Family Lessons 42: Declining Fortunes

So-called baby-boomers nearly always climbed life’s ladder faster and higher than any of their parents. My 3x great-grandfather, George Airey (1838-1915) seemed to fall down the ladder with each successive census after his 32nd birthday. Here are the entries:

1841
Higher Bowram Farm, Lancaster
George Airey, Aged 2

1851
Golgotha Farm, Lancaster, 192 acres, 7 labourers, Lancaster
George Airey, aged 12

1861
Golgotha Farm, Lancaster
George Airey, aged 22, farmer 135 acres, Lancaster

1871
Brookholme House Farm, Aldcliffe, Lancaster
George Airey, aged 32, farmer 192 acres, landowner, employs 2 men, Lancaster

1881
18 James St, Lancaster
George Airey, aged 42, butcher, Lancaster

1891
36 Long Marsh Lane, Lancaster
George Airey, aged 52, railway platelayer, Lancaster

1901
35 Lune Street, Lancaster
George Airey, aged 62, store keeper, Lancaster

1911
23 Willow Lane, Lancaster
George Airey, aged 72, old age pensioner, general labourer, Liverpool and Manchester Railway, Lancaster.

So from owning almost 200 acres and employing others, he became a shopkeeper and eventually a labourer in his old age.

As the West declines and inflation bites, our children and their children may well have a poorer existence than what many of us have known. The concept that our children will always do better, earn more impressive qualifications and live in bigger houses is an expectation few other generations harboured. Grandfather George’s fortunes declined with age and so might ours. In Christ, however, we increase our holiness and develop in grace. May we not fall spiritually, but grow abundantly:

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:17-18 (New King James Version)

Ironically, our faith often grows best when out worldly estates matter least.

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