Sarah Ann DEAKIN (née SIDEBOTHAM)

Sarah Ann SIDEBOTHAM was the daughter of William SIDEBOTHAM, a ‘Cotton Spinner’, and Sarah SIDEBOTHAM (née SWANTON). Sarah was born in 1837 in Stockport, Cheshire and grew up at 133 New Bridge Lane in the town in the centre of Stockport’s silk and cotton industry.

By the age of 14, Sarah, along with her sister Emma aged 19, was working as a ‘Power Loom Weaver’ in one of Stockport’s many mills that lined the Mersey valley.

By April 1861, Sarah had moved to Wigan and was lodging with her sister Emma, her husband Thomas HALLIWELL and son, Hugh, at 7 Market Court. Both Sarah and Emma were employed as a ‘Cotton Weavers’ in one of Wigan’s cotton mills.

Her brother, William Sidebotham, was also living in Wigan, working as ‘Power Loom Weaver’. In April 1861, her brother, William, was lodging with the Pollard family (Hugh Pollard, his wife Margaret and daughter Kate) at 90 Great George Street, Wigan. Also lodging with the Pollards was Samuel Pownall Deakin.

In September 1961, Sarah and Samuel Pownall DEAKIN were married by Rev. Edward Westman in September 1861 at All Saints’ Church, Walshaw Road, Elton, Lancashire. It is likely that Samuel and Sarah had moved to Elton (on the western fringes of Bury) to work in the mills that had built in the upper Irwell Valley but they shortly returned to Wigan before their eldest son, William Robert Deakin was born the following year (see below).

By 1871, Samuel, Sarah and family had moved to Liptrots Houses, Newtown, Pemberton, 2 miles to the west of Wigan and Samuel was employed as an ‘Overlooker’ and Sarah as a ‘Weaver’ in Newton’s cotton mills. William SIDEBOTHAM, who by this time had been married and widowed, was lodging with them and was also employed as an ‘Overlooker’ in the mills.

In the 1881 Census, Sarah is recorded as living at 13 Wignall Street, Wigan. By 1891 Samuel and Sarah had moved to 49 Corporation Street and by 1901 to 22 Bradford Place, Wigan.

Samuel and Sarah had the following children:

1. William Robert DEAKIN, b. 1862, Wigan.
2. George Edward DEAKIN, b. 1864, Wigan.
3. Martha Elizabeth DEAKIN, b. 1866, Wigan.
4. Samuel Pownall DEAKIN, b. 1869, Wigan, d. 1899, Wigan
5. Emma DEAKIN, b. 1871, b. Pemberton, Lancashire.
6. Sarah Ann DEAKIN, b. 1873, Wigan.
7. Minnie DEAKIN, b. 1876, Wigan.
8. Harriet Eliza DEAKIN, b. 1878, Wigan.

Samuel and Sarah Deakin celebrated their Golden (60th) Wedding Anniversary in September 1921. The couple received a telegram of congratulations from King George V. Samuel had met the King when he visited Wigan in July 1961.

“That this old pair may live and prosper in everything is the heartfelt wish of their kinsfolk and friends everywhere.” (Wigan Observer 3 Sep 1921).

Photo of 4 generations of the Deakin family taken in September 1921 to celebrate Mr & Mrs Samuel P Deakin’s 60th Wedding Anniversary:

During his lifetime Samuel was greatly involved in Wigan life; he acted as Bugle-Major to the old Wigan Volunteer Battalion, was involved in the Church Lads’ Brigade, the Boy Scouts and other Wigan movements and societies.

Sarah, died in November 1922, aged 85, at 52 Park Road, Wigan. Her funeral took place in the Standishgate Wesleyan Church and she is buried in Wigan Cemetery (Lower Ince) in Plot A487.

Her widower, Samuel died, aged 90, on Easter Monday 1 April 1929 at the home of daughter Minnie (Mrs M. Foster), Beacon View, Chaucer Place, Mesnes Road, Wigan. His funeral service took place at the Queen’s Hall, officiated by Rev. W.H. Cookson and Rev. George Watson.

Samuel is buried with Sarah in Wigan Cemetery (Lower Ince) and son Samuel Pownall Deakin and son-in-law Edwin LARGE.