BASSPEPPER website

Our Waine family originated in Marple in Cheshire. Edward Waine was born around 1803 in Marple. He married Elizabeth Linney, born 1801 in Marple.

They had eight children George, Charles, John, Mary, William, Samuel, Rhoda and Edwin.

George, Charles, John and Edwin all died quite young (Edwin was only 17).

Pictured right is Samuel Waine born 27 August 1837 with his wife Margaret.

photo © N Waine

From around the 16th century a small scale agricultural and woollen industry had developed around Mellor.

Then Samuel Oldknow arrived in the 1790s building a cotton mill at Mellor, housing and facilities for the workers, mines, lime kilns and roads. He planted forests and promoted the building of the Peak Forest canals which brought more trade to the area.

The area prospered into the 19th century as a major cotton manufacturer.

Detail from Marple website

In the 1830s Hollins mill was built in the small agricultural village of Marple. For the next 100 years the new mill dominated the skyline and became the largest employer in Marple. The Carver family built churches, and recreational facilities in Marple having an impact on the town long after the mill was demolished and the family left.

(see the Marple website for photos and detailed story of Marple Mill - under community news Dec 2000)

Silk Mill Museum, Macclesfield photo © N Waine

photo © N Waine

In 1841 Edward Waine was a weaver in the 1841 Census, as was his son George.

In 1851 Edward and George were boatmen. Son Charles was a cotton spinner. Other children Mary, William and Samuel were all weavers

From 1861 Edward was a cotton twister until his death in 1877. His daughter Rhoda was a cotton winder.

The family would lived for many years at Chapel Houses, Marple. In 1901 Rhoda, still unmarried was living at Waterside springbank, 60 years old, and still winding cotton for a living.

William and Samuel moved away, and the other sons died young (possibly due to illnesses caused by working in the mills)

See details on the BBC site about conditions in the mills and resulting illnesses.

Silkman Person engaged in the manufacture and or sale of silk
Silk Drawer Drew silk from silk waste for spinning   
Silk Dresser Prepared the silk for weaving
Silk Engine Turner Worked on automatic silk weaving looms
Silk Mercer Silk merchant
Silk Piecer Joined the broken threads in the silk spinning mills
Silk Staff Man Probably a worker more on a permanant rather than itinerary position.
Silk Steward Manager of a silk weaving/spinning/winding and cleaning room
Silk Thrower Employed in the silk weaving industry, twisting silk into yarn
Silk Twister Silk Spinner (from the raw)
Silk Winder Wound the silk from the silkworm cocoons onto bobbins
Silker Bound the ends of the silk fabric to prevent fraying

From Hall Geneology website - old occupations

Old postcard showing silk throwing, cleaning and winding