THE WOMAN WHO GAVE BIRTH TO 23 CHILDREN - ANNIE JACKSON OF SHEFFIELD
Whilst I was posting the article on Charles Thorne I came across a cutting from a newspaper (poss. The Times) dated 8th November 1927 that relates to the death of ANNIE JACKSON of Heavygate Road Sheffield. The cutting refers to an Inquest that was held the previous day
I was rather sceptical of this claim to say the least and so I checked on the UK census's and Free BMD and found the following information
Marriages Sep 1884
Jackson William Henry Sheffield 9c 618 Tennyson Annie Eliza Sheffield 9c 618
1881 Census Record
Name Annie Tennyson
Age 16 Estimated Year of Birth 1865
Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
Occupation Silver Wherhouse Woman(Smith)
Address 65, Edward Street District Sheffield, North Sheffield Parish Sheffield
Administrative County Yorkshire (West Riding) Birth Place Sheffield
Birth County Yorkshire
1891 Census Record
Name Annie Jackson Age 26 Estimated Year of Birth 1865
Relationship to Head of Household Wife Occupation Address 1, St Stephens Road
District Sheffield, North Sheffield Parish Sheffield Administrative County
Yorkshire (West Riding) Birth Place Sheffield Birth County Yorkshire
1901
Name Annie E Jackson
Relation to Head of Family Wife
Age Last Birthday 36 Sex Female Profession or Occupation
Condition as to Marriage Married
Where Born Yorkshire Sheffield Address 12 Ct 1 H Brightmore St
Civil Parish Sheffield Rural District Town or Village or Hamlet Ecclesiastical
Parish Sheffield St Georges Parliamentary Borough or Division Sheffd Central
County Borough, Municipal Borough or Urban District Sheffield Administrative
County Sheffield Ward of Municipal Borough or Urban District St Georges
1911 Census Record
Name Annie Elexa Jackson
Relationship to Head of Household Wife Condition / Years Married Married / 20
Years
Total Children Born Alive 9
Children Still Living 8
Children Who Have Died 1
Gender F Age 45 Estimated Year of Birth 1866
Employed N Working at Home N
Place of Birth Sheffield Yorkshire Nationality British
Enumerator Information Address 101 Heavygate Road Sheffield Parish Ecclesall
Town Sheffield Type of Building Private House
Number of Rooms 5 Rooms Inhabited Y
Reference RG14PN27739 RG78PN1588 RD509 SD2 ED19 SN55 Administrative County
Yorkshire (West Riding) Registration District Ecclesall Bierlow
Registration Sub District Ecclesall West Central Enumeration District 19
101 Heavygate Road Crookes Sheffield - June 2012
At the time of the 1911 Census ANNIE was 45 years old, and although she must have given birth in her 40's judging by the age of the two youngest Rose and Reginald, it is highly improbable that more followed. The 1911 Census that was completed by her husband WILLIAM, clearly states that they had been married 26 years and had NINE CHILDREN and only ONE of them had died.
And so where this figure of 23 comes from is a bit of a mystery. I can only assume that ANNIE had numerous miscarriages at the early stages of pregnancy and/or she had a series of multiple births out of which only one survived - none of these would have been recorded officially i.e. by way of registration. This assumption may have a grain of truth in it as the 7 children listed as living at 101 Heavygate Road in 1911 range from 23 years old to just 2 years old and are "spaced out". Were the gaps the result of miscarriages?.
Personally I think that newspaper report is misleading in stating that she "had, had 23 children". The statement I believe required clarification by distinguishing between live births and stillborns/miscarriages
ANNIE was buried in Sheffield's City Road Cemetery alongside the son who she lost
Jackson, Annie Eliza Ingles (Wife of William Hy, age 62).
Died at 101 Heavygate Rd; Buried on November 9, 1927 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 12951, Section X of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Jackson, Walter (child, age 3). - Died at 16ct Shepherd
St; Buried on April 18, 1888 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 12951, Section
X of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Her Husband WILLIAM died in 1936 and is buried in the same
grave
Jackson, William Henry (Razor Scale Presser, age 74). Died at 101 Heavygate Rd;
Buried on May 25, 1936 in Consecrated ground;
Grave Number 12951, Section X of City Road Cemetery, Sheffield.
Notes
December 1928 JACKSON Annie E I 62 Ecclesall Bierlow Volume 9c Page 359
Sources
The Times dated 8th November 1927
UK Census
This page was last updated on 26/06/12 08:03