Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

The Times and other newspapers reported on 26 August 1858 the elopement of a young lady, 'daughter of an eminent medical gentleman residing at Aigburth' with the conductor of an Aigburth omnibus. The couple had been secretly married .at 'Everton church, by licence'. No names are given.

This intriguing story calls for some details! Can we find out from directories if any eminent or other medical men are listed for Aigburth at that time? If that reveals a surname, can we track the marriage to one of the several churches in Everton? Is anything else known of this story?
EDIT to add that the Preston Guardian of 28 August named the church as St George's, Everton and the marriage as 'about a month ago'.
Daggers

Marriages for St George Everton are on the Lancashire OPC site but I can't see any for the right time which match either the occupation of the groom or the occupation of the brides father. Perhaps they were a bit economical with the truth on the marriage certificates?

Alison

How about this one?

23July 1858 by licence

James McMahon 21 book keeper
Margaret Bevan 21

Both of Aigburth Road Toxteth Park her father John Bevan gentleman.

On a tree on Ancestry John Bevan is apparently a surgeon in 1841 in Bailey Lane Aigburth but I've not checked it myself.

Now checked and he is.

1861 John's wife Mary is a widow living in Ellesmere Shropshire with her daughter Margaret McMahon ( married) and 4 other Bevan children

In 1851 2 of Margaret's siblings are with their grandmother Eluzabeth Bevan at Clayton Lodge Garston. She has a groom called James McMahon possibly too old to be Margatet's husband but you never know!

John Bevan died 29 March 1859 according to the probate index is wife Mary was his sole executrix effects under £5000. He is listed as of Aigburth surgeon.

By the 1871 census James and Margaret McMahon are living at 57 Rodney Street Liverpool with their 2 sons and 2 of Margaret's brothers and have an American doctor and his wife boarding with them.

Found in 1860 directory
P R H Thomson living in Beechwood Road, Aigburth , surgeon

Checked in 1861 Census and found him living at same address with wife Margaret, b.I O M, Onchan,
but listed as J R Heyworth Thomson
He was born in 1815 in London Highgate. Practicing as Physician
He had a few servants! who were from I O M, but no children living with them.

Can't find him in any other census so far.
Will keep looking

http://newspapers.library.wales/view/45 ... 0ELOPEMENT.

It would seem from the 1871 census that the couple did get together and had 2 sons in the 1860s see my posts above or did she marry another James McMahon?

Baptism at St James CE Toxteth





Blue

Parents,

St James, Toxteth

Death Index

Name: Margaret Lea McMahon
Estimated birth year: abt 1837
Registration Year: 1902
Registration Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at Death: 65
Registration district: Edmonton
Inferred County: Middlesex
Volume: 3a
Page: 220


Blue

1901 Census

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X98D-Z6D


Blue

I have just seen all your excellent input - thanks all round. Its too late to digest it now, but I'll be back tomorrow.

D

Returning after some browsing, with comments.

Baileys Lane in Aigburth is now Mersey Road. Clayton Ledge was demolished a few years ago and now has several houses on the site.
I do not think the groom employed at Clayton Lodge in 1851 could be the same James McMahon, but might be his father. I shall have a poke around.
James, the runaway bridegroom, gave several different ages in census returns but seems to have been born in Manchester around 1837. His occupations varied, too, from storekeeper to ship's clerk to chief steward in Merchant Marine.
All seems to have ended happily for the couple, if not for Margaret's father who tried unsuccessfully to have the marriage annulled.

Altogether a most interesting exercise, with great contributions all round. Thanks too to Erika, but your suggestion was a bit off the mark this time.

Daggers