Mary Sigley (1849-1890)

Mary Sigley (1849-1890) is my 2nd great grandmother.

Mary was born on 15 November 1849 to Joseph and Martha (Mellor) Sigley, they had seven children and Mary was their oldest daughter.

1851
Mary was with her grandmother at Misty Hill End, Heathylee, Staffordshire. Her father is listed in the same place, her mother was visiting her sister in Sutton, Cheshire.

• Sarah Sigley – age 68, farmer of 10 acres, born in Leeekfrith, Staffordshire (widow)
• Joseph Sigley – age 32, collier & ag lab, born in Leeekfrith, Staffordshire (married)
• Abraham Sigley – age 27, ag lab, born in Leeekfrith, Staffordshire
• Susannah Mellor – age 10, nurse girl, born in Leeekfrith, Staffordshire (granddaughter)
• Mary Sigley – age 1, born in Leeekfrith, Staffordshire (granddaughter)

Birth of sister Sarah Sigley (1851-1891)

1853

Birth of brother Thomas Sigley (1853-1941)

1855

Birth of sister Elizabeth Sigley (1855-????)

1859

Birth of sister Susannah Sigley (1859-????)

1861
Mary’s grandmother Sarah Sigley died in 1860, the 1861 census shows that the family remained in the same house, Misty Hill End.

• Joseph Sigley – age 42, farmer and collier, born in Heathylee, Staffordshire
• Martha Sigley – age 39, button maker, born in Heathylee, Staffordshire
• Joseph Sigley – age 12, collier, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Mary Sigley – age 11, silk button maker, born in Heathylee, Staffordshire
• Sarah Sigley – age 9, born in Heathylee, Staffordshire
• Thomas Sigley – age 8, born in Heathylee, Staffordshire
• Elizabeth Sigley – age 6, born in Heathylee, Staffordshire
• Susannah Sigley – age 2, born in Heathylee, Staffordshire

Birth of brother James Sigley (1862-????)

1871

Mary had left home and was now working for the Brown family at Pheasants Clough, Leekfrith.

• Thomas Brown – age 37, farmer, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Mary Brown – age 36, born in Heaton, Staffordshire
• Sarah E Brown – age 11, scholar, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Alice M Brown – age 10, scholar, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• John Brown – age 8, scholar, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• William Brown – age 1, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Thomas Brown – age 3, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Mary Sigley – age 21, general servant, born in Heathylee, Staffordshire
• Ralph Robinson – age 23, farm labourer, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire

1877

Mary married Isaac Wain on 5 June 1877 in Brinswick Chapel, Leek.

The marriage registration states:

Isaac Wain, age 27, widower, shoemaker, residing in Mount Pleasant Cottage, Leekfrith.

Father – Isaac Wain (farmer)

Mary Sigley, age 27, spinster, domestic servant, residing in Heathylee.
Father – Joseph Sigley (farmer)

Witnesses: Elijah Carter and Mary Carter (the relationship to the couple is not known)

Birth of son William Wain (1877-1963)

1880

Birth of son Matthew Wain (1880-1973)

1881
The family were living at Rose Cottage, Leekfrith, Staffordshire.

• Isaac Wain – age 31, shoemaker and farmer of 7 acres
• Mary Wain – age 31, born in Alstonefield, Staffordshire
• William Wain – age 3, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Matthew Wain – age 1, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire

1883

Birth of son Richard Wain (1883-1957)

1885
Death of father Joseph Sigley (1819-1885)

1886

Birth of son Isaac Wain (1886-1917)

1890

Birth of son John Wain (1890-1890)

Death of son John Wain - < 1

Mary died aged 40 on 11 October 1890 at home, Upper Haddon, Leekfrith, Staffordshire. The informant of her death was Isaac, her husband and the cause of death is given as phthisis. She was buried in Flash Church, Staffordshire on 14 October 1890.

Of interest are the dates on the above cards, which show that John Wain (Mary's son) died on 9 October 1890 and was buried on 11 October, which is the date that Mary died. She was buried 3 days later in the same place.

The story goes that the family had gone to the church for John's funeral and when they returned, Mary was found dead in the chair. Whether this is true or not cannot be confirmed, suffice to say that whatever happened it was a difficult time for the family.