John Roche Fined

It is Friday again, when I share something that I have found whilst looking for records, that is interesting or adds information to our family tree.

I have yet another lighting offence. This one was committed by John Roche. Although Dermot's great grandfather was John Roche, I do not think he was the John Roche mentioned in the article, as he would have been 73 years old at the time.

Taken from, Liverpool Evening Express 15 October 1940, page 8

The transcription reads:

PUBLIC SPIRITED SAILOR
"This is not the first time that we have had public-spirited sailors of the Royal Navy bringing local residents to the police station," said a police officer at a North-west police court today, when John Roche, a machinist and member of the Home Guard, was fined 20s. for failing to extinguish a torch during an air raid.

For a similar offence, Leonard Jones, dock labourer was fined £2. A police officer said that as Jones refused to put the light out he had to take the torch from him.

Tripe Dresser

I came across this job, which I have to say does not sound very appealing. Only 1 family member had this job and that was Henry Westhoff (1923-2003),  he was Dermot's 2nd cousin, once removed. Their common ancestor was John Jacob Westhoff (1831-1908) who was the great grandfather of Henry and Dermot's 2nd great grandfather.

Henry gave his occupation as apprentice tripe dresser on the 1939 census, he would have been 16 years old at the time the census was taken.

Beef tripe is usually made from only the first three chambers of a cow’s stomach: the rumen (blanket/flat/smooth tripe), the reticulum (honeycomb and pocket tripe), and the omasum (book/bible/leaf tripe). Tripe needed to be prepared before it was ready for human consumption and that was the job of the tripe dresser. He would scald the tripe in hot water, scrape off the outer skin, boil it for three hours and then scrape off the inner skin.

Tripe was at its most popular from late Victorian times to the 1950s, when it was a tasty, cheap and nourishing source of animal protein. The decline in the popularity of tripe coincided with growing economic prosperity from the mid-1950s onwards. As poverty declined an ingredient associated with poorer times was rejected.

One inevitable result of the decline of interest in tripe eating in the UK was the decimation of the tripe dressing industry.

The "signature" dish in Northern England was tripe and onions, which is basically tripe boiled for 3 hours with milk and onions and some seasoning. I do not remember ever eating tripe as a hot dish, but I ate the honeycomb tripe as a child. This was eaten (deep breath and not for the faint hearted) cold with lots of salt, pepper and malt vinegar. I am sure I couldn't eat it now.

And just to prove how dangerous it can be to eat tripe:

Leeds Mercury 03 June 1913, page 8

CHOKED BY TRIPE

AGED BATLEY MAN'S DEATH IN THE STREET

The sudden death, under remarkable circumstances of Alexander Richardson, seventy-four years of age, of Old Mill-Lane, Batley, who has followed the occupation of a cooper, was inquired into by Mr. P.P.Maitland yesterday.

On Saturday night, Richardson was proceeding along Henrietta-street eating tripe, when he suddenly collapsed and died. A post-mortem examination revealed that a piece of tripe, three inches square, was blocking the entrance to the wind-pipe, causing suffocation.

A verdict of "Accidentally choked" was returned.

Any recollections of eating tripe?

William Wain (1877-1963)

William Wain is my great grandfather, he was born on 21 July 1877 in Leekfrith to Isaac and Mary (Sigley) Wain. He was their oldest son of 5.

1880 Birth of brother Matthew Wain (1800-1973)

1881
The Isaac Wain family were living at Rose Cottage, Leekfrith, Staffordshire.

1881 Census

• Isaac Wain – age 31, shoemaker & farmer of 7 acres, born in Alstonefield, Staffordshire
• Mary Wain – age 31, farmer’s wife, born in Alstonefield, Staffordshire
• William Wain – age 3, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Matthew Wain – age 1, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire

1883 Birth of brother Richard Wain (1883-1957)

1886 Birth of brother Isaac Wain (1886-1917)

1890
Birth of brother John Wain (1890-1890)
Death of brother John – age <1
Death of mother Mary (Sigley) Wain – age 40

William’s brother John died on 9 October 1890 (aged 5 months) and his mother Mary, died 2 days later on 11 October 1890.

1891
The 1891 census shows that the family had moved and were now living at Upper Haddon, Leekfrith, Staffordshire. The family included:

• Isaac Wain – age 41, farmer & shoemaker (widower)
• William Wain – age 13, farmer’s son, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Matthew Wain – age 11, scholar, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Richard Wain – age 7, scholar, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Isaac Wain – age 4, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire

1901
By 1901, William had left home and was now working at New Grange, Leekfrith, Staffordshire. He is shown on the census of the Pimlott family and is recorded as being 23 years of age, born in Leekfrith and working as a carter on the farm.

