William Bay

3rd Great Grandfather, 1809 - 1882

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William Bay was born in 1808 in Macclesfield to John Abraham Bay and Mary Gladwin.   Aged 19, he married Maria Barnett at Prestbury, Cheshire.  The couple went on to have a large family of 8 children and spent all their lives at Sutton or Langley in Cheshire; these are adjacent villages close to Macclesfield.  William's working life revolved around the silk industry. 

 

The 1841 Census listed William, Maria and five children living at Langley and his occupation was a 'silk man'.  The 1851,1861, 1871 and 1881 censuses listed his occupation as a warehouseman at a silk print works.   To find out more about the silk industry click here.  

 

The 1851 Census listed William and Maria as living at 5 Hall Row, Sutton with their 7 children: Emma, Edwin, Elizabeth, William, Sarah, Joseph and James.  Four of the children were working at the silk mills, including 12-year old William.  

 

The 1861 Census listed the family's address as 9 Langley Hall.   5 children lived at home and 4 worked in the silk mills, including 11-year-old James.

 

The 1871 Census showed the family living at 8 Langley Hall Yards.  2 children still Iived at home as well as a grown up daughter, son in law and grandson.  The picture above is of Langley Hall Yards.  I visited Langley in 2019; the hall and cottages are still there.  At the rear of the hall there is still a working silkworks.  

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By 1881 William was widowed and living alone at Langley Hall Yards.  Aged 72, William was still working as a warehouseman.   His death was recorded a year later, in 1882.  The address was Wolstanton, Staffordshire.  The informant was his son-in-law, J. Bradley so it is likely that his was living with his daughter and son-in-law prior to his death. 

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To follow the story and find out more about William's son, James click here.