Welcome to the website of Rosemary Brown!

THE GORST FAMILY OF LIVERPOOL  

Register Report for -Gorst

Generation 1

The Christian name of the first male Gorst so far recorded is not known. The information has mainly been obtained from the Recollections of Aunt Waddingham (See list of sources above.) She believed that the Gorsts had originated near Frodsham in Cheshire. It would probably be useful to obtain film of the Frodsham Parish Registers from the LDS to verify, or otherwise, these oral recollections. 

According to Aunt Waddingham this first male Gorst married Margaret Lawrenson who was the daughter of Richard Lawrenson. She was born in 1701. Her baptism took place on 08 Feb 1701 in Warrington Lancs.

They may have had 4 children. The information concerning this early Gorst family is fragmentary.

The first son was Samuel Gorst. The information concerning him is contradictory.

Cecil Cromwell who is a member of the Gorst family, based in Canada believes that Samuel was born in 1717 in Northwich, Cheshire, his father being George Gorst and his mother Alice Bottoms. I have been unable to reestablish contact with Cecil, who I contacted through Ancestry.com and I do not know his sources.

According to Aunt Waddingham's recollections Samuel Gorst had 2 daughters

One married a Thomas Gorst after 20 years engagement. The other married a clergyman, name forgotten. Someone, perhaps the above, was precentor at Chester Cathedral and lived in The Close.

The next child was Margaret Gorst.

This person is reputed to have left a large sum of money which went into Chancery. According to Aunt Waddingham she was either a sister or an aunt to Samuel Gorst or she may have had nothing to do with this family.(!)

The third child was Mrs. Evans.

Notes for Mrs. Evans:

General Notes:

According to Aunt Waddingham's recollections she lived in

Chester.

Her Grandson's daughter (great granddaughter?) married Stephen Gladstone.

Her father being a Dr. Wilson of

but it is written exactly like this in Aunt Waddingham's Recollections.

iv. John Gorst.

Generation 2

2. Samuel Gorst-2 (-Gorst-1).

Notes for Samuel Gorst:

General Notes:

Cecil Cromwell who is a member of the Gorst family, based in Canada believes that Samuel was born in 1717 in Northwich, Cheshire, his father being George Gorst and his mother Alice Bottoms. I have been unable to reestablish contact with Cecil, who I contacted through

Ancestry.com and I do not know his sources.

According to Aunt Waddingham's recollections Samuel Gorst had a son named Richard. He also had 2 daughters One married a Thomas Gorst after 20 years engagement. The other married a clergyman, name forgotten. Someone, perhaps the above, was precentor at Chester Cathedral and lived in The Close.

Generation 3

3. Richard Gorst.

 Richard Gorst married Martha Noden who was the daughter of Samuel Noden and Martha. She was born in 1760. Her baptism took place on 06 Apr 1760 in Frodsham Cheshire..

 In Aunt Waddinghams recollections she states that many of Martha Noden's relations are buried at Bowdon Parish Church.

Richard Gorst and Martha Noden had 10 children.

i Thomas Gorst was supposed to be the eldest but this information has not been confirmed in Parish Registers.  He married Nancy Ann Weston on 30 Oct 1806 in St Paul's Church, St Paul's Sq. Liverpool. His Occupation was given as book  keeper. Between 1841–1843 he was shown in  Gore's Directory (12,

ii. John Gorst.

According to Aunt Waddingham's recollections he farmed near Chester.

iii. Samuel Gorst. He was born in 1793. He married Elizabeth Ann Phillips. They  were married on 23 Jun 1835 in York St John Brunswick Canada. He died on 04 Dec 1848 in New Brunswick, Canada.(This information was given to me by Cecil Cromwell.) According to Aunt Waddingham's recollections he and his brother Richard went to America to farm.

iv. Richard Gorst.

According to Aunt Waddingham Richard went to America to farm with his brother Samuel.

v. William Gorst.

According to Aunt Waddingham's recollections William kept a druggist's shop in Knotty Ash or Wavertree.

It is possible that this is the same William who was listed in Pigot's 1829 Directory as a chymist, 77, Copperas Hill and in Gore's directory of 1833 as a chemist and druggist in

vi. Margaret Gorst.

vii. Martha Gorst.

viii. Sarah Gorst.

ix. Kathleen Gorst.

x. Mary Gorst.

