John Ellison

[dan the old man]

Never give up hope. I have just made a significant hole in a 40 year old genealogical brick wall. John Ellison was born in Lancashire – hopefully Liverpool. He may be a member of the wider family of Joseph Ellison, gun maker born 1745ish.
I had no information at all about his death. I do now. I stumbled across a report of his inquest in the Liverpool Mercury dated 8 June 1847. On Saturday 5 June 1847 he was wiping a lathe in Fawcett’s Foundry when he was drawn into the machine. He was rushed to Southern Hospital where he died an hour and a half later of fractures to his skull and face. The report tied together various descriptions of his job which pointed to a semi-skilled labourer in a gun maker’s. It also explains why his son Thomas Joseph, my great grandfather, was admitted to Bluecoat School on 5 July 1847.
Armed with this information I re-visited an entry on Family Search. John Ellison a labourer aged 6 was buried on 8 June 1847. A labourer aged 6 is about right for this family, but it should be 46. I’ll let them have correct details when I’ve confirmed the burial details. This brings me to my query. ‘Not before time’ they all shout. Where was he buried?
The family was poor, C of E and didn’t frequent a particular church. John died 5 June, there was an inquest on 6 or 7 June and he was buried 8 June. Would the Southern Hospital have kept the body until the burial? If so, did they use a particular bone orchard? If they returned the body to his widow, she lived at Combermere Street, Toxteth.
The obvious burial place is St James’s Cemetery. Are there other burial grounds I should add to the list before getting a researcher to look at the records? I’ve checked all the Liverpool Central burials on Lancs Online Parish Clerks. He’s not there.
It appears John was born between June 1800 and June 1801. I have several baptisms in the frame, but they are work in progress. Hopefully I’ll find him in the next 40 years. One possible line of research is his earlier occupation. When he married, on 28 October 1823, he was a mariner. That presumably means sea-going on a merchant ship. How remote are my prospects of getting information about his career? Can anyone point me in the correct direction please? He’s my first and only seaman.
Thanks
Dan

[MaryA]

Firstly to say well done on finding your clue. Is this him?

Upper Stanhope Street Weslyan Chapel
Sacred to the memory of Joseph ELLISON, the beloved husband of Jane ELLISON who departed this life on the 3rd day of July 1847 aged 33 years. Dearest, farewell, I know thy worth nor shall that knowledge die. The seeds of friendship sown on earth shall blossom in the sky.
Let me die the death of the righteous and may my last end be like his.

This is a listing from the Monumental Inscription no longer there.

I have no listing for Jane and no other Ellisons buried at the same Chapel.

The records for the Bluecoat School are held at the Record Office.

Others will probably advise you about seamen better than me, but I believe the Maritime Museum may be your point of call.

[dan the old man]

Hi Mary
Thanks for that. It was one of my better days when I found the newspaper article.
The record you have is for Joseph - my guy is John. However in the grand scheme of things it could be useful. Joseph is the son of Lawrence Ellison, gunsmith, and the grandson of the 1745ish Joseph. Another of Lawrence's sons is John, born 29 December 1799. He's top of my list of suspects.
Dan