For queries within the area of Lancashire between the Ribble and the Mersey.
This board covers the areas of all our Groups - Liverpool, Southport, Warrington, Skelmersdale, Leigh and Widnes.
My grandmother's grandmother Ann Elizabeth Buchanan (nee Houghton)1848 - 19?? her father was Thomas Houghton, but I want to confirm if this is the same man as in this article.
Police Officer, Thomas HOUGHTON, interred on Sunday last at the Necropolis, Low Hill, Deceased lost his life early on Friday morning, by falling from a flat whilst engaged in protecting the wreck of the Providence from being plundered. Mr TOWERSON, Superintendent of the north division had charge of the arrangements, and the funeral was attended by 600 of the police force. The deceased was a native of Warrington and very much respected."
My doubts are:
his job 2 years before his unfortunate death,
and I can't find Thomas in the 1841 census as a 28/29 year old. I found a Thomas s/o Joseph in Warrington born in 1828 but this is too far off.
Also found a Thomas s/o Joseph in Winwick born in 1814 but this one still lives with his parents long after my own died in 1850.
I would like to see if I can trace this line of the family back, or confirm this interesting story as one from my ancestors.
Thomas is 38 on the death certificate. I think it unlikely that his age would be shown as "Full Age" on his marriage certificate if he were 36 at that time. Also more likely to have been about the same age as Margaret who is shown as 24 in 1851 Census.
GRO has two likely candidates for deaths of Thomas.
1) OCT-DEC 1850 Liverpool vol 20 page 170 Thomas aged 22
2) OCT-DEC 1850 West Derby vol 20 page 787 Thomas aged 38
It is likely that 2) is the Thomas on the death certificate and 1) is your Thomas.
Lancs OPC has a Thomas baptised 11 November 1827 son of Joseph a Mason and Betty at St Elphick Warrington. On 1841 they are living at Bridge Street Warrington. Father Joseph a Stone Mason. Wife Betty shown as Elizabeth and Thomas aged 13.
Family Search links for the burial of the policeman Thomas Houghton of Back Bond Street at Everton Necropolis Low Hill in public grave 6623 (no stone):-
thanks, Alex.
I've decided to go ahead and order that death certificate. what you say makes most sense.
Its a mad coincidence two men with that same name both from warrington both died young within days of each other in liverpool..
I'll see how my great great grandfather met his fate. Won't be as spectacular as the other Thomas Houghton I'm sure but we'll see
Family Search links for the burial of the policeman Thomas Houghton of Back Bond Street at Everton Necropolis Low Hill in public grave 6623 (no stone):-
If your ancestor is on the 1851 census living at Back Bond Street then the policeman called Thomas Houghton of Back Bond Street is likely to be your ancestor.
Oh Yes sorry I must have missed your post. I'm more confused now. :lol at least I've ordered the right certificate. I hope.
Will this document have next of kin or parents names?
Last edited by LukeJ on 31 Jul 2018 08:38, edited 2 times in total.
Thanks bertieone. I haven't got that document. I would assume as she probably never remembered her father and just got told he was a blacksmith..or made horseshoes..which is what she would have told the registrar?? He couldn't have been a policeman for long which is a bit confusing as the drowned cop is "well respected" and there's a big crowd at his funeral. This doesn't sound like a new 22 year old recruit.
I'm still confused on this one. The mother's Margarets status is widow on the 1851 census. With the two children 2, and 1. She incidentally left and married someone else, leaving behind her kids. The thomas Houghton in 1855 must be another one?
I'm beginning to think he was only a Policeman for a short time previous to his death, at 22 he couldn't have been one very long anyway.
I wonder if he was employed by the Police as a farrier and later became an officer or special constable?
Thanks bertieone. I.didn't realise Margaret lived with daughter Margaret. My relative ann the other daughter is age 12 in 1861 living with grandmothers at a shop at 226 Faulkner Street.
I got the death certificate today. I'm a bit disappointed, it's only got the same information as Blue70 found on family search (id love to know how to do that btw) , not even the address. I.was expecting next of kin, name of father or at least address.
Maybe the other Thomas Houghton's certificate would have been better, as it would confirm if he was a Blacksmith.
I got the death certificate today. I'm a bit disappointed, it's only got the same information as Blue70 found on family search (id love to know how to do that btw) , not even the address. I.was expecting next of kin, name of father or at least address.
Maybe the other Thomas Houghton's certificate would have been better, as it would confirm if he was a Blacksmith.
There's various links here for the browse only Family Search images they were originally found by doing a place name search through the catalogue then looking at each church, cemetery etc and determining what records could be viewed at home:-
Do you have a birth or baptism record for Ann? I'm struggling to find a Houghton/Williams birth index for her on the GRO website. I thought the Back Bond Street Ann in 1851 with the Williams family was your ancestor and so tied in well with the policeman who drowned who was also from Back Bond Street.
Good thinking! I've got that, it has Thomas as a Blacksmith living in Williamson st. However It's the other daughter Margaret who has proved this is the same guy.
She was born March 1850, and he is now a Police Officer in Back Bond. I feel like a detective solving some kind of case.
so I finally have an interesting ( but very tragic) story from my ancestry.
