THE SKELETON IN MY FAMILY CUPBOARD
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ORIGINS OF MY GRANDFATHER
When I began writing this account I thought that it might well be a story without an ending. I have struggled with the genealogy of my maternal grandfather, off and on, for over ten years. There are two major problems, the first is the common name – Edward Thompson – the second is, that for some reason he did not want to be found, and therefore told lies.
WHAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME.
My mother talked about him very rarely, and I was not sufficiently interested to ask. She may not have known him very well herself; I suspect that she may have been ashamed of him. Hannah, or Annie as she hated to be called, was his eldest daughter. She was born within a whisker of being illegitimate, two months after the marriage, a fact that I only discovered when I sent off for her birth certificate. For passport purposes she had made do with a shortened version. She also told me that she had been brought up mainly by her mother Lily’s parents, Edward and Hannah Haughton who were still young enough to be bringing up their own family of three boys and three girls. Lily, the eldest, was 15 when she married Edward in 1895, although she lied and said that she was eighteen. Edward gave his occupation at marriage as a tripe dresser, two months later, on his daughter’s birth certificate he was a master tripe dresser! Edward Haughton was also a tripe dresser, so it does not take too much imagination to work out how Lily and Edward met. They also lived fairly close to one another, Edward Thompson in Ashfield Road, Burnley and Edward Haughton in Clifton Street. Both roads are central, and close to the railway line.
Six years later in 1901, Edward, Lily, and family were living in Regent Street, still in Burnley, close to the gasworks. Edward was still working as a tripe dresser, but ‘on his own account.’ He clearly felt the need to work for himself. According to his death certificate he ended his days in 1923 as a licensed furniture broker in Oldham. Unfortunately no records remain concerning the licensing of traders by Oldham Borough Sessions. His occupation in 1918 however, (on his son Leslie’s birth certificate,) was given as ‘tripe dresser,’ perhaps he combined the two. My mother said that sometimes they were prosperous, and he had a pony and trap.
I have a charming postcard of two pretty girls sitting on a large crescent moon surrounded by stars. On the back is a note in my mother’s handwriting, explaining that the two girls were her sister Beattie (Beatrice) and herself and the P.C. had been written by Grandma Haughton. It clearly had not been posted as the message was written all the way across and there was no stamp or date. The girls looked no more than ten or eleven which would make the year about 1905/6. The message reads:-
Dear Lily how do you like them I have kept one for myself you must excuse me for not writing sooner I have not had a minute to spare that blouse was 2/6 and how do you like the cover I sent you and how has Lily gone on is her husband come back or not hoping you are all well your loving ma tell ted I am still waiting
I have reproduced the message in its entirety because I like its disjointed and somewhat laconic style. Also, although the card was addressed to her daughter Lily, halfway through she seems to forget who she was writing to, I think that this was just her way of talking however. Even so it suggests that Edward had left his wife, even if only temporarily. Perhaps he sometimes tried to return to his mother in Blackburn. He had a recorded spell in Blackburn Workhouse for a month between 7th April and 8th May 1899 and again in September of the same year. (“Thompson Edward, 27, charge to Blackburn, catholic, information self, Father Ed Labourer, 5, Hargreaves Lane.”) The problems were definitely not drink - related, he was teetotal. He would not allow any drink in the house. According to my mother this was because his mother was an alcoholic. She was terrified of her paternal grandmother, which suggests that she was still alive at the beginning of the 20th century when my mother would have been of an age to remember her. There is another postcard, dated 14.8.1909, which shows a photograph of an extended family group which may have been the whole Haughton clan on holiday in Blackpool. The Postcard is addressed to Lily’s sister Ethel Haughton. In the centre at the back stands my mother, aged 13, flanked by a man and woman, I have often wondered if this man was her father, my grandfather.
LIVERPOOL IRISH
My mother told me that my grandfather was Irish, LIVERPOOL IRISH! I gathered from her that that was the lowest of the low. Furthermore he said that his name was not just Thompson, but Thompson – Cromine. There was no way that Lily Haughton was ever going to be called that! (This story was confirmed by my Aunt Mary who was married to my mother’s younger brother Joseph Leslie Thompson, he was aged only five when his father died. Mary’s recollection of the name was Comine.) Either way it has never led to anything.
The worst thing that my mother told me was that her father hanged himself. In fact this was not true, as I found out from the coroner’s report and the accounts in the local papers, he actually gassed himself. I have often wondered how she could have made this mistake. She had married my father, Norman Dunkerley, three years before and they were living in Wimbledon at the time of her father’s death on 17th September 1923. The newspaper reports revealed that Edward had tried to hang himself some twenty years previously. This first attempt, when she would have been just a little girl, must have made a terrible impact upon her, and over the years perhaps, it became the reality. In Lily Thompson’s evidence at the Coroner’s Inquest, which was reported verbatim in all the Oldham papers, (the Oldham Evening Chronicle, The Standard, and the Oldham Evening Standard) she said, “A great number of years ago – twenty or more – he made an attempt on his life. He fastened something round his neck, but I don’t know if he meant it or not. It was a scarf he fastened round his neck.” It sounds to me as though she thought it was a cry for help, perhaps the second attempt was too. Lily originally said that he had no financial worries and seemed to enjoy life but then she revealed that his place of business at 46, Bottom o’th Moor Oldham had been sold “over his head” and that seemed to have preyed on his mind. She also said that he suffered from rheumatism, asthma and bronchitis. Suicide was considered to be a great slur upon a family in those days In consequence most coroners tried to find a verdict of accidental death, or if that was clearly improbable, as in this case, a verdict of “suicide whilst of unsound mind”.
WHAT THE RECORDS TOLD ME.
There should not be a problem. I have my grandparents’ marriage certificate dated 7th July 1895, which should give my grandfather’s age at marriage and, even more importantly, the name of his father, whom he named as “Joseph Thompson deceased.” Edward gave his age as 22, this would indicate that he was either born in 1873 or the latter part of 1872. In the 1901 census, which was taken at the beginning of April, he gave his age as 29, which indicated that he was born in the early part of 1872 or the latter end of 1871. When he died in September 1923 his age was given on his death certificate as 52, which meant that he was born in 1871, or possibly the latter part of 1870. However the coroner’s findings gave his age as 53.
