Mary Jane Lloyd (1868-1915)

Mary Jane Lloyd is Dermot's great grandmother. She is an example of someone who I have only recently discovered, so I do not have a lot of information about her and I do have some gaps in her history.

She was born on 3 July 1868 to John and Mary (Connolly) Lloyd.

In 1871, the family lived at 66 Gerard Street, Liverpool.

• John Lloyd – age 41, moulder, born in Wales
• Mary Lloyd – age 28, born in Ireland
• Thomas Lloyd – age 17, labourer, born in Wales (step-brother)
• Mary A Lloyd – age 3, born in Liverpool, Lancashire (Mary Jane)

I cannot find the 1881 census for Mary Jane. I have found 2 census records for a Mary Jane Lloyd in 1891, but I am not sure if they are correct. One is from Toxteth Park Workhouse and Mary Jane is listed as a servant and destitute, the other is from the household of George Petrovich, an Austrian "eating house keeper" and Mary Jane is recorded as being a domestic servant. Also in the same household is a Jane Roche, which may be relevant, as Mary Jane married John Roche. I do not know if there is a connection, I still have some digging to do. Of course, it could be that neither of these records are right.

Mary Jane married John Roche on 30 July 1896 in St Alexander’s, Bootle. You can see on this record the last name recorded as Roach.

Joannem Roach of 14 Syren Street, son of Joannis Roach

Mariam Joannam Lloyd of 15 Prior Street, daughter of Joannis Lloyd

Witnesses: Patricic Howley (21 Shores Alley) and Elizabetha Hogan (17 Egerton Street)

Mary Jane and John had 6 children:

• Mary Agnes (1897-1975)
• John Joseph (1900-)
• Frances (1902-1966)
• Ann (1904-)
• Elizabeth (1907-)
• Kathleen (1910-)

In the 1901 census the family lived at 3 Syren Street, Liverpool.

The family included:

• John Roche – age 33, house painter, born in Liverpool, Lancashire
• Mary Roche – age 33, milliner, born in Liverpool, Lancashire
• Mary A Roche – age 3, born in Liverpool, Lancashire
• John J Roche – age 1, born in Liverpool, Lancashire

So far I have not been able to find a 1911 census with any member of the family, so it may be lost or the transcription is incorrect. Mary Jane was living in Macbeth Street in 1902 (address given on birth certificate of Frances) and in 1915, when she died, her address was given as Stanley Road. 

Mary Jane died age 47 on 3 September 1915 of myocardial disease and was buried on 7 September 1915 in Ford Cemetery, Liverpool.

Malicious Injury to a Garden: Benjamin 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.

The article is from the Kildare Observer and Eastern Counties Advertiser 01 June 1889, page 6

The transcription reads:

MALICIOUS INJURY TO A GARDEN

Benjamin Boushell summoned a neighbour of his, Mrs Toole, for wilful and malicious damage to the extent of 10s to his garden.

Complainant swore that defendant's daughter was trespassing on his potatoes. He went to speak to her about it, when her mother said she would tear up potatoes, cabbage plants and everything else in the garden. Tow or three mornings afterwards he found the cabbage plants, &c, torn up and destroyed. He showed them to Constable Howard.

Chairman - Who took up this cabbage?

Complainant - I must think it was this woman did it, because she told me she would do it.

Chairman - But you didn't see her do it?

Complainant - No; but she told me she'd do it.

Major Moore - Was it long before that that she threatened to destroy the garden? Three days before.

Complainant's son, Patk. Boushell corroborated.

Constable Howard said he saw the damage, and from its appearance he believed it was done maliciously.

The defendant denied all knowledge of the damage whatsoever.

She was fined 6d and to pay 2s compensation and costs.

Benjamin Boushell (1818-1898) is Dermot's 3rd great grandfather, he would have been 71 when the article was written.

Patrick Boushell (1837-1918) is Dermot's 2nd great grandfather.

Wordless Wednesday

Not too sure of the date. Anyone willing to have a go at estimating?

Back row (left to right): Elizabeth Josephine (Gavin) Musgrave, Mary Egan, Rose (Duffy) Egan
Front row: Margaret (Duffy) (Gavin) Hynds

Family Links

Elizabeth Josephine (Gavin) Musgrave (1876-    ) is Dermot's 1st cousin twice removed.
Elizabeth Josephine was the daughter of Michael and Mary (Duffy) Gavin, Mary Duffy was Rose Duffy's (Dermot's great grandmother) older sister.

