Shep's Place Family Tree

In 1851 Thomas, aged 23, was a coal miner in Ecclesfield. He had married Sarah 21 years; and they had a baby girl named Elizabeth who was one year old. Elizabeth had been born in Newcastle upon Tyne, most likely at the home of her maternal grandmother.

The Briggs' address in the 1861 census report is 21 High Green ‎[Ostensibly High Green is the name of the road where their house is.]‎ Thomas, a coal miner, is 33 years and Sarah is 31. They now have five children: Elizabeth 11, Sarah Ann nine, Henry five, Ellen three and Thomas one year old. George H. Smith, an apprentice miner, is living with them.

Brother Joseph and his family are at 24 High Green.

33 High Green is their address in the 1871 census report. Thomas and Sarah's family has grown to seven children at home: Sarah Ann 19, Henry 15 ‎(a railroad clerk)‎, Ellen 13, Thomas Jr. 11, Horace seven, Walter four and Emma two years. Also in the household is Les Brown 40 yrs from Edinburgh who is a miner.

It seems as if their places of birth change about every ten years, although I feel sure that only the names have changed, not the places. They are always in the civil parish of Ecclesfield in Yorkshire. Sometimes High Green or High Green-Mortomley are mentioned. It would seem that High Green could be a village or a road. In one it gives "village of Hamlet." All of these places are close to Sheffield; in fact they may now be suburbs of Sheffield.

Brother Joseph Briggs' family is at 34 High Green.

In the 1881 census of Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, Thomas was 53 years old and a coal miner, while Sarah 51 years had four children at home: Thomas 21, coal miner; Horace 17; Walter 14, draper unemployed; and Emma, twelve years. Everyone but Sarah had been born in Ecclesfield. Sarah was born in Newcastle.

Their address was 57 Briggs Houses which was next door to that of Joseph Briggs 51 years and his wife Mary 48 and their five children. Joseph was also a coal miner.