MR Franklin W. Smith writes from the USA to ask about his Tottington forbears. His name, Smith, poses a bit of a problem because it is so common. But his grandad's first name was Alcimus, which is uncommon, so here goes.

And If you can help Mr Smith, 71, trace his family back it will please him no end.

Mr Smith seeks information or living relatives of his grandfather, Alcimus Smith, who died in 1897. He was born in Tottington and he married in Bolton.

Alcimus's son Robert Smith went to America in 1909 at the age of 22 from Bolton and found employment in the New England cotton mills.

But many of the mills moved to the southern states, and this caused unemployment in New England.

Robert found other work and settled in Onset, Massachusetts, later marrying a local girl in 1915.

She was of English stock: her parents were from Derby and Nottingham respectively. After raising three daughters and two sons, Robert died at 77 in 1964.

He loved England and always spoke of it in glowing terms, although he returned here only once.

Mr Franklin Smith recalls that his father often spoke of his mother Hannah (nee Warburton) with great affection. But his father, who died when he was nine, was not often mentioned.

But this is often the way. By the time people get interested in their forebears, it is often too late because those who knew them have passed on. In 1987, curiosity impelled Franklin Smith to to come over here for a look at the country of his ancestors. He says he loved every moment of his travels.

While in England, he visited the Lancashire Record Office in Preston, searching for news of his grandfather Alcimus.

Eventually he dug out his baptismal record dated September 23, 1847. His mother, Elizabeth, was recorded as Lissy Smith living in Tottington. No father's name was recorded.

In July 1998, Mr Smith bought a computer and began to surf the web, still seeking information on his grandfather, Alcimus.

One person he contacted through a chat line suggested he contact the Bury Times, which is how this article originated.

Mr Smith wrote to the BT and also sent us a Mormon pedigree chart. It lists mostly Smiths, Warburtons and Tatlows, going back into the 1700s.

The local branch of the Smith family lived in Tottington up to about 1850 and later in Bolton. Alcimus Smith is shown in the 1861 census at age 13 working as a labourer in a calico print works.

His father, John Smith, was a farm worker. In 1871 the family is shown as living at Cann Row, Tottington. Ten years later, John Smith's daughter Sarah was living at 271 Tottington Road and married to blacksmith James Rothwell. She had a son, Squire Rothwell, nine, and two older children, Agnes Smith and William Smith.

The family trees are too complex to reproduce in full, but if you can help in this search, ring Mike Badham on 764 9421 and ask for a copy.

Mr Franklin W. Smith would be glad of any information on his family tree. He is specially interested in: Alcimus Smith (b. 2.7.1847, d. 15.8.1897); Hannah Warburton (b. around 1850. d. 26.2.11); Elizabeth Smith (b. 15.2.1826, mother), Betty Smith (b. about 1842 sister); William Smith (b. about 1868, cousin); Mary Ann Smith (b. about 1832, aunt); Ann Smith (b. about 1836, aunt); John Smith (b. about 1833, uncle); Henry Smith (b. about 1838, uncle); Sarah Smith (b. about 1841, aunt); John Smith (b. 1801, grandfather); Alice Whalley (b. 1799, grandmother); William Smith (b. 1752, g/grandfather).

You can contact Mr Franklin W. Smith at: PO Box 60, Onset, MA 02558, USA.

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