James Hirst of Burnley, Lancashire
 

I am helping my bil with his family and have found his grandfather James Hirst’s obituary and his death registration. There are family trees which say he was born 18/12/1855 at Eaves, Burnley Lancashire and that his parents were Henry Hirst and Elizabeth Dodgeon. I have looked at the Lancs OPC and Familysearch and have not been able to find them. James Hirst married Diana Druce and there is quite a lot about the Druce family and their claim to the Duke of Portland. My bil is putting together his father Arthur’s story, which is fascinating, but as he is not very well I would really love to be able to tell him more about his Hirst ancestors.
From James obituary I believe that his parents came to New Zealand abt 1860 but we do not know where. I do not know whether they stayed and are buried in New Zealand, whether they came to Australia or whether they returned to UK. I would really appreciate any help. Many thanks.

1. OBITUARY – “Sydney Morning Herald” 9 April 1930

The first part of his obit says “The death has occurred of Mr. James Hirst, of Vaucluse, a well-known member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, who for several years was city electrician at Newcastle.
Mr. Hirst, who was 74 years of age, was a native of Burnley, England, and accompanied his parents to Auckland, New Zealand, some 70 years ago.
When a young man he came to Sydney, having previously served his time as an apprentice at mechanical and electrical engineering.”

2. NSW BDM- Death Reg. No. 8046 Woollahra - 1930 HIRST JAMES. Father – Henry, Mother – Elizabeth.
Many thanks Julie

Lots about the Druce family on this thread on GF:

http://www.genealogistsforum.co.uk/f...ighlight=druce

Yes Shona .. there have been lots written about the Druces, because of their claim to the Duke of Portland .. so it is the Hirst family that I would like to know more about. Julie

Julie, I have found a birth for a Henry and Elizabeth Hirst as follows:

1860/4452 Hirst Susannah Elizabeth Henry

https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.gov...ge%3D4#matches

I don't know if this is your couple or not but the date is early enough.

This 1851 census records looks interesting - it's very faint and difficult to read, though.

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?h...=&pid=11970461

Habergham Eaves

Henry Hirst, head, 25, cotton warper, born Padiham
Elizabeth Hirst, wife, 29, milliner, born Todmorden, Yorkshire
Mary Dodgeon, mother-in-law, 67, born Todmorden, Yorkshire
Elizabeth Buirley, apprentice, ??, milliner, born ??? Lancashire

Susanna Hirst whose birth I gave above seems to have died aged 16.

1877/695 Hirst Susanna 16Y

https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.gov...#SearchResults

Looking at the Padiham, there is the following marriage:

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin...uidh=fpy&cp=11

Jonathan Dodgeon married Nancy Hirst, 7 November 1831, Padiham

According to the 1851 census entry that Shona posted, Henry Hirst would have been born c. 1826.

I found this death in New Zealand:

1905/8239 Hirst Henry 79Y

https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.gov...#SearchResults

This death fits for Elizabeth having been born c. 1822:

1877/1522 Hirst Elizabeth 56Y

This looks interesting!

http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/schol...1-d61-d27.html