St Thomas church, Cleveland Square

[ann k]

I wonder if anyone knows just how to find out if there are any records kept for St Thomas`s church ,Cleveland Square,I know it was knocked down many years ago, but I have been asked by one of my contacts in the USA , as they believe their ancestors were buried there, any tips or suggestions please?
PS; the dates are around late 1700s -early 1800s,
surname Gladding.

[MaryA]

I feel sure that there would be some in the Liverpool Record Office, however their website appears to be down at present. http://archive.liverpool.gov.uk/

You would be able to search their Catalogue for the church when the site is back up.

Meantime I will check if there are any Inscriptions by that name on the Gibsons Epitaphs.

[ann k]

Thanks Mary, will do that when its back in action, what are these Gibson epitaphs? sounds interesting.
Ann. membership no 6271

[Katie]

The only St Thomas's where burials took place was St Thomas Park Lane 283 THO. Records start at 1750. I will look to see if Huyton have copies on microfilm.

[MaryA]

To quote from the Introduction

"Gibson’s Epitaphs is one of the most important sources for the family historian, who is researching in 19th century Liverpool. It is hand-written in 10 volumes, the 10th volume being the index to the previous 9. A new index has been prepared from the transcripts of Volumes 1 to 9 that includes not only the deceased, but all instances of names that appear in the inscriptions, including for example "Rajah" the Elephant, Volume Viii, page 288 - "Shot after killing its Keeper"

The compiler of these volumes was probably James Gibson variously described as a merchant or draper, a native of Stirling who lived and worked in Liverpool for many years and who wrote and edited a number of works on Robert Burns. He died aged sixty, in July 1886, in Stratford on Avon where he had been employed for a short while as a librarian in the Shakespeare Memorial Library. During his time in Liverpool he had, in his own words, "...... taken notes from all the churchyards and chapels in the district." Some of his transcribed epitaphs were printed in the "Notes and Queries" column of the Liverpool Weekly Mercury and reproduced in Notes and Queries relating to Liverpool, 1882-1889. (Hq 942 721 MER)

The volumes of Gibson's transcribed epitaphs were purchased by the Library from a Liverpool bookseller in 1887 for £5.00. In each volume the inscriptions are prefaced by historical, descriptive and sometimes critical notes on the relevant churches, churchyards or cemeteries, and occasionally illustrated. Printed extracts from the Liverpool Mercury column were pasted in where appropriate."

The volumes have now been transcribed by a member of the Liverpool & SW Lancashire FH Society and is on sale by them - I believe at a cost of £15. See the Publications link of the main Society page - http://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/

The only mention of the name Gladding that I have found is

St John's Church, Old Haymarket, Liverpool - Vol I, Page 525
Sacred to the memory of Thomas DAVIS, Sugar Refiner, who died the 29th of Nov’r 1815 aged 65 years. Also Mary wife of the above Thomas, who died the 22nd of Feby 1821 aged 78 years. This humble pair beneath this stone, the Lord by grace did call, to seek his face through Christ alone, and find in him their all, thrice happy pair for hand in hand, the good old path thytrod, untill thy reach’d the prommis’d land, their Kingdom and their God. Also Hannah, daughter of the above, & wife of Wm’ GLADDING, who died 6th Feby 1848 aged 57 years. Also John EDMONDSON died 26th March 1860 aged 60 years. Also Mary, wife of the above John EDMONDSON, died Sept 5 1860 aged 50 years.

[ann k]

Thanks Katie Thats kind of you, sounds like same church as it was in that area,but dates maybe too late if it was,but would be interested if any names are there of the GLADDINGS , I have been told maybe transcribed as GLADDEN or GLADWYN, first names are THOMAS/JOHN & ELIZABETH (bessie) GLADDING nee HOWARD.
Ann member 6271

[ann k]

Hi Mary A, that sounds just what I need to invest in with my tree, thanks for the info,sounds so interesting ,will get onto it today, will pass on the info on what you found to the gent in USA, maybe some relevance you never know.
Many thanks Ann. member 6271

[Joe Griffiths]

Gibson's Epitaphs are available on CD from the Society at £8 including p & p see http://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/a ... ol_49.html
for UK orders and £9 see http://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/a ... ol_20.html for Overseas orders, Joe Griffiths Publications Officer

[MaryA]

Oh that's even more of a bargain than I thought it was Joe, thanks for the extra information.

[ann k]

Thanks Joe,
just ordered mine, can`t wait for it to arrive now
cheers Ann