St Helens, Lancashire One Place Study

Profile managers: Corinne Morris [send private message] and One Place Studies Project WikiTree [send private message]

This profile is part of the St Helens, Lancashire One Place Study.

Please add Sticker {{One Place Study|place=St Helens, Lancashire|category=St Helens, Lancashire One Place Study}} to any profiles to include them in the study, or else [[Category: St Helens, Lancashire One Place Study]] if you don't want a sticker to show in the profile's biography. Also please add [[Category: Morris-18630 OPS Needs Work]] as the profile will need other categories adding for this study, and unless you know which to add, that will flag it up me to add the correct ones. The study covers everyone who lived in St Helens at any time, but please only add profiles of people who are deceased.

St Helens, Lancashire is an industrial town formerly in Lancashire, now in Merseyside. The study covers the former townships of Windle, Eccleston, Sutton and Parr. It includes Thatto Heath. Its registration district in the 1800s and early 1900s was Prescot, which is also the name of the large parish of which it was originally part, which was gradually subdivided into smaller ones.

Haydock, Rainford and other towns in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens are not included in the study, nor are Knowsley, Huyton, Farnworth near Prescot/Widnes, and other parts of the former parish of Prescot.

At the moment the sticker image for the One Place Study is taken from an occupational one for coal miners, but if anyone has a copyright-free one they think would be better feel free to suggest it.

Study Topics

Areas of interest which may be studied include

• average life expectancy of people divided according to occupation and time period
• movement in and out of the area - percentage of people who remained there all their lives, and percentage who returned there after leaving; numbers of migrants who remained in the area by decade
• number of people employed in various occupational classes, clumped in decades

Categories

Categories will use short unique abbreviations in order to facilitate use of WikiTree+ in counting how many profiles are in particular intersects of categories. There seems to be a limit on the length of search key in WikiTree+ which would make use of longer category names impractical as then intersects of them and another category could not be counted.

Types of category for the study:

  1) Occupation by year ending in 1: e.g. Morris-18630 DOM1871 for domestic servants in 1871 - the occupation may be inferred or guessed based on information about other years, if information about that exact year is missing. Only to be be used when the person was living in St Helens when the census was taken. For people with multiple occupations, only the first one listed is categorized.

  Occupations:

    AGL - agricultural labourers (including glass house labourers and gardeners)

    APP - apprentice (of unspecified type only)

    AGT - agent (of unspecified type)

    ART - artist (painter &c)

    AST - shop assistants

    BAK - baker

    BAR - barmaid or barman

    BSK - basket maker

    BEER - beerseller or publican

    BLA - blacksmiths and blacksmith's strikers; also smiths of unspecified type

    BLD - builders

    BLL - builder's labourers (including brick layer's labourers)

    BMK - boiler maker

    BRL - brick layer, bricksetter

    BREW - brewery labourer

    BRM - brick maker, brickworks labourer

    BRS - brassworks labourer, brassfounder &c.

    BRW - brewer

    BUT - butcher

    CARE - caretaker

    CART - carter, includes teamsmen and carriers

    CFR - confectioner

    CHAR - charwomen

    CHM - chemical labourer, includes alkali labourers

    CHF - chemical works foreman

    CLK - clerk or bookkeeper or accountant (not articled)

    CND - conductors (bus or tram), train guards

    COL - collier, colliery labourer including timbermen and drawers/waggoners

    COLM - colliery manager (aka coal agent) or undermanager

    COO - cooper

    COP - copper works labourer

    CRP - carpenter (including cabinet makers, joiners & shipwrights)

    CUR - curriers, leather dressers, skinners

    DOC - doctors, including herbalists

    DOM - domestic servant (includes male servants, general workmen, housekeepers, housemaids)

    DRA - drapers

    DRG - druggists / chemists

    DRS - dressmaker or tailoress or seamstress

    ELE - electricians

    ENG - engineers, engine drivers and mechanics

    ERR - errand boys

    EXC - excisemen/officers of excise

    FAR - farmers, farmwives, cow keepers

    FIL - file cutters/file makers

    FIRE - firemen (if not specified as colliery firemen)

