Hall of Fame

Jeremiah (born Toxteth, Liverpool) was the first person to see the "transit of Venus", that is, Venus passing in front of the sun, but most importantly he was able to make some measurements while doing so from which he was able to get the best yet idea of the size of the solar system.

It was still a bit inaccurate, because he could only take measurements from his one telescope. He knew that it would be possible to get a much better figure if there were also astronomers making comparable measurements of the same event from the southern hemisphere, but tragically his letters to the scientific authorities were ignored (he was only 20, after all!).

These transits don't happen very often, so a century was wasted before Captain cook was dispatched with a few astronomers to the southern oceans to make these key measurements.

During the Victorian age Horrocks was eulogized with a plaque in Westminster Abbey.

The last transit of Venus occured in 1882 and none have occurred during the 1900s. The next pair will fall in the years 2004 and 2012. Let's see if our Jeremiah gets a mention then.

19th century explorer of South Australia

Killed by the first camel in South Australia! One evening he was inspecting his gun when the camel made a sudden move, knocked into Horrocks and the gun went off.

A protege of Montgomery who introduced him to the command of 13th Corps in the Western Desert, Horrocks commanded it with great skill in the battles of Alam Halfa and Alamein.
He followed his chief to Europe for D-Day and commanded 30th Corps in the Battle of Normandy, the advance to Brussels, the Arnhem Battle and the drive into Germany.
Military historian of some repute.

The autobiography of Lt Gen.Sir Brian Horrocks is called "A Full Life" and was published in 1960 by Collins of St James Place London. (Thanks to Nigel Horrocks for this info)

Actress

WWII Pilot of Swordfish aircraft (FAA-Sqdn. 819) of the British escort carrier HMS Archer.
On 23 May, 1943 sank U-Boat (U-752) in mid-Atlantic using rockets; the first to "kill" a U-Boat in this way and accepted by historians to be one of the main events to turn the war in the Atlantic in favour of the allies.

The oil painting by John Hamilton ("The Sinking of U-752") commemorates the event. Our thanks to Mike Holdoway for finding this for us on this link.

An account of the Remarkable Claim - 1865:

"Extraordinary Claim to Property at Wigan

The claim to property and lands in Wigan, in Lancashire and its locality, by Mr. James Horrocks of Speenymoor, in the County of durham, has perhaps created more excitement and interest at Wigan, and in the country than any other case of a similar nature in modern times."

The property in question was originally in the year 1335, confiscated property and then the possession of the crown; Eward III, who at that period ascended the throne and was engaged in war with Scotland and France. Gilbert Ford, a man reowned for his heroic bravery, and meritorious deeds in the said wars was granted by Edward III properties in Wigan, Ince Aspull, Hindley, Abram, Golborn, Ashton, Billinge, Windle, Winstanley, Haydock, West Leigh, Upholland, Shevington, Pemberton and Copull all in the borough of Wigan.

Henry IV granted to Gilbert Ford lands in Netherlands, Orrell, and four miles beyond Liverpool. These properties were in the possession of the Ford family up to the year 1772. The said Robert Ford who died May 16, 1772 left the properties to his two sons Edward and William; William who outlived his brother Edward died Oct 22, 1801, leaving his heir-at-law John Tabley who was first cousin and being an only sister's son to Robert Ford, was the rightful successor.

It goes that Joanna Ford sister to the late Robert Ford married Thomas Tabley, their son John Tabley heir-at-law to the estate. John married Margaret Porter of Wallgate, their daughter Ellen Tabley married John Wood 1790 he died in 1803, they had two children Peggy 1791 and Mary 1793 who died 1795, Ellen Tabley Wood then married James Horrocks 1803 they had a son James b1805

Confused yet???

James Horrocks' grandson Alexander Tabley Horrocks went before the courts again in 1926.

The bottom line is these lands were swindled from the family first in 1836, 1886 and finally resting with the Crown in 1926.

These details were kindly provided by Kathleen. (e-mail)