compiled by Mrs. Doris (Riding) Kelley, daughter of Jane (Snailham) Riding mentioned below

Revised as per Doris Kelley September 5th, 2001

He was married, April 20th, 1878,  to HANNAH RICHARDSON HOLMES, who is believed to have been  a resident of Preston, Lancashire. She was born,  November 15, 1855, and died August 16th, 1927. They had a infant daughter HANNAH, (a twin born Dec 8th, 1885, who died in 1887) and are buried in Blackburn cemetary. I have a photograph of the tombstone.

JOHN and HANNAH lived in Blackburn, and resided at 43 Brookland Terrace, Little Harwood, a suburb of Blackburn in the early 1900's. He was a engineer.

They had 10 children, Hannah, Jane's twin, died at 2 and Thomas Jr (Tom) {1898 to 1918} was killed in World War I, only a few weeks after arriving in France. He was 20. He was in the same regiment as his older brother William.

The remaining 8 married, beginning with the oldest, Mary (Polly) {1879 to 1950} Margaret {1881 to 1952} Susannah (Susie){1883 to about 1955} Jane (my mother) {1885 to 1934} Rose {1888 to 1971} Elizabeth (Lily) {1890 to 1962} Florence (Florrie or Flo){1891 to 1954} John William {1893 to 1974}

Jane Snailham born 1885 {died 1934}, married Pearson Riding on August 10th, 1907. They and their 3 children, Thomas born {1908 to 1997}, Doris (me) born 1912, and Edna {1918 to 1999} emigrated to the United States in 1923 and settled in Rhode Island.

Since the dates given by Scott Snailham of Halifax Nova Scotia Canada indicate that his grandfather, William Snailham Sr. was still a young man with 3 small children, when he died in 1941, it would seem that is (William Sr's) father might be a contemporary of my grandfather, JOHN THOMAS SNAILHAM (a younger brother???), and if so, and uncle to my mother, Jane (SNAILHAM) RIDING. A birth, marriage, or death certificate for William Snailham, Sr. would have the names of his parents and other imformation

The reference to the Star of David on the gravestone raises a question as to whether or not William Sr's wife Viola Adams was a Jewess. There is nothing in our family records to indicate anything other than Church of England, with my mother's marriage taking place at St. Michael's church, and possibly that of some of the others sisters also. 

Thanks again for Mrs. Kelley's contribution to my history page, feel free to drop me a e-mail if you would like to contact her directly..