    FIT - fitters, engine fitters, fitter & turners, turners of unspecified type

    FORE - foremen (work type unspecified)

    FSH - fishmongers

    GAM - gamekeepers

    GLA - glass works labourer, includes cutters, smoothers. bottle blowers and miscellaneous jobs

    GLF - glass works foremen

    GLM - glass works manager

    GRM - grooms & ostlers

    HOS - hosiers

    HUSB - husbandmen (a term used in connection with farming but it seems it could denote either a farmer or an agricultural labourer or a bailiff)

    HWF - housewife (usually presumed) or boarding-house keeper

    HWK - hawker

    IRO - ironworks labourer, includes iron dressers, founders, moulders &c

    ITU - iron turner

    JLB - joiner's labourer

    KNO - knocker up

    LAB - labourer or general labourer incl. oilers of machinery

    LAG - land agent

    LAU - laundress

    LIME - lime burner, lime kilns

    LIV - livestock dealer (cattle, pigs etc) also assistants to same

    LOC - locomotive engine driver, train driver

    MAG - miner's agent

    MAN - manufacturer (owner of a business employing over 5 men, if numbers known)

    MAS - stone mason (including stone sawyers)

    MER - merchant

    MGR - manager (of unspecified industry)

    MID - midwife

    MIL - milliners, bonnet makers

    MLR - miller

    MLW - millwright

    MUS - organists, music teachers, music performers

    MWL - manure works labourer

    NAI - nail maker

    NONE - no occupation (and not a presumed housewife)

    NRS - nurse

    OPT - optician

    OWN - small business owner (5 men or less), miscellaneous

    PAP - papermakers

    PEN - pensioner (army/navy, Chelsea/Greenwich)

    PIP - pipemakers

    PIT - pit brow girls and coal mine labourers aboveground

      the law banning women underground wasn't passed till 1842 and women continued to

      work underground in some places for some years afterwards, so coal miner on a woman

      in the 1840s should be taken as COL not PIT

    PLA - plasterer

    PLL - plasterer's labourer

    PLT - platelayer

    PLU - plumber

    PNT - painters (including decorators and painters & decorators - house painters not artists)

    POL - police officers or inspectors, policemen, police constables

    POT - potter or pot maker, tilemakers

    PRH - proprietor of houses

    PRI - priest or minister of any religion or denomination

    PRN - printer (including apprentices)

    PST - postmen/women and letter carriers

    PTL - potter's labourer

    PTT - pattern makers

    PUP - scholars (pupils)

    PYL - platelayer's labourers

    QRY - quarryman/delfman/stone getter

    REL - relieving officer (poor relief)

    RLA - railway labourer

    RLC - railway contractor

    ROP - ropemakers/rope spinners

    SAD - saddlers

    SAW - sawyers

    SCH - schoolmasters, schoolmistresses, pupil teachers &c

    SHOE - shoemakers, cordwainers, bootmakers, cloggers

    SHOP - shopkeeper (including furniture brokers, grocers &c)

    SIG - railway signalman

    SIL - employed at silvering works

    SML - smelters (unspecified industry)

    SOL - solicitors (including articled clerks)

    STK - stokers

    SUR - surveyors

    TAI - tailors

    TAN - tanners

    TAX - revenue officers & supervisors

    TIME - time keeper

    TIN - tin plate workers, tinsmiths, iron & tin plate workers

    TOL - toll collectors

    TOO - toolmakers (including sawmakers & watch tool makers)

    TRV - commercial travellers

    WASH - washerwoman

    WAT - watchmaker or clockmaker (but toolmakers for watch tool makers)

    WGH - checkweighmen

    WHI - whitesmiths

    WHL - wheelwright

    WIND - colliery engine winders

    WIR - wire drawers

    WSR - railway wagon sheet repairers

    WTU - wood turners

    WVR - weavers

  2) Age at death, rounded down to nearest 5 years: e.g. Morris-18630 1871D0 for someone who died aged 4 in the decade ending with the 1871 census. Where known, actual age rather than reported age will be used. Otherwise, best guess based on available records will be used.