This gives me a choice of birth years of late 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872 and 1873. At a rough count of the G.R.O. records there were 26 Edward Thompsons born in Lancashire during this period. The 1881 census showed that there still survived nineteen Edward Thompsons who had been born in Lancashire between 1869 and 1873, of which six were from Liverpool, including West Derby and Great Crosby. NOT ONE OF THEM HAD A FATHER CALLED JOSEPH - EITHER ALIVE OR DEAD.
A PROCESS OF ELIMINATION
I decided that I would check out all references to Edward Thompson in the 1881 census for Lancashire, then see which of them still appeared in the 1901 census.
Clearly, I had to widen the field of enquiry, at least to the two neighbouring counties of Yorkshire and Cheshire. Each time that a new census appeared I have looked eagerly for some little clue that would lead me to my grandfather’s origins. The 1901 census was the first time that he himself had given his place of birth. I have to admit that I was outraged when I read “Huddersfield.” I checked through the G.R.O. records yet again. Very few Edward Thompson’s were born in Yorkshire, the nearest one to Huddersfield was born in Bradford. I felt sure that this was another of ‘granddad’s red herrings,’ but it all had to be checked.
The first things that had to be checked were those four Edward Thompsons whose fathers were called Joseph, deceased or otherwise. I was puzzled as to why he should lie about his father on his marriage certificate and I felt that I had to give him the benefit of the doubt by investigating the four families that I found who coincided, more or less accurately, with Edward’s date of birth.
EDWARD THOMPSON BORN IN COMPSTALL MARPLE
If it were not for the Liverpool – Irish connection I think that I should have been very interested in an Edward Thompson who appeared in the 1881 census (RG11 4050/107) who was born in 1868, in Compstall Marple, then in Cheshire, quite near Stockport, now in Greater Manchester. (It might be worth noting that Edward’s wife Lily Haughton was born in Stockport, and the Haughton family lived in that area until they moved to Burnley.} This Thompson family lived at 109, King Street, Dukinfield. Joseph Thompson was the head, aged 35, a medical botanist by profession; he was born at Flowery Field, Hyde, Cheshire in about 1846. His wife Nancy Thompson was a year younger and born in Dukinfield. They had two children, Edward the elder was aged 13 and worked as a cotton piecer, his young sister Mary H., aged nine was still a scholar. As already stated, the principal objection was that there does not appear to be an Irish connection. On the other hand Joseph could have had Irish parents who came across at the start of the potato famine. The second objection was that Edward seemed a bit old. If he was aged 13, he was likely to have been born in 1868. I told myself, however, that Edward seemed to get progressively older in each successive record, so perhaps he never revealed his true age! I had expected him to be born in Lancashire, but, due to my very poor knowledge of geography, I did not realise that this part of Cheshire was so close. I followed this Edward through to the 1891 census, and then to the 1901 census, knowing that if he appeared in that he had to be eliminated. The Cheshire Edward duly appeared, still living in Dukinfield, his occupation was given as a ‘traveller dry salter.’ So that was the end of him as a possibility.
EDWARD THOMPSON BORN IN PENRITH
The 1881 census showed that there were three other families with father Joseph, and son Edward, of the right age. One family lived in Penrith Westmorland, where all five children had been born. Joseph was the head, aged 37, working as a general labourer, his wife, interestingly, was called Hannah, (this was the name of my mother.) Edward, aged eleven, was the eldest son, still at school. The age would certainly fit and it has been suggested that the Westmorland accent could be mistaken for an Irish one. However I still felt that the Irish connection was central, I would need a lot of proof to give it up. Why would my mother and grandmother have been ashamed if Edward had not been the despised ‘Liverpool Irish?’ I followed the Westmorland Edward through the 1891 census, (RG12 4275.) The family were still living in Penrith, by this time Edward was working as an agricultural labourer, aged 21. Interestingly the census enumerator mentioned that he was deaf. However, in the 2nd Quarter, 1895, of the GRO burial Index an Edward Thompson, aged 26, died in West Ward. It is likely to have been him but so far I have not paid the fee to verify that, one way or the other.
EDWARD THOMPSON FROM POPLAR
The 1881 census showed the third family living at Poplar in London. This Joseph was aged 32, his wife Hannah was aged 29 and they had four little boys. Edward the third boy was aged seven, which meant that he was born around 1874, his age and the location just about ruled him out, although the family could have originated from Ireland. Once again I tracked him through the 1891 census to the 1901 census where he appeared as an engine fitter turner, still living in Poplar, but having gained a few years, he was now aged 30. So, that eliminated him!
EDWARD THOMPSON FROM STAFFORDSHIRE
The fourth family came from Newcastle under Lyne. The head was Joseph Thompson, aged 29, a potter dishmaker. Edward was the eldest child, aged ten, he was a half time potter and was born in Trent Vale. The 1891 census showed the family still living in the same place, by now Edward was shown working as a tanner. I have not yet found the family in the 1901 census, so in theory this Edward is still in the running, but he seems an unlikely candidate.
THE LIVERPOOL IRISH CONNECTION
I still felt that the Liverpool - Irish connection was all important so I decided to investigate any family with an Irish father or grandfather, particularly any who lived in Liverpool or its environs.