Mary Egan (1891-1947) is Dermot's great aunt.
Mary Egan was the daughter of William and Rose (Duffy) Egan (Dermot's great grandmother).

Rose (Duffy) Egan (1863-1949) is Dermot's great grandmother
Rose Duffy married William Egan in 1885, they had 7 children.

Margaret (Duffy) (Gavin) Hynds (1845-1941) is Dermot's 2nd great aunt.
Margaret married Patrick Hynds (2nd husband) in 1897, Margaret was Rose Duffy's (Dermot's great grandmother) older sister.

Rupert John Hassall (1878-1942)

Rupert John Hassall was really the one that sparked my interest in genealogy. I had heard a few details about him, so decided to just have a quick look to see what I could find. Basically, once I got into the various documents, I just kept going and then "branched" out a little further.

It is perhaps fortunate that the ancestor I started with had quite a lot of information available. I found him on all the available census records and also found some of his army records as well. If there had not been so much information, I perhaps would not have carried on, who knows?

Rupert John Hassall, my great grandfather, born on 14 November 1878 in Fenton, Staffordshire to William and Sarah Ann (Alcock) Hassall. He was their 6th child of 8 .

1878 Rupert John was baptised on 29 November 1878 in Christ Church, Fenton, Staffordshire.

1880 Death of sister Frances Angelina Hassall – age 5

1881 The family are recorded as living at 10 Tramway, Fenton. There were 9 people listed in the household, William and Sarah Ann (Rupert John's parents), Sarah Ann, William J, Elizabeth and Florence (Rupert John's siblings) and Maria and Mary M Beardmore (Rupert John's aunt and cousin).

1881 Birth of brother Albert Hassall (1881-1904)

1885 Birth of sister Gertrude Lilian Hassall (1885-1949)

1891 The family had moved and were now living at 1 St. Matthew Street, Fenton.

1891 Census

• William Hassall – age 46, potters ovenman
• Sarah A Hassall – age 44
• William Hassall – age 20, engine tenter
• Florence Hassall – age 15
• John Hassall – age 12, scholar, (Rupert John)
• Albert Hassall – age 9, scholar
• Gertrude Hassall – age 5, scholar
• William H Plant – age 23, potters packer
• Sarah A Plant – age 22, potters paintress
• Francis Plant – age 3 months

1899 On 23 December 1899, Rupert John married Drucilla Hudson in Christ Church, Fenton.
The record states:

Rupert John Hassall, age 21, bachelor, blacksmith, residing at 29 Grove Road. Father – William Hassall (fireman)

Drucilla Hudson, age 22, spinster, residing at 7 High Street. Father – John Hudson (moulder)

Witnesses were John Hudson (Drucilla’s father) and Eliza Hudson (Drucilla’s sister)

1900 Birth of son Frank Hassall (1900-1968)

1901 Rupert John and Drucilla were living at 7 Warren Terrace, Fenton, Staffordshire, with their first son Frank.

1902 Birth of daughter Hilda Hassall (1902-1926)

1904 Death of brother Albert Hassall – age 22

1909  Birth of daughter Freda Hassall (1909-1974)

1911 The family were living at 14 Caroline Street, Longton, Staffordshire. The census was signed by Drucilla Hassall and shows that Rupert John and Drucilla had been married for 11 years.

• Rupert John Hassall – age 33, blacksmith, born in Fenton, Staffordshire
• Drucilla Hassall – age 33, born in Hanley, Staffordshire
• Frank Hassall – age 10, at school, born in Longton, Staffordshire
• Hilda Hassall – age 9, at school, born in Longton, Staffordshire
• Freda Hassall – age 1, born in Longton Staffordshire
• Emma Edwards – age 22, servant, born in Longton, Staffordshire

1912 Birth of son Jack Hassall (1912-1988)

1916 Rupert John was attested into the armed forces on 31 August 1916 and was posted to Salonika on 23 October 1916, he remained there until his discharge.

