Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

William Matthews was born 1856 Clayton Street, Islington Liverpool and his parents were William Matthews born c.1815 Ireland(Tailor)and Elizabeth McEvoy. William is shown in the 1911 census as living at Breckfield Road South as a widower aged 56, shore steward with Allan Bros, and a boarder of William and Jane Hollywood, aged 47,widow,housekeeper on own account,and Harold Mathews, son of Boarder, aged 7, scholar; Mary Hollywood aged 26, Waitress in Restaurant; Gilbert Hollywood aged 20 Operator at British American Tobacco; Alfred Matthews aged 7, scholar, Stanley Matthews aged 1 and half years. Listed as Head of household William Hollywood aged 24 Assistant Foreman B.A.T. and all living at 53 Breckfield Road, Liverpool. Death certificate of William in 1923 states formerly Shore Steward. Can anyone help with the name of William's late spouse please. Many thanks.

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There are quite a number of William Matthews born approximately that date, although he is easily identified by your description in the 1861 census, to follow him through forward may not be so easy.

Can you explain where you are coming from with this man - ie does he have a descendant you are following, what is his name and what date was he born? The answer to these questions might help to identify him in the 1901 census and maybe earlier as we need to narrow down when he would have married.

Apart from the three children boarding with William, are you aware of any older siblings? If not, is one of them your direct descendant, do you by any chance know the exact date of birth? and have you obtained the birth certificate, which will give his mother's maiden name?

For those looking to help, these are the 1861 census details

4 Hale Street, Dale street, Liverpool
William Matthews Head M 46 Tailor Ireland
Elizabeth Wife M 38 Ireland
Patrick son Un 21 Tailor Ireland
Mary Jane daur Un 19 Ireland
Catherine daur 8 Liverpool
William son 5 Liverpool
Ann Jones Boarder & Lodger Un 23 Seamstress Ireland
RG9; Piece: 2667; Folio: 108; Page: 17

Hello and many thanks you for your reply. Harold Matthews born 28.11.1905 was the son of William Matthews born 6.11.1856 and Harold was my husband Eric Matthews father. I discovered from the 1911 census my husband's grandfather was a widower and may have married in 1876 aged 20. I checked Lancashire BMD for marriages to William Matthews after 1876 and then checked the deaths and think he could have married a Teresa Daly who died in Dec Qtr 1891. According to the 1891 census, they had a daughter Catherine in 1879. So far I can find no trace of William or Teresa in 1901. As William was a Ship Steward he could have been at sea at the time of the census as he worked for Allan Bros, Liverpool and lived in the West Derby area. If he did in fact marry Teresa the 1881 and 1891 census show him as a butcher but he could have changed profession. I could send for the marriage certificate of Teresa and William but wonder if this will help. Williams mother was an Elizabeth McEvoy and an Elizabeth Matthews, mother,is shown in 1891 as living with Teresa and William. Hope you can make sense of the above and would be grateful if you could let me know what you think. The spelling of Matthews I notice is not consistent,e.g. Mathews, Matthews, Matthewes, which doesn't help. I cannot easily get to the Liverpool Record Office as I live in North Wales and any help would be appreciated.

Hi Penny easiest thing to do is get Harold Matthews born 28.11.1905 birth cert..

Mothers name will be on it ..otherwise you be guessing...

xx

Colette is correct, the birth certificate will give his mother's name. If you are positive about the date of birth you can order the certificate onine at http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/ - cost £7.

There are two Harold Matthews registered in the first quarter of 1906, one in West Derby (8b 517), the other in Toxteth Park (8b 200) with the middle name Joliffe.

The thing is, if you order without being certain of the GRO reference then the cost will be £10, but are you sure of knowing which area he would have been born in to order using the references as above. You can use the date of birth as "reference checking" so that if incorrect then they will charge you a search fee and refund part of your money.

As you are in England, my suggestion would be, rather than order online, to telephone the GRO and tell them that you have the date of birth and would that do instead of the GRO reference? Maybe they will agree to charge the basic fee.

How are you so sure that you have the correct date of birth for William? and that this particular William was the father of Harold?