DONE: Joanna Longworth and Hugh Blackledge Sanderson

St. James, Chorley

When Joanna ("Annie") Longworth was born in 1878 in Adlington, Lancashire, England, her father, John Longworth (1832-1880), was 46, and her mother, Alice (nee Loxham) (1839-1891), was 39. She had seven sisters and four brothers.

She married Hugh Blackledge Sanderson on July 19, 1905, at St. James Church in Chorley, Lancashire, England. On the marriage certificate, Hugh's profession is an "Electric Wireman" and like several of her sisters, Joanna is a "Weaver". Witnesses to the marriage are John Longworth (Joanna's brother) and Margaret Sanderson (Hugh's sister).

Marriage Certificate (image via Ancestry.com)

At the time of the marriage, Joanna is living at 36 Bolton Road in Chorley, as she is on the 1901 census with sister Isabella and brother John (in 1898 when sister Ellen is married, the family is at number 32.)

36 Bolton Road, Chorley (image via GoogleMaps)

When Hugh Blackledge Sanderson was born on January 19, 1880, in Bolton, Lancashire, England, his father, Richard Sanderson (1858-1928), was 22 and his mother, Ellen Ann (nee Blackledge), (1861-?) was 19.

They had three children over eleven years:

• Richard Sanderson (1906-1943) married Lena Belle-Isle (1909-?) 
• Elizabeth Alice Sanderson (1911-1912) 
• Lily Jetor Sanderson (1917-?) married Alexander Sawyer Brooks (Henry) Donat (1911-2003) 

Richard is born on April 3, 1906. His baptism is recorded at the same parish his parents were married in. The family is still living at 36 Bolton Road.

Baptismal Record, St. James Chorley (image via Ancestry.com)

By the time of the 1911 England Census, the family is living at 20 Duke Street in Chorley with five-year-old Richard and two-month-old Elizabeth Alice (no baptismal record has been located) as well as Joanna's sister Isabella. Hugh is a "Weaver Spinning Mill Labourer", and Joanna and Isabella are also employed in Cotton Weaving.

1901 England Census (image via Ancestry.com)

20 Duke Street (image via GoogleMaps)

Elizabeth Alice doesn't make it to her first birthday, and her death is recorded in the first quarter of 1912. By August, Joanna, her sister Isabella and young Richard are aboard the Corsican, a ship on the Canadian Pacific Line, destined for Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Hugh isn't listed, and a record of his crossing hasn't been found, but presumably he preceded his wife and son to find a place to live. Undoubtedly he joined other newly emigrated members of the Longworth family when he arrived.

In 1921 we find the family on the Canadian Census at 501 Mary Street in Hamilton (pictured below). In the house are Hugh, Joanna, Richard and new addition Lily Jetor Sanderson. Sister Isabella is also living with the couple. The census suggests that the family was naturalized upon arrival. Hugh is a Foreman and Richard is an ice cream worker (likely in a dairy).

Prior to 1914, the process of naturalization was pretty easy. After living in Canada for three years, if they were determined to be of good character, new immigrants could bring an application before a court official and receive a certificate of naturalization.

Also in the home in 1921 are three borders, one of whom becomes Joanna's niece's husband shortly after the census - Albert Hulme. This photos likely includes the entire household:

Top: Albert Hulme (left) and two unnamed borders
Middle: Annie and Hugh Sanderson, Bella Longworth
Bottom: Richard Sanderson

501 Mary Street, Hamilton (image via GoogleMaps)

When daughter Lily was married in 1934, the family was still living in the same home.

Richard and his wife settled in Hamilton and were living at 476 Catherine Street North (a little less than a block away from the Mary Street residence) at the time of his death from Testicular Cancer on June 20, 1943. He is buried at St. Ann's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Penetanguishene, Ontario.

Headstone, Richard Sanderson (image via Ancestry.com)

Hugh Blackledge Sanderson died on January 8,1941 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 60.

Hamilton Spectator, January 1941

Joanna (Longworth) Sanderson died on New Years Eve, 1967, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 89. Her obituary from the Hamilton Spectator reads:

SANDERSON, Joanna - At St. Peter's Infirmary on Sunday December 31, 1967, Joanna Longworth of 2641 King Street East Apt 314 beloved wife of the late Hugh B. Sanderson in her 90th year, mother of Mrs. Henry Donat (Lily) of Hamilton. Sister of Nellie Hannah and Lily Longworth of England. Also surviving are 3 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Member of Christ's Church Cathedral. Resting at J.B. Marlatt Funeral Home, 615 Main Street East (west of Sanford Avenue) until early Thursday morning. Service in Christ's Church Cathedral at 2 p.m. Interment at Hamilton Cemetery.

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