Mary SYKES ¹

  General Notes:

[Armitage.FTW]

Mary Sykes Armitage was forcred to work in a cotton factory at a very
early age and did not attend school. An "X" is shown on her marriage
certificate (A copy is in the possession of Nora Pierce). Mary S.
Armitage learned to read and write along with her children after they
came to America. She read every spare minute in her later years and
insisted on her children getting the greatest amount of education
possible. As a young lady she had a chance to leave the confining
work in the factory and became a bar-maid in a tavern. Joseph met her
and married her much against the wishes of his father, Thomas
Armitage. He refused to recognize the marriage so Mary would not name
her first son after him. (It was customary in England for their first
son to be named for the paternal grandfather). Mary & Joseph named
their first born John, after Mary's father John Sykes. "Poor little
Johnny died shortly after birth", stated Mary. Finally Mary and her
father-in-law became friends so she named her 4th son after him. "Old
Tommy came across" were her words.
Son William was named for his great-grandfather William Winterbottom.
Son Albert was named after the consort of Queen Victoria who was
reigning at the time of their departure from England.
Son Robert Shelley was named after the Poet Robert Shelley, who was a
friend of father Joseph. Poet Shelley helped Joseph get ready to
leave England since permission had to be obtained from the authorities
and a visa procurred. Poet Robert Shelley 'was not' related to the
family as some seemed to think.
Son Sykes Prince was named after the Prince of Wales who was born the
same year. All children born that year were presented a gold guinea,
coin.
Son Willis Knollys was named after a publisher friend of father
Joseph.
Son Ambrose was also named for a friend left in England.
Son Joseph was named for father. ¹

  Noted events in her life were:

• Alt. Birth, Abt 1810, , , , England. ²

• Alt. Birth, 26 Oct 1809, Heckmondwike, , , England. ¹

• Alt. Death, 8 Feb 1892, Oconomowoc, Waukesha, Wisconsin. ¹

• Census, 1850, Hustiford, Dodge, Wisconsin. ³

• Census, 1860, Hustiford, Dodge, Wisconsin. ⁴

• Census, 1880, Hustisford, Dodge, Wisconsin. ²

Mary married Joseph ARMITAGE, son of Unknown and Hannah WINTERBOTTOM, on 21 Jun 1830. (Joseph ARMITAGE was born on 18 Aug 1811 in Oldham, Lancaster County, York, England,¹ died on 2 May 1892 in Oconomowoc, Waukesha, Wisconsin ¹ and was buried in Lepelle Cemetery, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin ¹.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Alt. Marriage, 21 Jun 1830, Huddersfield, County York, , England.