Biography 

Jacob Carrick 1894-1964 and Thomas Edward Carrick 1896-1981

This is the story of two brothers who on the 1921 census claimed they were ex H M Factory Gretna workers, residing in Carlisle at the time. 

Jacob and Thomas Edward were 2 of the 9 children born to John Carrick and Mary Ann nee McGann between 1891 and 1908. The 1911 census indicates that only 8 children survived, 4 boys followed by 5 girls. 

John of Dalston and Mary Ann of Cummersdale married in the third quarter of 1890. John the son of stone mason Jacob  who was widowed by 1881  and Mary A 17 at the time of her marriage. 

The 1891 census places the couple with a 1 month old son, William James at 29, Dalston. John is a 25 year old tailor and Mary Ann now 18. 

William James was born on the 2nd February 1891 just a few months after his parents marriage. 

A second son, John arrived in 1893, Jacob named after his paternal grandfather on 30TH December 1894, Thomas Edward on 24th June 1896. The first of the girls was born on 30th October 1899- Mary Annie, Elizabeth in 1904, Ethel on 23rd March 1906, Maggie on 19th December 1907 and Sarah J in 1908. All the children were born in Dalston.

In 1898 there is evidence in local school admission logs that Jacob was enrolled at Dalston National Infants school on 2nd August 1898 aged 4. Thomas was enrolled at the same school on 31st July 1899. 

The 1901 census proudly states that John is a tailor, 35, own account at home- The Green, Dalston. Mary Ann is 28, seven years his junior. William is 10, John is 8, Jacob 7, Thomas E 4 and Mary Annie 0. 

At the time of the 1911 census the Carrick’s are living in 4 rooms is Dalston – no specific address given. John now 45 and Mary Ann 38. They have been married for 20 years and have had 9 children, 8 who have survived. John is now  a “tailor and rural postman ( part- time) own account” 

William is missing from this census. John ( junior) at 18 is a grocer’s apprentice for the Cooperative store. Jacob is 17 and a gardener ( domestic), Thomas 14, Mary Annie 11, “ Eliz “ 7, Ethel 5 and Maggie 3 – all at school. Sarah J is missing so is possibly the child who did not survive. 

20 year old William can be found on a separate return working as a gardener for a couple in Brampton, both in their sixties and having had no children. Two other servants make up the household who live in an 11 room dwelling. 

Little is known of this family between 1911 and 1916 when the  following report appeared in the local press. Certainly a very proud family moment. 

Wigton Advertiser 22nd March 1916 

“D.C.M. FOR A DALSTON NAN Lance-Corporal J. Carrick, I,’4th Battalion. Ro3al Lancaster Regiment (T.F.), has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Private Carrick is a Dalston man. Ile is a son of Mr. John Carrick, of Vicarage Cottages, and served his apprenticeship in the Dalston Cooperative Society. He was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal in August last, when he assisted Lance-Corporal H. Martin, of Millom, to capture a German officer and three privates. Martin has already received the Medal for his share in this exploit. Carrick has since been promoted lance•oorpotal.”

Of the 4 Carrick sons it is clear that John had joined up.  

We know that William married Florence M Tremble in the registration district of Cockermouth in October 1914 and was widowed in 1937. 

In 1925 Jacob became a member of the National Union of Railwaymen , Carlisle 1 Branch being employed by LMS Railway Company. We also know that he was a “wheel tuner engines”  in 1939 therefore with this evidence it is possibly safe to assume that  he was employed as an engineer at Gretna during some if not all of the war years. 

We know from the 1939 register that Thomas followed in his grandfather’s footsteps as a stone mason and was probably employed at the start of the Gretna project in this capacity.  

Tragically in October 1922 , brother John, still in the army died of accidental drowning and is buried in Rangoon, Burma.  http://www.kingsownmuseum.com/ko2590-323.htm

This website records the death and includes a photograph of John’s grave:-

“ Sergeant John Carrick, 2nd King’s Own, died 28 Oct 1922 aged 28 years, accidentally drowned. John Carrick had enlisted in the 1st/4th Battalion and served in the First World War and was awarded the DCM, he was number 2490, later 200476 and then 30759 with the 2nd Battalion King’s Own, and finally 3702413.”

In 1925 at the age of 29, Thomas married Marion Phoebe Wilkinson of Station House , Dalston, the daughter of the station master. 

The 1939 register gives the next clear peep  into the lives of Jacob and Thomas. 

Jacob at 45 is still living with his parents at Post Office Buildings, Dalston. He is employed as a “ wheel tuner engines” and is also an ARP warden. John is now a 73 year old retired sub post master and Mary is 67. William J is back with his parents having been widowed two years earlier. He is a “hand cotton operative” and a “ARP vol. unpaid” 

Also listed are Judith Carrick born 13th April 1914, a PO telephonist. She is indicated as marrying a Mr Cavill at a later date. 

Rowena M Carrick , later Johnston, born on 28th January 1920 , a shop assistant in a general store. 

Berenice Cookson Carrick, later Osman, born 20th May 1922, a cotton wool operative. 

One more line is blanked out. 

Cowen’s cotton Wool manufacturer exists to this day in Dalston but there were up to 7 at one time. 

https://www.in-cumbria.com/news/19656719.cotton-wool-manufacturer-cowens-carlisle-continues-innovate-two-centuries

In 1939 Thomas and Marion are living at 59, Millholme Avenue, Carlisle . Neighbours of David Nathaniel Irving ( also researched )and wife Mary Alice ( Morphet) as well as Mary’s father. Thomas is a stone mason as well as ARP rescue and demolition. There is no evidence of any children. 

Sister Mary Annie married a general labourer Tom Jordan in 1920 and had four children. Elizabeth married Francis Liddle n 1925 Ethel married James Scott in 1931 and Maggie married Colin Reed in 1932.

 Maggie and Colin are living at Post Office Yard Dalston in 1939 , a joiner’s labourer heavy worker. Ether and husband James , sub post master are also living at Post Office Yard. 

They all appear on the same page of the 1939 register. 

In 1941, the month is not clear, Jacob now aged 47, married Sarah J Robson , 33, of The Green, Dalston. In 1939 Sarah had been living and employed a the above address as a general domestic servant alongside a hired companion for a lady. 

Sarah was born in 1908 therefore was 14 years younger than Jacob. 

 John , father . died in 1942, Mary Ann died in 1947. 

Jacob died in July 1964 and Thomas  on 15th April 1981.