Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I am researching a gentleman called Ralph Brocklebank (1870 - 1921), especially in respect to his Egyptology interests.

Mr Brocklebank was I believe a relative of the shipping owner Sir Thomas Brocklebank (of the Cunard-Brocklebank shipping line) who lived at Childwall Hall. Ralph Brocklebank was later to live there himself.

If anyone could provide any information about him - no matter how small - I would be grateful. I am also interested in the known whereabouts of any existing correspondence/living descendants.

Thanks for the help!

Searching newspapers online for Ralph Brocklebank probably won't give anything after 1900. Still I searched for his name and found many mentions of a previous Ralph Brocklebank including a huge obituary in the Liverpool Mercury Wednesday, February 3, 1892, which stated that he died at his residence of Childwall Hall, the previous day at the age of 89.

He was born in Whitehaven and his company seems to have been Messrs T and J Brocklebank, father and uncle of this Ralph. He was Chairman of the Royal Insurance for several years, and also took an interest in the Royal Infirmary, the Seaman's Orphanage, the Mercantile Marine Association, the Bluecoat Hospital and the Aged Home for Mariners at Egremont.

I don't know how this Ralph is related to yours or even if you have any interest in him, but there will be many mentions of him in the newspapers.

Hello, H/hound
There is a short biog in Pyke's Contemporary Biographies, published in 1911. There will be a copy in the Liverpool Record Office (I think due to reopen next Monday) but if you cannot visit I will email you an extract - please send me a PM with email your address. There is a photo, with fine moustache!
It confirms that he was a son of Thomas B.
D

OK so this is obviously not the same Ralph as above, but also no guarantee that it's your Ralph.

Liverpool Mercury Thursday, February 1, 1900
At the annual meeting of the Trustees of the Royal Infirmary, Liverpool,
"....The Treasurer, Mr Ralph Brocklebank, said that efforts were being made to remove hardship which the medical charities of the city suffer in being compelled to pay rates."

Also from the Liverpool Mercury, Tuesday, October 31, 1899
Among others, Ralph Brocklebank contributed £25 toward Aid for Widows and Orphans of the gallant soldiers who fall in the war.

Liverpool Mercury, Tuesday, October 10, 1899
Suicide of a Liverpool Lady - Inquest and Verdict
Lady Edwards, wife of Sir James Bevan Edwards, has committed suicide at Tunbridge Wells by taking salts of lemon. She had been under treatment for mental trouble. The deceased lady, Alice Anne Edwards, was the only daughter of the late Mr Ralph Brocklebank of Childwall Hall, Liverpool and was married to Lieutenant-General Sir James Bevan Edwards KCMG, CB, MP, in 1868.

daggers wrote:It confirms that he was a son of Thomas B.
D

Aha! so then he will be nephew of the other Ralph.

I've rethought that, judging by dates, I suspect he will be another generation later ....

Trying to see how he fits into the family but he's not evident in 1891

Church Road, Childwall, Lancashire
Ralph Brocklebank Head Widower 87 Retired Ship Owner and Merchant J.P. Whitehaven Cumberland
Ralph " Jun. Son Single 51 " J.P. Liverpool, Lancashire
Mary Elsie " Grand-daughter Single 18 Liverpool Lancashire
Alexander McGregor Visitor Married 38 Ass Member of the Inst of Civil Engineers Liverpool Lancashire
together with several servants
RG12; Piece: 3003; Folio 110; Page 2

1881 Childwall Hall, Childwall, Lancashire
Ralph BrocklebankHead Mar 77 JP East India Merchange and Ship Owner, Lancashire Liverpool
Eliza Ann Wife M 70 Lancashire Liverpool
Ralph son Unm 41 JP as above merchant " "
Ann J Macgregor Sister Wid 60 " "
and servants
RG11; Piece: 3718; Folio: 83; Page: 1

Well there is a birth for Ralph Eric Brocklebank Q4 1870 West Derby 8b 547 but did the family go abroad or something right after his birth? There are still only Ralph and Elizabeth and son Ralph at childwall Hall in the 1871 census. RG10; Piece: 3852; Folio: 30; Page: 8

But in 1861 we finally see the other son and get a note of his age.

Woodlands Road, Tanesley? Garston, Lancashire
Ralph Brocklebank Head M 57 Magistrate India Merchant, Ship Builder, Ship Owner Cumberland, Whitehaven
Ralph Son Un 21 Merchant's Clerk Lancashire Liverpool
Thomas Son Un 19 " " " "
and servants
RG9; Piece: 2738; Folio: 87; Page: 25

A couple of marriages, both in All Saints, Childwall - suspect this is Ralph's parents

Thomas Brocklebank to Mary P Royds in 1867 and
Alice A Brocklebank to James B Edwards in 1868

Is it because he was the younger child that not much of a fuss was made, I don't see any newspaper announcements for either the marriage or the birth of young Ralph.

There are mentions in Elections, jurors and even a notice in a newspaper by gardener to Thomas Brocklebank that lead me to believe that in the late 1860's, his address might have been Springwood, Allerton.

I wonder if this is him?
Liverpool Mercury, Wednesday, September 29, 1875
ABERCROMBY WARD
We hear that the liberals in this Ward inend to bring forward Mr Thomas Brocklebank for the seat-vacant by the death of Mr Robert Gladstone.

although in another article he is noted to be "Thomas Brocklebank Jun."

Now I'm confused.

I have another look at the biog of RB in Pyke's Biogs: The Ralph Eric Royds Brocklebank dealt with there was born in 1870, recreations hunting, shooting and lawn tennis, and rowing at Henley. No mention of Egyptology...
D

daggers wrote:The Ralph Eric Royds Brocklebank

With that middle name we might be safe to assume that he's the son of Mary Royds, and I would definitely have thought father Thomas to be the right one since the marriage took place in Childwall, but I suppose without the necessary documentation - ie marriage details, we can't be 100% sure that we have the right guy.

The Brocklebank link with Springwood lingers on in the shape of 'Brocklebank Lane', off Mather Avenue, Allerton.
D

Thanks everyone for all your help. I am now going to sit down with a cup of coffee and digest all this! I really appreciated the help!

Daggers...will pm you about the photo!

I looked in the Liverpool Records Office website and typed in Brocklebank in the search, there are quite a few various records held there, but thought these few may be of interest.

RefNo Title Date
11 "Belfast" SS (T & J Brocklebank)(1874): Brocklebank's "Belfast"
12 Bridge control in Brocklebank cargo liner: description of pneumatic system in MS "Mahout"
13 387 CRE/149 Brocklebank 1908
14 352 ENG/2/9042 Brocklebank and Canada Docks 1930
15 Brocklebank Dock: Description of the Canada and Langton Docks improvement scheme
16 (Brocklebank, Ralph) [Biographical notes]
17 (Brocklebank, Ralph) [Obituary notice.]
18 Brocklebank, Ralph - Portrait
19 Brocklebank, Sir Thomas - Portrait
20 'Brocklebank': the oldest shipping company in the world

Jan

Historyhound
email received and replied to with extract.
D

Thanks Jan...this list will prove invaluable! I am hoping to get up to Liverpool from Wales in the next few months so this will save me lots of time. I really appreciate your help.

Thanks Daggers!