1906
William married Bertha Taylor on 22 January 1906 in the Parish Church, Milton, Staffordshire.
The marriage certificate states:
William Wain, age 28, bachelor, farm labourer of Rudyard, Leek. Father – Isaac Wain
Bertha Taylor, age 20, spinster of Milton. Father – John Herbert Taylor
Witnesses: George Henry Taylor (Bertha’s brother) and Julia Taylor (Bertha’s sister)

1906 Birth of daughter Mary Alice Wain (1906-1974)

1908 Birth of daughter Bertha Wain (1908-1981)

1909 Birth of son William Wain (1909-1957)

1911
The William Wain family were living in Chaddesden, Derbyshire.

1911 Census

• William Wain, age 33, waggoner on farm, born in Leekfrith, Staffordshire
• Bertha Wain, age 26, born in Normanton, Yorkshire
• Mary Alice Wain, age 4, born in Rudyard, Staffordshire
• Bertha Wain, age 2, born in Chaddesden, Derbyshire
• William Wain, age 1, born in Chaddesden, Derbyshire

This shows us that some time between when Mary Alice and Bertha were born, William and family moved from Rudyard, Staffordshire to Chaddesden, Derbyshire.

1911 Birth of son George Wain (1911-1990)

1914 Birth of son Frank Wain (1914-1990)

Sometime between June 1914 and April 1916, the family moved from Chaddesden back to Staffordshire.

1916 Birth of son Herbert Wain (1916-1995)

1917 Death of brother Isaac Wain - age 30

1919 Birth of daughter Hannah Wain (1919-2005)

1921 Birth of son Isaac Wain (1921-1992)

1922 Birth of daughter Gladys May Wain (1922-)

1925 Death of wife Bertha (Taylor) Wain - age 40

1932 Death of father Isaac Wain - age 82

1939
William is recorded on the 1939 register living at Stanley Lane, Stockton Brook, Staffordshire. He remained there until he died.

1957 
Death of son William Wain - age 47
Death of brother Richard Wain - age 74

1963 William died aged 85 in Stockton Brook, Staffordshire on 7 February 1963.

Obituary: Anne Boushell

It is Friday again, when I share something that I have found whilst looking for records, that is interesting or adds information to our family tree.

Anne Boushell (1875-1951) is Dermot's 2nd great aunt. She was the daughter of Patrick and Mary (Dunne) Boushell (Dermot's 2nd great grandfather and 2nd great grandmother). She was 75 years old when she died, her death registration gives the cause of death as influenza (7 days), cardiac failure.

From: Leinster Leader 20 January 1951, page 9

The transcript reads:
OBITUARY
MISS ANNE BOUSHELL, MAIN STREET, NAAS

Deep regret will be expressed at the passing of a very old resident. Miss Anne Boushell, South Main St., Naas. Deceased had been ailing for a lengthy period. A member of a highly esteemed Naas family, deceased was an exemplary Catholic and up to the time of her last illness was at daily Mass and Holy Communion. She was, with others of her family engaged in business in the town for many years, and she had also an interest in an extensive farm near Eadestown.

The remains were removed to the Church of Our Lady and St. David, Naas, on Thursday evening and the funeral took place to the family burial ground at Tipper (to-day) Friday.

Deceased is survived by her brothers Richard, Ben, John and Thomas Boushell and her sisters, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Kate Boushell.

Wordless Wednesday

This is a photograph of Brenda (Meakin) Hooley, my grandmother and Fanny (Mason) Hemmings, my 2nd great grandmother. If I estimate Brenda to be age 2, then the photograph would have been taken in 1914 and Fanny would have been 63 years old.

William Egan (1861-1905)

William Egan is Dermot's great grandfather.

The earliest record I have is for William's marriage registration in 1885. So far, I have not been able to find anything earlier, and as such, do not have the name of William's mother or any siblings.

His father was Michael (from marriage registration).
He was born in 1861 in Kings County, Ireland (from 1901 census).

William married Rose Duffy on 4 June 1885 at the Roman Catholic Chapel of Ballinahown.
The marriage record states:
William Egan, full age, bachelor, railway guard, living in Dublin. Father: Michael Egan – labourer
Rose Duffy, full age, spinster, living in Kilgarvin. Father: James Duffy – farmer
Witnesses: Thomas Dalton and Rose Dalton

I haven't been able to find out who the witnesses were and I cannot make out the address of William.

In 1901, the Egan family were living at 13 Townparks, Navan, Co Meath.