EDWARD THOMPSON FROM GREAT CROSBY
The 1891 census showed that the most promising family lived in Great Crosby, address unreadable. The head was Michael Thompson aged 47, labourer, born in Ireland, as was his wife Maria, aged 45. There were three sons listed and one daughter. The three boys were aged from nineteen to sixteen, Edward was the middle one, aged 18, the occupation was difficult, and the handwriting awful, but considerable magnification showed that he was a fishmonger’s assistant. This would fit in with Edward’s subsequent career as a tripe dresser. There were two other Irishmen on the same page, both gardeners. Then I looked up the family in the 1881 Census. They were still in Great Crosby, living in Moor Lane Cott. Edward had an elder brother, aged 13, and simply called J.J. who had been born in Birkenhead, as had the second son, William, although he had been born in Gt. Crosby, according to the 1891 census. There were also three girls, two of whom had vanished from the 1891 census. One, called Ellen, was the same age as Edward, (seven) so I took her to be his twin sister, the other was a girl aged two. Apart from the name of the father, this Edward would fit the bill. Just for good measure I finally looked up the family in the 1901 census. They were still living in Great Crosby, at 23 Moor Place with just the youngest son, Michael, who was now aged 25, occupation bricklayer, and the youngest daughter Gertrude, aged twenty. I became quite excited about this Edward, unfortunately I had overlooked an Edward whose place of birth was simply given as ‘Lancs’ in the 1901 census He turned out to be a journeyman fishmonger, living in Seaforth with his wife and young family. So yet another promising candidate bit the dust.
EDWARD THOMPSON – GRANDSON OF EDWARD THORNTON
This family simply lived in Liverpool, with no obvious Irish connections.
However, in 1881 Edward was living with his grandfather, which might have indicated that his father was dead. In 1901 Edward was still living in Liverpool, working as a coal carter, so he had to be eliminated. (RG13/3418)
THE WHARTON FAMILY
There was another family that interested me, however. This was the Wharton Family. In 1881 they lived at 34, Damfield Lane, Maghull, which is North of Liverpool. Father James, aged 34, was a ‘public Inn g…’ which I took to be some kind of publican. His wife Ann was nine years older and had clearly been married before as she had three children, all named Thompson. Mary, the eldest, was sixteen, Edward was twelve, and Frances, the youngest was six. In addition there was two year old Ann Wharton, who must have been a daughter of the marriage. There was also a house servant, Edward Phillips, who was married, aged 78 and born in Dublin! The rest of the household had all been born in the local area. A bit of lateral thinking does not come amiss in family history and I thought up the following scenario. Suppose Ann had been married previously to Joseph Thompson, who was ‘Liverpool Irish.’ The house servant Edward Phillips may have fitted in here, and the easy access to alcohol may have turned Ann into an alcoholic! The 1891 census, found them still living at Maghull, James Wharton was now a hay dealer, Mary Thompson had gone, as had Edward Phillips, Edward Thompson, aged 22, was working as an agricultural labourer, and his sister Frances was working as a barmaid. Alas, it was a lovely theory and I nearly got carried away, but unfortunately this Edward turned up in the 1901 census as a canal labourer living in Sefton, so that put paid to him.
EDWARD – SON OF RUTH
Another family that had possibilities, lived in Bradford, not the Yorkshire one, but the one that is now part of Manchester. The 1881 census showed that the head was a widow called Ruth Thompson, aged 41 and unemployed. This was a family that had travelled around. Ruth had been born in Bucks, her daughter Ellen, aged 17, had been born in Benares, E. India, Sons Thomas, aged ten, and Edward, aged eight had both been born in Manchester, the youngest daughter, Ada, aged two, had been born in Bradford. It suggested either a military background or the East India Company, with long separations. There was no ‘Liverpool Irish link’ with this family, unless the deceased husband was Irish. The 1891 census indicated that Ruth had married again and changed her name to Sharples, although this marriage could not have lasted because she was again a widow. Ellen had disappeared but the other three children were still living at home, Edward working as a labourer. However, further study of the 1901 census found him, aged 27, working in South Manchester as a ticket collector.
EDWARD THOMPSON/MEREDITH
One promising candidate turned up in the 1881 census. This Edward was aged ten in 1881, so he must have been born circa 1871. He was living with his grandparents Robert and Elizabeth Meredith in Liverpool. Robert was a cabinet maker, aged 59. He was born in Ireland, so all the criteria were fulfilled. The 1891 census showed Robert and Elizabeth still living in Liverpool but Edward had gone.
I was very lucky to find him in the 1901 Census. He was still living in Liverpool, but he now called himself Edward Meredith. He was a teacher of music and dancing. With him lived his wife Mary, son Robert and two nieces. There was also his ‘father’ Robert Meredith, widower, retired cabinet maker, aged 79. The only reason that I found him was because I looked up Robert Meredith. This led me to Edward’s entry in the 1891 census, (RG12/2914.) He was calling himself Edward Meredith, a professor of music, and was living with his brother – in – law Robert S(?)eat, a cook, in Abercromby, which was the same area of Liverpool where the family had always lived. This was an interesting exercise, but it did not help me to find ‘my’ Edward.
THE PAUPER
The Edward who had been a stock and share broker’s clerk and ended up as a pauper in Derby workhouse did intrigue me. I had not been able to find him in previous censuses; this was because of two separate errors by two separate enumerators. In the 1891 census I suspected that he was the Edward, aged 22, who was working as a rent collector and living with his father Walter in quite a prosperous area of West Derby, (many of the households had a servant.) The problem was that Walter, aged 25, was only 3 years older than Edward, was he really the father – or a brother? It turned out that he was the latter. In the 1881 census there was no sign of either of them until I checked those Thomsons spelt without a ‘p’ and there they both were, with father James who was a builder
THE PRISONER
The Edward Thompson who languished in Chester Military Prison in 1891 had to be a contender. He was aged 21 and born in Liverpool. His imprisonment would certainly have been something to hide. Whoever he was, he would have been missing from his family in 1891, which led me to suppose that he was the son of Edward and Leanora Thompson who lived in Everton in 1871, Edward Senior was a ship’s cook and they also had a daughter, Eliza. In 1881 the family were still living in Everton, Edward Senior was missing, and possibly he was at sea, for Leanora described herself as ‘ship’s cook wife.’ Baby Eliza had been replaced by baby Richard, aged 4, Leanora’s mother, Eliza Warham, was staying with them. In 1891 Edward Senior was living in West Derby with a new wife, Mary E.A. He was now a chief cook, and son Richard, 14, was a printer’s apprentice. There are no records extant for Chester Military Prison but I was told by Ancestors Magazine that it would be worth looking at his discharge papers at Kew in WO 97 (6067). There were a lot of Edward Thompsons in the army at that time but one seemed to fit the bill. He had been a seaman, born in Liverpool, and had joined the South Lancashire Corps on the 2nd August1889 aged 19 years 11 months which meant that he was born in September 1869. He quickly deserted on 1st September 1889 and remained AWOL for 1 year 168 days. However he rejoined and on the 26th February he was sentenced to 42 days in a military prison. This would explain why he was at Chester Military Prison on 5th April 1891 when the census was taken. He was released on the 9th April. After that he seems to have settled down and served in many places abroad, which is where he was when the 1901 census was taken. He was discharged on the 1st August 1901. As a final proof his next of kin was given as ‘Father Edward Thompson of 20 Thoraburn St, Liverpool,’ and younger brother (unnamed,) also of Liverpool.
