William, born 1893 in Manchester, Elizabeth (Lily), born 1898 in Manchester, Emily Maude born 1905 in Manchester, Edward (Ted) born 1908 in Manchester, Douglas Henry born 09 February 1910 in Salford, Manchester & Frederick born 05 December 1914 in Manchester. It's Sunday today and like any good vicar doing a sermon I am going to start with a theme.
This is the 1911 Census entry for Emily Maud(e) DIXON
124 Walnut Street, Hightown, Broughton, Salford, Lancashire.
1. Robert DIXON, Head, 50, Married, for 15 years, Clay Miner, Worker, Born Durham
2. Lily DIXON, Wife, 39, Married, for 15 years, 8 children born alive, 4 boys & 4 girls, born Whitby
3. William Robert DIXON, Son, 14, Single, Born Manchester
4. Lily DIXON, Daughter, 10, at School, born Manchester
5. Emily Maud DIXON, Daughter, 5, at School, Born Manchester
6. William Henery DIXON, son, 1, Born Manchester
7. Cissie McCann, Visitor, 28, Single, Barmaid in Hotel, born Glasgow.
Note there is no mention of Douglas Henry DIXON & William Dixon in this census was born 1897 as opposed to 1893. However I think the name William Henry has been written instead of Douglas Henry, other wise, this family has two boys in it called William, most unlikely.
Also what is significant I think is the name of the child called Elizabeth, which has the name Lily in brackets, because in the census entry above, Robert DIXON is the head of the family with his wife Lily and they have a daughter called Lily, aged 10, so born about 1901.
************: See below: Marriage Certificate of Robert DIXON & Lily DIXON sent for on 27 February 2017 arrived on 6 March 2017.
Certified Copy of Marriage Given at General Record Office, Application 8087857/1
1896 Marriage Solemnized at the Register Office, in the District of Chorlton, in the Counties of Manchester & Lancaster.
No. 30: 18 April, 1896, Robert DIXON, 28 years, Bachelor, Miner, of 9, Galloway Street, HULME, son of Arthur DIXON, milk dealer, deceased & Lily MORRILL, 22 years, Spinster, of 17, Newcastle St, Hulme, daughter of William Henry MORRILL, deceased, Confectioner. Were married in the Register Office by Certificate before me, James Bloomfield, Registar & David S. Bloomfield, Supt Registrar.
Robert DIXON & Lily MORRILL signed certificate, in presence of Henry WOODHOUSE & Florence MORRILL.
I have now found the christening of Lily MORRILL- Hulme St Paul Church where all the other MORRILL children were christened.
Born June 24 1902, christened July 9, 1902, Lilly, daughter of Robert & Mary Elizabeth DIXON, of 9 Sadler Street, Miner, by H J Bushley. I seem to remember that that address and minister comes into this story again.
I have now found the christening of their first child, a boy called William Robert DIXON, clearly named after his father & maternal grandfather.
In the notes I was given I was told Lily DIXON married a Norman SMITH, well I found this marriage on FREE BMD:Marriages Sep 1925 (>99%)
Dixon Lily Smith Salford 8d 1093 Scan available - click to view
Smith Norman Dixon Salford 8d 1093
1925 Marriage solemnized at Higher Broughton Chapel, Great Cheetham Street, Broughton, in the District of Salford, In the County of Lancaster & Salford C. B.
Entry 22. August 1st 1925, Norman SMITH, 25 years, Bachelor, Boot & Shoe maker, Journeyman, of 13, Bradshaw Street, Higher Broughton, son of John Smith, Painter & Decorator & Lily DIXON, 23 years, Spinster, Cloth Caps Cutter, of 90, Marlborough Rd, Higher Broughton, daughter of Robert DIXON, Excavator (deceased) were married in the Higher Broughton Chapel, according to the Rites & Ceremonies of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, by Certificate, witnessed by Leonard SMITH & Emily DIXON.
So Lily did get married to a Norman Smith & her sister Emily witnessed it. Also, the occupation of Lily Dixon's father, deceased, is excavator, not miner as he was when he married Lily and in the 1911 Census. In the notes given to me by this Canadian researcher Dave Probyn, Lily's father, had worked on the Pennine Way Road, whatever that is and where, but maybe he worked there on an excavator.
