Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hello, we are new to this so would be grateful for any top tips!

My Gt Grandfather was John Joseph Ward and was killed at Sea on HMS Ivernia in 1917, aged 32.

His widow Winefred Mary Ward (Nee Hurley) also died young and so none of the family information was passed on.

We know from a marriage certificate in 1907 that John Josephs father was also a John Ward but have no other information.

We know that John Ward (snr) had a brother - but don't have any names.

We would love to hear from other Wards in Crosby/Litherland area in Liverpool.

Many thanks
Catherine

You may know that the CWGC Debt of Honour Register lists those whose lives were given in WW1 &2.
Here is the entry from that site, which does not reproduce the appearance.

Casualty Details
Name: WARD, JOHN JOSEPH
Initials: J J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Fireman
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine
Unit Text: S.S. "Ivernia" (Liverpool)
Age: 32
Date of Death: 01/01/1917
Additional information: Son of the late John, and Elizabeth Ward; husband of Winifred Mary Ward (nee Hurly), of 13, Edgar Terrace, Seaforth, Lancs. Born at Litherland, Liverpool.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: TOWER HILL MEMORIAL

The 1901 and 1911 census may help you to find other family members.
D

Thanks Daggers, thats him, we just have to trace his Dad now. I will try the other census dates that you suggested.

Thanks for your help

I think this is the family in 1901

28 Hand St Litherland
Elizabeth Ward H widow 37 general shop bn Liverpool
John Ward son 17 bn Seaforth
James Ward son 15 bn Bootle
Thomas Ward son 11 bn Whitley Cheshire
Mary M Ward daughter 3 bn Ford
James McCoy father M 61 shipwright bn Liverpool
george McCoy brother 16 bn Liverpool

OK for Whitley read Whitby Cheshire (part of or near Ellesmere)

1891 census Station rd Whitby Cheshire
John Ward H M 36 brick not sure next work possibly burner bn ireland
Elizabeth wife 27 bn Liverpool
John son 7 bn Litherland
James son 5 bn Bootle
Thomas son 1 bn Whitby
also 3 lodgers

www.lancashirebmd.org.uk shows that John Ward married Elizabeth MacKay in 1882 it was a West Derby register attended or civila marriage so possibly a RC marriage. Crosby library have a lot of RC registers for the Bootle area which might help.

Ed Officer

Thank you so much, this looks very promising. John Ward (junior) looks like it could be our own John Joseph Ward.

My next query is, that if his father was deceased in 1901 - (as per census info that his mum was a widow), should JJWs marriage certificate in 1907 refer to his father as John Ward (deceased)? It doesn't say deceased on it.

Quite often certificates didn't record that the father was deceased. It would depend on whether the couple where asked that question. If they were just asked what's your father's name that'd be it. I shouldn't worry too much about that. However was John Jun's marriage in a RC church? If so I'd check the entry in their marriage register. The RC marriuage registers give some different information to the official marriage certificate.

Ed Officer

Brilliant, thanks. It was an RC church so will look into that lead. We can also now try and find out how and when John snr died.

Thanks for all your help

If you tell us which church we might be able to help with were to find the records of the church

On www.liverpoolhistoryprojects.co.uk

I found that John Ward married Elizabeth McCoy in 1882 at St John RC Church

This site has a facility for you to obtain a copy of the entry in the RC Church's own marriage register for a small fee. However those entries do not always give the father's names so you might want to search and get the marriage certifictae from the GRO.

Ed Officer

St Johns RC in Kirkdale I wonder? Fountains Road...

John Joseph Ward married Winefred Mary Hurley at St Elizabeths RC Church, Pennington Road, Litherland in 1907

Mum thinks that these records will be at the church.

Thank you so much for your help its very much appreciated.

If it is St John RC their register are at Liverpool Record Office at the Central library and you can have a look at them on film there and print out the entry you want. You might find the children's baptisms there as well.

Goog hunting

Ed Officer

Crosby Record Office hold records for

LITHERLAND

St Elizabeth RC - Baptisms 1905 - 1941, Marriages 1906 - 1941 (Microfilm)

LOCAL HISTORY UNIT CROSBY LIBRARY
0151-257 6401
Email: local-history.south@leisure.sefton.gov.uk

It looks as if you're going to be busy. Crosby Library is shut on Thursday afternoons!

Ed Officer

It certainly does - we're all excited now, thanks for all the help,
Catherine