Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hello, Just a wee update for those who might be interested after our Liverpool trip this weekend. A very helpful lady at the central Library was able to find a Jane Watts with an infant in a workhouse/hospital for about 20 days at the time Leah was born. This Jane Watts was born 1836 but we are sure...

True. Its odd that the closest to a complete family on my English side is in Ardrishaig so close to where I lived and still visit all the time. Looks like they went there so John could work in the Duke of Argyll's mines. By 1871 they are all older and split up. If Jane's age is correct surely it is ...

Hi again folks and as always thanks for the help. I’ve used the free find my past weekend to find out a little about Ellen. She too was born in Cornwall and moved to Liverpool where it looks like she met and married Abraham Bark after being a servant. I also found a Jane and John Watts with a daught...

We got Leah's birth certificate which shows her being born on second of June 1845. There is no father's name and the mother is listed as Jane Watts (formally George). If she was, or is claiming to be, married to John Watts it's odd she left father's name blank. My mum and I are taking a trip to Live...

Just found a baptism record on Scotland's people for Abraham Bark.
child of Robina Gardiner and Andrew Bark
Born 12/08/1845
Baptised 14/9/1845 in Greenock

Very intriguing. Could she have married a Step relation?
There was an uncle Abraham who died at an old age in a mariners home back in Greenock. This guy could be him.
Thanks again for your help all.

This is all brilliant, thank you. Particularly intriguing as I lived in Lochgilphead for a short time and am visiting there this weekend. I’ve ordered Leah’s birth certificate so I will keep you updated.
Thanks again.

Thanks, I think we will do that although if she wasn't entirely honest it might be difficult to trace any further.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a birth certificate, just the birth record and her death certificate. You could well be right in which case I should be looking for a Jane Watts but I imagine that would have been a common name. It would also explain why there seems to be no trace of a marri...

Thank you for that. So it looks like Rachel could have been a relation (aunt perhaps) and John had had the children to his first wife.
Very interesting.

Looking for a bit of information on my Great Grandmother if anyone can shed any light. She was born Leah Maud Watts to John Watts and Jane George 1976 and was registered in Kirkdale. We know she spent time in a children's home before marrying Robert Gardiner Bark from Greenock, Scotland and she move...