Another plot marker discerned, although there are many other unlocated Thorps in this graveyard which raises the question…why here? And who here?
The Thorp family hailed from Heath Charnock, between Chorley and Bolton, and most of the children of James and Alice (France) Thorp were born there. The couple had a love of fancy names which spoke to something a bit grander than their actual circumstances (James called himself a manufacturer on one census but was more often labelled as a book-keeper). The couple married in 1830 and by 1833 Thomas Willoughby was born…then John German…then Daniel Gregory…then Robert Hodson…then James Wilson…then, uh, Mary Ann and Ellen and Nancy, no creativity shining through here…and finally, once they had arrived in Todmorden, Joseph Ormerod Thorp in 1849.
Now, poor little Joseph only managed to live for less than a year before dying in 1850, and he’s the first of these Thorps to be buried here. But where? This grave is bordered on either side by 1858 graves, which is how we discovered (guessed) that Robert is buried here…so Joseph’s whereabouts are unknown. There were no grandparents or aunts or uncles here to include him in their own grave.
As for the other siblings, they survived infancy. Some of this might be down to Alice’s expertise in folk medicine which would be highlighted when she eventually died herself in 1894. She was apparently an expert in the treatment and curing of sores and ulcerations and the Thorp house had a constantly opening-and-closing front door as her knowledge was sought. Don’t get confused and think that the well known doctor Charles Thorp, buried a few rows in front, inherited this skill – he isn’t related to her at all. But if she could mix and dispense half-decent medication then it’s no wonder the majority of her children made it to adulthood, or at least, nearly adulthood.
Poor Robert was one of the exceptions. He died at the very end of July 1858, sandwiching him neatly between Betty Lord in late June and Mary Ashworth in late August. He was 21 years old.
We can tell from future events that Robert was important to his siblings, in a way that poor little Joseph (sorry Joseph) wasn’t. Thomas’s first son was named Willoughby, after himself, but the second was named Robert. John’s first son born after 1858 was named Robert. Daniel’s first son was named Robert (this Robert is described on the 1871 Census as “a cripple, but not from birth” so spare a thought for the life he probably had), and bonus points go to him too for naming another of his sons Joseph. Robert’s name persisted within the family even if it never made it onto a stone.
James died aged 26, two years after Robert and is buried somewhere at Christ Church – maybe here? and never had a chance to name a child after any of his siblings. Same with Nancy, who died in 1863 aged 16. Ellen never married, so only Mary Ann declined the option to name any of her children after her departed brother (you can read her story here).
Daniel and his family’s resting places here at Christ Church are marked properly but the resting places of James Sr., James Jr., Nancy, Ellen and Alice are not. Are they here with Robert? In another unmarked plot elsewhere? Who knows.