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MATTHIAS SCHOFIELD 1878-1946
AND HIS DESCENDANTS
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
Matthias was born at Under Lane, Mossley on
the 22nd August, 1878.
By 1881, the family had moved to 17 Vernon Street, Mossley.
Matthias probably attended St John's Roughtown school in Mossley and on
leaving he went to work in one of the many
cotton mills of the area. He held positions of cotton operative, cotton
piecer and spinner and cotton minder.
The whole of Matthias' working life was spent in the mill.
Matthias married Mary Williams on the 6th October, 1900 at St Chad's Church,
Uppermill in Saddleworth.
After their marriage, they lived in Mossley where Matthias was a member of
the " Mossley Morris Men ".
Mossley Morris Men c.1912 outside the
Stamford Arms, Mossley
Matthias is third from the right on the first row standing
Life was hard for Matthias and Mary. His
wages from the mill were about 18 shillings per week, not enough to pay rent
and feed and clothe a growing family. In order to survive, they were often
forced to pawn their possessions
- pawned on a Monday and taken out the following Saturday when Matthias got
his wages.
Another source of income for Matthias and Mary came from his hobby of pigeon
keeping. He often won prizes of money
in this sport which meant a good feed for the family. When any of the
children were ill, he would kill a couple of birds
to ensure they were at least fed.
 Matthias |
 Mary |
Mary was fond of visiting
her siblings and would walk miles in order to see them. As her children grew
up and married,
she would also spend time visiting them.
Her other pastimes included going to the Salvation Army and Spiritualist
churches.
When she was fifty-seven years old, she received fifty-seven cans of " Heinz
57 " soup, apparently it was a gesture
carried out by the company to people celebrating 57 anniversaries.
Mary at the Wedding of her daughter Louisa in
1939
-with her is daughter Margaret, son-in-law Sam and granddaughter June
Matthias was known to have a temper and would
beat his wife and children. Apparently on one occasion he was arrested
on suspicion of murder, the victim had been beaten to death but Matthias was
not charged because the " prints " of his clogs
did not match those on the victim's head!
Matthias and Mary had seven children:
Ann
1903-1986 and married to Sidney Roberts
Mary Jane 1906-1994 and married
to Sidney Etchells
Sophia 1907-1944 and married to
Philip Spurgeon
Milton 1910-1982 and married to
Kathleen Woolley
Margaret Davison 1914-1998 and married to Samuel Waterhouse(my
direct ancestor)
Louisa 1917-2005 and married to
Arthur Warhurst
Ruby 1921-1991 and married to
Frederick Walsh
CLICK ON A HIGHLIGHTED NAME FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS PERSON
Later on in life, Matthias suffered badly with phlebitis in his legs and
would spend all his time sitting by the fire in his
favourite rocking chair. His children, and grandchildren, would rub his legs
to try and ease the pain.
Matthias died on the 28th January, 1946 at the Lake Hospital in
Ashton-under-Lyne.
Mary died at home on the 6th April, 1947. She had cancer of the thyroid.
 Matthias' Obituary |
 Mary's Obituary |
They are both buried at Mossley Cemetery, Grave number 3668A.