  3) Migration categories - examples:

    Morris-18630 RTD1871 - for people who are not known to have ever lived elsewhere and who were born in the decade ending with the 1871 census (ie that is the first they would appear in)

    Morris-18630 LVR1871 - for people who were born in the area and died elsewhere, born in the decade ending with the 1871 census

    Morris-18630 RTN1871 - for people who were born in the area, left but returned before their death

    Morris-18630 INC1871 - for people who were born elsewhere but died in the area

    Morris-18630 MIG1871 - for people who were born elsewhere and died elsewhere

  The distinction between people who are not known to have lived elsewhere and returnees may not be very meaningful since time living elsewhere would not always show up in the records available, and also people may sometimes have moved to another area for a few weeks simply to be married there and returned afterwards. Rainford was a popular place for St Helens nonconformists to marry, and is outside the town of St Helens and the area of this study. However those who married outside St Helens should be counted as having lived away if their place of residence is recorded as outside St Helens, even if it's not far away and the residence may have been short. Those who died in Whiston Union workhouse will also be counted as having died away, even though it was the workhouse for St Helens. For people known to have been christened or buried in the parish of Prescot, with no more precise location known, it can be assumed for the purposes of the study that the birth or death took place in St Helens itself, unless there is reason to believe otherwise. People whose address in their probate record was in St Helens but whose death was registered elsewhere will be counted as if they had died in St Helens since that was where they were living when they died.

Progress

The 1841 census index is the primary area of work currently in progress.

Also under construction:

• Indexes of St Helens area BMD records
• 1851 census index
• 1861 census index
• 1871 census index
• 1881 census index.
• 1891 census index.
• 1901 census index.

The indexes should prevent accidental use of the same record for two different profiles.

Research Resources

See St Helens Resources freespace page.

Crimes

1843 fatal shooting of gamekeeper Richard Kenyon by a poacher

Historic Buildings

Pubs

Pubs category

Homes

Brook House

Transportees

People listed in the Tasmanian Names Index as possibly connected with the vicinity, and not yet profiled:

Prescot:

  George Barnes of Prescot, Lancashire - residing Liverpool 23 Oct 1826 - tailor aged 35 born Prescott - departed London 5 Apr 1827 on the Governor Ready

    Sentenced to 2 years for larceny, freed by servitude

    Brother-in-law George Preston at Prescott; Thomas Barnes [what relation?] lives at Liverpool

    Single, protestant

    was sentenced to 7 years for stealing shirts, on 24 Sep 1835, in Hobart

    was living in the Avoca district by Jul 1841

    Description

    Conduct report

    Conduct report cont'd

  John Cole 1844 - tried in Worcester; listed as from Prescott Shropshire but the source documents only say Prescott as far as I could see.

  Ann Cooley 1839 - house servant (maid) from Prescott Lancashire; 27 years old, husband George & one child. Transported on Hindostan leaving London 9 May 1839 after conviction at Lancaster Quarter Sessions 22 Oct 1838 for larceny. "Husband George a soldier in the 80th 2 years on the town". Freed 1845? Drunkenness and swearing mentioned repeatedly in conduct report.

    Applied to marry Robert Gill 11 Nov 1844 ("approved if clergyman not satisfied") - probably "approved if clergyman satisfied" with "not" added to the right afterwards, because it shouldn't have been approved unless Ann's first husband was dead)

    https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON15-1-9$init=CON15-1-9P27

    Conduct Report

    Description

  William Fox laborer of near Prescot, Lancashire departed Woolwich 4 Jan 1846 on the China.

    Convicted 22 Mar 1845, Lancaster Assizes, sentence 10 yrs for burglary. Single, RC.

