We were in Ramsbottom in Sept. of 2005, and had a wonderful time walking around the
town. We went to the Library and met Susan and Elizabeth, who were a great help to
us. We would like to look up information on any Kirkmans who lived in Ramsbottom/Tottington
area in the 1800s or if there are any Kirkmans left in Ramsbottom. Our "William Kirkman"
(who was about 20 yrs old) took a boat from England in 1850 to America, and left
behind his mother and father( James), and 2-3 brothers, James, John, possibly Thomas.
James lived at 6 Rose Hill Cottages, and we talked to the people who still live in
the cottage. William married Isabell Potts In San Francisco and they lived in Walla,
Walla , Washington and had 10 children. Only 4 children survived to adulthood, and
that made our 3 Branches of Kirkmans (one daughter never married). William came
back to England in 1892 (with his wife and son and daughter) to visit his family
and his son wrote a diary for a time (they visited his father, and other relatives
then). William died on the train in America on his way home to Washington State.
If you have any information on Kirkmans, drop us a line via the Ramsbottom Heritage
Society