I thought that it might clarify matters if I produced a chart showing all those Edward Thompsons who were born between 1869 and 1874, living in Lancashire or neighbouring counties, showing their age, parents and place of birth, in the 1881 census, and their age, residence and occupation in the 1901 census. I chose the 1881 census because that would eliminate those who had died in infancy or early childhood. Any who were left had to be considered carefully. I have excluded any Edwards who were not born in Lancashire, even if they moved into the county later on.
YEAR BORN PARENT PLACE OF BIRTH RESIDENCE 1901 OCCUPATION
CENSUS REF.
All Lancashire
Edward Thompson 1874 Francis Clitheroe Clitheroe Plasterer’s Labourer
Edward Thompson 1874 John Heywood Elton St. Stephen Hairdresser
Edward Thompson 1874 Peter St. Helens Sugar Boiler & Confectioner
Edward Thompson 1873 Michael Great Crosby Seaforth Journeyman Fishmonger
Edward Thompson 1873 Moses Heaton Mersey Waterloo Police Constable
Edward Thompson 1873 John Dalton – in – Furness Ellel Rural Postman etc.
Edward Thompson 1873 Ruth Sharples formerly Thompson Ardwick South Manchester Railway Ticket Collector
Edward Thompson 1872 William Widnes Whiston Hairdresser (Inmate)
Edward Thompson 1872 Edward Blackburn Blackburn Railway Goods Porter
Edward Thompson 1872 Grandson of Edward Thornton Liverpool Liverpool Coal carter
Edward Thompson 1872 William Cartmel Ellel Gardener
Edward Thompson 1872 Southport Southport Furniture Porter
Edward Thompson 1871 Jane Laven Blackrod Ashton in Makerfield Coal Miner Hewer
Edward Thompson 1870 James Margaret Anders St. Helens Tyldesley with Shakerley Cotton Minder
Edward Thompson 1870 Mary Ulverston Subberthwaite Lowick Farmer’s Son
Edward B. Thompson 1870 John Lancaster Lancaster Paint Works Labourer
Edward Thompson/Meredith 1870 Grandfather/Father Liverpool Liverpool Teacher of Music + Dancing (RG13 3417)
Edward Thompson 1870 George Knowsley Knowsley Game Keeper
Edward Thompson 1869 Father James Thomson
Brother Walter Toxteth Park Liverpool Workhouse, Derby (Pauper) Clerk – Stock + Sharebrokers RG13 3328
Edward Thompson 1869 Ann Wharton Downholland Sefton Canal Labourer
Edward Thompson 1869 Thomas Barrow/Whitehaven Barrow Shipyard labourer
Edward Thompson 1869 William Liverpool Everton Dock Labourer
Edward D.Thompson 1870 Toxteth Park L’pool Toxteth Park Gardener
Edward Thompson 1870 Joseph LONDON Poplar Poplar Engine Fitter Turner
CHESHIRE
Edward Thompson 1868 Joseph Compstall Marple Dukinfield Traveller Dry Salter
NAME YEAR BORN PARENT PLACE OF BIRTH RESIDENCE 1891 OCCUPATION COMMENTS
LANCASHIRE
Edward James H. Thompson 1869 Edward Taylor West Derby West Derby Student Father retired watch + clock dealer
Edward Thompson 1874 Colton Egton cum Newland Tailor’s Apprentice Unlikely See below
Edward Thompson
1872 Edward + Ellen Blackburn Blackburn Cotton weaver Most likely
Edwd. Christopher Thompson 1870 Edward Longsight (Manchester) Middleton Warehouseman Cott. Died 10/2/1900
Edward Thompson 1869 Edward Leanora Everton Chester Military Prison Prisoner 1901 serving army abroad)
Edward Thompson 1869 John Ulverston Dalton Farm Servant Unlikely See below
Edward Thompson 1873 William Manchester Manchester House painter See below
Edward Thompson 1871 Joseph STAFFORDSHIRE
Newcastle – under - Lyme Newcastle – under - Lyme Tanner Unlikely See below
Edward Thompson 1870 Joseph CUMBERLAND
Penrith Penrith Agricultural Labourer (deaf) Died June 1895
Although this is a very small sample, comprising, as it does, men with the same name, born at the same time, within a proscribed geographical locality. The wide variety of their occupations is unexpected. Particularly as this is Lancashire, where one might expect nearly everyone to be employed within the cotton industry, or in related occupations, yet this is not the case.
EDWARD THOMPSONS BORN BETWEEN 1868 AND 1874 WHO DO NOT APPEAR IN THE 1901 CENSUS
Altogether there appear to be 36 Edward Thompsons born between 1869 and 1874 in Lancashire, or, with two exceptions, nearby counties. This is more than previously thought. There are nine Edward Thompsons remaining who do not appear in the 1901 census. I was hoping to be able to account for them all, but I suppose that is unrealistic. Two died, none emigrated as far as my research has shown.
Edward James H. Thompson seems to have belonged to a higher social scale, his father was a retired watch and clock dealer; in 1891 he was still a student, aged about 22. I think he is very unlikely.
