The earliest provable record for this line of Sidebottom is the marriage of William Sidebottom to Mary Hegginbottom at All Saints Parish Church, Glossop, Derbyshire.
Both claimed to be ‘of this parish’.
The witnesses to the marriage were William Waterhouse & Henry Bray.
This would place both William and Mary born around 1765.
There is a DNA link between this line of Sidebottoms and the family known as the Langford-Sidebottoms from Victoria, Australia. For more information on this see notes below:
There are numerous links of this family extending into North West Derbyshire, pretty much exclusively with the Independent (non-conformist) churches. The towns of Charlesworth, Chisworth, Ludworth and Mellor appear frequently in their records.
All of William and Mary’s children, except one, were baptised at St. Mary’s Independent Chapel in Charlesworth. Charlesworth is a populous hamlet, about three miles south west of Glossop.
William was most likely a stone mason. Three of his sons worked in that trade.
William & Mary most likely lived in Charlesworth up until the time their third child was born (1796). By then we find then living at Arnfield just north of Tintwistle in Cheshire.
Arnfield was a hamlet where calico printing and cotton weaving & spinning was carried out. A spinning mill was built there in the 1790’s.
William appears in Land Tax records for Tintwistle from 1799 and remains in the area until 1828 when just a reference to him owning the land is mentioned.
The reference in 1799 state that the land was previously owned by Abraham Shaw.
Looking back to 1797 we find Abraham Shaw owning a residence in Arnfield.
In five of the years between 1806 & 1827 he also pays Land Tax for a Stone Quarry in Tintwistle, sharing the ownership with John Moorhouse in 1806 & 1807
William & Mary had nine children:
1)Samuel SIDEBOTTOM. Born 1790 in Derbyshire.
Died 1850 at Staylybridge, Cheshire.
Married 3-1-1822 to Martha Holmes at Mottram in Longdendale, Cheshire.
Samuel had a close relationship with his brother William. They both married Holmes’ girls who lived at Arnfield. We find both families living there up until about 1825 when they moved a little further north to Higher Bank (a farming area about 2.5km north of Tintwistle, just above the Ogden Brook. Baptism records mention three places in the area, Higher Bank, Lower Bank & Middle Bank).
2)Mary SIDEBOTTOM. Born 1792.
3)William SIDEBOTTOM. Born 1796 at Tintwistle, Cheshire.
Died 1843 in Sydney, NSW.
Married 26-5-1817 to Sarah Holmes at Mottram in Longdendale, Cheshire.
See below for more information about William.
4)Isaac SIDEBOTTOM. Born 26-5-1798 at Tintwistle, Cheshire.
Died 1838 most likely in Tintwistle.
Married 15-2-1825 to Hannah Kirk at Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, England.
Issac has various trades in his life including carrier, carter and cotton spinner.
5)John SIDEBOTTOM. Born 25-5-1800 at Arnfield, Tintwistle, Cheshire.
Died by 1871.
Married 26-5-1823 to Ellen Falconer at Mottram in Longdendale, Cheshire.
John was a stone mason and lived with his family in Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire.
6)Betty SIDEBOTTOM. Born 31-7-1802 in Tintwistle, Cheshire.
Died 1806 and buried 25-5-1806 at Mottram.
7)Hannah SIDEBOTTOM. Born 2-9-1804 in Tintwistle, Cheshire.
Died 1834 and buried 19-10-1834 in Mottram.
8)Abraham SIDEBOTTOM. Born 1806 in Tintwistle, Cheshire.
Died 1877 in Wallsend near Newcastle, NSW.
Married 1840 to Catharine Conner in NSW.
Abraham was the only child of William & Mary’s not baptized at Charlesworth Independent. He was baptized at the Tintwistle Independent on 21-11-1806. Like his brother William, Abraham was convicted of uttering forged bank notes and transported to NSW for life. In NSW he worked as a stonemason alongside William and there are numerous records of their work in the Gosford area.
9)Jane SIDEBOTTOM. Born 15-10-1811 in Tintwistle, Cheshire.
Died 1851 at Tintwistle, Cheshire.
Married 1848 to James Hollingworth at Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire.
