Apologies to the Listowners for sending this 'test mail', but I haven't been receiving mail from the Listers since 12.30am this morning. :(( .... And I've got serious withdrawal symptoms! <VBG> .... However, in the last half an hour, a few messages have come through to my 'in box', and I needed to know if I could now post mail. Thank you! ô¿ô Vivien Blythe, Wirral Peninsula, "Happiness is helping a stranger find their roots!"

Hi to everyone out there; here are my current interests: CAREFULL in Astbury pre 1837 DISBURY in Wirral pre 1842 HALE in Wirral pre 1838 HOCKENHULL anywhere pre 1900 INCE in Waverton pre 1838 If anyone can help with information on the above, I would be most grateful. Regards, Charlie, Rugby, UK --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.298 / Virus Database: 161 - Release Date: 13-11-2001

Hi To All, I did not receive any reply to my request on the Cheshire Mailing List so thought I'd try my luck again, and also with the Birkenhead List. Does anyone remember the book by ROBERTS called "Hoylake and Meols Past" It was written by a man who lived in Hoylake as a youth, his families on both sides were Hoylake fishermen. I think he was from the SHERLOCK and ROBERTS line. I am very interested in obtaining a copy of this book and would appreciate any help in doing so. I tried several online bookshops, but could not find it listed. At one time there was a relative of Mr ROBERTS interested in genealogy on the Cheshire List. Are you still around? Kind Regards from Anne in Australia.

Hello once again! The second line that I am researching in Birkenhead is my grandmother's line, the FAIRCLOUGH family. Her father was Henry Fairclough son of Robert & Ellen (SINGLETON). Henry was born in Kirkham, Lancashire in 1847. He married Ellen Potts WILLIAMS, (daughter of John Savage Williams & Mary Ann CONEY-Wales) in Birkenhead in 1868. He was a miller (corn & flour) and a Master Baker with his businesses on Thomas Street & Union St. in Birkenhead until the 1890's. Mr. Singleton was his partner in the business. Their children were all born in Birkenhead. They were: John Robert (1869), Henry (1872), Mary Ellen (1873), William Henry (1875), Edith (1878), Ernest Richard (1880), Maggie Hoylake, my grandmother (1882), Charles Harold (1885) and Lily (1886). I have tracked down the descendents of William Henry in the USA, and Charles Harold but am still wondering about those of John Robert, Edith (who may not have even married) & Ernest Richard. I think that Edith remained in Birkenhead. I suspect Lily died as a child. I sent letters to a few Fairclough families around Birkenhead last year but had no success. If anyone knows anything about this family I would appreciate some help. A family write up said that there was a list of millers that worked in the Bidston Mill kept in that mill. Would anyone know if there is such a list somewhere? Would there be any old books that might mention the old businesses on Birkenhead such as my ggrandfather's bakery? Henry was also supposed to be a Grand Master of the Mersey Masonic Lodge #477 in Birkenhead. Would anyone know how I could receive more information about the Masonic Lodge? I wrote to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire in Timperley, Altrincham, CHS last year when I found their site on the Internet. They said they had no information about my ggrandfather in their records. They said that he had not been a Provincial Grand Master and sent me a copy of a page from "A Short History of the Province of Cheshire" with a list of the Grand Masters. They added that he may have been a Worshipful Master in his Craft Lodge, but I don't know where to write to this lodge. Could anyone send me an address for the Birkenhead Craft Lodge? I don't know why they didn't send it to me. I am almost certain that he was a member there because his son William Henry also joined and continued his membership when he moved to Canada & then the USA. One other question. (I am so glad that a Birkenhead list has been started!) Was the "parish church" in Birkenhead in 1909 St. Mary's? Thank you for any help that you can offer to get me started in the right direction for further research in Birkenhead. Sandy Stokes in Ontario Canada

