The Crossleys' originated in Yorkshire, the name meaning Cross Lea, ie a cross  in a meadow. They appeared to migrate to Lancashire and became established in  East Lancs via Todmorden and Burnley, to Oswaldtwisltle and to Hoghton and  Pleasington. Others spread to Rochdale and Oldham. This is the story of East  Lancashire families, who like all others at the time,worked in agriculture,  while supplementing their income with handloom weaving,until the industrial  revolution forced them into the towns and the cotton mills, to hard work,  poverty, and to develop into trades or to try for a new life in the new world. Other than Crossleys the main family links are Barlow, Swain, Seed, and Derham and a Swiss  connection to Schlegel. A dedication goes to my cousin Joan Beardwood, nee Barlow who as joint  administrator did so much research. Sadly Joan passed away on April 26th 2012.