Fergus O'Connor Simmons

  General Notes:

Probably named after Feargus O'Connor (c.1796 - 1855) the Irish-born Chartist leader - the Chartists represented the first attempt to build a party representing the interests of the English working classes.

O'Connor toured the country campaigning for political reform, universal male suffrage and better working conditions, particularly in the industrial districts of England and Scotland. He was well-known for his charismatic and incendiary speeches and his efforts laid the groundwork for Chartism. This was essentially an umbrella movement (named after a six point charter of demands) of the 1830s and 1840s which drew together many strands of radical grievance. O'Connor's newspaper 'The Northern Star', which he established in 1837, provided the most effective link between these different strands. O'Connor was identified with the more radical side of the movement and was imprisoned for libel in 1840.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 30 Mar 1851, Canal Row, Loughborough, Leicestershire. Listed as: Age 9; Occupation - Scholar.

• Census, 8 Apr 1861, Canal Bank, Loughborough, Leicestershire. Listed as: Age 19; Occupation - Boatman.

• Census, 2 Apr 1871, 18 Court Yard, Nottingham Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire. Listed as: Age 27; Occupation - Boatman.

• Census, 3 Apr 1881, Cambridge Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. Listed as Feign Simmons, age 39, Common Labourer (Gen).

• Census, 5 Apr 1891, 35 Cobden Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. Listed as: Head; Age 49; Occupation - None listed.

• Census, 31 Mar 1901, 14 Regent Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. Listed as aged 59, head of household, not working and place of birth is Loughborough, Leicestershire.

• Census, 2 Apr 1911, 140 Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire. Listed as: Head; Widower; Age 69; Occupation - Coal Merchant Retired.

Fergus married Mary Ann Hutton, daughter of Thomas Hutton and Eliza Underhill, on 14 Sep 1862. (Mary Ann Hutton was born on 9 Feb 1841 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and died in 1910 in Loughborough, Leicestershire.)