Poxon family tree

Eli Poxon, (my great, great, grandfather) born Pelsall 1851. Eli was initially a collier but later became a "pit sinker", a specialist of the coal mining industry who excavated and brick lined new pit shafts. He moved around the Staffordshire area before arriving at Victoria Colliery, Rainford in the 1880's. Eli then brought the family to Adlington around 1895 to work at the Ellerbeck Colliery. The family initially resided at Rigby Houses but later moved to Park Road. In 1911 at the age of 60, Eli emigrated with five of his children to Canada on board "SS Empress of Ireland" (see ships passenger lists) to join his son Wilfred. Eli left the remainder of his children in Adlington. Wilfred emigrated to Canada in 1908 and had become established in Carbon, Alberta.

Carbon, Alberta around 1920

Eli operating the steam winding engine Stopp Mine

Marraige to Sarah Spencer

Calgary around 1925

Eli Married Sarah Spencer on Christmas Day 1871, at All Saints Church, Moxley, Staffs they were to have fourteen children in the following years. Sarah emigrated to Canada in 1911 with Eli and stayed in Canada until Eli's death in 1932. Sarah then returned to Adlington in 1933, she died the following year and is buried in Adlington cemetery.

Adeline Spencer (Eli's 1st child)

Adeline 1871-1934, born Wednesbury, Eli and Sarah's first child born prior to their marriage and so the birth is registered in Sarah's maiden name. Adeline married William (Bill) Ball in 1893 while the family were in Rainford, Produced five children, the first two born in Rainford.
Bertha Adeline Ball b1893, married Geoffrey Summerville Turner 1923
Sarah (Sally) Ball b1895
Eli Ball b1896
Mary Ball b1900
Wilfred Ball b1904
Adeline and Bill moved to Adlington n 1895 with the rest of the Poxon family, initially residing at 36 Chapel Street (off Park Road). I have not been able to identify Adeline or Bill in any photographs.

Eli (Eli's 2nd child)

Eli 1873-1878, Eli's first son died age 5 years.

Thomas, Sam and Henry

Adlington 1917

Thomas 1875-1943 front left, Henry 1877-1952 front right, Samuel 1884-1917 centre
Sam on one weeks leave from France

Thomas (Eli's 3rd child)

Thomas 1875-1943, born Stanton, Derbyshire, married Ellen Mousedale 1896. Produced nine children
John Poxon 1896-1958
Edith Poxon 1897-1908
Eli Poxon 1900-1965
Jessica Lilly Poxon 1902-1972, married Fred Moss
Phyllis Poxon 1904-1987
Cyril Poxon 1906-1908
Mona Poxon 1908-1992, married Sydney Hill
Wilfred Poxon 1910-1970
Leonard Poxon 1911-1911
Thomas was the first of the family to come to Adlington residing at 97 Park Road from around 1905. Initially a coal miner at Ellerbeck Pit, he later opened a cycle repair shop which developed into a taxi service from around 1920. Thomas later became a local elected councilor

Thomas front left, Ellerbeck Mine Rescue Team around 1915

Published in the Chorley Guardian December 2002

Henry (Eli's 4th child)

Henry 1877-1952 , (my great grandfather) born Hanbury, Staffordshire, married Margaret Preston 1898. Produced eleven children
Albert Poxon 1899-1968
Edna Poxon 1901-1997, married John Gee
Henry Poxon 1903-1904
Frank Poxon 1905-1974 (my grandfather) married Ellen Wilkinson
John Poxon 1908-1970
Leonard Poxon 1909-1977
Edith Poxon 1912-1989, married Jim Critchley
Thomas Poxon 1915-1971
Sarah Alice Poxon 1916-1945
Margaret Poxon , married Fred Higham
Rene Poxon . married Harold Smith
Residing initially at Rigby Houses then 105 Park Road from around 1905. Coal miner at Ellerbeck Pit.

Fredrick Arthur (Eli's 5th child)

Fredrick Arthur 1879-1882, born Hanbury, Staffordshire, died age three years.

Jessica Lilian (Eli's 6th child)

Adlington 1908

Jessica Lilian 1880-1970, born Chapelsend, Derbyshire, Married Bould Harper Hurst 1908, Produced three children
Gladys Hurst 1909-1977, married John Godfrey Trow 1931
Doris Hurst b1911, married Harold Ratcliffe 1937
Phyllis Patience Hurst b1912, married James Arnold "Jim" Barker 1937
Moved to Swansea 1910 when Bould signed as a professional football player for Swansea Town, Four years Military service in WWI, then Bould played football for Rochdale 1919/1920 before the family moved to Blackpool to run a guest house.
(Thanks to Kirsty Trow for help with this record)

Wilfred and John

Carbon around 1920

Wilfred 1882-1957 left, John 1886-1923 right

Wilfred (Eli's 7th child)

Wilfred 1882-1957, born Denaby, Yorkshire, first of the family to emigrate -o Canada in 1908. He initially served as a "Bull cook" on the Railroad and claimed to have missed the Frank Slide "by a day or two" He was granted a homestead under the Dominion Lands Act around 1910, Plot Part SW Section 28 Township 29 Range 23 Meridian W4 (Carbon Alberta) and is recorded on the first census of that area. Wilfred maried Nellie Smith in Carbon, produced four children.
Lawrence Charles Poxon 1908-1940
Wilfred Laird Poxon 1914-1972
Winnifred Nellie Poxon 1915-1983
Harry Poxon 1917-1934

L-R Winnifred, Harry, Wilfred, Lawrence

Nellie died in 1918, Wilfred later married Mary Smith (nee. Kilmartin) in 1928 who had four children.
Belle Smith
Lottie Smith
Jim Smith
Helen Smith
Initially a coal miner Wilfred later ran a number of buisnesses and later became Mayor of Drumheller in 1940.

Sam (Eli's 8th child)

Samuel 1884-1917, born Denaby, Yorkshire, married Ellen Anne Dobson 1907, produced three children
Alec Poxon 1908-1970
Vera Poxon 1911-1987
Sam Poxon 1916-1982
Sam emigrated to Carbon, Alberta in 1912. He volunteered for military service 1916, he served as an ambulance driver. He earned the Military Medal in 1917, and was granted one weeks leave. He returned to Adlington when the above photo was taken. Sam was killed three weeks later at Ypres. See military records page.

Taken in Carbon around 1917

Ann Poxon back left

Sarah Poxon back right

Ellen Poxon centre,(nee Dobson,1880-1960)

Sam's children,

John (Eli's 9th child)

John 1886-1923, born Rainford, Lancashire, emigrated to Canada in 1910, married Eliza A Hackett later the same year, produced one son.
Cyril Poxon b1913
Initially a miner, John later purchased the Farmers Exchange with Leonard around 1917, John died of typhoid in 1920.

Alex (Eli's 10th child)

Alexander Poxon 1888-1965, born Rainford, Lancashire, married Edith Kellet in 1912, produced three children.
Jack Poxon b1914
Sarah (Sally) Poxon b1920
Margaret (Molly) Poxon b1920
Initially they lived at 34 Chapel Street (off Park Road) but later moved to Manchester. Cutting taken 1962