    Conduct

    Indenture

  Thomas Greenough single ploughman of Prescot, Lancashire aged 21 departed London 18 Dec 1829 on the Mary (2)

    Sentenced to 7 years for stealing ducks

    Appropriation list

    Conduct

    Description

  John Hayes, departed Portsmouth 14 May 1820 on the Guildford - sentenced Lancaster 19 July 1819 - 7 years - age 40, labourer, origin Prescot

    Conduct report

    Description

  Catherine Hilton of Prescot, Lancashire - departed Portsmouth 15 Dec 1821 on the Mary Ann; sentenced to 14 years at Lancaster 24 Mar 1821 for forged notes.

    One child aged 11? years?; F[ather?] at Wigan Lancashire; father of her child at Liverpool

    Conduct

    Muster roll

  William Hurtsfield/Hurstfield 18-year-old labourer of Prescot, Lancashire, departed Plymouth 29 Jan 1834 on the Moffatt (1)

    22 Jul 1833 sentenced to 14 years for stealing wearing apparel (his second felony).

    Has also done housebreaking & breaking windows. Single. Conditional pardon 3 2 41

    Conduct report

    Description

  Charles Lyon from Prescot, Lancashire; departed London 25 Oct 1846 on the Pestongee Bomangee (2).

    Sentenced to 14 yrs at Liverpool assizes on 15 Aug 1846 for shooting at John Wainwright with intent &c.

    Married with 2 children. Watch & chronometer movement maker, aged 30.

    Conditional pardon granted 1 Dec 57.

    [ https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-84$init=CON33-1-84p106 Conduct report]

  Joseph Martindale watch balance maker of Prescot, Lancashire aged 23 departed London 9 Apr 1841 on the Layton (4).

    Given 14 years for stealing handkerchiefs at Lancashire quarter sessions.

    Catholic, can read & write, single. M[other] Ann, 3 B[rothers] John Thomas James sister Mary

    Appropriation list

    Conduct

    Indent

  Peter McCormack of Prescot, Lancashire departed Woolwich 29 Aug 1845 on the Mayda.

    Sentence 10 yrs at Liverpool Assizes 22 Mar 1845 for burglary (third conviction).

    Tried with Wm Fox.

    Single. Roman Catholic. Laborer. Can read. Age 19.

    Died in hospital in Hobart 26 Sep 1850.

    (from indent): Mother Margaret. Brothers Hugh, William James. Sisters Margaret, Jane; all [NU] P (same abbr in other entries so not "near Prescot")

    Conduct

    Indent (2 pages)

  Michael Murphy from Prescot Lancashire departed London on 7 Mar 1845 on the Mount Stewart Elphinstone (1)

    Sentenced on 14 Oct 1844 at Chester Nether Knutsford to 14 yrs for stealing money in a drawer.

    Single, Roman Catholic, bread & biscuit baker aged 30

    died 1880, inquest at Launceston 8 Jun 1880

    Conduct

    Description (book not page, not checked); 3 employment records not checked

    [1]

  William Rhodes seaman aged 33 of Prescot, Lancashire departed England 17 May 1823 on the Albion. Single.

    Convicted 15 Oct 1822 at Chester Quarter Sessions, sentence 7 yrs for stealing wearing apparel

    Conduct

    Description

    Muster

  Robert Rowlinson of Prescot, Lancashire departed London 26 Jul 1839 on the Layton (3).

    Sentence 15 yrs at Lancaster for stealing 28 watches from a jeweller in Manchester

    24-year-old cooper; married with 2 children, wife Eliza at Manchester

    Conduct

    Description

  Robert Rowlinson, 24-yr-old cooper from Prescot Lancashire left London 26 Jul 1839 on the Layton (3)

    Sentenced to 15 yrs on 25 Feb 1839 at Lancaster for stealing 28 watches from a Manchester jeweller; wife Eliza and 2 children at Manchester

    Appropriation list - but his page appears to be missing

    Conduct

    Conduct (more)

    Description

  Edward Sefton from Prescot, Lancashire left Downs on 24 Mar 1828 on the William Miles.

