Absalom appears to have been the illegitimate son of Absalom Dugmore (though he names his father as Richard Swindell, a coachman on his marriage entry) and his young servant Mary Swindles. Mary would have been only about 13 at the time if the age in the 1841 census is correct. In 1841 they were living at/in the Piazza, off Eagle Street in Manchester. Look up Piazza Manchester nowadays and you find references to Fast Food and The Big Eat.
However Eagle Street was close to the Smithfield market (no doubt named after the London original), convenient for Absalom Dugmore who was a fruiterer.
From this background it perhaps not surprising that young Absalom soon got into trouble with the law and in 1850 he was sentenced for two offences of larceny from his employer. This betrayal of trust no doubt attracted extra punishment and he was awarded 1 month in prison for the first offence and 3 months for the second offence - to commence after completion of the first term. At the age of 16, in gaol, he described himself as a 'master pawnbroker' - no doubt tongue firmly in cheek.
No sooner out of gaol than his silver tongue got some young lady (possibly Jane Rutter) into trouble resulting in the birth of Absalom Swindell (1852-1853) - I may be maligning young Absalom since I have no proof he was the father.(I won't pay for the birth certificate!)
In 1853 he married Jane Rutter at the church of St Mary, St Denys and St George in Manchester ( Manchester Cathedral from 1847).
They had three children before Absalom died in 1858 -
Eliza Jane born on the 25th of September 1853, baptised on the 20th of November 1853 in Manchester Cathedral
William Henry, born on the 30th of November 1854, baptised on the 12th of April 1857 in Manchester Cathedral
Benjamin Isaac, born on the 16th of November 1856, baptised on the 12th of April 1857 in Manchester Cathedral
Eliza Jane born on the 25th of September 1853, baptised on the 20th of November 1853 in Manchester Cathedral
William Henry, born on the 30th of November 1854, baptised on the 12th of April 1857 in Manchester Cathedral
Benjamin Isaac, born on the 16th of November 1856, baptised on the 12th of April 1857 in Manchester Cathedral
Benjamin died in 1858 and I can find no more about William Henry but Eliza Jane emigrated to Australia. She married Robert Blaxland in 1874 in Newcastle, New South Wales and had six known children. She married Joseph T. Richards in 1919 (presumably after Robert's death!) and died in Fairfield, New South Wales.
Jane Swindell (nee Rutter) remarried in 1859 to an Edward Lees, a Police Officer.
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