Histories

William Helme is known to have been born the son of Elizabeth Rigby, and was at first known as William Rigby. It is not known that Thomas Helme was definitely his father, but William was later known by the surname of Helme and was acknowledged by Thomas as his natural son in his will.

So far William's baptism and birth certificate have not been traced. A possible birth certificate has been found for a William Rigby but the other details do not match. This could perhaps have been a ploy to cover up his illegitimacy.

Known Addresses Of William Helme

In 1851 he is living with his mother, Elizabeth at Hill Gate, Goosnargh. She is a servant. In 1861 he is living at Trotter Hill, Goosnargh, with his grandparents, Thomas and Mary Rigby. Elizabeth has by now married Thomas and they are living 2 houses away with the rest of their children. In 1870 he married Alice Parkinson and in 1871 he is a shoemaker living with Alice's mother, Jane Lofthouse, the widow of George Parkinson and Thomas Lofthouse, with Jane's children, stepchildren and his and Alice's daughter Jane age 2 months. By 1877 he has lived in Colne, where he was a Toll Bar Keeper, (daughter Elizabeth b. 1873), Whittle le Woods (daughter Mary b. 1876), and at 6 Doffcocker, Halliwell (daughter Alice b. 1877). He then moved to Bleasdale where he lived from around 1879 to 1889. In 1881 census he is living at Bleasdale School.
From 1895-7 he was at 14 New York, Deane, Bolton and from 1898-1905 his address was 166 Chulsey Gate, Chew Moor. During this time he was a teacher of shoemaking and clogging at Lostock Industrial school. On his son Thomas's marriage certificate of 1904 he is described as an insurance agent.
In 1920 he was known to be living at 2 Philip Street, Blackpool where wife Alice died. However as his mother Elizabeth also died at this address in 1913, it is possible that he was living there then. When he made his will in 1922 he was at 536 Edenfield Rd, Norden, and he died at his daughter Gladys's home at 173 North Valley, Colne, in 1930.