Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi there
I am wondering if anyone can give me any pointers regarding Michael Ferns born to Thomas Ferns and Bridget Nugent, please. He is on the 1881 census at 33 Eccles Street, but then it seems he disappears. There is a Michael Ferns in the Liverpool Truants School in 1891, but I cannot verify that it is him. Do you know if there would be a record of his admission to this place, assuming it is him?
I have looked everywhere but I just cannot find him. Any ideas please?

Many thanks.

Kathy

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I found a death in West Derby in 1917 that could be him, but I think the only way to verify this is to buy a death certificate. I would like to be a little more certain bfore I waste money on another cetificate.

Thanks.

Kathy

The only one I can find in the Record Office Catalogue is Hightown Truant's School - I did a search for the word Truant
Ref 352 SOC
"RECORDS OF LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL CHILDREN'S HOMES. INCLUDES:
WESTMINSTER HOUSE (FORMERLY KIRKDALE HOMES)
GREYSTONE HEATH COMMUNITY HOME (FORMER APPROVED SCHOOL AND PREVIOUSLY HIGHTOWN TRUANT SCHOOL & SANKEY SCHOOL)
ST. CHRISTOPHER COMMUNITY HOME (FORMER APPROVED SCHOOL)"

By the address would this seem to be the same one you mentioned?

Hi Mary

Yes, it is the one in Hightown, Crosby. There is a Michael Ferns (Fearns?) there in 1891. Would you know if there are admission records for its pupils? If so, do you know if they would detail where he came from and why?

Thanks.

Kathy

The dates cover 1889-1989 but that appears to be for more than just that school and they all differ. I think you should email them to ask the specific question and date. http://liverpool.gov.uk/libraries/archi ... y-history/

Title RECORDS OF LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL CHILDREN'S HOMES. INCLUDES:
WESTMINSTER HOUSE (FORMERLY KIRKDALE HOMES)
GREYSTONE HEATH COMMUNITY HOME (FORMER APPROVED SCHOOL AND PREVIOUSLY HIGHTOWN TRUANT SCHOOL & SANKEY SCHOOL)
ST. CHRISTOPHER COMMUNITY HOME (FORMER APPROVED SCHOOL)
Description Records of Fazakerley Cottage Homes, Olive Mount Children's Hospital, Boys' Home, and Westminster House (formerly Kirkdale Homes). These includes Creed Registers and Admission and Discharge Registers.

Creed Registers, Registers of Children and Registers of Out of Town Children are arranged in alphabetical sections according to the first letter of surname, and within each alphabetical section in chronological order of admission. None of these registers are indexed by name of child. Covering dates given are always given for admissions.

The records of Greystone Heath Community House include a log book, minute book and an After Care book which is indexed by name. St. Christopher's Community Home contains only minutes. The miscellaneous items include a Local Authority Disposals (Placement Register) which is indexed by name of placements and their contact details. It does NOT give details of individuals sent on placements. Also included is a Register of Committals to Day Industrial Schools, a Liverpool Reformatory Schools Register and Registers of Committals to Approved Schools, all of which are indexed by the child's name.

Ref No 352 SOC/5/1
Title Hightown Truant School Log Book
Description Includes headmaster's reports, 1932-1933
Date 1914-1933

For the crew, this is Michael Ferns in 1881...

RG11 Piece 3601 Folio 66 Page 50
Address: 33 ECCLES ST, LIVERPOOL

THOMAS FERNS HEAD MARRIED 36 CARTER - LIVERPOOL
BRIDGET FERNS WIFE 33 - LIVERPOOL
JAMES FERNS SON 14 SCHOLAR - LIMERICK
CHARLES FERNS SON 10 SCHOLAR - LIVERPOOL
THOMAS FERNS SON 7 SCHOLAR - LIVERPOOL
MICHAEL FERNS SON 0 - LIVERPOOL
MARY ELLEN HART SERVANT u/m 18 DOM SERVANT - LIVERPOOL

1891?
RG12 Piece 2983 Folio 151 Page 2
Address: UDC, Little Crosby, Southport.
According to the Census Summary this institution is an Industrial School [RC] where there are 111 scholars, although scholars has been crossed out and 'Truants' written in.
MICHAEL FEARNS - SCHOLAR - 10 - LANCASHIRE

Haven't found him in 1901 yet, but if he was in an industrial school as the 1891 suggests he may have been in the merchant marine, a 'favoured repository' for 'difficult' boys.

In 1910+1 there is a possible for him...
MICHAEL FEARNS 29 BOARDER U/M - DOCK LABOURER - LIVERPOOL
Address: 41 EVERTON BROW, EVERTON, LIVERPOOL
Apart from the fact that there were 54 other boarders at that address there is no indication as to what the premises actually were. However, next door at #39 there is a pub run by Matthew George Booth [38] and his wife.

And at 43 EVERTON BROW there's another lodging house.

Any idea what happened to the rest of the family after 1881?

Yes, James (Michael's brother) was my great grandfather. He is the one I have written to you about before ie the one with the carting business in the Gorree Plaza. The little information I have has been passed to me verbally from an elderly cousin of my mother. Whether she remembers any of this or is just quoting family folklore, I don't know. Sadly it seems that most of James' siblings have died in infancy. His mother also died between 1881 and 1891 and that is why I think Michael in the truant's school is his brother. I just think the more I can find on siblings might help in establishing what they were all about.

I really appreciate the information I get from the kind people on LSWL Genealogy. You all seem so knowledgeable. Although I do venture up to Liverpool to the Records Office, I cannot do it as often as I would like. That is why I ask on here where I can possibly look for information that I can find on the internet. Although verging on depressing sometimes, I still find it all fascinating.

Thank you again for all your help.

Kathy

If we can help at all we will certainly try, especially for our members who are at a distance - and I appreciate it when people put their locations, it saves me looking daft by suggesting they just "nip to the record office".

Check by email if there are ever records that you need looking up, so long as you can get them to confirm that they have what you need then somebody (possibly me) may be able to look something up for you.