Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hello,

I've reached a couple of brick walls and am looking for some help. I think I've exhausted all I can find on-line and I live in Canada so I can't do any hands-on research myself.

My maternal grandmother was Elizabeth Alice Meacock.
Her birth certificate shows her parents as William Henry Meacock (a baker) and Alice Meacock - formerly Walker.

Here's my problem:-
I am looking for birth and/or baptism records for William Henry Meacock and Alice Walker. I'm 99% sure that both were born in Liverpool in 1856/7.

I have found the following on-line:

- In the 1861 UK census Willm Henry Meacock is shown as age 4, born in Liverpool, and living in Liverpool with his parents John Meacock (a baker) and Ann.
- In the 1861 census, Alice Walker shows as the 4 year daughter of William Walker (a ship's carpenter) and Ann. She was then living in Widnes, but was listed as born in Childwall.
- In the 1871 census both William H. and Alice are listed as 14 years old, born in Liverpool and Much Woolton resp.
- William Henry Meacock married Alice Walker in Widnes on March 10 1876. The certificate shows them both as 19 years old.
- In the 1881 census William and Alice were both 24 years old, listed as born in Liverpool and Woolton resp.
- Alice died in Q4 1888 when she was 32.
- William's father, John Meacock (a baker) married Ann Harrison 25 February 1855 in St. Nicholas, Liverpool.
- Alice's father, William Walker (a wheelwright) married Ann Kay 6 Aug 1843 in St. James, Walton-on-the-Hill.

- William's sisters, Elizabeth Ann and Mary both appear in LDS records as having been baptized at St. Peter, Liverpool.
- Alice had several siblings and also a cousin, Alice, who was born in Childwall in 1855. Her cousin's father was Edward Walker.

All indications are that William Henry Meacock and Alice Walker were both born in Liverpool (St. Martins and Childwall/Woolton resp.) in 1856/7.
However, their births/baptisms do not appear on-line in the Free BDM, the Lancashire BDM, the Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project, Ancestry records, or the LDS records.

Is there anywhere else I can look on-line?
Are there any more records in Liverpool that can be searched in person? If so, can you please recommend someone who could help with this search?

Many thanks,
Pat L
Roberts Creek, Canada

Hi Pat, welcome

possible birth reg from FreeBmd for Alice
Jun q 1857
Walker Alice Maud Liverpool 8b 185

wondering if William was reg as William Edward, not William Henry I can't see a William Edward or just a William that fits with this birth reg in census, apart from your William Henry. There is a William b c 1859 but his birth reg is in 1859.

William Edward Meacock
Year of Registration: 1857
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: West Derby
County: Lancashire
Volume: 8b
Page: 238


Simone x

Hi Simone,

Many thanks for your "Welcome" and for such a quick response.

I have wondered about Alice Maud, but her christening is shown on an IGI record as taking place at St. Peter, Liverpool, with parents WILLIAM SKIRRING WALKER and Mother:EMILY.
The Alice I'm looking for was born in Childwall/Woolton with parents William and Ann.
Also, the copy of their marriage certificate gives their names as William Henry and Alice (not Alice Maud).
I don't think this is the same Alice Walker, but - who knows.

I've also considered William Edward Meacock. He was registered in West Derby. However, William Henry's parents lived in the St. Martin's area of Liverpool when they were married and still lived in that area when the 1861 census was taken. I think William Henry would have been born there, too, but again - who knows.

Thanks again,
Pat

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Pat L wrote: I've also considered William Edward Meacock. He was registered in West Derby. However, William Henry's parents lived in the St. Martin's area of Liverpool when they were married and still lived in that area when the 1861 census was taken. I think William Henry would have been born there, too, but again - who knows.

The St Martins area of Liverpool would be under the West Derby registration district which covered a large area, it didn't just relate to West Derby the village.

I don't often recommend this, but under the circumstances I wonder if you have thought of approaching the Liverpool Register Office direct by letter. If you enclose a cheque for the cost of a certificate and ask them if they would check a +/- 2 or 3 years around the date of birth that you believe would be correct, providing the names of the parents, they will probably do so and may return the cheque if the entry isn't found.

You should be aware that there is always a possibility that a child wasn't registered, sometimes the money was needed for other things, such as food, but generally speaking children were baptised.

The probable parish in Childwall is All Saints, however, these are not all transcribed and online.

Hi MaryA,

Thanks for the Welcome and the information.

I'm learning so much. Now I know that the St Martins area of Liverpool would be under the West Derby registration district.

A couple of weeks ago, I did in fact request a Birth Certificate for William Henry Meacock from the Liverpool Register Office. They very kindly searched the index and sent an email reply. It seems there are only two records and neither have the correct parent names. I think you're right - William Henry probably wasn't registered.
William's sisters were baptized at St. Peter, Liverpool, but, as you mentioned, on-line records are not available for that year. Would the records be available for an in-person search somewhere? If so, how can I find someone who could do this search for me?

The same is likely true for Alice Walker. Is it possible to search the baptism records for All Saints in Childwall?

Thanks again for your help,
Pat L
Roberts Creek, Canada

I have been told that I am probably wrong in saying that the St Martins area was in th West Derby Registration District, it is more likely to be in the Liverpool district, however I would never discount either registration district when searching as the family could have recently moved from one to another.

As far as searching the actual registers - I will send you a pm with contact details of somebody who may be able to assist you.

Hi Pat

Just a thought. Could this be your Alice Walker? There is a birth in Lancs BMD registered in 1855 at Much Woolton. Ref: MW/5/65.

There are also births for other Walker children, James, Ann and Jane. Do these names ring any bells?

Marchbird

When you use soundex they use Maycock for Meacock it might be worth looking for Maycock as well as Meacock.

Woolton came under Prescot registration district at that time so the GRO references for the birth in Woolton is March Q 1855 Prescot Reg district volume 8b page 426

Hi Marchbird,

Thanks for your interest.
The Alice Walker registered in 1855 was a cousin of the Alice I'm looking for. She was the daughter of Edward Walker, William's brother. Both Alices appear in the 1861 UK census, living with their respective families.
Some of the other Walkers that are registered in Much Woolton are in fact Alice's siblings, while others are probably her cousins.

Pat L

Hi Hilary,

Thanks for the information.

I joined ancestry.uk a couple of years ago. Whenever I do a search for Meacock , I automatically get Maycock and Mycock included. I think I included these variations in my other on-line searches, too.

Thanks for the GRO info, too. Although I'm fairly sure the Alice Walker registered in 1855 is a cousin of the Alice I'm looking for.

Pat L.

All of my St Martin records are in the Liverpool registration district.

Blue