Generation 4

4. Thomas Gorst

Married by License (George Monk, Surrogate) on 30th October 1806 in St Paul's Church,  £500 is mentioned on the license, it may have been some kind of bond, I find it difficult to believe that it was the actual cost of the license although it may have been paid by Robert Weston because a child (Eliza Weston) had already arrived, this might well explain his displeasure. There are long gaps between the births of Thomas and Nancy Ann's children.

i. Eliza Weston Gorst. She was born Jun 1806. She died on 05 Mar 1810.

ii. Martha Kaye Gorst. She was born on 13 Apr 1809 in Liverpool. Baptism on 14 May 1810 in Liverpool Brunswick Church,Moss St. Wesleyan.

iii Thomas Lowe Gorst He was baptised on the 16th December 1821 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool and died on the 8th July 1895 in the Royal Infirmary He married Elizabeth Jane McIver. They were married on 11 July 1842 in Liverpool St Philip.

Address at death 22,

iv Ann Weston Gorst. She was born in 1826 but she died On 16th February 1826 in Lower Harrington.

v Ann Gorst. She was baptised on the 25th December 1827 in the Chapelry of Garston. She married Henry Gee. They were married on 20 Feb 1849 in Wesleyan Methodist Chapel Grosvenor Street Chorlton upon Medlock

vi Margaret Gorst. She was baptised on 25th December 1829 in the Chapelry of Garston.

The first child Eliza Weston was 3 years 9 months old when she was buried on March 5th 1810, this means that she was born in about June 1806.

Martha Kaye was born in 1809, but spent most of her childhood living with her grandfather in Cheshire.

 The next child, Thomas Lowe Gorst was not born until 1821. After 1826 the remaining children were born in close succession. There seems to be a mystery here. Could it be that Thomas and Nancy separated for 10 years, perhaps at the insistence of Robert Weston?

At his marriage Thomas Gorst was described as a book keeper but at the baptism of his daughter Anne in Dec 1827 in the Chapelry of Garston he is described as a clerk and teacher. In Gore's Directory of 1833 he is described as a teacher and parish clerk in Garston but in Gore's Directory of 1841 he is back to being described as a bookkeeper, living at

Nancy Ann Weston was the daughter of Robert Weston and Nancy Lowe. She was born on 25th Feb 1786 in Lancashire. Her baptism took place on 12 Apr 1786 in St James Church Liverpool. She was very longlived. She died on 07 Dec 1873 in Light Barn Green, Swinton Worsley, diarrhoea was given as the cause of death.

WWW,freebmd.org.uk gives her age at death as 87 Ref. 8c Barton 356.

She incurred her father's deep displeasure, probably because of her choice of husband. Apart from Martha, she and her family were virtually cut out of her father's will. In one of her letters she asserts that she was left money in the will of James Hamilton who died abroad. So far I have not been able to find any reference to him, but it should be possible to trace his will.

I have transcripts of 4 letters which relate to her, one from Charles Crichley, who was a witness at the elopement of Edward Metcalfe and Martha Kaye Gorst. Another was from Edward Metcalfe, writing to his uncle in Ravenstonedale. Both portray her as a virago.

The third was written by herself, understandably, she regarded herself as extremely ill used.

The fourth letter was a long pious letter of condolence to Martha, when her son, the first Robert Weston Metcalfe died.

The following is the relevant part from Charles Critchley's letter to Edward concerning the latter's elopement, Charles sustained a black eye in the fracas. (Incidentally Nancy Ann had some unkind words to say about him in one of her letters.)

" Mr. and Mrs. G. were at your house as early as ten minutes passed nine yesterday morning enquiring for you and when told that you were gone out and would not be in until evening he immediately ran down to the office and almost breathless asked the Boy where you were gone! "Out of town," was the reply, "The bugger I'll out of town him." From thence they returned to your house and used the most gross and insulting language to your mother and Mrs. G. forced her way upstairs to look for Martha's clothes - stating that you were a scoundrell, villain and fifty other such epithets - and had robbed the house - that a coach was seen in the neighbourhood at two o'clock that morning by which means you had eloped with her daughter. They have also been at Walton (the home of Edward's sister Mary and her

husband William Butcher.) and abused your sister in the same extreme of BlackGuardism Mr. G. even daring to challenge your Brother - in - law to a combat which William would have accepted but for the persuasions of Mrs Shaw and other neighbours. But I cannot pretend to particularise the whole of the transactions as it took your mother an hour to relate what had occurred in her presence therefore it will be sufficient to say it far exceeds our utmost anticipations as regards brutality and violence."

The following letter was addressed to A. Metcalfe Esq., Park House,Ravenstonedale, Westmorland.

The full transcipt, which describes his elopement in full, is to be found in the notes for Edward Metcalfe.

