Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi,

I'm writing from Australia and have been researching my family history in Northern Ireland and found that my great-great grandfather, who was a printer, moved from Belfast to Liverpool from about 1865-1872, to work for the Liverpool Daily Post. In researching his time in Liverpool I came across a story, published in the Liverpool Daily Post, about one of his daughters, Matilda, going missing on her way home from school on the night of Wednesday, 21st April 1869. I haven't been able to find any other information about what happened to her, whether she was ever found or a death registration. I suspect she was never found as she was not listed as being with the family in the 1871 census return. I tried contacting the Liverpool police, who let me know that they have some records from that period but nothing on Matilda. I suspect that's probably the end of the story but can anyone suggest anywhere else that may have some information?

I attach a transcript of the Liverpool Daily Post article below:

"On Wednesday afternoon last, Matilda Richardson, a girl nine years of age, daughter of Mr. William Henry Richardson, a compositor in this office, and who resides at 55, Minto-street, Kensington, left her parents house to attend St. Jude’s school, Low–hill. She left school in due course in the evening, and, strange to say, has not since been seen or heard of by her friends, not-withstanding that the aid of the police has been called into action, and every other likely means adopted to lead to her discovery. The missing girl is intelligent and well conducted, and she lived most comfortably at home, which facts render her absence the more unaccountable. She is rather tall for her age, and is light complexioned. When she left school she had on a brown straw hat, a black and white dress, a light-coloured jacket, and laced-up boots. Any one who could give information relating to her would much relieve the anxiety of her parents."

Thanks very much for your help

Steve

Hi and welcome to the forum. What a sad story and so sorry that there may be no result.

Apart from the story having been spread around various newspapers I have seen no follow up, the original, over the next few days, has been in the Liverpool Mercury, and both the Dublin and Belfast newspapers, perhaps the story was concentrated on these areas because of the family's history in Ireland.

Welcome aboard Steve from the Apple Isle.
Her parents must have spent their lives never knowing what happened to Matilda.
So very sad.

RootsChat thread link to show research elsewhere:-

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=692587.0


Blue

Thanks Blue

Thank you Blue, no further info but will save us time going over old info.
Cheers

Hi Folks,

Thanks very much for your help.

It is a sad story.

What's really struck me from coming across this incident and indeed what I've learned so far from my family's story from these times, is the perils in just getting through childhood. Only six of fourteen and four of twelve children surviving is what I've come across so far. With disease, accidents and probably worse in this case, it was an achievement to make it to adulthood! Something which if I'd stopped and thought about I'm sure I realised, but when you see children's names attached to death certificates and in stories like this and imagine the regular grief parents must have gone through, it hits home how tough life must have been for many people back then.

Cheers

Hi, just an update. Matilda did not Vanish! Jane from Old Mersey Times has been helping me with this for the last few days. She discovered a younger brother (William John) to Matilda who was also not living with their father and stepmother in Liverpool in the 1871 census. Jane thinks that Matilda and William John may have been sent to a relative in Toronto, Canada....perhaps they couldn't get on with their stepmother. This is based on census records for Toronto. Certainly William John emigrated to Toronto in 1905.....perhaps because of a childhood experience there? I'm not totally convinced yet that they were sent to Canada but they were definitely sent or went somewhere.
I am a bit embarrassed to admit this because I was certain I had checked all the possibilities for her in Ireland. It turns out she married a Henry Moore in 1883 in Belfast. So, she was obviously found, after being missing for at least a few days! I wonder where she went whilst "missing".

Well done! Old Mersey Times is one of my favourite sites, so many snippets for all sorts of things, and Jane does an excellent job. Glad she was able to find some details for you.