Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi everyone.
Can anyone tell me if there is way I can follow up whether my ancestors became bankrupt/insolvent?

Someone told me George Antrobus (Liverpool butcher) may have become bankrupt in the 1840s or 1850s and I would like to follow this up.

Also, I have seen an item in the London Gazette indicating that Thomas Antrobus, butcher from Liverpool (could be George's father), was in the 'Court For Relief of Insolvent Debtors' on 28th March 1827 but I don't know what this means or whether I can check it is 'my' Thomas.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,
Glen Webb

London Gazette, Jan 12, 1859.

This may help,
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help ... t-debtors/

Liverpool Mercury, 1851,
Deficient Wieghts,
George Antrobus, Pork Butcher,
7 St James Market,

Heavy Scales, Fine, 2s 6d.

Thanks, Bert. You were spot on as usual. The records you have found definitely refer to my ancestor (the 'heavy scales' item was a bit of a surprise!) and the National Archives link looks very interesting. I'm going to see if I can find any records about Thomas Antrobus to see if I can confirm that he is my ancestor too.

Do you know what happened to people who were 'insolvent debtors'? Would they have gone to a debtors prison? Also, do you know whether there would be any further records available for me to research (e.g. court records)?

Thanks again for your help.

Regards,
Glen

I can't get the link to work, I hope this helps,

The Insolvent Debtors (England) Act (53 Geo. 3 c 102) was an Act of Parliament passed by the United Kingdom Parliament in 1813, during the reign of King George III.

It was enacted in response to the demands on the prison system imposed by the numbers of those being incarcerated for debt, and some concern for their plight. The Act created a new Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors that remained in existence until 1861, under the jurisdiction of a newly appointed Commissioner. Those imprisoned for debt could apply to the court to be released – unless they were in trade or guilty of fraudulent or other dishonest behaviour – by reaching an agreement with their creditors that ensured a fair distribution of their present and future assets.[1]

In the 1828 Pigot's Directory, Liverpool, there is/was only one Thomas Antrobus, Butcher, recorded.
Address, 4 St James Market. George Antrobus in later years was 7 St James Market. Very likely to be father and son. Unfortunately I haven't come across a connecting address concerning the bankruptcy.

Thanks agai, Bert. I am happy to go along with the idea that I have records for the father and son. Using the Pigot's Diectory for the addresses was a good call.

George might have had a rough time in the 1850s but seems to have done better in the 1860s and re-established himself as a reputable butcher as I have found a couple of newspaper records praising his shop and stock in the 1861 Christmas markets. I'm rather surprised how quickly traders got back on their feet again after insolvency!
Any indication in the Pigot's Directory that Thomas gets back on his feet after insolvency in 1827?

Also, I don't suppose you have a month for the 1851 Mercury record you found, do you?

G.

Hi Glen,

December 9, 1851, Liverpool Mercury.

Nothing more enlightening in the Pigot's.

1843 Gores, Liverpool.


1860 Gores

Gores Directory of 1827 - I wonder if Mary in Pitt Street might be related?
Antrobus James & Son, woollen drapers & hosiers, 21, Castle st
John, attorney, 8, Great Nelson street North
Mary, butcher, 15, Pitt street
Mary, milliner, &c. 35, Gloucester street

1843 Gores
Antrobus George, butcher 85 Rathbone St, stall 1 St Jas. mkt
Thomas, butcher, 9 Mould Street

1853 Gores
Antrobus George, Pork Butcher, Stall 1, St James market
John, coppersmith, 4 Railway Cottages, Wavertree Road
Thomas, Butcher, 9 Mould Street

1860 Gores
Antrobus George, pork butcher, 14 Hardy Street, Stall 1 St James market
Henry, boilermaker, 15 Llanrwst St
James, engine fitter, 4 Railway Cottages, Wavertree Road
James, lodging house, 47 Kirby St, Everton
Robert, engineer, 124 Bedford St, Toxteth Park

1863 Slaters - Butchers in St James market
1 Antrobus Geo.

1869 Slaters - Butchers in St James market
1 Antrobus Geo.

1870 Greens
Antrobus G, butcher, St James market

1871 Fultons - no entry.

1881 Kellys
Antrobus George, brewer, see Hancock &
Antrobus Antrobus Wm. John, fish curer,see FarmerMary(Mrs.)&Co

Thanks again for your help, Bert, although I think you may have given me another puzzle!
You said that the 1828 Pigots showed only one Thomas Antrobus who was a butcher. Well, as a result of another query re: the age of Thomas's wife, I had a note that I have only just followed up only to find that a Thomas Antrobus (butcher) married a widow called Mary Ann Scallion on 12 January 1828. I have the death certificate for a Mary Antrobus aged 71 issued in 1847. This definitely refers to Thomas's wife but I now think he may have had 2, both called Mary. However, none of the dates match up so I think it is back to the drawing board and perpas another message on the Forum.

Mary, you spotted a butcher called Thomas Antrobus on the 1843 Gores so perhaps that is my starting point - Thomas did have children called Mary Ann and Thomas whom I have not been able to trace yet.

Thanks again for taking the time to help.

G.

The 1828 marriage, Thomas Antrobus/ Mary Johanna Scallion, Widow. Thomas was recorded, Bachelor. Could be the son of Thomas Antrobus/Mary Briscoe, married 1801, Liverpool. Unless of course, Thomas was being naughty.

Bertieone wrote: Unless of course, Thomas was being naughty.

There are plenty of those about as we know

Thanks for your comments, Bert and Mary. I have been on holiday so it has taken a while to follow-up the leads you have both given me.

The Thomas reference was particularly interesting as I had come across 9 Mould Street before and was not sure if it related to one of my Antrobuses or not. I have followed the leads and the Thomas from Mould St was indeed the brother of George Antrobus and he was a butcher as well as a 'constable', which had confused me when I had originally looked at the censuses for 1841 and 1851.

It was also Thomas Jnr who married Mary Scallion, albeit she was nearly 30 years older than him so that sorted out another of my 'niggles'. Mary actally died when she was 66 and Thomas married Jane Myers in 1838. I found all that out thanks to you two!

Thanks again for taking the time to help.

Regards,
G.