Oct 12 1825.

It starts, Dear Uncle and begins with an apology for not having written sooner. The second paragraph continues -

"If I were to commence by giving you the particulars of my elopement, it would take up more space than I can afford to give; it was hazardous, &, in some respects dangerous & had it not been for a friend (Mr. Critchley) I know not how it would have ended - however, I must inform you, that for some time back, I have not been upon terms with her father and mother, who wished to sell her to the best advantage; and they, of late, found I was not the customer - for a week before I was married I did not speak to them - they wished her, prior to marriage, to settle her income upon them till she arrived at the whole of her property - if I would have consented to take her upon those terms all would have been right, but I thought better to take her with her present income & without their approbation, than without her income & with their approbation, & they thought (she being a minor) it could not be done without their assistance, but they were taught differently."

In a second letter to his uncle, dated October 17th and written across the previous letter, he

has this to say about Martha's friends, who, I believe, included her family.

"My wife's friends are doing all they can to make friends with me, they find they cannot do me any injury by being an avowed enemy, & they now want to see what they can do by a pretended friendship but I am determined never to be upon terms of intimacy with them as their conduct has been most outrageous and wicked - you may perhaps think that Martha may wish to be upon a good understanding with them. She does not appear inclined at all to see them, this may readily be accounted for, as she was brought up by her grandfather who, till lately I thought was a man of a most unforgiving disposition, in consequence of him making the whole of his property over by will, to Martha, but I believe he was perfectly justifiable, for if he had not left the property to her I believe ere this a good portion of it would have disappeared - In my late marriage I had the pleasure of being assisted by two friends - one a most respectable lawyer (P. Gandy Esqr.) whose office is in these chambers, I have to thank him for his advice, professionally, as to the legality of my marriage, on all occasions when I have applied to him, he's always been ready to service me, without incurring the least expense."

Finally there follows a full transcript of Nancy Ann Gorst's letter to her daughter, dated May 31st 1839, Liverpool, nearly 14 years after Martha's elopement with Edward Metcalfe.Those parts written in capitals are my way of highlighting certain information.

" My dear Martha,

It is with feelings of no ordinary nature that had induced me to address you, and the more so after a lapse of eighteen years to have the wounds occasioned by injustice and wrong reopened by ingratitude and insult and every specie of degradation, And that before a stranger. I should not have thought half so much of it if EDWARD had kept what he had to say between ourselves but am afraid it must have been made up between you before he left home but it costs me a severe pang to suppose even for a moment you could sanction such unkind proceedings if EDWARD and yourself had earned the Property I should not then have expected in short I could not have expected to have partaken of it but having myself lent a feeble hand in getting it in a moral point of view I am justly entitled to a share

If EDWARD had even earned the whole he could not have behaved with more selfishness WITH REGARD TO HIS FATHER'S DEBTS they were never my concern nor (?) the Principle instilled into the minds of his children. I dare say my Principle is as honest as Edwards and I have doubt my children have an honest Principle in them. Also I could pay my Debts as well as him if I had other Peoples money to pay them with AND PAY THE ELEVEN POUNDS WITH MONEY AND NOT PROMISES that he was so polite to upbraid me with - it appears by EDWARD'S conduct that all further communication is to be cut off by his

Proceedings and fulfils the opinion formed of him by many by getting you away from your friends you could come with a young child when only a small sum was to be received why not come now I fully expected a letter from you AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER 13TH APRIL OFFERING ME SOME PORTION OF THE ESTATE FROM A RENTAL OF 300 POUNDS PR ANNUM. All my friends thought you could not think of offering for your life less than one hundred to your mother to whom all belongs. I did not expect so much generosity THESE THREE HOUSES ADJOINING TO OUR OWN HOUSE WOULD SUFFICE ME AND I DO

EXPECT THEM.Your repeated promises of making us Comfortable Demand them with a family healthy as ours is thank God they are not supplied with food and every other necessary comfort without great care and economy. Our income is very small and often very uncertain which causes very many privations I have been six years past not been able to attend any place of worship my family have eaten Potatoes and(?) three and four times a day for many weeks together. we have not tasted butter for three months at once we have been nine months and not once tasted Butcher's meat I was brought nearly to the grave but God has raised me up and strengthened me for the sake of my family I suppose it grieves EDWARD to

see me so healthy HE TELLS ME THAT I HAVE SOLD THE FURNITURE that there is nothing in the house. When I came into this house in 1817 it was an empty house. You know very well we brought three carts loaded besides a great deal carried. Many since that time are worn out and have been replaced many your grandfather sold WHAT I SOLD IN HARRINGTON WERE

