Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

New member tracing the Wood family tree.
I have traced back to my 4th great grandfather, John Lee Wood. He was born about 1772 but I cannot find anything before that.
He got married in Liverpool St Thomas in 1805 to Maria Parr from Neston (1770-1856). His occupation at that time was listed as Mariner.
Both of his sons were christened in Parkgate on the Wirral. Henry (1806-1870) and Lee (1811-1873) He then became the publican at the Red Lion in Parkgate.
He died in 1843 leaving property in Mersey Court,Liverpool to his son Henry. His other son Lee continued in the Red Lion. The Wood family had the Red Lion for nearly a century.
As a Mariner he could have come in from anywhere but getting married and leaving property in Liverpool suggests a strong link with the City.
All help appreciated.
Thanks for looking.
Ron Wood

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I wondered who might have lived at Mersey Court in the 1841 census, the Society has compiled the street index for 1841 and 1851 censuses
https://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/ ... -IND-M.htm

I have only found Mercy Court which could be the one, either your information or the enumerator may be a mis-spelling/mistranscription.

MERCY COURT Piece 555 LIVERPOOL, DALE STREET Parted 14 Book 17

It would appear to be in the area of Great Crosshall Street - this map is C1900 http://www.liverpoolhistoryprojects.co. ... az/N10.htm but gives you an idea.

You might also be interested to know what the place would have been like, google "court housing liverpool" and you will come up with several links to give you an idea.

I will check a couple of Trade Directories to see if I can find his name.

I keep finding, Mersey Court, Old Churchyard, Liverpool, mentioned in the same breath.

In the event it has any significance later,

1766, Gores Directory, Liverpool.

Edward Woods & CO, Coal Merchants, Old Churchyard.

I know these are Woods rather than Wood, but worth keeping on file

Lewis's Liverpool for 1790 has an entry for
Woods Capt. John 15 St Paul's Square

Gores for 1772 has
John Woods, Victualler, Hanover Street

The 1841 census shows him as not born in the county, so he's not from Cheshire!

You say he left property, do you have a copy of his will? Does it give any more useful information?

And another question, I see Maria's estate had letters of Administration with will annexed do you have this will as again there might be useful info in it. The administration was granted to a grandson.

Gore's for 1843 places Mersey Court at 9 Covent Garden. Looks like a commercial property. Perhaps there was also an entrance in Old Churchyard.

In the Neston Parish registers it says Lee alias Leigh dau ( daughter ) of John sailor and Maria Wood.

I'm confused!

Thanks for the prompt replies.
In reply.
I do have a copy of his Will but it only mentions property in Mersey Court , Liverpool that he left to his son Henry.
As he is stated as not being from Cheshire I have searched other counties but nothing as yet.
I have seen Leigh, daughter mentioned too. She is listed as the same birthday as Lee but I cannot find any other mentions. My thoughts are either a mistake in entry or a twin that died at birth. But I cannot find any other mention of her.
I also think as a Mariner he visited Parkgate and Liverpool regularly but where he came from I am still struggling. His wife Maria was from Neston/Parkgate but they married in Liverpool?
Thanks again everyone.

In which documents does he use Lee? I was wondering if it really is Leigh and perhaps it was his mother's maiden name. Just an idea.

In all documents I have found he is Lee. His mother's maiden name was Parr.
The Lee name occurs down the Wood line from John Lee. I thought it might have been John Lee's mothers maiden name but no luck.
Thanks again.