James & Jane had only one child, Ellen Hollingworth, born in 1851 in Tintwistle. It appears she never married as she died in 1883 still a spinster.
On 16th November 1803, a William Sidebottom, stonemason, made an agreement with Thomas Cardwell for building a school house at Wedensaugh [Green] in Hollingworth; William Sidebottom made his mark and agreed to have it finished by 13th May 1804 or pay a penalty of £5.
There is no obvious burial record for either William or Mary.
My assumption is that because they were non-conformists they were buried in one of the Independent chapel graveyards in the area. None of these records have survived to be searched.
However it is clear William disappears from the Tintwistle Land Tax records after 1927, so it is likely he died around 1828.
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William Sidebottom was born on the 9th June 1796 most likely in Arnfield near Tintwistle. He was christened at St. Mary’s Independent in Charlesworth, Derbyshire.
The earliest records we have for him claim he was a wheelwright & shipwright, and been one for six years when arriving in NSW.
He lived in the hamlet of Arnfield near Tintwistle. By 1827 we find him living slightly further north at Higher Bank (a farming area about 2.5km north of Tintwistle, just above the Ogden Brook. Baptism records mention three places in the area, Higher Bank, Lower Bank & Middle Bank).
William was one of nine children born to William & Mary Sidebottom (nee Hegginbottom).
William Sidebottom married Sarah Holmes on 26-5-1817 at the parish church in Mottram in Longdendale, Cheshire. On the Parish Register for their marriage, both signed with a cross.
Sarah was born c1794 in New Mills, Yorkshire. By 1817 she is living in Arnfield with a number of her brothers & sisters.
There is record they had 5 children:
1)Thomas SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 23-3-1818 at Tintwistle, Cheshire.
*Died 6-9-1894 at Spring Gully, Victoria, Australia.
*Married 27-2-1842 to Mary Bowden in Ashton-under-Lynne, Lancashire.
2)Mary Ann SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 7-7-1821 at Tintwistle, Cheshire.
*Died 1898 at Ukiah, California, USA.
*Married 19-8-1849 to Joseph Cooper at Stayley, Cheshire.
Issue:
a)Cullen J Cooper. b.c1858-Milo, Illinois, USA.
b)Robert P Cooper. b.Nov. 1859-Milo, Illinois, USA.
c)Ruth Cooper. b.c1866-Milo, Illinois, USA.
Mary & Joseph immigrated to the USA aboard the ‘Kossuth’ arriving in New York on 5-5-1851. They settled in Milo, Illinois where Joseph became a farmer. Joseph kept in regular contact with his brothers & sister back in Cheshire.
3)Hannah SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 2-7-1823 at Tintwistle, Cheshire.
*Died 1851 in Hollingworth, aged 27. Buried 24-4-1851 in Tintwistle.
4)Jane SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 20-8-1825 at Arnfield near Tintwistle, Cheshire.
*Died 1855 in Hollingworth, aged 29. Buried 25-4-1855 in Tintwistle.
5)Ralph SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 18-12-1827 at Higher Bank near Tintwistle, Cheshire.
*Died 1st Qtr of 1887 in Hollingworth, aged 60.
*Married 3rd Qtr of 1865 to Emmaline Naylor in Hollingworth.
Issue:
a)Sarah Martha SIDEBOTTOM. b.1867 in Hollingworth.
Ralph was a labourer at the Calico Print Works.
Ralph appears in the 1861 census living with Sarah Hill, former wife of Vincent Hill. There is no record they ever married. Sarah had two daughters: Martha H. Hill (1848) & Amelia Hill (1851). Vincent Hill had moved to Melbourne in 1852 with Thomas Sidebottom and probably died there.