1917
Promoted to Corporal on 12 May 1917
Mentioned in despatches – 21 July 1917

1918
Mentioned in despatches – 27 November 1917
Promoted to Sergeant on 29 March 1918

1918 Death of father William Hassall – age 73

1919 Discharged from the army in February 1919 as being no longer fit for war service

1921 Death of mother Sarah Ann (Alcock) Hassall – age 75

1926 Death of daughter Hilda (Hassall) Riley – age 23

1936 Death of wife Drucilla (Hudson) Hassall – age 58

1939 The 1939 register shows that Rupert John is now widowed and living at Glencoe, Stone Road, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire. The date of birth for Rupert John is incorrect as it states 1879 and not 1878.

• Rupert J Hassall – 14 Nov 1879, master motor body builder and general smith and shoeing
• Emma Campbell – 22 Nov 1887, housekeeper
• Frank Hassall – 26 Nov 1900, works manager motor body builder

1942 Rupert John died of a ruptured thoracic aneurysm on 27 November 1942, aged 64 in Longton, Staffordshire.

Pit Accident: William Hooley

I thought on a Friday I would share something that I have found whilst looking for records, that is interesting or adds information to our family tree.

This week, I found a short article on someone, who has far as I can tell was not a direct ancestor. News must have been slow that day

The item is from the Hyde & Glossop Weekly News, and North Cheshire Herald 11 September 1875, page 5

The transcription reads:

PIT ACCIDENT.

On Tuesday morning, William, son of Mr. William Hooley, of Eight-row, Poynton, whilst following his employment as a waggoner at Park Pit (Lord Vernon's), met with an accident by which the thum  [sic]  of one hand was almost severed. His injury was attended to by Dr. Owen soon afterwards.

Coal Trimmer

So far, I only have one person whose job was given as a coal trimmer,

Edward James Westhoff (1867-1921) - Dermot's great grandfather

Many of the men from the Liverpool families worked on the steam ships, possibly starting work as a trimmer and then if they survived moving on to better paid work.

I have Edward recorded as being a trimmer on the ship Vancouver, from 8 May 1890 to 7 June 1890. He was paid £4 10s per month and the balance on his discharge was £4 6s.

Vancouver, Dominion Line steamship - pre 1892

Vancouver was a Dominion Line steamship built in 1884 in Glasgow by Charles Connell and Co.
She sailed from Liverpool on 8 May 1890 to Quebec, via Londonderry.
(Information from Norway Heritage website)

A Coal Trimmer or Trimmer is a position within the engineering department of a coal-fired ship which involves all coal handling tasks, starting with the loading of coal into the ship and ending with the delivery of the coal to the stoker or fireman. The trimmers worked inside the coal bunkers located on top of and between the boilers. Trimmers used shovels and wheelbarrows to move coal around the bunkers in order to keep the coal level, and to shovel the coal down the coal chute to the firemen below, who shovelled it into the furnaces. If too much coal built up on one side of a coal bunker, the ship would actually list to that side.

Trimmers were also involved in extinguishing fires in the coal bunkers. Fires occurred frequently due to spontaneous combustion of the coal. The fires had to be extinguished with fire hoses and by removing the burning coal by feeding it into the furnace.
Of the engineering crew, the trimmers were paid the least. The working conditions of a trimmer were poor, primarily as a result of their environment: the inside of a coal bunker was poorly lit, full of coal dust, and extremely hot due to residual heat emanating from the boilers.
(From Wikipedia)

Well, that does not sound like a fun job does it? Stuck in a coal bunker for 4 weeks, I wonder if he suffered with sea sickness?

July Birthdays

So, here we are at the beginning of July and I thought it might be fun to see the birthdays for this month.

In addition to those listed below, there are 5 living relatives who all have a birthday in July - Happy Birthday and special wishes go to F, Happy 21st and also B, Happy 60th!!

On Dermot's side:
3 July, Ann Horris (1868-1957), 2nd great aunt
8 July, Henrietta Westhoff (1864-1866), 2nd great aunt
15 July, William Egan (1897-1900), great uncle
30 July, Catherine Doyle (1849-1890) 3rd great aunt
30 July, Richard Horris (1864-    ), 2nd great uncle

On Judith's side:
8 July, Joseph Mellor (1824-    ), 4th great uncle
13 July, Jack Hassall (1912-1988), great uncle
14 July, Mary Goodwin (1854-1948), 3rd great aunt
21 July, William Wain (1877-1963), great grandfather

Interesting Fact
The most popular birth date is 30 July, this has 3 people all sharing the same date and all on the Westhoff side (including 1 of the living relatives)