THE LAST THAT WAS SOLD BUT THEY WERE ALL MY OWN BEFORE YOU WAS BORN THREE YEARS. NEITHER THE FURNITURE NOR JAMES HAMILTONS WILL HAD ANY BUSINESS IN YOUR GRANDFATHER'S WILL not at all Your Grandfather received from Jas. Hamilton 500 Pounds for which he gave no security. HE PAID THE PARK LANE MORTGAGE OFF WITH PART OF IT MISS PENDLETON 40 POUNDS DEBTS OCCURRED BY HIS WIFE HE THEN GOT AS INVOLVED IN LAW THAT HE COULD NOT REPAY IT THE CONSEQUENCE WAS A CONTINUAL DISTURBANCE UNTIL MAGISTRATES ORDERED HIM TO GIVE A BOND The sum owing at that time was 388 pounds he gave a bond for 300 pounds James went to sea the day before he died he desired a letter to be written to me saying he wished me to have all specifying the 300 which letter I have shown to Edward he doubts my veracity and says I have robed the estate of an Hundred pounds the 38 pounds has never been paid. Nor did I apply for it . but JAMES dieing abroad and having left his ship no(thing?) was ever sent to Liverpool so that his share and Papers respecting his Adventure tr?ack out has never come to hand consequently the Debt had all to be paid YOUR GRANDFATHER TRIED TO PROVE THE WILL BUT THE SURROGATE WOULD NOT LET HIM AND THEN HE HAD TO FETCH ME. I have papers signed by both parties specifying 388 pounds EDWAED UPBRAIDS ME WITH THE 35 POUNDS AND MRS BEARD AND HERBERTS RENT take it from the 88 pounds and then I shall have money to receive and then he will not be at loss and trouble of paying my Debts. I DARE SAY CRITCHLEY THAT DEFRAUDED THE ESTATE OF 80 POUNDS WAS NOT SO INSULTED AS YOUR MOTHER WAS by one that is so many Hundreds of Pounds in Debts to their estate and nothing to pay with My money passing through your hands must of course pay them for him. It would become him better to work at his business to support his family than live as an independent man and (?) none working to support him. I had always a better opinion of him but pride seems to overcome him In what my extravagance consists I am at a loss to know he tells me if I had a thousand a year I should spend it. If I did receive Herberts & Beards rents it was only similar to what Edward did when he received your annuity of £5 which was justly due to me. ELIZA IS GOING TO A TRADE AND IF SHE HAD NOT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE GONE WITH HIM. She says she could not think of going after such insulting language to her mother but it is another of his deep schemes. I am in great want of money therefore I hope you will send without delay the proper authority for my receiving the rents above stated and not the worst part of the property as Edward in the generosity of his heart offered and afterwards retracted. They are (?) not. It is to you I look.

And now Martha I have done therefore if your conscience can withhold the whole from me which mostly belongs to me even keep it and much good may it do you. But I trust your heart is not so callous and so void of gratitude without it is tinctured with a little of Edwards as to deny my request. If you are determined to break off all further communication and it appears somewhat plain you intend by Edward's shameful pride and behaviour I cannot hope you will condescend to favour me with an answer. However I hope you will come and reside here. It is and will be for your benefit and receive the rents yourself and not let a youth like James Butcher* meddle with it. I shall expect your answer in a few days.

I remain your affectionate but insulted mother.

Anne Gorst

*James Butcher was the son of Edward's sister Mary, who was married to William Butcher and lived at Walton.

Unfortunately if there was a reply to this letter it no longer exists.

The only other letter which exists from Anne Gorst to her daughter Martha is a long letter of condolence, dated April 3rd 1846, concerning the death of Martha's son, the first Robert Weston Metcalfe.By this time Edward and Marth's family had returned to Ravenstonedale in Westmorland. It is clear from her opening paragraph that she had never met Robert Weston,and may not have met any of her Metcalfe grandchildren. Reconciliation does not seem to have taken place.

My dear Martha

I find by the newspaper you sent me that you have been called to part with a dear little boy. Your sister Margaret informs me that he was the nicest child you had....." There follows a long pious homily.

The letter continues, "Death has been making great inroads in your family since June last.

