christopher and Esther, has her illegitimate daughter, Caroline, baptised at Saint Michael's, Ashton under Lyne, on 14th July 1822. Sadly the Register entry under "Quality, Trade or Profession" is described as "Base". This probably reveals that she had no means of supporting herself or her daughter and was relying on Parish assistance. Caroline Blackburn Baptism 14th July 1822 Since 1601 the Poor Laws had required required each Parish to calculate and levy a poor rate. This was used to provide relief to the poor people of the Parish. They would also run a "poorhouse" for homeless Parishioners where work was provided to mitigate the cost. A deserted pregnant woman was pro...