Hi all, I am a new subscriber as of today. I live in Ontario, Canada near the city where my grandparents settled after they married and moved from Birkenhead in 1909. The first name I am researching in Birkenhead is the Spark/e/s surname. Our origins are in the Great Sutton & Eastham areas of Cheshire. What I am now hoping to learn is the whereabouts of more recent family members as they moved towards Birkenhead. My great grandfather was Robert Spark, a tailor, born 1854 in Childer Thornton, Cheshire, son of John Spark, a gardener and Ann WILLIAMS. His siblings & their approximate birth dates were: Elizabeth (1849), Thomas (1850), Sarah (1851), John (1852), Joseph (1855), Sarah (1857), Lowe (1859), Ann (1861), Margaret (1862), Edward (1866), Frederick (1870), & Arthur (1872). Most of these children were born in Eastham. Robert married Elizabeth MINSHALL in Liverpool in 1878. Their children as far as I know at this time were: Arthur (B'head-1878), Sydney (B'head-1880), William Alfred (B'head-1881), Frederick (my grandfather) (Neston-1884), & Eulalia (B'head-1891). My grandfather married Maggie Hoylake FAIRCLOUGH in 1909 & they emigrated from Birkenhead to Ontario Canada. Wm. Alfred came here in 1913. I have a feeling that Eulalia may have died at a young age. My grandfather was a "ships carpenter" as my aunts described him and I have recently learned about the Camill Laird shipyard in Birkenhead. Would there be any further information about it out there somewhere? Would there be any other shipyards in Birkenhead besides this one at the turn of the last century? I am wondering if anyone has any connection with Robert & Elizabeth's family and could tell me if there are descendents of Sydney still around today or any other family members that I may not even know about as there is such a gap in age between Frederick & Eulalia? I am also hoping to make connections with descendents of John & Ann's other 12 children Thank you, Sandy (Spark) Stokes in Canada

Hello everyone, I know there are more people lurking in the background so I thought I'd post my interests again. They all lived in Birkenhead, Tranmere. David Edward Griffith-Jones married Mary Ann Richards in Liverpool in 1885. they had children: Robert Francis G-J David Griffith-Jones Lydia Griffith-Jones Sarah Griffith-Jones Elizabeth Ann ( my grandmother) married to George Lea, also of Birkenhead, son of John Thomas Lea Also a Margaret, also sons E Griffith-Jones , F Griffith-Jones , G. Griffith-Jones .. ALL FIRST NAMES NOT YET KNOWN. The girls married around the 1920's or earlier into PRYCE, ELLERSHAW. Anyone named LEA, from Clarendon Rd, Briardale Road, Aspendale Road in Tranmere (Also the Griffith-Jones ), Lea's later in Moreton and Leasowe. Would like to hear from any connected families. (/___/) (= ',' =) (")__(") Wendy

Hello Barbara, No, sorry, my husbands name is Tony CLOUGH, the CATONS were on his mother's side of the family. He comes from Knutsford, his Mum met his Dad whilst she was in the land army stationed at Tatten Park. I don't know PHIL CATON. We live in Whitefield, near Bury now and I am from Bolton, so we do not know the Wirral all that well. Nice to hear from you, June -----Original Message----- From: Barbara Terrace <barbara.terrace@lineone.net> To: BIRKENHEAD-L@rootsweb.com <BIRKENHEAD-L@rootsweb.com> Date: 15 November 2001 09:34 Subject: Re: [BKHD] New Subscriber >Hello June, My husband Richard was a Roady for a group called DO-DO. and one >of the band members (the drummer) was PHIL CATON. He lived in bebington at >the time but I am talking 1970 -1973. I wondered if this was your husband. >We now live in Northwich Cheshire. sorry I don't know any others but could >not resist a reply when I saw the name CATON. Good luck with your search. >Barbara.