JOSEPH PETER has lost a wife and a sister and little daughter. YOUR COUSIN THOS DAVIS DIED AT AFRICA IN HIS 24 YEAR. YOUR AUNT MARY BURIED HER HUSBAND A FEW WEEKS SINCE. Poor Mary , her mother never thought a child of hers would have to be harrased so much. These things are wisely hidden from us. Your brother (Thomas) is very poorly I am very apprehensive he will not last very long he is very unable at times to work his looks are dreadful my heart aches when I either see him or think of him he has been a source of grief to me a long time and is likely to be. Last Monday he called and said he had been able to work very little the last week this early spring is against him. I never knew any of our family affected with consumption but I am apprehensive that he is. I attribute it to a damp shop and a damp house. MARGARET IS NEVER VERY WELL she wrote to Martha (Martha Kaye's eldest daughter, my great grandmother) in Febry but has not received any answer. When you write give an account of the affliction your dear little sufferer was visited with. I LOST A BELOVED CHILD AND ONE OF THE BEST OF MOTHERS AT A STROKE WHEN MUCH YOUNGER THAN YOU ARE AND COMPARATIVELY NONE TO COMFORT AND SINCE THEN MY HEART HAS BEEN WRUNG WITH TEN THOUSAND SORROWS BUT STILL I AM HERE."

There follows another pious homily, a disapproving reference to Martha's taking her daughter Martha to the theatre, but she adds, "Let the past suffice and never suffer anything more of the kind..... Your sisters sympathise with you all in this afflictive Bereavement.

At the same time Believe me to be your

Affectionate Mother Anne Gorst

Generation 5 

 Martha Kaye Gorst. .

She married Edward Parr Metcalfe. They were married on 25 Aug 1825 in St.Michael's Toxteth, Liverpool. She died on 01 Feb 1867 in Birks Sedbergh Yks. Burial in Ravenstonedale.

Martha was the heiress of her grandfather Robert Weston with whom she had lived most of her life. He left under £4000 when he died in August 1821, mostly in property in Liverpool.

Her baptismal entry in Brunswick Chapel,

She was barely 16 when she eloped. We have the draft of a letter which she wrote to her sister Anne concerning their brother Thomas, it is undated, but mentions that the estate has been in the hands of an Executor for nearly 17 years, which may put it at around 1838.

She died a fortnight after her husband leaving £1500( Admon)

Her executors were her sons James Metcalfe of Ravenstonedale Yeoman

and Edward Parr Metcalfe Sedbergh gent.

This is a transcript of her rather cold and defensive letter to her sister. Anne.

In receipt of your letter of 21st. We wrote to James Butcher who would on Sunday last leave £20 for Thomas at Mrs Hilliard's direction to Eliza and no doubt the latter would call upon Thomas on Sunday Evening.

I quite agree with you that Thomas should be assisted during indisposition or out of work and I thank you kindly for your letter in his behalf - but when in constant work and in good health I am afraid that any assistance that may be given is entirely lost and would be much better applied if reserved to a time of indisposition or scarcity of employment. I have had a good deal like yourself and Eliza to do with Thomas

since his marriage and I think in no instance can he say that I ever refused assisting him. I have given him money several times to commence with for himself but somehow or another it has never lasted long and I am sure from what Edward said that he is no drinker, nor is his wife given to habits of that kind but there is certainly a want of thriftyness somewhere, or something would be put by for a day of adversity. I am of your opinion that Thomas is now without a shilling - he informed me that he had 28 per week, that he

always made full time - if he had to wait a little in the commencement of a week he made it up by overtime before the end and that if he did not get all his wages on the Saturday night it was still given to him - that his master was never a full week behind - if Thomas' wages were husbanded in a careful way he should never be without a few pounds. Elizabeth applied to me when in Liverpool to let her have money to enable her to take a larger house and open a shop, so that they would (not?) be entirely dependent upon Thomas's wages. I, without any hesitation, refused to comply, for if she cannot out of 28 or say 25 per week, save something towards it herself I should have a poor opinion of her succeeding - but unfortunately I am looked upon as having an exhaustless spring of money, and if I do not upon all occasion comply  however inconsistent the demand may be I am looked upon as unworthy the name of sister. I am afraid this must have been Eliza's opinion when she wrote to you for you to appeal to me on behalf of Thomas, who had been a week suffering from cholera before I was made acquainted with it - he might have been dead and buried in the time-. There is, my dear Anne, a great deal of prejudice existing against me in my own family and I cannot account for it unless it be that grandfather thought fit to leave me what he had for life, and afterwards to my children, and in case I died without having any family, then to persons who were almost entire strangers. Had it been sold at his death then there would only have been a small sum left after paying all demands, you may think so when I tell you that after being in the hands of an Executor for nearly 17 years there is not £300 accumulated which will be divided at my death, provided I survive my mother, between 7 children. And this will most  likely be nearly all from my grandfather's property - for in 12 or 14 years nearly all the leases will have expired and the other property if it be then as

now, will bring in very little indeed.

little, scarcely keeping themselves, both neighbourhoods being entirely filled with the lowest Irish. The expenses of sewerage and continually cleaning under the directions of the Board of Health is really greater then the rents and if we could be sure of them taking no harm, they would be better shut up entirely for the present.