William SIDEBOTTOM was caught uttering forged bank notes in Ashton-under-Lynne on the 23rd December 1829. He appeared at the Lancaster Assizes on the 6th March 1830. The Wheeler’s Manchester Chronicle reported on Saturday 13th March:
William Sidebottom, aged 30, was charged with having uttered several forged Bank of England notes, in the town of Ashton-under-Lyne, knowing the same to be forged - Mr COURTENAY (with whom was Mr HERBERT) stated the case to the Jury. On the 23rd of December the prisoner, who is a married man, went into the shop of Mr Thomas Molineux, and tendered in payment for a pair of shoes a £5 Bank of England note. Molineux's wife took it to the shop of Mrs Stopford, where change for it was procured. The change was taken back to the shop, and was given to the prisoner. Mr Robinson, a member of the Society of Friends, received it in payment from Mrs Stopford, and marked it with his name written in Byrom's short-hand characters. He took it to the bank, where it was refused. On the same day, about two hours afterwards, the prisoner went into the shop of Mr John Barnard, tailor, of Ashton, and asked for a pair of trowsers, for which he offered a £5 Bank of England note in payment. The prisoner took away the change and the trowsers. The note which he had received from the prisoner, Barnard gave in change for a £20 note to Miss Howard. George Howard, her brother, wrote on the £5 note the word "Balm" and the initials of his name "G.H." - Additional evidence was adduced against the prisoner, from which it appeared that he had uttered another £5 note at Stayley Bridge, which was also proved to be forged. - He was taken into custody by Cheetham, the constable of Stayley Bridge, who found in his possession a forged £5 Bank of England note and three-pence in copper. He stated that he had received the note from a person near Manchester to whom he had sold two beasts. - Mr J Freeman, of the Bank of England, proved the notes to be forged - On behalf of the prisoner several witnesses were called, who deposed to his character. - His Lordship having summed-up the case, the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty - Sentence of Death was recorded against him
William’s sentence was commuted to transportation for life, an effective death sentence as far as his dependents are concerned.
A petition was signed by 21 inhabitants of Hollingworth on behalf of William and presented at the Lancaster Lent Assizes on the 20th April 1830.
“To the King's most excellent Majesty:
The petition of the undersigned inhabitants of Hollingworth in the County of Chester and it's vicinity on behalf of William Sidebottom late of Hollingworth aforesaid but now a prisoner in Lancaster Castle under sentence of transportation.
Humbly sheweth that at the last Lancaster Assizes the Said William Sidebottom was tried on a charge of uttering forged Bank of England Notes, and found guilty; and sentenced to be transported for Life.
That the said William Sidebottom is known to your petitioners. That previous to the offence for which he is now under sentence of transportation he had neither been convicted nor charged with any offence of a criminal nature.
That he is about 33 years of age; and has a wife and five young children wholly dependent upon him for their support.
Your petitioners therefore moved by feelings of compassion for the family of the said William Sidebottom most humbly pray that your Majesty will take this case into your merciful consideration and will, so far mitigate his punishment as the nature of his offence will permit.
And your petitioners will ever pray &c.”
Complete list of names;
John Turner (Churchwarden), Geo. Hafield, John Wood, John Dalton, William Hyde, Robert Ridgeway, Ralph Sidebottom, John Lee, William Bradley, William Hill, M. Jones, David Taylor, Thomas Dalton, John Atherton, John Hollingworth, John Harrison, John Roebuck (Constable) James Hedman, John Buckley Wood (Constable), John Hyde, John Railson.
The petition had no effect. He was sent from Lancaster Castle to the ‘Cumberland’ hulk on the 28th May 1830 where he was described as being of “peaceable disposition”. He boarded the ‘Florentia’(II) on the 4th August, and travelling via Ireland (departing there on the 16th) was transported to NSW as a convict aboard the ‘Florentia’ (2) arriving on the 15th December 1830.
William’s convict indent states that he was married with 5 young children. That he was able to read and write and that he had worked as a wheelwright & millwright for 6 years.
He is described as being 5ft, 5 1/2 inches tall, of ruddy, freckled and pock-pitted complexion. He had brown hair and hazel eyes.
What happened to Sarah?
By 1841 we find Sarah living in Hollingworth as a widow. She seems to disown William, and is known not to have written to him for at least seven years. She does however have another two children (father not recorded). There is no indication she married the father of these children.
6)Selina SIDEBOTTOM. *Born c1835. Christened 26-4-1835 at Mottram in Longdendale, Cheshire.
*Died 4th Qtr of 1890 in Hollingworth, aged 59.