Two were born and lived in the very far north of the county; they were born at Colton and Ulverston respectively, places which are now in Cumbria. I have only found the tailor’s apprentice in the 1891 census but I do not think that my grandfather was likely to be either a farm servant or a tailor.
The Edward Thompson who was born in Manchester and became a house painter is a bit of a mystery, he was living at home in 1891, so we know the name of his parents, but he is not found in any other census. It is possible that his age has been wrongly recorded, although I have been unable to find his parents either.
I was delighted to be able to link the prisoner Edward with Edward and Leanora Thompson of Everton because he had to be a prime candidate. Conversely I have always thought the Staffordshire Edward as being extremely unlikely, he may have died, (though not in Staffordshire,) or he may simply have moved to another occupation in another county. That left me with the rather shadowy Edward Thompson who was living with his mother in Blackburn, he was not an obvious choice – but he had possibilities!
THE FRONTRUNNER
It was clearly possible that my grandfather was illegitimate, or had been brought up in a one parent family. There had to have been some reason for his secretiveness. One town that seemed to be particularly associated with Thompsons, and even more particularly with Edward Thompsons, was Blackburn. The index in www.ancestry.com showed no fewer than 9, their birth years ranging from 1839 to 1893. Blackburn does not readily spring to mind for associations with Liverpool or Ireland, but it does seem to have been a gathering place for Thompsons, the significance of this I have yet to discover.
In 1872 two boys were born in Blackburn, their fathers were both called Edward, and they themselves were named Edward. One lad grew up to be a goods porter on the railway, but as he was listed in the 1901 census, he has been eliminated.
The other Edward seemed to fit the picture more closely. For one thing, although his mother always said that she was married, his father never seemed to be there, or never on census night. Edward junior appeared in the 1881 census when he was 9. His mother was named Elizabeth in the census, aged 42, a cotton rover, born in Ireland. She and Edward were living as boarders with John Connaughty, 25, and his wife Hannah, at 10 Crook Street, Blackburn. The entry is confused; living with John and Hannah was his supposed daughter, Ellen Connaughty, but as she was aged 47, she was more likely to be his mother. The enumerator probably got her Christian name confused with Elizabeth Thompson, because in all other censuses Elizabeth is called Ellen. Several members of the family were born in Ireland, however, together with others in the immediate neighbourhood. Here I had the kind of family circumstances that I was looking for.
There were discrepancies in the 1891 census however. Elizabeth was now Ellen, aged 55.There was still no sign of Edward Senior, although she still stated that she was married. She was living, as head of household, at 5, Hargreaves Lane, with Edward, aged 19. She no longer admitted to Ireland, as her birthplace, but Preston. This was disappointing but I reckoned that she had probably caught the Thompson habit of duplicity and I decided to send off for Edward’s birth certificate.
EDWARD THOMPSON’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE
This document confirmed Edward’s date of birth as the 5th January 1872; the family were living at 1, Harrison Street, Blackburn. Edward Senior’s occupation was given as Bricklayers Labourer and Ellen’s maiden name was Mullen, which sounded pretty Irish to me. (In fact when I found her in the 1901 census, she was back to being Irish, Co. Mayo being added.) She was also back to her right age of 62 and still working in the mill, living as a boarder, with another Irish family from Co. Mayo, Patrick and Bridget Flannigan. Neither her husband nor her son was in evidence! If the censuses tell a story it is that she had a hard life and could hardly be blamed for turning to drink. This is how my mother remembered her grandmother, as a frightening alcoholic. Even in 1901 she still insisted that she was married, and there was finally evidence that her errant husband was still around – an inmate of Blackburn Workhouse! He was also aged 62, the same age as she, so he would have been born in 1839. He was described as a general labourer – and - here is the clincher for me - he said he was born in Malta! Clearly his philosophy was – ‘never tell the authorities the truth,’ but he could not resist a colourful embellishment.
ELLEN MULLEN
At about this period of my research the 1871 census became available on the Internet. At first I wasted time looking for Ellen Mullen or Mullin. My reasoning was that as she had apparently just had her first child she must have been newly married in 1872, or maybe not married at all. I got a surprise when I looked for her as Ellen Thompson, because there she was in Blackburn, a boarder at 25 Harrison Street with another son William Thompson, aged 12. They both worked in the mill, she as a drawer, he as a creeler, everyone in the household, except William, was born in Ireland. William was born in Preston. Who should live next door? Patrick and Bridget Flanaghan, the couple Ellen was to board with 30 years later. Ellen, as usual, declared that she was married, but Edward, as usual, was absent.
WILLIAM THOMPSON’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
The next step was to send off for William’s birth certificate. It revealed that he had been born on the 1st February 1859 at 4, Hope Street, Preston. His father was Edward Thompson, a Daily Labourer, and his mother was Ellen, formerly Mullin. In 1871, Ellen gave her age as 30, 12 years earlier she would have been about 18. It was time to look for a marriage.
A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE FOR EDWARD AND ELLEN
As might be imagined nine Edward Thompsons were married between 1855 and 1859, six of them in Liverpool. But when I looked for Ellen Mullen during the same period there were only 4, and no match. However there was one marriage for Ellen that interested me, it was in the first quarter of 1858 at Preston, number 515. I returned to the Thompsons to double check, there was still no match. In my disappointment I scrolled down the page and there it was – no.515, same date, same quarter - Edward Thomson. That taught me a lesson – always check for an alternative spelling!
The marriage certificate told me that they married on 22nd March 1858 in the Church of Saint Walburge according to the rites and ceremonies of the Catholic Religion. They were both 19. He was a Grinder in a Cotton Mill, she a frame tenter. Most interestingly Edward gave his father’s name as Patrick Thomson. Ellen’s father was also called Patrick, but he was dead.
The 1861 census showed Ellen living at 25, Nelson Street, Preston in her familiar role of lodger, with a 2 year old son to support. Interestingly the head of the household was a widow called Ann Mullen aged 42 with her 2 sons, John and Patrick, and 7 lodgers, including Ellen and William, all born in Ireland except William. Despite the fact that Ellen was not listed as a daughter, I thought it was too great a coincidence if she were not. I wasted a great deal of time chasing after Ann Mullen, with no success. I still think that there is no doubt that she must have been a relative, but after 1861 she seemed to have disappeared without trace.
