Tempus Fugit

While sorting through Birth and Wedding certificates for a lesson about census data later this week, I came across the oldest photograph I possess.

This is Ann Rimmer, born 1839, who was married to an ancestor of mine named James Ashcroft. He worked for the railway. In 1861 they lived with her mother, Alice, in Altcar Lane. By 1871, Alice Rimmer was dead and Ann and James had five children.

In 1881, they lived in Ivy Cottage, Hills Lane (now called Clieves Hills Lane--the cottage is still there, barely five miles away); the older children had moved out and there were two younger ones. Children's names, eldest first: Jane, Alice, John, William, James, Alfred, Cornelius.

Ann grew herbs for sale in Liverpool market, travelling there and back on the back of any cart going that way. It would have taken quite a few hours.

Cornelius was my great-grandfather. I remember him, just, and my Mum has a photo of him holding me when I was new-born. My Mum just remembers Ann, my great-great-grandmother.

Not exactly a female friend but surely I owe her and all my ancestors a huge debt of thanks for bothering to procreate :)