*Never Married.
Issue:
a)Clara SIDEBOTTOM. b.c1869 in Hollingworth.
Selina worked as a housekeeper and lived at Wedensough Green, Hollingworth with her mother.
7)Lavinia SIDEBOTTOM. *Born c1837. Christened 30-4-1837 at Mottram in Longdendale, Cheshire.
*Died 3rd Qtr of 1912 in Hollingworth, aged 72.
*Never Married.
Lavinia worked as a labourer at the Print Works and lived at Wedensough Green, Hollingworth with her mother.
Sarah and the children appear in all census records from 1841to 1871 living in the town of Hollingworth, Cheshire. They lived at Wedensough Green in Hollingworth.
Sarah Sidebottom died in Hollingworth on the 18th November 1872, aged 78.
What happened to William in Australia?
He was first seconded to Frederick A. Hely of Brisbane Water, NSW.
Although his convict records state he was a wheelwright & shipwright (6 years), William worked in NSW as a stonemason. He most likely learnt this trade from his father, whom we believe to be a stonemason also.
Joining him in this work was Abraham Sidebottom, his brother.
Abraham was also a convict who was sent to NSW in 1832 aboard the ‘Isabella’. Abraham worked with his brother in the Newcastle area and raised a family. He married Catharine (Caroline) Conner in 1840 at the Church of England in Brisbane Water (NSW). They had 11 children: Thomas William (1840-1882), Samuel (1842-1915), Henry (1844-1912), Reuben (1846), Isaac (1850-1930), Jane/Johanna (1851-1936), Moses (1853-1939), Winifred (1858-1941), Mary (1858-1901), John (1861-1861) & Reuben (1861-1927). Abraham died in 1877 at Wallsend near Newcastle.
William Sidebottom applied for a Ticket of Leave in September 1838 and was granted it on the 18th February 1839. He remained in the Brisbane Water area and worked for himself as a mason. His conduct was described as “Extremely Good”.
During this time William received incorrect news from friends that his wife had died.
In light of this Rev. Edward Rogers, Church of England minister, wrote to the Colonial Secretary on 14-12-1840, applying for permission to publish the marriage banns at Brisbane Water for William to marry a former convict, Sarah Jones. There was some difficulty with this, as it could not be proven that William was a widower, as he believed he was. Edward Rogers wrote a reference on the 15-1-1840, in support of William’s application:
"Sidebottom has on his oath before me as a surrogate declared that his wife is dead - he has not heard from her for nearly seven years, now has been told by friends who have come out since he did, that she fell a victim to the Colora Nimbus (probably meant to be Cholera Morbus). He has no letter to testify this because the news was brought by the friends themselves. He would get them to state this on oath before a magistrate but does not know where they are, which I believe is often the case in this colony. I have known Sidebottom for three years and can certify highly in his honor. The above statement I (sincerely) believe to be correct.
The Governor's. consent has been given for Sarah Jones to marry Wm. Chaffey, but they have since separated by consent and are not married. M. Holden has sent me his consent to her marriage with Sidebottom but not supposing it was to be forwarded to Sydney, he has done so in a private note which I cannot now enclose. This however, I hope will make no difference, as I will keep the note.
15 Jan 1840, Edward ROGERS, Clergyman.”
Despite this his application was disallowed on the 1-2-1841 on the grounds that “it is not customary to take the unsubstantiated statement, even on oath, of prisoners in such cases.”
The 1841 census return for Brisbane Water paints a lonely picture of William. The other households listed on the page contain groups of people, but William is living alone as a single man. William would have been involved in the construction of the Parsonage at Brisbane Water. The final accounts for the building show the total payment of £405/5/6 (total cost was £656).
Eventually however William was granted permission to marry (20-1-1842) and did so on the 31-1-1842 in the district. They had a son, William, born on 26-11-1842 at Gosford, NSW. This William became a teamster running bullock teams carting cedar in Northern NSW. He married Anne Wilkes in November 1877.
