Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

After watching WDYTYA with Gareth Malone and his music hall ancestors, it reminded me of my ancestor's brother who appeared to be a music hall performer, here is a brief history:-

Edward PLIMMER (Plimber crossed out) was baptised on 28 Aug 1827 at Bethesda Chapel, Pennington, Leigh, Lancashire the son of Edward PLIMMER (originally from Asterley in Shropshire) a coal miner living in Westleigh and Ann (nee HORROCKS, originally of Hindley, Lancashire)

In 1841 living with his parents and sister at Harrison Fold, Bedford, Leigh Lancashire but by 1851 he had moved to Wallgate Street, Wigan, Lancashire were he is listed as a musician, and visitor to the CUNLIFFE family

On Thursday Evening November 18th 1852
"Mr. Edward Plimmer, of Bedford(Leigh), the celebrated accordion and patent flutina player, who has successfully performed at the principal concerts throughout England, Ireland and Scotland will give a grand vocal and instrumental concert at the Town Hall, Leigh."

He married on 08 January 1855 at Liverpool, St Nicholas, to Anna BEXFIELD (from Norwich, Norfolk) a vocalist and sister of Dr William Richard BEXFIELD, composer. Edward's address at the time was Moorfields and Anna's was Williamson Square both in Liverpool.

On the 24 June 1856 at 53 Greek St, Soho, London their only child Anna Elizabeth PLIMMER was born, she would make her first stage appearance as "The Infant Anna" aged 6 years.

By 1861 the family are at Rome Lane, Chatham, Kent lodging with the GARDENER family but by 1871 Edward is at 5 Frederick Street, Plymouth, Devon as a visitor to the GILBERT family, while both Annas are at 13 Alfred Street, Preston, Lancashire as lodgers at the SEDDON household.

Tragedy strikes on 29 March 1878 at 64 Seel Street, Liverpool where Edward dies aged 50 years of phthisis and dropsy. Anna his widow, of the same address, is the informant on the certificate. I realise now I have yet to search for his burial location!

In the census of 1881 both Annas are at 19 North Pavement, Barnsley, Yorkshire as boarders in the WOOD household but by 1883 they have left England behind as Anna Elizabeth becomes the wife of James YUILL on 19th Nov at Blackfriars House, Dennistoun, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

By 1891 the YUILL family (including 4 children) and Anna PLIMMER are living at 142 Ingleby Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland but sadly this is where Anna dies on 04 Nov 1891. Her daughter Anna Elizabeth YUILL dies the following year on 23 Dec 1892 at 165 Onslow Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, after child birth. I imagine they were both buried in Glasgow.

James YUILL remarried on 17 May 1893 to Ellen HARRISON nee WRENCH (originally of Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England) at Christ Church, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. They appear in Glasgow in 1901, Northern Ireland by 1911 and Ellen has died in Aberdeen by 1915. James was to die in Aberdeen in 1931 and as yet I have not discovered if he remarried for a third time.

The YUILL children of James and Anna are:
James Edward 1884 – 1892
John Archibald 1886 – 1964
William 1888 - ?
Anna Margaret 1890 – 1986 (married name McKINNON)
Jane 1892 – 1892

A smashing potted history, well done on what you have found so far, I wonder if there is any more known. A pity you wouldn't be able to get to Leigh today for the Leigh For All, our Leigh Group members will be present there.

No entry for Edward in the 1853 directory for Liverpool, but as it's not a common name thought I'd just post this entry in case he was related.
Plimmer Henry, boot and shoemaker, shop, 54, Dale street

and also in the 1860 directory for the same man with the additional premises of 11 Lansdowne Place, Everton and 220 Scotland Road as well as 44 Dale Street. (Wonder if one of the directories had this address mistakenly numbered or whether Henry moved).

Thanks for that - he's not one of ours lol - did write to several listed in the "Merseyside / Cheshire / Grt Manchester" areas back in the 1990s and none of them were related to mine. As far as I am aware the only living line was in the Somerset area but I am the last of this branch! ;-/

I think the Plimmers, and a Mr Ormond, were "The British Minstrels"

Playbill here from the Royal Alhambra, Leeds, January 17th 1859 http://www.leodis.net/playbills/enlarge ... 5_46862429

WOW what a find - fantastic - thank you so much!

(even if a little unpc now - oo er)

plimmerian wrote: (even if a little unpc now - oo er)

I don't know so much, it doesn't state B&W Minstrels which is what those of us old enough to remember, think about Al Jolson, minstrels could be just wandering singers. I wonder if there are any write ups in newspapers about them.

Did you know that The Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser 1856, 1860, 1862, 1864 - 1865 have been added to the British Newspaper Archive.
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

Not bothered to check advertisements, you may already have these but I like the flavour they add to the story, they were obviously well liked.

The Era (London, England), Sunday, May 23, 1858; Issue 1026
Midland Concert Hall
Messrs. Binion & Humphreys give the various songs of the Christy Minstrels with great success and in their extraordinary style of violin playing are much admired. Nor much the musical performance of Messrs. Plimmer and Ormond, the British Minstrels, on various instruments including the pipe a la Picco, be passed over without compliment. The fine singing of Madame Copare and the ludicrous comic effusions of Jem Moss are received with deserved applause by the numerous visitors.

The Era (London, England), Sunday, June 27, 1858
Langs Victoria Music Gallery (Proprietor Mr Pullan)
Messrs Plimmer and Ormond who were for a long time engaged at Evans Covent Garden are worthy of the praise awarded them, their instrumental performances being greatly admired. Amongst the other members of the company we have Mr T. Watson, Mrs J.R. Stephens, Miss Dunsmore, Miss F Isaacs and Miss Lizzy Clifford.

The Era (London, England), Sunday, August 15, 1858
Manchester, Royal Casino, Lower Mosely Street
A first rate company is at present engaged here, the proprietor doing everything to command success. The first on the list is Mr W. Walford, soi-disant the Negro Monarch. He is remarkably clever in his business either as a vocalist or instrumentalist. Secondly there are the "British Minstrels" Messrs. Plimmer and Ormond the performance on the accordion and two whistles by the former, deserving of much praise. Mr Brennan and Miss Howell duettists. The Brothers Ray and Paddy Carey form the rest of the company and are all good in their lines.

thanks for sharing MaryA more research needed there I feel.

Would there be a likely churchyard / cemetery near Seel Street that would be a likely burial place in 1878?

There are so many cemeteries and burial places in Liverpool, we put together a collection as much as we could including dates opened. Further down the page are links to some websites with transcriptions but as there are a huge number of entries on some of the pages and sub pages, it is often easier to do a search down the page for the name you want (Alt E, F will open the dialogue).
http://forum.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk ... =14&t=5739

thanks for that

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... 03&df=all&

Thank you Richard for your time and research, I've been able to add him to the family!

I now have the burial details of his wife Anna and daughter Anna Elizabeth Yuill at Eastern Necropolis, Gallowgate, Glasgow - never thought it would ever happen! Phew!

plimmerian wrote:I now have the burial details of his wife Anna and daughter Anna Elizabeth Yuill at Eastern Necropolis, Gallowgate, Glasgow - never thought it would ever happen! Phew!

Well that's a surprise, I thought you were looking for the grave in the Liverpool area.

sorry just seen your reply - I was hoping his wife, if not his daughter, had been brought back to Liverpool to be buried with Edward!

sadly it seems he is buried alone in an unmarked grave in Anfield