Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

can anyone help me with the Purcell family the 1881 census has then listed as Pussil which is a spelling mistake living at 3 High st Widnes (this may have been the West bank area)

Martin 30 born Ireland
Mary 34 born Ireland
Annie 10 born Ireland
Ellen 9 born Widnes
Michael 8 born widnes
James 4 born Widnes

I know who the families of all are except Annie

Also by 1891 Mary is a widow still in Widnes with a Nicholas he is either her son or grandson if he is her grandson who was his mother

Help please

Carolyn

Hi Carolyn
It does say Nicholas is a grandson in 1891.
James is there 14 bn Widnes.
There's a dghtr Mary (not in 1881) who is born Widnes? 25 surname looks like Dodd widowed with two kiddies Thomas 5 & Mary C (Catherine) 3.
I've looked in Free BMD & both are born as Dodd in Prescot rego.
This Mary could just be a lodger??
1891 Michael is 18 boarding in Widnes.
Ellen 19 is in service in Eccles.
Mary A Purcell 20 bn Ireland in service Salford.

I can't drop on a birth for Nicholas.
1901 looks like he's in Birkdale Farm School under detention.

Let's hope the crew have more info

Tina

Hi
Thanks for the reply I dont think Mary Dodd is part of the Purcell family I have found a marriage for a Mary Howard and Thomas Dodd which looks correct with date and son also called Thomas

Annie is the one I cant find I know who Ellen married and know most of her family to date. I am also in contact with the family of Michael. I know that Nicholas came back to Widnes and married. His wife I believe died in childbirth and his son was adopted by Michael and his wife. But that still leaves Annie
Was she the mother of Nicholas or was a mistake made on the census return and it shoud have read son not grandson

Wish I knew



Carolyn

Hi Carolyn
There's a death in Prescot in june qtr 1881 for Martin Purcell age 33yrs.
We know with Irish folk their ages can be way out.
I guess it's possible Martin was the father of Nicholas.
Could Mary A be Annie? 2 sisters in service close to each other 1891.
Called Annie not to confuse with mother Mary?
This Mary A marries in Salford to George Copestake.
Did the family use the same church in Widnes?
Perhaps Nick was baptised there?

Thanks

Tina

Hi
I think the death for Martin could be correct as James was the last child born to them (if Nicholas was a grandchild)
If Annie was Mary Ann and did not return to Widnes after her marriage that would explain why there is no trace of her here. I have been speaking to the oldest family members from Ellen who married Edwin Rushton and Michael who married Mary Ann Kinsella and they all remember Nick but dont recall any mention of Annie

This still leaves me with the parents for Nicholas
I think all baptisms would have been in St Patricks West Bank as that was the catholic church for West Bank it is no longer there so I am going to try to find out who has the records


Regars Carolyn

St Patrick's was only opened in 1888. The original registers and films for the older RC churches in Widnes are at Lancashire Record Office at Preston . This is taken from their catalogue

WIDNES, St Marie; Archdiocese of Liverpool
C 1861-1901 D 1865-1899 Orig reg RCWS 2
C 1861-1901 D 1865-1899 Copy reg MF 9/271-273
C 1864-1941 M 1866-1941 Copy reg Microfilm MF 9/173-174
WIDNES, St Patrick; Archdiocese of Liverpool
C 1888-1906 Orig reg RCWS 3
C 1888-1941 M 1889-1941 Copy reg Microfilm MF 9/176

There may well be copies at Cheshire RO in Chester or possibly at Warrington. It might be worth a phone call to wherever is nearest.

Ed Officer

Hi Carolyn dont know if this helps.
St. Maries Baptisms, shows Helena born 26 sep. 1871 Jacobus 1 jun1876 and Stephanus Michael 26 dec 1873 all children of Martin and Maria Purcell
mothers maiden name Hunt.
Chris

Hi Chris
Thank you so much for this information the children are correct. Their eldest child Annie was born in Ireland and I found a birth 1869 parents Martin Purcell and Mary Hunt but I did not know if it was correct.

You have now confirmed this for me so I must again say a big thank you.

How did you manage to get the details for St Maries as other records from there would help me .

Thanks again

Carolyn

Hi carolyn I transcribed them for the Widnes FHS who have a hard copy. Widnes Library also have microfilm.
Chris

Hi Chris

Thanks again a trip to Widnes Library will be my next step

Regards Carolyn

Hi Carolyn Widnes Library also has Microfilm of St. Patricks and St. Bedes.Widnes FHS is in process of transcribing St. Patricks and has transcribed St. Bedes. We meet last Wednesday in each month next meeting is this coming Wednesday. No record of Nicholas at St. Maries.
Chris.

Hi Chris and welcome to the forum, lovely that your first postings are so helpful.

PS just figured out where you link in from.

Mary