At first I had no luck searching for Ellen Mullen in the 1851 census, even though I had now learnt my lesson, and checked Mullen, Mullin and all spellings in between. I then tried Patrick Mullen/Mullin. There he was, recorded in most beautiful handwriting, at no 5 Dawson Court, Bartham Street, Liverpool. He was aged 35, employed in the water works, born in Ireland. Living with him were his wife Elizabeth, aged 31, his daughters Eloner, aged 10, Rebecca, aged 1 and two sons Lawrence and John, aged 8 and 3 respectively. All the children, except Eloner had been born in Liverpool; she had been born in Ireland. At first I was undecided, could Eloner be Ellen? Phonetically they were close; Ellen could easily be a contraction of Eloner. Her age should have been 12, if she was telling the truth at her marriage, but many did not, and the Irish seemed to be particularly lackadaisical regarding their age. Eventually I decided that this was Ellen. Very few enumerators gave any other details except ‘born Ireland,’ particularly in the early censuses. But the 1901 census gives the additional detail that Ellen was born in Co. Mayo.
Ellen died on the 12th October 1907 at 3, Eccles Row, aged 69, from chronic bronchitis which she had endured for 2 years, and exhaustion. She had had a very hard life, but I was pleased to see that her eldest son, William, was present at her death, although I was hoping it might have been Edward or Lily - the final piece of proof!
WILLIAM THOMPSON
As William plays a central role in this narrative I think that he deserves more than a mention. In September 1876 William enlisted in the army. Initially he was based at the 15th Brigade Depot Burnley which later became the East Lancashire Regiment. His discharge papers, which can be found in the National Archives in WO 97/4019, give details of his service, which was initially for 12 years. He was variously stationed at Chatham and Dover. On 9th February 1880 he landed in India and proceeded to Ranikhet where he was to remain for 3 years. He was appointed drummer in 1882. The General Remarks on his medical history regarding Habits and Conduct gave his conduct as ‘fair,’ but his habits as ‘intemperate.’ So it appears that William too had a problem with drink, although this was probably all too common. He was discharged in October 1888 but it is possible that he was called up again. I cannot find him in the 1891 census; however he had a few days in Blackburn Workhouse in 1895. The workhouse records reveal that he had an alias. (William Moyvales, it could have been Hoyvales,) followed by the usual information, he was aged 35, labourer, widower, catholic; he gave his mother’s address of 5, Hargreaves Lane. Information in the records of the Blackburn workhouse relating to his father Edward showed that William was away in the army in June 1909.
William had reappeared in Blackburn by the 1901 census. He was living at 4, Back of Bolton Street. His wife Elizabeth, whom he married at Skipton in 1896, was Irish, as were two of his step children, Thomas and Elizabeth Meehan, aged 15 and 12 respectively. William and Elizabeth’s daughter, Ada, aged 3, was born in Blackburn. William’s occupation was given as a Private in the Royal Reserves.
EDWARD THOMPSON SENIOR
By this time I felt strongly that, at last, my family history was coming together. It was time to find out more about Edward Thompson, Senior.
As previously mentioned, the1861 census showed Ellen living in Preston with her baby son, William. I have been unable to find Edward anywhere in this census.
He was in the 1851 census however, aged 12, living at home with no occupation. I could have missed him, because this family’s name was spelt without the ‘p’.
The head of the household was Patrick Thomson who was living as a lodger, together with his family, at 16 Court, Liverpool. To his credit the enumerator tried to show the relationships within the family, although he could simply have put them all down as lodgers. Except for one, they were all born in Ireland, including Edward. Patrick’s occupation was given as butcher. Another son John, was aged 30, he was a musician. John was married to Margaret, who was a dress maker. They had a son, John, aged 2, and a daughter Catherine, aged 9, who was born in Wigan, which is strange as younger son John was born in Ireland. The solution to this apparent mystery lay in Catherine’s birth certificate. She had been born on the 29th January 1841 at Bradshaw Gate in Wigan, her father was John Thompson, musician but her mother was Catherine, nee Gallagher. It looks as though John Thompson’s first wife died and he probably returned to Ireland and married his second wife, Margaret.
There was one more member of Patrick’s family, a son, also called Patrick, aged 19, also a musician and married, but the enumerator noted that “he does not live with his wife.”
It iwas not overwhelming proof but here at last was THE LIVERPOOL – IRISH CONNECTION. It also seemed to show that this was a family who were forced down in the world. In 1861 Patrick senior and Catherine had moved to Preston. He was no longer working as a butcher, but as a labourer, his wife was working as a washerwoman.
JOHN AND PATRICK THOMPSON
I was sufficiently encouraged to attempt to follow John and Patrick through the censuses. In 1861 John and his family were also living in Preston, very near to his mother and father. Depressingly, John had stopped being a musician and had become a labourer, his wife was working as a milliner, son John and daughter Catherine were both factory operatives although Catherine was now called Catherine Gibling. Two other children had joined the family, Frances, aged 8, and Thomas aged 3. (RG9/3131/42) If the information on the census is correct John and Margaret must have returned to Ireland for a while as daughter Frances was supposed to be born there, (although the 1871 census says Wigan.) Patrick was born in Preston.
In 1871 (RG10/4206) the family were living in Preston and John was now back working as a musician again. I have wondered what kind of musician but I do not suppose that I am ever likely to know. Daughter Catherine was also back to being a Thompson, although she was described as married. I think that John was a bit casual regarding age, between 1851 and 1861 he and his wife had only aged 5 years. Poor Thomas was described as aged 3 in 1861 and still only 6 in 1871! However the family disappeared after 1871, as did all the rest of this family.