• William Egan – age 40, stationmaster, born in Kings County
• Rose Egan – age 37, born in Co Westmeath
• Emily J Egan – age 14, scholar, born in Dublin City
• James J Egan – age 12, scholar, born in Co Westmeath
• John Egan – age 11, scholar, born in Co Meath
• Mary Egan – age 9, scholar, born in Co Meath
• Rose Egan – age 7, scholar, born in Co Meath
• Helen Egan – age 1, born in Co Meath

On the census record Emily is recorded as Emily J, this is the only official record that I have where she is given a middle initial. I suspect it was an error. James J is correct, as he was James Joseph.

William worked for Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) and with this information, it is possible to piece together where he may have worked. The birth record for Emily in April 1886, gives an address of Little Bank, Constitution Hill, Dublin and his occupation is given as railway guard. Constitution Hill is close to Broadstone Station in Dublin, so this is possibly where he worked.

James Joseph was born in April 1888 and it looks as if Rose may have been visiting her parents, as the address of the birth is given as Kilgarvin, the address for William is different, but difficult to read (may be Kilfree). His occupation is given as stationmaster MGWR.

John was born in September 1889 and the address given is Enfield, William's occupation is given as stationmaster, MGWR. Enfield railway station connected to Broadstone Station, Dublin.

When Mary was born in August 1891, William was the stationmaster at Navan, County Meath and he remained there until his death in October 1905.

Family Births
Emily (1886-1959)
James Joseph (1888-1931)
John (1889-????) (may have emigrated to Canada)
Mary (1891-1947)
Rosana (1893-1957)
William (1897-1900)
Helen Clare (1899-1986)
Teresa Josephine (1901-????) (death record not found)

Family Deaths
William (son) – 20 May 1900 (age 2)

William died aged 44 on 20 October 1905  in Navan, Co Meath, the cause of death was given as pernicious anaemia (6 months), exhaustion.

Death Notice: Margaret Hooley

It is Friday again, when I share something that I have found whilst looking for records, that is interesting or adds information to our family tree.

I cannot find a Margaret Hooley in our family tree, so it doesn't look as if she was related to us.

I chose this article because of the way it is written. I do not know when inst. was last used in newspaper articles, but I had never come across it before. It is an abbreviation for instant and refers to the current month. In the article below, Margaret Hooley's death is reported as "7th inst." it was published on 14 January 1831, so this means that she died on 7 January 1831.

Published in the Chester Chronicle on 14 January 1831, page 2

The transcription reads:
7th inst. aged 15, Margaret, eldest daughter of Mr. Charles Hooley, of Fletcher's-buildings, in this city. She was "cut down" like a blooming flower, and carried to the "house appointed for all living" amidst the inexpressible grief of her afflicted parents and friends.

Potters Paintress

Today I am looking at the job of Potters Painter, a job done only from my side of the family and solely by women. The age in brackets is that given on the census in which they first gave their occupation as paintress.

Louisa Alcock (1866-) 3rd great aunt (age 15)
Elizabeth Baddaley (1845-1914) 2nd great grandmother (age 16)
Mary Baddaley (1857-) 3rd great aunt (age 34)
Maria Hassall (1849-1924) 3rd great aunt (age 12)
Sara Ann Hassall (1868-1951) 2nd great aunt (age 13)
Drucilla Hudson (1877-1936) great grandmother (age 14)
Elizabeth Hudson (1843-) 3rd great aunt (age 18)
Elizabeth Hudson (1868-1928) 2nd great aunt (age 23)

I could not find much of an explanation of the work or the conditions, but it seems to cover a large range of skills. At the bottom end, the painter simply put areas of colour wash onto a monochrome plate. The more skilful work involved hand painting the ware, but copying the given designs. At the highest level, the painter is an artist who could hand paint a scene onto the ware.

Information and picture found from website Pottery Industry Jobs

John Meakin (1880-1917)

John Meakin is my great grandfather. John was born in Sutton, Cheshire in about July 1880 to Thomas and Sarah (Griffiths) Meakin, he was the youngest child of 7.

He was 9 months old when the 1881 census was taken and the family lived in Langley, Cheshire and he remained in this area for the rest of his life. The family at this time consisted of his parents and his 4 siblings, Thomas, Sarah, James and Hannah. The census shows that all the family who were old enough were working, even Sarah, who was 11 years old who was a scholar and silk piecer.

His older 2 sisters Frances Eugenia and Elizabeth Ellen were married and had moved out of the family home, but were also living in Langley with their respective husbands John Downes and William Robinson.

John's father Thomas died aged 53 in 1888, John would have been 8 years old.

When the 1891 census was taken, it indicates that Sarah is a widow and there were now only the 3 youngest children at home with her, James, Hannah and John.

His brother Thomas was married and lived, yes you have guessed in Langley and his sister Sarah was also married, but she lived in Macclesfield, a town approximately 4 km away.