I have been very plain, my dear sister, in this letter to you , for I have always had a very high opinion of your judgement, I know you to be free from hasty temper and therefore likely to consider things impartially -. You will see that out of this present income something should be saved after bringing up a large family - with our family we have been very fortunate so far - indeed we have reason to be thankful to an all wise Providence for their excellent Christian morals and I hope they will remember to do unto others as they themselves would be done unto.

I have alluded in this letter to the prejudice existing against me with respect to my grandfather's will. At my grandfather's death I was not likely for living - had I died his property would have gone out of the family - indeed I well remember when the window blinds were not drawn up as early as usual there was rejoicing by the party who was to succeed me in the will, who conceived, no doubt that I had made a place for them. No I have not stood in the way of my own family but it has pleased Providence to spare my life and bless me with a very happy family, who are closely united by a great affection for each other.

I must conclude, I have written a much longer letter than I first intended, I do not again intend to trouble you with a letter of this kind. I did feel rather hurt that Eliza should require an intercessor in Thomas's behalf, but most likely she did as she thought for the better - will you have the kindness to tell me if you have heard from Thomas since you wrote to me. I wished Eliza to write. With kind etc...

vi. Margaret Gorst. 

She was born on 25 Dec 1829 in Chapelry of Garston. She married Thomas Waddingham. They were married on 17 Apr 1862 inl.

SOURCES

Please see the list at the end of the Metcalfe account.

A copy of Robert Weston's Will was supplied by Liverpool Record Office.

Those BMDs with precise dates and places have either been supplied by The General Register Office or have been obtained from Parish Records prior to 1837. Many of these have been kindly shared by Frances Cann who is a fellow researcher of the Gorst Family.

Her e-mail address is raecann@hotmail.com  June Ricketts is also a Gorst descendant and has also supplied information. Her e-mail address is june@ricketts10.wanadoo.co.uk  

WADDINGHAM RECOLLECTIONS OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE HOLME FAMILY WITH THE GORSTS AND WESTONS THROUGH EDWARD METCALFE.

Copied from a small notebook in the possession of Mrs. Sandra Allen.

the Recollections should be read in conjunction with a family tree compiled by the Rev. Robert Weston Metcalfe Holme who was Margaret Waddingham's cousin.

 “Robert Weston married Anne Lowe and her mother was  a Miss French from Kent, her father was a builder and gave his name to "French Windows."

Robert and Anne Weston had three children, only one lived, Anne Gorst mother of my grandfather.

Samuel Gorst and his sons after him lived on a farm for 300 years belonging to a Mr. Leach at Crofton, called Crocken, Cheshire.

(I can only find Croft in Cheshire, however there is a place called Crowton, which is just South of Frodsham where Gorst's have lived for generations according to the I.G.I. There is also a very small place called Croughton, pronounced Craw tun which is in the registration district of Great Boughton, Cheshire)

Richard and Samuel sons of Richard and Martha (Noden) went to America to farm. John farmed near Chester.

Mrs Evans, sister to Samuel and John, lived in

Richard Gorst had two sisters. One married a Thomas Gorst after 20 years engagement. The other married a clergyman, name forgotten. Someone, perhaps the above, was Precentor at Chester Cathedral and lived at The Close.

William Gorst, brother to my Great Grandfather, (son of Richard. A.R.B.) kept a druggists shop in Knotty Ash or Wavertree. Margaret Gorst, sister of William, married a Mr Corfe and lived in

Sarah Gorst (sister of Thomas, William and Margaret? A.R.B.) married a Mr Dutton a farmer in Cheshire.

Martha Gorst married Thomas Davies a ship's chandler,

Stanhope Street

, Liverpool. Had 2 daughters and several sons, one of whom, a rather wild one, told Aunt he had rubbed his handkerchief with onions at his father's funeral. They are buried at St. James cemetery.

(Thomas Davies of 25,

Kathleen Gorst married a Mr. Pate, a farmer in Cheshire, whose brother was a lawyer. There is a little romance comes in here: wish the money would come instead. There are two tales: which is true Aunt does not know, but her mother thought the first.