Later that year William requested the recommendation of Alfred Holden (police Magistrate at Gosford) for a conditional pardon. On the 24th September 1842, Holden wrote that he and Rev. Rogers believed that William Sidebottom was deserving of an Absolute Pardon (free), rather than the conditional pardon that he sought. He was granted a Conditional Pardon on the 1st October 1842.
Sadly though William didn’t live very long to enjoy his freedom. At the age of 46 he died in the General Hospital in Sydney on the 2nd March 1843. His estate included cattle, a house, furniture and money.
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Thomas SIDEBOTTOM was born on the 23-3-1818 in Tintwistle, Cheshire. He was the first child born to William & Sarah Sidebottom (nee Holmes) of the village of Hollingworth in Cheshire, England.
Thomas married Mary Bowden on 27-2-1842 at St. Michael’s Parish Church (Church of England) in Ashton-under-Lynne, Lancashire. Both claimed on their marriage certificate that they were of that parish and were living in Ashton. Thomas was a ‘crofter’
Mary Bowden was born in 1824 in Stockport, Cheshire and christened on the 18th April. Her father was John Bowden. He was a cotton spinner. Her mother was Sarah Lunney. She was born c1802 in Ireland. John does appear in a Glossop commercial directory from 1835. He is listed as a cotton spinner from Holehouse. Holehouse is a hamlet in Derbyshire. It is located 2 miles west of Glossop, close to Charlesworth.
The family appear in the 1851 census living in Hollingworth, Cheshire. Thomas is a 33-year-old ‘Sand Grinder’. Mary is a 27-year-old ‘Winder’. Martha is aged 3 and Sarah aged 2.
Thomas & Mary had at least three children before moving to Australia. Mary and the children arrived in Melbourne in June of 1855 aboard the ‘Marco Polo’. Thomas had arrived about 3 years earlier in October 1852 aboard the ‘Ellen’. He was travelling with Vincent Hill, a neighbour of his from Hollingworth. Both recorded their occupations as ‘publican’s. Obviously an error.
We know Thomas & Mary had nine children. Their first child William died young before the Sidebottom’s came out to Victoria:
1)William SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 28-5-1846 in Hollingworth. Baptised the day after in Tintwistle.
*Died pre-1851 probably in Hollingworth.
2)Martha SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 20-11-1847 in Hollingworth, Cheshire.
*Died 25-11-1911 in Bendigo.
*Married 1868 to William Robinson in Bendigo.
Issue: see SIDEBOTTOM pedigree.
3)Sarah SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 18-4-1849 in Hollingworth, Cheshire.
*Died 20-11-1915 in Bendigo.
*Married 1st 10-3-1864 to George Marchment in Bendigo. George was killed in a mine accident on 21-10-1884 at Sebastian.
*Married 2nd 1885 to Frederick Adams.
Issue: see SIDEBOTTOM pedigree.
4)Hannah SIDEBOTTOM. *Born c1852 in Cheshire.
*Died 1916 in Kyneton.
*Married 1st 12-2-1872 to William Ashcroft.
Issue: see SIDEBOTTOM pedigree.
*Married 2nd in the 1890’s to Antonio Pacholli.
Issue: see SIDEBOTTOM pedigree.
5)Emma SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 1856 in Bendigo.
*Died 16-6-1882 in Bendigo.
*Married 1877 to Frederick Adams.
6)Mary SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 1858 at Sandhurst.
*Married John Coyle in 1881.
Issue: see SIDEBOTTOM pedigree.
7)Thomas Henry SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 13-5-1861 at Sandhurst.
*Died 24-3-1943 at Fairfield.
*Married 1-1-1889 to Rose Parker.
Issue: see SIDEBOTTOM pedigree.
8)Jane Maria SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 16-10-1863 at Spring Gully.
*Died 1918 in Bendigo.
*Married 5-7-1881 to George HIBBERD in Bendigo.
Issue: see HIBBERD.
There is a hospital record for Jane HIBBERD from the Bendigo Hospital. She was 21 at the time and was living at Diamond Hill, Bendigo. She was admitted on the 8-1-1884 suffering from ‘Psoriasis’. She was discharged on 2-2-1884.
9)John William SIDEBOTTOM. *Born 5-1-1867 at Sandhurst.
*Died 9-12-1936.
