William J Churchill and Nellie Flynn

[Bertieone]

Another that may be worth looking at,

William J Churchill married Annie Roberts, West Derby, 1917, reg office or reg attended.

1920, William James Churchill, age 34, died and buried at Ford cemetery, address, 15 Solomon St, occupation, Coppersmith.

1920 Electoral Roll, William & Annie Churchill, 15 Solomon St.

[Sue H]

Well I’m back with the Churchill saga!!

First of all I must thank you Bertieone for everything you found......all spot on.....the family just didn’t know that much!!!

Because of what you found corresponding birth/marriage and deaths certificate were sent for and they all fitted perfectly together.

But there was on suprise

I had found a ships manifesto were a Susannah Elsie Churchill was on her way to America having been adopted........did fit in with the little girl the family were told about but completely they thought the wrong age...but I took a chance and ordered a birth certificate.

It did turn out to be the daughter of Nellie and William!! She had been born before Ellen! And so the search began again to find her.

It’s going to be awhile before this full tale is put together so it’s readable and we’re working on it for all to read........we are hoping to get it ready for the Journal

It’s a great history of Liverpool Musical Hall Artists......Liverpool families and the amazing likeness of the present day family


But the best bit......we have found her family in America.....yep honestly!! Unfortunately her and her husband and children have passed away. But Susannah’s daughter in law had brought her to live with her and she had talked about her hard life and the family in Liverpool.....there are photographs of her and best of all Natalie’s mum is still alive and is beside herself with joy at finding the family she knew as only a feint memory.

It’s not over yet......gaps to fill as I said ....so I’ll still be looking for help.

But once again I have to thank this group and Bertieone in particular for once again making this all possible.

Suexx

[MaryA]

Great result Sue, hope you get the last bits sorted out soon and we'll look forward to that write up in the Journal.

[Bertieone]

Thanks, Sue,

Always a pleasure to help you anyway we can.

[Sue H]

Morning All, May I pick your brains further

Query?

Having now found Susannah Elsie Churchill her family in America are now filling in the gaps with what they know......and some fabulous photos.

On thing puzzles both sides.......did she spend time in an orphanage here in Liverpool or was she just given to the family in Birkenhead to take care of, as was the way??

I found Elsie.....the name the family called her in West Derby Union Infirmary in 1911. Was this run as an orphanage? Would there be records of how long she stayed there, maybe even who took her? I have read that adoptions were not formal until the 1920. The reason I ask in1923 Susannah and her adopted parents set sail for New York.....on the manifesto she is noted as “claims adopted daughter Susannah Churchill “ . Her brother Thomas said as a child he also was put in an orphanage until he enrolled in the army. It’s obvious from the photos sent to Natalie that she had been with the Dixon family since young......it is believed when (Dixon)the parents died the sister Lilian became her guardian, and when she decided to emigrate she took Susannah with them.

Sue xx

[Bertieone]

Sue,

My thoughts are Susannah Elsie was in hospital for the 1911 census, the other Churchill children, William, Thomas and Ellen are with the Nicholas Grandparents
along with an adopted son, don't see Susannah Elsie being in an orphanage at that time.

[JohnnyO]

I'm coming late to the party here but is this the same family?
CHURCHILL, SUSANNAH ELSIE. Mother FLINN. GRO Reference: 1908 M Quarter in WEST DERBY Volume 08B Page 583

[Bertieone]

Yes John

[Bertieone]

."it is believed when (Dixon)the parents died the sister Lilian became her guardian, and when she decided to emigrate she took Susannah with them"

Sue,

Charles Dixon married Lilian Pixton Woodward, 1917, Birkenhead.

Was it William Dixon, Charles's father who took Susannah Elsie on?

Lilian being sister in law, not sister?

[MaryA]

Just thought I'd mention, no luck with either name in the Institutions.

[Bertieone]

M It’s obvious from the photos sent to Natalie that she had been with the Dixon family since young......it is believed when (Dixon)the parents died the sister Lilian became her guardian, and when she decided to emigrate she took Susannah with them.

Sue xx

William Dixon married Esther Walklett, 1887, Birkenhead.

William Dixon died, 1937, Charlecombe St, Birkenhead.

Esther Dixon, died, 1949, same address.

[Sue H]

Hi Bertieone


Sorry I’ve messed up the parents were Woodward....Lilian parents


Sorry I probably should have stated Lilian Paxton Dixon ......her maiden name was Woodward.

It was her parents that took on Susannah it’s believed. Richard Woodward died 1913 and his wife Elizabeth Evans 1918. Also Lilian sister Beatrice died 1918 all from the Spanish flu they believe. It seems at this point she went to live with Lilian who by this time was married to Charles Dixon (1917) it is believed that Lilian and Charles had already visited a relative in America and on returning they decided to emigrate themselves and take Susannah with them.

The family were told William the eldest ( father not confirmed yet ) was too old for an orphanage and he became a reservist in the army, I have found his application giving Solomon Street as his fathers address. Thomas (Nellie and William) was of an age to Spend some time in a Catholic Orphanage, run by priests, before he had to make his own way
he told his wife, Natalie’s grandmother, details of being made to clean doors in the orphanage were Susannah was. Susannah Elsie (William and Nellie) it was believe she spent sometime with her father.....they have a photo to show that.......but because he was an actor, and unsuccessfully had paid people to look after her that she too had been in an orphanage run by nuns. Ellen (William and Nellie) who we know in 1911 was with her grandparents.....we are unsure of because of her mother dying in 1910 and Ellen in 1915 left little information to go on.


Susannah Elsie Churchill seems to have gone by the name Elsie with in the family.

Sorry to have confused


To add to this Susannah also married Joseph Malone in New York. Joseph, an Engineer had been born in Birkenhead !! Nobody is sure in either family if this is how the stories of Susannah early life filtered through to the Uk.......but it did !

Suex

[Sue H]

Just thought I'd mention, no luck with either name in the Institutions.

Thanks Mary for looking
Suex

[Sue H]

I'm coming late to the party here but is this the same family?
CHURCHILL, SUSANNAH ELSIE. Mother FLINN. GRO Reference: 1908 M Quarter in WEST DERBY Volume 08B Page 583

Hi JohnnyO thank you anyway

[Sue H]

."it is believed when (Dixon)the parents died the sister Lilian became her guardian, and when she decided to emigrate she took Susannah with them"

Sue,

Charles Dixon married Lilian Pixton Woodward, 1917, Birkenhead.

Was it William Dixon, Charles's father who took Susannah Elsie on?

Lilian being sister in law, not sister?

Sorry messed up answer above

[Bertieone]

Sue,

That makes more sense.

[Sue H]

Hi Bertieone

Sorry for delay .....my password playing up.

Natalie is now very much in touch with the family in America, will wait and see if anything else turns up.

While waiting going to have another look at William the eldest brother.

Thanks once again

Suexx