Hello June, My husband Richard was a Roady for a group called DO-DO. and one of the band members (the drummer) was PHIL CATON. He lived in bebington at the time but I am talking 1970 -1973. I wondered if this was your husband. We now live in Northwich Cheshire. sorry I don't know any others but could not resist a reply when I saw the name CATON. Good luck with your search. Barbara. ----- Original Message ----- From: "June Clough" <jcl@docluff.freeserve.co.uk> To: <BIRKENHEAD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 3:52 PM Subject: [BKHD] New Subscriber > Hello everyone, > I subscribe to the Cheshire list, so please excuse any duplication. I am > researching my husbands family in Birkenhead and the Wirral. A lot of his > family were Roman Catholic and these are the ones I have most problems with. > In particular, I am looking for CATON, who lived around Raby and Thornton > Hough, but did not register births, marriages or even deaths until after > 1871, despite many baptisms and burials at St Winifrides Neston. Nor are > they to be found in any census until 1881. They used St Winefrides from > 1850 to 1876. I am looking for a marriage in 1845 to 1850, and would be > grateful for any suggestions, as they did not marry at St Winefrides. My > other interests are BEATH, CLIFFE, COATHUP, COSTELLO, CROFT, DAVISON, > HILTON, GRIMES, WEBSTER. Thank you, > > June Clough > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=702&sourceid=1237 > >

Hello everyone, I subscribe to the Cheshire list, so please excuse any duplication. I am researching my husbands family in Birkenhead and the Wirral. A lot of his family were Roman Catholic and these are the ones I have most problems with. In particular, I am looking for CATON, who lived around Raby and Thornton Hough, but did not register births, marriages or even deaths until after 1871, despite many baptisms and burials at St Winifrides Neston. Nor are they to be found in any census until 1881. They used St Winefrides from 1850 to 1876. I am looking for a marriage in 1845 to 1850, and would be grateful for any suggestions, as they did not marry at St Winefrides. My other interests are BEATH, CLIFFE, COATHUP, COSTELLO, CROFT, DAVISON, HILTON, GRIMES, WEBSTER. Thank you, June Clough

Greetings all, * DNA study on origins of CLARE surname * A project is now under way at Leicester University exploring the links between the many, widespread families of CLARE in the UK and abroad, and how they relate to each other. It uses DNA sampling, looking at the Y chromosome, and it's free for any males surnamed CLARE [and CLEER, CLEAR, CLEARE ...] CLARE has a significant concentration in the region covered by this list so I hope the project will be of interest to many researchers who read this. Please see the full explanation at my Family History website ... http://www.maryceleste.co.uk/famhist/clare/clare-dna1.htm ... and contact me (initially) if you would like to take part, or want to know more. For the sampling, the Genetics Dept. sends a little thing like a toothbrush, a tiny bottle, and a stamped addressed envelope ... it's very straightforward, professional and confidential. This is a unique opportunity to find out if, and how, the family trees of apparently-unrelated CLARE researchers may fit together. Some firms offer individual DNA testing for 100 pounds or more, but this survey is an academic one, potentially surveying our whole surname-tribe, and it is entirely without charge. [It's for the name CLARE and its variants only!] Please do visit http://www.maryceleste.co.uk/famhist/clare/clare-dna1.htm and get in touch to indicate preliminary interest. Feel free to pass this message on to anyone involved with CLARE family history. Best wishes Roland CLARE, in Bristol UK -------------------------------------- Family history outline online: http://www.maryceleste.co.uk/famhist/ Researching CLARE / HAWES in Buckinghamshire POM(E)ROY in Calstock, Cornwall or Tavistock, Devon SELLE anywhere ...

Can I thank everyone who took the time to reply to my request for information from the 1881 census relating THOMAS SUTTON residing in the Poluton - cum- Seacombe area of the Wirral. The speed of the replies to such requests never cease to amaze me. I placed the request in the system at approximately 12.14 and I had received 2 replies within 30 minutes, one from the Cheshire list and one from the Birkenhead list. Superb. I am grateful Regards to the list Andrew Sutton Cupar, Fife

I would be obliged if SKS could look for a THOMAS SUTTON residing in the Poluton - cum Seacombe area of the Wirral on the 1881 census return. I have just received a death certificate for his son CHARLES SUTTON who died aged 4 months at 52 Hickmans Cottages Poulton-cum Seacombe. There is a chance that there may be more than one THOMAS SUTTON living in the locality because I think THOMAS SUTTON is the son of THOMAS SUTTON born December 1815. Any reference would be a step in the right direction Many thanks Andrew Sutton Cupar, Fife