*Married 1889 to Mary Jane Monti.
Issue: see SIDEBOTTOM pedigree.
From the Bendigo Advertiser 17th May 1858:
‘Puddling Machine for Sale:
For Sale a Machine, situated in Spring Gully, with two staunch Horses, cart and all the tools necessary for working the same. A quarter acreof this claim is leased. Well known to be one of the richest parts of Spring Gully. Apply Thomas Sidebottom. Spring Gully.’
Thomas (senior) died on 6-6-1894 at Spring Gully. He was admitted to the Bendigo Hospital on the 28th August suffering from morbus cordis and died nine days later.
Mary (senior) died on 25-10-1891 in Bendigo.
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Notes about the DNA link between William Sidebottom and the Langford-Sidebottoms from Victoria, Australia.
According to the DNA match, two descendants share an 8cM match across 1 segment.
I did some research.
You cannot deny the DNA match, although some DNA experts state that with such a low cM match, this could simply be attributed to ‘pedigree collapse’, but when you look at the range of relationship possibilities with that level of match, it is impossible to predict where the match is.
There are a number of uploaded family trees on various sites that claim that the William Sidebottom who married Mary Hegginbotham on 25th Sept 1787 is the same William Sidebottom who was baptised on 5th March 1775 at Mottram-in-Longdendale, a son of William & Mary Sidebottom (nee Butterworth) from Hollingworth.
In my opinion, and through extensive research, I do not believe this is possible.
The first thing to consider is that if these two William Sidebottoms are the same person, then he would have married Mary Hegginbotham at age 12.
This is extremely unlikely.
The vast majority of marriages in these Glossop/Mottram parishes take place when the groom is about 22 years of age. Clearly it was normal for gentlemen to reach the legal age of marriage (21), and then marry soon after.
There are cases of minors being married in these records, but in all cases this is written on the marriage register.
I fail to see that a 12 year old boy could appear before the vicar to be married and the vicar not noticing that he was in fact only 12 and not able to be married without parental consent and it appearing in the register.
Secondly it should be noted that the officiating vicar in this case was Ralph Kinder, who was the vicar of Mottram, performing some marriages around that time in the parish of Glossop.
As Ralph Kinder was the vicar of Mottram, he would have known the Sidebottom family from Hollingworth, including their son who was born in 1775. It is not a credible notion that he would not have recognised him if he sneakily turned up in Glossop to be married at age 12.
But also we know that the William Sidebottom who married Mary Hegginbotham was most likely from Derbyshire, and were non-conformists, whereas William & Mary nee Butterworth were Church of England from Hollingworth.
Finally it is very likely that the William Sidebottom who was baptised on 5th March 1775 is the same William Sidebottom who was buried on 26th Oct 1798 at Mottram, a resident of Hollingworth. There are no other William Sidebottoms in Hollingworth who fit this burial.
I can see how some would like to claim the DNA link to Mary Butterworth.
The claim in the DNA match is that they are 5th cousins, which is one possible match for a relationship match of 8cM.
But the likely number of possible relationships with an 8cM match is 32, and that only goes up to 8th cousins.
There is a 63% likelihood that the two who match DNA are 5th cousins. But there is also a 63% likelihood that they are 6th cousins, 7th cousins or 8th cousins.
And there is even a possibility (though extremely small) that their common ancestor is 20 generations back, back to the 1500's.
It is pretty obvious to me that my William Sidebottom was not born in 1775 in Mottram.
The data we have on him and his life does not fit with this.
My William Sidebottom was most likely born c1765 in Charlesworth, Derbyshire.
The records for this church in this period no longer exist, so we will never know who his parents were and where they descended prior to this period.
It is not wise to claim a descendant just because it’s there, when you cannot find the real one.
The other possible link is the Holms line from Yorkshire.
According to the published tree, William 1742's mother was a Jane Holms, born c1710 in Wakefield, Yorkshire.
My 4x Great Grandmother was Sarah Holmes from Kirkburton, Yorkshire.
I have traced this line of Holmes back to the early 1700's in Kirkburton.
It is possible also that the DNA match is not through the Sidebottom line, but through the Holmes line.