    Sentenced for felony 30 Jul 1827 at Lancaster (stealing a Game Cocks)

    F[ather] at Liverpool Edward Sefton a watchmaker; was living at home before arrest; single, labourer, aged 19

    Conduct

    Description

  Charles Silcock of Prescot Lancashire left England 20 Aug 1821 on the Claudine aged 24, bricklayers labr

    Sentence 7 yrs on 21 May 1820 or 1821 (records disagree)

    Brother & sisters at Prescott, Henry? having been transported before

    Conduct

    Description

    Muster roll

  Sarah Wallis/Wallace/Whalley of Prescot, Lancashire departed Downs 6 Jan 1831 on the America.

    Dairy woman aged 41, sentenced to 7 yrs at Stafford on 20 Oct 1830 for stealing a silk shawl.

    Widow with 5 children. Proper name Wallace.

    Appropriation list

    Conduct record

  John Webster of Prescot, Lancashire departed England 17 Oct 1818 on the Surrey (1).

    Sentence 7 yrs at Lancaster; 18-yr-old fustian cutter

    Conduct

    Indent

Sutton, Lancashire:

  Thomas Richardson of Sutton, Lancashire departed London 5 Apr 1842 on the Surrey (4).

    Sentence 7 yrs at Kirkdale 4 Nov 1841 for bigamy & stealing a watch worth £10, wearing apparel &c.

    Embarked 9 Mar 1842 Arrived 11 Aug 1842. Aged 35.

    "I was married to Mary Stevenson & Elizabeth Seal. I then ran away with Ellen Fleming"

    Married with 2 children. Trade farrier (blacksmith).

    Ticket of leave 10 Mar 1846. Protestant.

    Father Jas [or Jos?] mother Ann , 2 sisters Jane Ellen

    Conduct

    Indent

  John Wynn of Sutton, Lancashire departed Downs 6 Dec 1821 on the Richmond.

    Sentence 7 yrs on 7 Apr/May 1821 at Lancashire QS (Liverpool boro) for stealing 1 shilling.

    Coachman aged 25

    Conduct

    Muster

    Description

Eccleston, Lancashire (might be the other Eccleston)

  William Baxendale of Eccleston nr Chorley, Lancashire

    dep London 7 Jul 1843 - tried at Barbadoes 12 Oct 1842 age 26 single, second boatswain/laborer, mother Mary at Ormskirk sisters

    14 yrs for striking a sergeant on Church parade

    Indent

  William Marsh of Eccleston, Lancashire

    dep London 21 Nov 1844 age 30 Kirkdale QS married

    engine tender impr. Tailor; wife Mary father James mother Jane brother Robert sisters Martha Jane Md Elizh

    transported for stealing money from a counting house for Charles Henry Lacey at Kenyon

    Indent

Other Transportees not yet profiled

Thomas Boyle (1788-), transported to NSW on the Morley in 1829 for manslaughter of John Hughes on 1 Jan 1829 - employee of Mackey & Co's Eccleston Glassworks. John was 33 and married with 4 children and one in the oven. Newspaper reports 1, 2 (trial report with witness testimony), 3, 4. Witnesses John Slater, Thomas Marsh, Richard Fithian, James Duffy, John Pemberton, Henry Gray, Thomas Mil(l)burn, Mr James Holt Other glassworks employees named: James Hardman, Mash [perhaps Marsh?], Robert Slater (brother of John), Case

Australian Papers

All hits of "born in St Helens Lancashire" profiled.

"native of St Helens", in progress. Hits looked at but not profiled:

  Albert Bennett, in 1931 had returned to his native St Helens to play cricket for it in the Lancashire League after learning it in Australia and lived at Port Kembla there.

  Alf Grends, competing in NY 6 days race at Madison Sq Gdns in 1924 & broke his collarbone - cyclist, former Scottsdale rider.