Margaret Critchley was her pa James Holland or Horridge

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Margaret married in 1844, pa being James Holland:-



She married again in 1856, pa being James Horridge:-


Marriage: 13 Apr 1856 St Peter, Liverpool, Lancs.
William Bradshaw - full, Carter, Bachelor, Christian St.
Margaret Belshaw - (X), full, Widow, Christian St.
Groom's Father: James Bradshaw, Labourer
Bride's Father: James Horridge, Labourer
Witness: William Pendleton; Mary Pendleton, (X)
Married by Banns by: Henry Brooks, Curate
Register: Marriages 1856, Page 34, Entry 67
Source: LDS Film 1656679

I can't find a marriage for her to a Critchley. In 1841 census she is at Arley St.,Liverpool, servant to Miles Pye and family; 1851 she is in Altcar married to Thomas Belshaw (Balshaw), her daughter Alice born 1838 Newton is now with them - can't find her 1841.

Who is Margaret Critchley born c 1817 Newton, Lancashire?????

[MaryA]

Looks to me that you only have that second marriage from the Lancs OPC site. You need to see the original for yourself as handwriting could be ambiguous, I could see that "Holland" could possibly be written "Horridge" maybe .....

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Yes Mary, I suppose that could be so.......pity Anx. marriage records for St.Peter jump after 1844 to 1907
Glenys

[MaryA]

Unfortunately it still looks like Horridge

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Mary, you are a gem, thank you so much for doing these two marriage look-ups for me

On the 1856 certificate, where Margaret Belshaw (Balshaw) wrote her signature, I can't make out what else was written on that line.

Her pa's name of Horridge definitely; perhaps the minister misheard when entering names on her 1844 marriage

On the 1893 certificate, can you make out what James Stuarts pa's occupation was??

Glenys

[MaryA]

Sorry I should have said that James Stuart's father's occupation wasn't very legible to me but I think it is "Overseer", wonder if anybody might be lucky with an enhancement programme to perhaps take out some of the dark background.

Next to her signature is "her mark" meaning that she x'd rather than signed her own signature.

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Mary, Thanks, when I use my little magnifier it does look like 'overseer'.

Doh, yes, made her mark.......

Thanks again.

Glenys

[MaryA]

I was trying to get an overall picture of Margaret's past and checked on the 1851 census. I am assuming that you have noticed the points that have stood out to me, but in case they help others who may wish to put their minds to a mystery I'm going to point them out.

We have Margaret Critchley, living in the household of Miles Pye in 1841
She may have begun life as Holland, and before 1844 married somebody by the name "Critchley"
Margaret Critchley married Thomas Balshaw in 1844 (father James Holland)
Margaret and Thomas Balshaw are in Altcar in 1851
Margaret Balshaw married William Bradshaw in 1856 (father James Horridge)

Now this seems to be the dwellings in Altcar in 1851 just starting from Entry 44 - everybody born Altcar unless otherwise stated.

Ellen Bradshaw, Widow 73, Alice Stepdaur Unm 31, William Stepson Unm 35

Richard Goulbern M 64, Mary Wife 62, Ellen daur Unm 19, Joseph Fowler Lodger 36 (b Ormskirk), Miles Pye Grandson 4 (b Liverpool)

Richard Bradshaw M 39, Elizabeth wife 29 (b Newton), John son 12, Margaret daur 10, William son 5, Ellen daur 1, Elizabeth Horridge Stepdaur 4 (b Newton), William Horridge Stepson 2 (b Newton).

Nathan Wainwright 30 (b Lydiate), Grace Wife 34, Ann daur 11, Thomas son 9, James son 2.

Alice Bond Head Unm 49, Ellen daur 15, James son 10

Thomas Balshaw 70, Margaret wife 34 (b Newton), John Balshaw son Unm 22, Joseph son 7, Ann daur 3, Robert son 11 months, Alice Critchlow Stepdaur 12 (b Newton), Henry Balshaw grandson 12, Thomas Green servant 35 (b Preston)

There is also a James Balshaw Wid 60 two doors away, farm labourer for Ann Rigby at Tatlocks House.

I think it would serve you well if you tried to untangle the "steps" and grandchildren from amongst these few houses, could give you some clues.

[MaryA]

Which "Newton" are we meaning here? I was thinking of up the East Lancs towards the M6, but maybe I'm missing something - is there another Newton further over towards Altcar?

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Mary,
No Newton in Altcar/Formby area.
1861 Margaret's daughter Alice Critchley 1838 living Warrington, servant to Ainsworth family.
1871 Alice living Fairclough Rd., Newton, Newton in Makerfield, servant to James Fairclough. Also her step sister Sarah Ellen Bradshaw, a milkmaid, aged 12!!
On this census against Alice's place of birth it looks like "Newton le W" - poss Newton Le Willows, near Winwick, Warrington.
I will attempt, as you suggest, to "untangle" this lot.
Glenys

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I have now found on Familysearch, a marriage of Richard Bradshaw to Elizabeth HORRIDGE - 1849 - St.Michael's,Altcar, his pa James Bradshaw, her pa Thomas Horridge.
So the untangling begins....................

[MaryA]

Good there's got to be an answer somewhere hidden.

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Update........

Re MILES PYE who in 1851 is in Altcar, with his grandparents Richard and Mary Goulbern; he was the son of Richard & Mary's daughter Elizabeth b 1811 Altcar, and Miles Pye b 1813 Barton (Downholland area), married 1832 St.Mary, Edge Hill, Liverpool.

In 1841 Miles and Elizabeth were living 4 Arley Street, Liverpool, with their 3 children AND Margaret Critchley 1817, who married Thomas Belshaw/Balshaw in 1844.

Very slow untangling Mary - feels like wading through treacle

Glenys

[MaryA]

Very slow untangling Mary - feels like wading through treacle

I know the feeling but with the names all popping up in the families living nearby, plus the birthplaces, which appear to be nowhere near Altcar, then I feel that it will be worth it at the end.

[Hilary]

Some years ago when I did a family history course at UCLAN we had an assignment on the Balshaws of Altcar the trying to sort out the family and all it's different parts was very difficult and with the far more limited resources available at the time it drove us mad.

I'm sure I still have the stuff somewhere on the PC. When I am home I'll dig it out and see if there is anything that will help in there.

At the moment I'm in a very snowy Switzerland I think it may have stopped snowing now having snowed continuously since Friday evening!

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Hilary,

I would be interested to hear about your Balshaw assignment.

You can take a sleigh ride in the snow perhaps tomorrow??

Update:
I have found baptisms for Elizabeth and William Horridge, both Emmanuel Wargrave, Newton in Makerfield - ma Elizabeth Horridge of Newton, no pa mentioned.

Glenys

[MaryA]

Update:
I have found baptisms for Elizabeth and William Horridge, both Emmanuel Wargrave, Newton in Makerfield - ma Elizabeth Horridge of Newton, no pa mentioned.

Gets more and more interesting, keep posting

[Hilary]

I'll be home on the 25th so will have a ferret around when I get home. I remember they drove us mad. There was one Balshaw who appeared to organise his offspring to marry into all the local money and acquire land. One son as I remember appeared to disobey and marry someone else and seemed to become the poor relation. If my memory serves me correct this was all in the early to mid 1800s.

No sleigh rides here but it'd be good to see a view. We've had a couple of feet of snow at least in the last 48 hours. Amazing seeing the post buses with snow chains on and keeping to the timetable.

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Enjoy it all Hilary, proper snow, not slushy.!!
Glenys