A Margaret Gorst of London left a large sum of money, and at Aunt's mother's time it was valued at £1,000,000 and it was said that he got hold of this, it being in Chancery. Anyway from living in a very quiet way he became suddenly rich and had a carriage and pair etc. The other version is that the church was burnt down and the register destroyed. This I should say is the true tale, anyway it is now too late in the day to trouble about that. Many have tried and failed. She was sister or aunt to Samuel Gorst and aunt or sister to Mrs Evans.

Margaret Gorst married Mr. Nightingale of Liverpool, a solicitor much older than herself. They had one daughter. Aunt thinks they are buried at the Nicropolis. (Necropolis?  Could this be Mary as she has already mentioned Margaret? No mention of Mr. Nightingale Attorney in Pigot's Directory A.R.B.)

Many of Martha Noden's relations are buried at Bowdon Parish Church.

Thomas Gorst June 2nd 1837 Liverpool. (Could it be Thomas Gorst’s death? Check St Cath's records. A.R.B. Or birth of Thomas and Elizabeth’s son?)

John Gorst

Robert Weston 1807 Liverpool.

"Seek ye out of the book and read Isaiah."

Samuel, son of Samuel Weston, born 2nd March 1679.

Joseph Weston died 30th September 1766.

Comments in brackets are by Anita Rosemary Brown. 3 x great grandaughter of Thomas Gorst and Ann Weston

Robert Weston, Father of Ann Weston

It has been inferred that he was born in 1757

He died in August 1821 in Duncan Street Liverpool and was buried on the 24 Aug 1821 in St James Church, Toxteth

He married Nancy Lowe on the 10th October 1784 in St George's Church,

I have a trancsript of the page but the names of the witnesses are unclear, One was Jas. Hanna who may have been a church official as he signed for another marriage on the page, the other is a long name but it is unreadable.

Robert and Nancy had two daughters: 

Nancy Ann Weston

Elizabeth Weston

Most of the known information concerning him comes from his will which runs to 7 handwritten A3 pages, and a few comments in letters from his daughter, Ann Gorst and his grandaughter Martha Kaye Metcalfe.

Probate for his will was granted on February 21 1822 to John Robinson Jun. of Tarleton St, Liverpool,who swore that his estate was under £4000. His other Trustees were Thomas Kaye of Liverpool, stationer and printer and James Woods of Liverpool tanner. Robert Weston died in August 1821, He was

buried in St. James Church, Toxteth, although he may have worshiped at Brunswick Street Methodist Chapel in

He described himself as a Gentleman of Liverpool, although at his marriage and subsequently in Parish Registers he was described as a cordwainer, which is a shoemaker or worker in leather. He lived at 12

The 1801 Census for Liverpool gives the following information -

P.

Robert Weston 1 Freehold House

1 Family

1 male 2 females =3

1 in trade

In the 1790 and 1800 Street Directories he was listed as Weston, Robert, shoemaker, 73,

In the 1803 Directory there is a Robert Weston, gentleman of Oakes St,

At his death his income was based upon property, the following properties were named in his will:-

Rents and profits from messuages and premises in

NEW

NO.1 &

NO.14 & NO.15 MOUNT PLEASANT STREET

SUMMER STREET.

I have been told that he was in some way connected with Weston Point

- 1767, I gather that Weston Point was Weston Point Packet House, 1, Irwell Street, Mann Island, Liverpool, otherwise it means nothing to me. This information came to me via Sandra Allen, who thought it came from Aunt Waddingham.

Margaret Waddingham in her Recollections mentioned a few items

concerning the Weston Family,

"Robert Weston married Anne Lowe and her mother was a Miss French from Kent, her father was a builder and gave his name to "French Windows"

"Robert and Anne Weston had 3 children, only one lived, Anne Gorst mother of my grandfather."

"Robert Weston 1807 Liverpool - Seek ye out of the Book and read Isaiah."

Samuel, son of Samuel Weston, born 2nd March 1679."

"Joseph Weston, died 30th September 1766."

He may have been married twice. In his will he leaves one shilling to his wife Ann Weston.

On Page 5 of his will he leaves rents and profits of property in

Did he cut off his second wife with the proverbial shilling, or had she been previously taken care of? Who was she?

THE I.G.I.

The I.G.I. provides pointers, but nothing which relates to any other known information. Because it is thought that Martha Kaye was brought up by her grandfather and it is mentioned in a letter from Edward

Metcalfe that she had been living in Cheshire 6 months previous to her marriage, I have included the I.G.I. for Cheshire. The Gorsts appear to have originated from Frodsham in Cheshire.

