Wigan Album

Very many thanks to the Rev. David Long for researching this on my behalf, taking the picture and posting it on Wigan World.
My interest was fuelled by the article recently featured on 'Richard Speakman Medal Display' a 19-year-old Royal Navy seaman, accidentally killed in 1943, and buried in Wigan Cemetery. He is commemorated in the WW2 Memorial Chapel at St Matthew's Highfield.
My mother had a cousin David Causey, Stoker 2nd Class who was killed on HMS Cassandra protecting the Northern Convoys in the Barents Sea north of Norway 11 December 1944 aged 20. 62 men died that day.
The ship was towed back to Murmansk and eventually back to the UK where it was repaired and brought back into service.
Although his name is on a War Memorial in Southsea and on a tablet now on Christ Church belfry wall Ince, I have no idea if he has a grave somewhere, perhaps Murmansk or was buried at sea!
Returning to the picture of the Grave Stone. The Ince Cemetery Records show that there were five burials in that grave but not that of Richard Causey who was indeed killed by a Turkish Sniper in 1915. Those mentioned in the record are:
Leah Causey 21 years died 1912
Fanny Kindley 80 years died died 1922 (relationship not known?)
Henry Causey 68 years died 1929
May Causey 33 years died 1930 along with still born child.
David Causey 72 years 1972
May and David where the parents of David Causey and I think that he was their only living child.
On my mothers side, David Causey Snr was my Grandmother Fanny Causey's brother, Leah Causey was her sister and Henry Causey (married to Sarah Elizabeth) their father and my Great Grandfather.
Apart from Richard, Leah, David + wife May and Fanny Kindley (relationship unknown) there were other siblings, Noah, Elizabeth Ann (Lizzie Anne), Henry (Harry) and Frankton the youngest.
I will of course visit the grave and pay my respects, any further information on David Causey Stoker 2nd Class would be much appreciated.

From the report of the incident I read online (from Dudley John Mills, a survivor - http://www.holywellhousepublishing.co.uk/Dudley_J_Mills.html)
the torpedo struck and tore away the bows of the Cassandra. The stokers' mess was in the bows - so it's likely he was killed or drowned when it was hit. The account also states that any recovered bodies were buried at sea, including any recovered when she was in dock for repair at Rotsa, Russia. If he had had a known grave it would have been in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's records.
As for Richard Speakman - although Eric McPherson states he was commemorated at Highfield, I'm not sure that he was. It's a long way from his home - and much nearer that of his namesake, who is also commemorated at the Elim Independent Methodist Chapel at the far end of Enfield Street from Highfield.

Rev. Long, your interest in this, the research you have undertaken is all very much valued, appreciated and treasured.
The storey of Great Uncle Noah Causey who quickly upped sticks from Wigan to London around 1920 and died in Brighton in the early 1950's is a saga in itself!
The son of Henry (Harry) is also very interesting as there was a BBC Documentary about his action in 2nd WW Burma and specifically the Sikh soldier who was awarded the VC for saving his life while under attack from the Japanese, both were interviewed. But more of that another time.
Very many thanks once again, Colin.

Fanny Kindley was mother to Mrs Henry Causey sr
born Sarah Elizabeth Kindley and grandmother to David

Your Henry Causey married Sarah Elizabeth Kindley at St Georges in 1883. Both were aged 20. Groom's father was Noah, bride's was Richard Kindley. She is buried in the adjacent grave (C1671), having died June 1933, aged 71. No other burials listed for that grave.
Richard Kindley married Francis Critchley in Pendleton in 1865. Three children, Mary, Alice, and Leah Kindley were Baptised at All Saints Wigan to Richard and Fanny (= Frances, presumably).
It's a bit of a tangled family tree, with so many re-used names in the generations - but I'll leave that to you....

Thanks again Rev. Long.
The father of Henry Causey was indeed Noah his wife was Ellen surname may have been White and born in Ireland. In 1881 they were listed as living at 11 Longshoot.
Noah's father was William Causey married to a Phoebe Bibby.
William's father was Joseph Causey I think born 16 December 1799, I believe he married a Sarah Lathom 3 June 1827.
As the family appear to have had a long history of living in Wigan maybe there is more accurate information in the parish records of both All Saints Parish Church, St George's or even Ince Parish Church as there are many subsequent records of the family living around both the Scholes Area and Ince Green Lane?

Hi all
This is really interesting. My Grandad Richard Causey was named after Richard (his uncle who died in WW1) my great great Grandma was Sarah and her husband was Henry. Thanks again and would be great to keep in contact with any Causey relatives Andrew

Hi all
This is really interesting. My Grandad Richard Causey was named after Richard (his uncle who died in WW1) my great great Grandma was Sarah and her husband was Henry. Thanks again and would be great to keep in contact with any Causey relatives Andrew

I have found this interesting too. My Great Grandmother was Elizabeth Causey 1839-1906. She was the daughter of John Causey & Mary Ann Monks. I have traced the Causey line to pre 1700.

Thanks Helen, sounds like she could have been a sister of one of my male ancestors on my Grandmothers side.
I googled the origin of the name, one theory is that it is of French Normandy origin Pays de Caux which is a topographic name for someone living near a causeway, Middle English causey (from Old French caucee): the ending of the word was in time assimilated by folk etymology to Middle English.
We could in all probability be descend from a Norman invader or even related to William The Conqueror but that might be a flight of fancy!!!!!

Richard Speakman was my uncle.. He is buried in Ince with a Navy Headstone