I am not absolutely sure that I found Patrick, as I did not know the name of his wife. It is possible that he moved to Bradford in Yorkshire. If so he lived there with his wife Margaret, working as a mason’s labourer. In 1861 there were two sons, William aged 8 and George, just 1. Both were born in Bradford. In 1871 Patrick was still working as a mason’s labourer, George had disappeared, to be replaced by Patrick, aged 4 and Daniel, aged 2. There was no trace of this family either in the next 3 censuses. Perhaps they all immigrated to America. I have checked with the early emigrants via the Castle Garden website, (http://castlegarden.com) but without success.
EDWARD THOMPSON SENIOR
It was very tempting to speculate as to the reason why Edward Thompson senior invariably made himself scarce at census time. One possibility was that he could have been a criminal. A quick check through www.a2a.org.uk revealed several mentions of an Edward Thompson in Lancashire Quarter Sessions Petitions for a Bill of Costs for his prosecution, one in Kirkdale in 1863 with a James Robinson for larceny and receiving, another in 1865 at Preston for larceny, another in Preston in 1876 for larceny from the person and another from Liverpool in 1886 for larceny and receiving. In a recent article in The Manchester Genealogist, a fellow researcher, who had discovered that her ancestor was amongst the criminal classes, had discovered that the Calendars of Prisoners tried at Lancs. Quarter Sessions, for the period in which I am interested, are held at Kew. So off to the National Archives my husband and I went, and there we learned the truth.
THE CALENDAR OF PRISONERS – HO 140/89.
The information of the Calendar of Prisoners is contained in large volumes. We chose the year 1886 as the last year given in the a2a website. It was a tense moment. Was Edward Thompson going to be there? Was it going to be my Edward Thompson? The first one we found clearly was not, he was aged only 25. The next one was more likely, despite the age being 5 years out, occupation of bricklayer’s labourer was right and so were the scenes of his crimes, which took up nearly a page of the large volume. It started, fairly innocuously in Preston, in October 1864; he had failed to provide sureties – sentence 7 days. There were 16 more incidents however, before his last appearance on the 11th August 1886. It made interesting, but sad, reading. Clearly many of his problems were drink – related. He was sent to prison 5 times for being drunk, usually for two weeks, once for a month. Assault usually took him to prison for a month, although he got 2 months for assaulting a female and 3 months for using threats. Once, in 1872, he was convicted for neglecting his family, for which he was sentenced to three months. All this was petty crime, but it was stealing from the person that really got him into trouble. In 1865 he was sent to prison for a year for stealing a watch from the person. Two years later he was given 2 years for stealing whisky and 5 shillings from the person. Unfortunately he did not learn his lesson and on the 18th February 1876 he was convicted of a more serious crime, a felony - stealing 13 shillings and 6 pence from the person, for which he was sentenced to 7 years penal servitude, together with 7 years police supervision. Presumably he was not released until 1883. It would be interesting to know the purchasing power of 13s 6p in those days. The last crime recorded was in 1886, he pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of trousers, this was simple larceny but presumably because he was still under police supervision from the previous felony, he was given a further 7 years of penal servitude. If he served his sentences without remission he would have spent more than eighteen years in prison.
My first reaction to these revelations was to think what a rogue he must have been. But then I have to say I felt sadness at such a waste of a life. Living as most of us do, in the comfort and prosperity of this modern age, how can we judge the difficulties faced by a Liverpool – Irish emigrant?
I am sure that this is not the full story and there is a great deal more to be discovered. At the National Archives there are records in P Com 2 and Mepo 6 with details of Habitual Criminals, these give full physical descriptions. We chose Mepo 6/1 as it contained information about criminals discharged in 1881 and 1882. It was incredibly frail, although perfectly clear; unfortunately there was no information about Edward Thompson. We were not surprised to be told that The Conservation Department considered MEPO 6/2 was in no state to be examined. Unfortunately time had run out for us before we could order P Com 2 which deals with criminals between 1869 and 1876.
CENSUS INFORMATION
With the help of www.ancestry.com I have trawled through the 1861. 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses in search of Edward Thompson/Thomson. I have widened his year of birth, (1839) by about 5 years each side. I have taken note of Edward Thompsons born in Ireland, Liverpool, even Malta, (as he outrageously suggested when I found him in the 1901 census.) Needless to say there were literally hundreds of Edward Thompsons born in this period. At no time was he ever living with his wife at census time. To narrow it down I have used the key word facility – prisoner, convict, inmate, pauper, vagrant, lodger, boarder. Occasionally I think I may have caught a glimpse of him.
In the 1871 census at St. Nicholas, Newcastle – on – Tyne, which I took to be a workhouse, there was listed an unmarried vagrant, Edward Thompson, aged 27, a bricklayer’s labr. Born Lancs. Liverpool. It could well have been him.
Now that I am aware of his prison record I realise that he would have been in prison for both the 1881 and 1991 censuses, presently I do not know the prison in which he was held
I struck gold with the 1901 census. To my astonishment Edward Thompson senior had returned to Blackburn. Not to his wife, I do not suppose she would have had him, but as an inmate at Blackburn Union Workhouse, Christchurch. He truthfully said that he was married, aged 62, a retired general labourer - and born in Malta!
RECORDS FROM THE WORKHOUSE
Having found Edward Thompson in the workhouse in 1901 I was prompted to look further, or rather my very kind cousin Sandra Allen did the investigation for me. Like most Record Offices, Lancashire Record Office is very friendly and helpful. They informed me about the Alphabetical and Creed Registers that they hold for Blackburn workhouse, HRBq/1 through to HRBq/9. Sandra started at 1900 and was soon finding records of admission and discharge for one, Edward Thompson, aged 61 years, charged to Blackburn, R.C. Labourer, Married, Information provided by himself, Wife Ellen, c/o Highfield Mill, Blackburn. Club? The information remained substantially the same, although Ellen’s address was different every time. He never seemed to be too sure if he was in the club or not, I took that to be the Burial Club.
Sandra filled several pages. Even though the workhouse held several thousand inmates they must have got to know Edward Thompson. The shortest time he was in was for 1 day, the longest was 142 days from 7th September 1908 to the 20th January 1909, and then he was back on the 21st January for another 61 days. Understandably he spent his winters in the workhouse, popping in from time to time during the summer. Some of his time during the last ten years of his life may also have been spent in prison. This is something that remains to be discovered.