Possible baptisms Lancashire for Robert Weston

Robert Whiston son of William Whiston and Sarah - Wigan - 2nd April 1757. At his death in August 1821 he was aged 64, So this entry might fit. This is the only Lancashire baptism for Robert Weston or Whiston

Possible baptisms in Cheshire for Robert Weston

R.W. son of Robert Whiston and Ann Chester St. John the Baptist October 11 1750

R.W. son of John Weston and Martha Davenham November 1 1758

R.W. son of John Weston and Bettey Davenham September 6th 1761.

There is no reference to Nancy Ann Weston, the daughter of Robert Weston in either the Lancs or Cheshire section of the I.G.I.

He left his entire estate in trust for his grandaughter Martha Kaye Gorst, and in the event of her death, to be shared by any of her children reaching the age of 21 years.

NANCY ANN GORST

His daughter Nancy Ann Gorst was given the use of his house inDuncan Street, together with the contents, during her lifetime.£10 a year, being the interest of £200 which had been left to her in the will of James Hamilton, mariner. Nancy Ann Gorst disputed this in a letter to her daughter dated 31.5.1839 . She believed that she should have received the capital sum outright.

R.W. also directed that his daughter should receive a further £10 per annum if her husband Thomas Gorst left her or died before her.There was clearly no love lost between him and his son in law.

MOST OF THE WILL AFTER PAGE 3 IS DEVOTED TO BEQUESTS IN THE EVENT THAT MARTHA KAYE AND HER CHILDREN SHOULD ALL DIE.

Martha Kaye in an undated draft of a letter to her sister Anne asserted "There is my dear Anne a great deal of prejudice existing against me in my own family and I cannot account for it unless it be that grandfather

thought fit to leave me what he had for life, and afterwards to my children, and in case I died without having any family, then to persons who were almost entire strangers."

Further on in the letter she wrote, " At my grandfather's death I was not likely for living - had I died his property would have gone out of the family - `indeed I well remember when the window blinds were not

drawn up as early as usual, there was rejoicing by the party who was to succeed me, in the will. who conceived no doubt, that I had made a place for them."

There is some evidence to suggest however, that some of the people named as beneficiaries in R.W.'s will were related to him in some way.

THE PENDLETON SISTERS - SARAH AND MARTHA KAYE

They were the daughters of Thomas Pendleton of Liverpool, painter, deceased. There is nothing to suggest that they were related to R.W.but there must have been a close friendship for R.W.'s grandaughter to

be named after Martha Kaye, and for her husband Thomas Kaye, who was a stationer and printer, to be chosen as one of his three Trustees.

Sarah Pendleton's baptism is recorded in the I.G.I.-

Sarah Pendleton dau of Thomas and Martha Pendleton, Liverpool  Mount Pleasant Wesleyan Feb. 18 1892.

ELLEN LIGHTFOOT AND HER SON SAMUEL LIGHTFOOT.

There is strong evidence from the I.G.I. that Ellen was a Weston:- Nelly Weston married Samuel Lightfoot Liverpool June 6th 1784. Samuel Lightfoot son of Samuel Lightfoot and Ellen Waston Liverpool

There is a reference to a Sam L. in a letter from Charles Critchley concerning the elopement of Edward and Martha dated 25th August 1825. He wrote, "I do not hear Sam L's name mentioned nor Mr R.'s

further than that he will make her a ward in Chancery." Mr. R.could be Mr. John Robinson one of R.W.'s Trustees

There are more brothers and a sister mentioned in the will.

ALICE BRADSHAW OF CROSBIE - sister of Ellen Lightfoot.

ROBERT WESTON OF CROSBIE - farmer, brother to Ellen Lightfoot.

RICHARD WESTON OF CROSBIE -farmer, brother to Ellen Lightfoot.

Ellen Lightfoot's daughter Jane Pover is also mentioned, and Jane's

daughter Ellen Pover. It may be that Jane Pover married James Moore, carter, at St Peter's Church Liverpool on 15th February 1836. (Find my Past Parish Records Collection.)

ELIZABETH MARGERSON AND HER DAUGHTER ELIZABETH HOMAN.

Elizabeth Margerson was "sister to my late wife."

JAMES HAMILTON Who left some money in trust for Nancy Ann Gorst R.W.'s daughter. See N.A. Gorst's notes for her point of view regarding James Hamilton and his bequest.