William Wilkinson b.1864c

Post by **Caroline** » 07 Mar 2010 21:03

Hi all,

I have hit a brick wall in my research and wondered if anyone could offer any advice on how to move forward.

My ancestor, William Wilkinson born abt 1864 in Liverpool.
I am trying desperately to find his parents, but to no avail.

I have sent away for his marriage cert (he married a Martha Wignall), and his father is also called William Wilkinson!! So, back to square one!

I don't know where to go from here.

Because it is such a common name, I can't think how to find his parents details on the census', or find his mother's maiden name.
Even if I send away for a few birth certificates, how can I be sure which is the right one?! (I think that's rhetorical!)

I have all of his details from census' up to 1911, but can not find him before he was married in 1889, as I don't know which one he is!

Sorry to ramble, any advice would help.

Carrie

Post by **jan44** » 07 Mar 2010 22:39

Hi Caroline,

I see William and Martha Married in St Peters (according to Lancs BMD),

How do you know William's father was also called William?

I have found a family on the 1871 census living in Park Road Toxteth, it may be worth keeping the info for now, only if it's for elimination, when you get the marriage cert, giving William's father's occupation, that might help in narrowing things a bit.

Here is the family I found in the 1871.

RG10 3799 119 57

William W Wilkinson age 53 Glass Blower and Photographer born Yorkshire
Mary wife age 35 born Liverpool
Thos J son 11
Mary J dau 10
WILLIAM 7
George H 4 (it says 11 on anc site but it is 4 on actual image
Rebecca 11 months

All children born Liverpool.

Hope that is of some help.

Get back when you have the marriage cert and tell us William's father's name and occupation.
Jan

Post by **Pegasus** » 07 Mar 2010 23:03

Carrie.

further to the Family found by Jan:

This Williams father was 'William W. ', so I did a search on the familysearch.org website & found:

WILLIAM WATSON WILKINSON

Birth: 16 APR 1864
Christening: 12 MAY 1864, Saint Peter, Liverpool, Lanc's

Parents:
Father: WILLIAM WILKINSON
Mother: MARY

Also, on FreeBDM:
Births June Qtr 1864
WILKINSON William, W' Derby 8b 317

Hope this is 1. the right Family & 2. of help!

Post by **CaroleW** » 07 Mar 2010 23:03

Hi

I think you already have the marriage cert hence knowing his father was William

What is his fathers occupation on the cert

I wonder if he could be the William Wilkinson b 1864 Liverpool who is in the Toxteth Workhouse in 1871. There is also a Richard Wilkinson aged 5 shown next but one to William's entry

Post by **jan44** » 07 Mar 2010 23:08

I found the same family in the 1881 census and 1891 still living in Park Road, Mary is a Widow in both 1881 and 1891, and William Jnr is listed with the family in 1891, age 26 occ glass blower, but I also found William and Martha in 1891 census.

So confusing!

Jan

Post by **Pegasus** » 07 Mar 2010 23:10

If My above post is correct, then this may be Williams Parents Marriage:

June Qtr 1859, Liverpool 8b 97

WATKINSON William Thomas Watson
Married:
PERCIVAL Mary

Post by **Caroline** » 08 Mar 2010 08:06

Hi all.
Wow! Thanks for all of this research, really, really appreciate it.

I HAVE got William's marriage cert. His father is given as William Wilkinson also, and his occupation is brick maker. (William's himself is listed as fireman, although I think this was on board a ship)
William gives his address as Parliament St, as does his wife Martha. Which I found unusual! ( unless they lived together!)

I have found William and Martha as a married couple in the census', but can not find him (well, there are plenty of William Wilkinson's but I do not know which is correct!)
Pegasus- I always thought the West Derby birth in 1864 was correct. Alas, no maiden name on that one.

I am away for a few days now, but will follow all leads as soon as I am back.

Again, thanks so far all, most appreciated.

Post by **Tina** » 08 Mar 2010 08:37

With regard to Carole's post re Wm & Richd.
1881 census
Wm Wilkinson 16 brickmaker
Richd 18 brickmaker
Both boarding and born Lpool at 147 High Park St Tockie Park.

Perhaps worth keeping to one side.

Cheers and all the best
Tina

Post by **simone** » 08 Mar 2010 22:39

Hi

Who were the witnesses on the marriage cert

any clues there

Simone x

Post by **Tina** » 09 Mar 2010 08:48

Hi Caroline
Enjoy your few days away!
You said there was no maiden for the birth 1864, was there a first name for the Mother?
I'm presuming you must have sent for the birth cert?
Maiden names were not listed until around 1911.
Couples often listed the same address when the Banns were read to marry in the church of their choice.
Don't forgot, in those days, there could be lots of people living in the one house.