In 1901, they remained in the same house (5 Langley), his mother Sarah had not remarried and she was still listed as a widow. James and John were still at home and Hannah had now married and was living in Congleton with her husband and son. Congleton is approximately 16 km away from Langley. Also in the household was Edith Downes, she was the daughter of Frances Eugenia (Meakin) Downes, who was John's sister. Edith was possibly just visiting as her mother and father lived at 1 Langley, so only a few doors away.

On 18 March 1906, John married Clara Ann Hemmings in St James church, Sutton.

Their first son Rex was born in 1907. In 1909, John's mother Sarah died and their 2nd son Norman was born.

The 1911 census gives the address as 45 Langley and shows that John and Clara Ann were at home with their 2 sons. John's occupation is given as warehouseman of a silk printing works. He would have worked for Langley Print Works, which was started in the 1820's by William and John Smith and then taken over by William Whiston.

Brenda was born in 1912 and Grace in 1914.

John died aged 36 on 14 April 1917 of insular sclerosis of the spinal cord (historical name for multiple sclerosis) in Macclesfield, Cheshire. The informant of his death was his older brother James Meakin.

A family story relates that John died because of heading a heavy football. He played football with his brother Jim (James) every week. You can see how at the time, his multiple sclerosis may have been explained by saying that it was due to him heading heavy footballs week after week.

House-Breaking at Leek: Isaac Wain

It is Friday again, when I share something that I have found whilst looking for records, that is interesting or adds information to our family tree.

Found in the Staffordshire Advertiser 11 April 1914, page 9.

The follow-up to last week's crime and I also found out what had been stolen from Isaac Wain, 1 shirt, 1 oz weight of tea, 1 lb weight of beef, 1 lb and 8 oz weight of bread and 1 jam tart.

The transcription reads:

HOUSE-BREAKING AT LEEK
John Thomas Hulme, 37, labourer, and Edwin Rose, 25, labourer, on bail, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Isaac Wain and stealing therein a shirt and a quantity of food, at Leekfrith, on Feb 25.
Mr. HASTINGS prosecuted and called the Police Court Missionary from Macclesfield, who said that since Rose had been on bail he had obtained work and had been of good behaviour. Rose's employer was prepared to take him back again.
Rose was bound over and placed under the supervision of the Probation  Officer. Hulme, who had been in prison awaiting trial, was bound over in the sum of £5.

Wordless Wednesday: Edward Westhoff

Edward Westhoff (1902-1957) was Dermot's grandfather.

This picture is dated 1918, which would make Edward 16 years old and is taken from his Merchant Navy Identity card.

August Birthdays

How can it be August already? Here are the August birthdays. Only one living relative with a birthday this month - Happy Birthday G!!

The only shared date for this month is 8 August with 1 person from each side of the family

Dermot's Side
3 August - Mary Eileen Westhoff (1925-2006), aunt
5 August - John Westhoff (1859-1924), 2nd great uncle
8 August - Rosanna Egan (1893-1957), great aunt
20 August - Mary Boushell (1893-1959), great aunt
23 August - Mary Egan (1891-1947), great aunt

Judith's side
8 August - Freda Hassall (1909-1974), grandmother
10 August - George Henry Taylor (1887-???? ), 2nd great uncle
15 August - Herbert Clement Taylor (1898-1967), 2nd great uncle
17 August - Grace Meakin (1914-1989), great aunt
28 August - Maria Hassall (1811-????), 4th great aunt

Raid on Farmhouse near Leek: Isaac Wain

It is Friday again, when I share something that I have found whilst looking for records, that is interesting or adds information to our family tree.

Found in the Staffordshire Sentinel 11 March 1914, page 5.

Isaac Wain is my 2nd great grandfather and at the time of the incident, his wife would have been Mary Broadhurst, who was in fact his fourth wife. Leek was granted the right to hold a weekly Wednesday market by King John in 1207. As you will see in the article, the offence was committed on 25th February 1914 and I can confirm that this was a Wednesday.

The transcription reads:
RAID ON FARMHOUSE NEAR LEEK
Two "men of the road," John Thomas Hulme and Edwin Rose, were charged at the Leek Police Court with breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Isaac Wain, Lockgate Farm, Leekfrith, on February 25th, and stealing a shirt and a quantity of food of the total value of 4s. 6d.
The farmer and his wife it was stated, attended Leek Market, having locked up the house, and on their return they found the door unfastened and the house in disorder. They had passed prisoners on the way to Leek in the morning, and P.C. Taylor going in pursuit, overtook Hulme on the road to Macclesfield.
Both prisoners were committed for trial at Quarter Sessions in April.

What happened next? Come back next week and all will be revealed.