About a week ago, a message was posted to either the Cheshire or the Birkenhead list erroneously stating that, in the context of people assuming different names to their given forenames, Catholics take an additional name at First Communion. Not having seen any clarification/correction about this I thought I would contribute thus. It is not at First Communion (age c8) that this happens but at Confirmation (age c14) when a saint's name is taken. However, in my experience, a Catholic (I am in England) would not regard it as an 'official name' to be included in a passport, job, credit etc application nor in a marriage certificate. Still less would it be likely to be adopted as the name to be known by day to day. My Confirmation name is Dominic but, much as I cherish it, I have never used it in addition to my birth certificate names. Gil Upton

My computer has recently crashed and I have had to reinstall Windows and much else. In the process I have lost all recent emails and my email address list. The lesson I have learnt from this is that I have to use the CD writer I have installed for this very purpose. If anyone is expecting a reply from me or is expecting to here from me sometime in the future could they please reply to this email and, if necessary, resend any recent messages. Thank you - David Railton

Test, please ignore.

Hi List Members. I have found an interesting revelation through a marriage in St. Cath's Church. In my 4x g,grandmother's, Mary Ann WYER internment record it states she was widowed, then remarried to a Dasset/Nasset, he ran away and she remarried 2 years later to Henry CLARE, in 1880. Due to Cheshire BMD I have found a marriage in 1879 of Mary A. BASSET and Henry CLARE at St. Catherine's, Tranmere. This has to be her as her daughter was also married there in 1872, Louisa WEIR to Isaac MORRIN. Is there an alternative way to finding these marriages without spending £13 on 2 certificates, are they indexed? Can look ups be done please? I'd be grateful for any help. Thanks Sue. Research Interests:- Liverpool and Lancashire CALLAN, DILLON, GARVEY, Ann HOLT b1835, HUGHES, LEAH, MANSURE, McLENNON, ROBERTS, THOMPSON, UPTON Norfolk:- WYER and/or variants - early 1800's. Wirral:- Henry CLARE, DILLON, EDMONDSON, MORRIN, WYER/WYRE Yorkshire:- BARRACLOUGH, BARRON/BERRON, BASTOW, BLAMIRES, CHARLESWORTH, CLOUGH, EDMONDSON, FIRTH, GARTHWAITE, ILLINGWORTH, JOWETT, KNOWLES, LUMB, MITCHELL, NEWSOME, PRIESTLEY

Hi Paul Don't know if you already have this:- 1851 Census HO 107/2175 page 123b Birkenhead in the Parish of St Marys Back Chester Street Thomas Cain 47 Head, baker born Isle of Man Unfortunately no marital status is given but he is living alone. Regards, Jen Bernatek

Hi Anyone on this list come across Thomas Cain a baker from Birkenhead? Cheers Paul _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

I believe it closed down in 1995 - no congregation with loss of local population (amongst other things). Gil Upton www.tranmereroversbooks.com -----Original Message----- From: Fred & Joan Waring [mailto:jfwaring@compuserve.com] Sent: 11 November 2001 17:50 To: BIRKENHEAD-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [BKHD] snail mail address CAn someone e mail me the regular mail address for St La2urence Roman Catholic Church in Birkenhead? fred waring jfwaring @compuserve.com ============================== Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 Source for Family History Online. Go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=702&sourc eid=1237

Hi John, I must have missed the original posting but I too have Upton's. Should you find a link, William Upton born 1818 Manchester, son of James,married Harriet Mansure Shepherd in Manchester. William was or tried to make it as an artist but owned properties in the Harpurhey areas of Manchester and I suspect in Frodsham too. He died 1889 and is buried in Frodsham Parish Churchyard. Best Wishes, Sue. ----- Original Message ----- From: <JohnSwarb1139903@aol.com> To: <BIRKENHEAD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2001 4:04 PM Subject: Re: [BKHD] baker-journeyman > Hi Gil, > > Thanks for your reply to my e-mail. > I have just started researching the Uptons'. John Elderson was married to > Roberta Jane Upton on the 1st. March 1898 and they had a son John , born > Oct. 19, 1898 in Liscard Reberta.s father was Robert Upton and I think his > wife was Ellen. > Thanks for your interest you never know somewhere along the line we may link > up. > > Regards, > John > > > ============================== > Search over 1 Billion names at Ancestry.com! > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist1.asp >