Joseph and Sarah Firth of Brighouse, West Yorkshire had seven children over two decades. Joseph is listed over the years as a Silk Spinner, Silk Boiler or Silk Dresser, and most of his children followed him in the weaving trade.
.
Firth Family on the 1871 census
.
The couple were married in 1859, and though some of their children's names are unheard of now, in their day, they were certainly not unique.
1. Jane Schofield
The couple's first child was born in 1855 -- four years before they were married. It is possible that Jane was Sarah's daughter from a previous marriage, however, a quick search on earlier census pages indicates that Schofield was Sarah's maiden name and that she was never married previously.
2. Ellen Firth
Their second daughter was born in 1860.
3. Friend Firth
The couple's first son was born in 1861. He was one of seven Friend Firths to be born in West Yorkshire from 1847 to 1882.
4. Fairless Firth
The next son, Fairless, was born in 1864. Although not common, Fairless does crop up in a few registrations concentrated in the North of England. There were five other males names Fairless on the 1871 census -- all living in the North East.
5. Faith Firth
Daughter Faith was born in 1866, one of three Faith Firths living in West Yorkshire in 1871.
6. Feargus Firth
Born in 1869, youngest son Feargus was one of three Feargus Firths living in West Yorkshire at the time. The name Feargus had been extremely popular from the 1840s thanks to Chartist Feargus O'Connor.
7. Fairy Firth
The couple's last child was a little girl named Fairy, born in 1871. She can lay claim to being the only Fairy Firth, but certainly not the only Fairy.