Tks
Tina

Post by **Caroline** » 10 Mar 2010 16:04

Hi

I am back now.

Thanks again for all of your research everybody, and suggestions.

I haven't sent for William's birth cert, as I do not know which William is the right one yet.

As for the witnesses on the marriage cert- these were:
George Smith and Isabella Smith.

I am just carrying on now...

Post by **Hilary** » 10 Mar 2010 17:11

I see you are in Wavertree so what I suggest you do is to go to Liverpool Record Office in Central Library on the 4th Floor. They are open everyday including Sundays. Before you go make a list from www.familysearch.org of podssible baptisms. Then at the Record Office look up all those baptisms and see if one has a fatehr with the job you want. If you find one you will then have more chance of being able to send for the ccorrect certificate. I'm afraid researching family history is not a fast process!

Hilary
Ed Officer

Post by **Caroline** » 12 Mar 2010 15:49

Hi there

thanks for the tip.
Since I work full time, it will have to be next weekend now.

Post by **colette** » 13 Mar 2010 10:06

Hi

RE the two boys in the Toxteth Park Worhouse.. Richard & William b 1862-64 Liverpool..
Also in the Worhouse is William Wilkinson born 1807 Lydiate a Brickmaker..and an Elizabeth Wilkinson born 1807 Ireland..

It could be William, had a youger wife who may have died who was the mother of Richard & William..he may have remarried to an Elizabeth.. or this Elizabeth may not be connected at all..

Regarding Lydiate these records are not on the IGI.. and i have checked Halsall as its near by and, cannot see a marriage for this William..

The only other Wilkinson from Lydiate was a Jonas born c 1810..he married a Mary Jenkins at St Peters Liverpool..

So i am thinking Jonas could be William's brother..

Problem i am having is finding William born Lydiate prior to 1871..can anyone else find him....???

Another thourght is could this William be the Grandfather of William & Richard.. maybe his daughter had the boys out of wedlock..so they had no father..and they used his name on the marriage cert...

I have seen this before..were a Grandads name has been used as a fathers name...

xx

Post by **Caroline** » 14 Mar 2010 18:12

Hi Col

That is a great piece of research. Thanks so much for all of this.

I am beginning to think the William in the workhouse is right. It seems to be the only DOB that is close to his on the census' too.

That's an interesting thought about William and Elizabeth both being in the workhouse too. I have the record up on Ancestry, and I am just going to have a further look.

Post by **colette** » 15 Mar 2010 21:18

Hi Caroline

whats interesting is that on the 1871 both boys say born Liverpool and the same on the 1881.. There are too many Williams born c 1864-66 in the Liverpool area...but there are NO Richard's born in Liverpool /West Derby in 1863-1868..going by his age in 1871 he was 5 in 1881 he was 18..so i am not 100% sure what year he was born ..

BUT free bmd is complete for those years and there are no Richard's so either its a middle name or he wasn't born in the Liverpool area..

I cannot seem to find Richard after 1881.. it would help to see a 3rd census just to confirm his age on that..

xx

Post by **Caroline** » 27 Jul 2010 09:03

Just to update on this - I am still no further on.

I have now sent off for a death certificate that could possibly be William's.
As he was born in 1864 (roughly) in West Derby (I think). I have found an entry for a death in West Derby in 1918 (8b 675) and have sent for this cert. The age given at time of death is 56, which would tie in with the birth year, give or take a year.

I am not sure what the certificate will really tell me, but it may provide something I don't already know.

When I receive the cert, I will post the details.

Post by **Caroline** » 27 Jul 2010 10:32

I have been looking at some possibilities on the 1881 census this morning.

There is a family living in Park Rd, Toxteth, with a mother called Mary who is a widow (which would fit, as on William's marriage cert in 1889, his father is listed as deceased).

The strange co-incedence is that in this census there are 2 siblings living with William, George and Isabella Wilkinson.

On William's marriage certificate, the witnesses are George and Isabella Smith.
Could these be the same 2 people I wonder?

Post by **MaryA** » 27 Jul 2010 11:58

The census entry Caroline is referring to in 1881 is

69 Park Road, Toxteth Park
Mary Wilkinson Head W 47 Furniture Packer Liverpool
Mary J daur 19 " "
William W son 16 " "
George H son 14 Shop Boy (furniture shop) "
Isabella daur 10 Scholar "
Charles T J son 6 " "
RG11; Piece: 3641; Folio: 41; Page: 16

This would seem to fit in with the family Jan found earlier.

Post by **Caroline** » 27 Jul 2010 11:59

Thanks Mary