BLACKBURN WORKHOUSE
In 1864 a new purpose built workhouse to the South East of Blackburn replaced the former building. It was capable of accommodating 1000 inmates. As was normal males and females were segregated. There was a two story hospital block with lunacy wards to each side. In 1866 the new workhouse was visited by a Poor Law Inspector, R.B. Cane. His report makes disturbing reading, particularly for the Infirmary. There was only one nurse to care for all the patients and virtually no control over the distribution of medication. Some patients helped themselves, or other patients gave out medicine. Mr Cane noted offensive smells due to poor ventilation, beds that were so close together that they were touching. He cited the case of one poor woman who was suffering from cancer – “she is reduced to a most distressing condition. Her disorder is so offensive that I could not remain near her; yet several other patients occupy this ward with her.” Mr. Cane also reported that there was great dissension amongst the officers of the workhouse. The Master was charged with intoxication; in fact he was probably in no fit state to be interviewed, for although Mr. Cane sent for him repeatedly he could not be found. Not surprisingly the Master was sacked soon after the report was made.
In 1903 a further new hospital wing was added. I hope that conditions had improved by the time that my poor great grandfather virtually took up residence.
After his wife Ellen’s death, son William was named, presumably as Next of Kin, although in 1809 William was serving in the army and a previously unknown cousin, called Thomas Grogan did duty. William was back to be present at his father’s death in the workhouse infirmary on the 4th of December 1909. I am very grateful to Great Uncle William; he remained in touch with both his parents, and was there when they died. He has thus tied this family together, proving to my satisfaction at least, that this is my family.
I now view my grandfather in a different light. I understand that he distanced himself to protect his own children. He had first hand knowledge of the dangers of intemperate drinking and banned drink from his house. Having a criminal in the family was not something to brag about, particularly one hundred years ago when people were quick to criticise if any disaster struck. I suspect that my mother may never have known the whole truth. My grandfather was obviously a story teller like his father, my cousin Leslie Hessian, nee Thompson, remembers her father, also Leslie, telling her that his father had told him that he was one of 23 children and that he ran away to sea at the age of 14! There is a grain of truth in the story, he did run away.
CONCLUSION
This account has been written as my research has progressed, showing the ups and downs and the many mistakes and blind alleys into which I have been drawn. In the opening paragraph I expressed my doubt that I would ever reach a successful conclusion and although I thought that I had made a good case, the proof was not one hundred per cent there. However I had overlooked one small clue. When my cousin was recording my great grandfathers periods in the workhouse she had also noted that another Edward Thompson had also spent two short periods there in 1899.
This is the entry:- Thompson Edward 27 Charge to Blackburn Catholic Information self Father Ed Labourer 5, Hargreaves Lane.
This is the clue that links these two men together, particularly the address, 5 Hargreaves Lane. It is the address that Edward Thompson senior usually gave, but it is also the address where his mother Ellen lived when the 1891 census was taken.
I think that this story strongly illustrates the advice of the professionals to consult family members whilst they are still alive. Through my own fault I did not learn much from my mother, but I would not be budged from her disdainful description of her father as ‘Liverpool Irish.’ I realise that chasing some thirty odd men called Edward Thomson through the censuses may not be the easiest way to find an ancestor, but it worked for me and I am very grateful to www.ancestry.com for making it possible. Persistence is definitely the key.
Now I have to make the big decision – shall I leave it at that or shall I try and follow this family back to Ireland, with no real clue as to where they originated?
SOURCES
MY FAMILY
My mother – Hannah Dunkerley nee Thompson
My great grandmother – Hannah Haughton (post card)
My uncle and aunt – Leslie and Mary Thompson. My cousin Leslie Hession
WEB SITES
www.ancestry.com for the 1841 census, 1851 census, 1861 census,
1871 census, 1881 census, 1891 census, 1901 census.
www.1901censusonline.com (as a check for 1901 census.)
www.lancashirebmd.org.uk www.familysearch.org
www.1837online.com www.gro.gov.uk
http://castlegarden.com (Irish immigration)
www.lan-opc.org.uk (Lancs. online parish clerks) www.a2a.org.uk
www.freebmd.org.uk
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/Blackburn/Blackburn.shtml gives the account by the Poor Law Inspector of Blackburn workhouse in 1866
MAPS
Old Ordnance Survey maps Burnley 1910.
RECORD OFFICES
Oldham Local Studies Library and Archives.
Inquest Report into the suicide of Edward Thompson C.B.O. 32/10.
Copies of newspaper reports of the suicide –
The Standard Thursday September 20th 1923
Oldham Evening Chronicle September 20th 1923
Oldham Standard September 18th 1923.
Lancashire Record Office
Lancashire County Quarter Sessions. Cat. Ref. Q Petitions.
Records of Blackburn Workhouse. Alphabetical and Creed Registers
HRBq1 through to HRBq9 1900 – 1909.
The National Archives
William Thompson’s Discharge Papers WO97 4019
Edward Thompson’s Discharge Papers WO97 6067
The Calendar of Prisoners HO 140/89
Ancestors Magazine
Letters October 2005.
The Manchester Genealogist – The journal of the Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society. Vol. 41, No. 4, Page 375
BMD Certificates
Birth
Catherine Thompson 29.1.1841 Wigan
William Thompson 1. 2. 1859 Preston
Edward Thompson 25. 1. 1872 Blackburn
Hannah Thompson 28. 9. 1895 Burnley
Ada Thompson 26. 3.1898 Blackburn
Joseph Leslie Thompson 3 6. 1918 Oldham.
Marriage
Edward Thompson Ellen Mullen 22.3.1858 Preston
William Thompson Elizabeth Meehan 9.5.1896 Skipton Yks.
Edward Thompson Lily Beatrice Haughton 7.7.1895 Burnley
Death
Ellen Thompson 12.10.1907 Blackburn
Edward Thompson 4.12. 1909 Blackburn
Edward Thompson 17. 9. 1923 Oldham