So I am wondering if Mary Elizabeth Morrell is the same as Lily Morrell. Also the surname Morrell is often spelt as Morrill, the letter 'e' being so like a letter 'i'. You will note above that this family has only two people with actual birth records, Douglas Henry & Frederick. I have been told that on Frederick's birth certificate, the name of his father was Robert, and at the time of Frederick's birth on 5 December 1914, his father Robert's profession was cattle dealer, and that he was deceased. I was also told that Robert Dixon married in Yorkshire in 1892. However some other notes say his death was much later and I can't find a death for a Robert Dixon in Manchester between 1911 & 1914. I was also told that Robert Dixon married Mary Elizabeth Morrell in 1892 in Yorkshire, however a search on Free BMD & GRO shows that there weren't any marriages in Yorkshire between two people of those names in 1892, but in Chorlton, Lancashire, that's Chorlton cum Hardy, there was a marriage between Robert DIXON & Lily MORRILL in the June quarter of 1896, reference: Robert Dixon
Registration Year: 1896
Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
Registration district: Chorlton: Robert Dixon, Lily Morrill, Alice Poole, Arthur Edwin Spencer.
Chorlton 8c 1341
So I have decided to go and look at this young lady Lily Morrill, who if she was called Mary Elizabeth MORRELL, then she was born in Whitby, Yorkshire as the 1911 Census suggests and as the notes I was given suggest, and that her family were in the catering business and restaurant business and confectionery.
So here she is in the 1881 Census: Quite a few things in this census entry suggesting I have the right family.
1881: 215 City Road, Hulme, Manchester, in parish of St Michaels:
Confectioners Shop:
William H. MORRELL, Head, Married, 30, Medicated Lozenge Manufacturer born York.
Alice MORRELL, Wife, Married, 30, Born Sedgefield, Durham.
Martha A MORRELL, daughter, unmarried, 8, Born Whitby, Yorks.
Mary E. MORRELL, daughter, unmarried, 7, Born Whitby, Yorks.
Edith MORRELL, daughter, unmarried, 5, Born Manchester, Lancashire
Douglas H MORRELL, son, unmarried, 4, Born Manchester, Lancashire
Victoria F MORRELL, daughter, Unmarried, 2, Born Manchester, Lancashire
William B MORRELL, son, unmarried, 4 months, born Manchester, Lancs.
Note that her father William H Morrell is a confectioner, he has a second forename beginning with H, and that he and his wife Alice, have a son called Douglas H Morrell.
So then I went in search of William's marriage to Alice and this is what I found:
MARRIAGES:
August 7th, at the Parish Church, by the Rev. H. Woollam, William Henry MORRILL, confectioner, Raglan Terrace, to Alice, daughter of Mr. Douglas MUNRO, optician, Ruswarp. I did wonder which church was meant by the Parish Church, because Alice Munro was from Ruswarp as opposed to Whitby, but seeing it's the Whitby Gazette, I think it's Whitby Parish Church as opposed to Ruswarp. which St Bartholomew in Main St, Ruswarp. I suppose a trip to Yorkshire Archives in Middlesbrough would confirm this.
Note that the William MORRILL was living in Raglan Terrace, Whitby and Alice in an optician's shop in Ruswarp.
Here is a map of 1890 showing Whitby:
Now if you look at the map Raglan Terrace is just to the right of the work PARK in FISHBURN PARK, where you will see some blocks of houses-these are terraced housing. A modern map of 2017 from Google shows these terraces and the name Raglan Terrace.
Here is a more detailed section of the above map showing Raglan Terrace
Here is a photograph of that terrace today giving you some idea of the sort of property Mary Elizabeth MORRILL or Lily was living in in 1871 and onwards.
So William MORRILL was a confectioner in 1871, and Alice's father, was called Douglas, and he was an optician in Ruswarp, hence that name being used in the Morrill family-again another clue that we are on the right track.
Now just look at this, the census entries for 1871 in Whitby:
1871 Census: Alice Munro:
Township of Ruswarp, in the Town of Whitby, in district of Whitby
102: 3 Raglan Terrace:-
George BERRY, Head, Married, 67, Watchmaker, born Holderness, Yorks.
Ann BERRY, Wife, Married, 73, born Whitby, Yorks.
Alice MUNRO, servant, unmarried, 21, General Servant (domestic), born Sedgefield, Durham.
101:1 Raglan Terrace:-
William Falkingbridge, Head, Married, 46, Bread Baker, born Whitby, Yorks
Ann P Falkingbridge, wife, 45, Born Whitby, Yorkshire
Mary E. Falkingbridge, daughter, scholar, born Whitby, Yorks.
Arthur R Falkingbridge, son, 3, Born Whitby, Yorks.
William H. MORRELL, servant, Unmarried, 21, Baker, born York, Yorks.
So William MORRILL/MORRELL is living next door to Alice MUNRO in April 1871 and on August 7 of the same year they are married.
So William Henry MORRILL & his wife Alice move to an unknown address and in the June quarter of 1872, their first daughter Martha Alice is recorded as Martha MORRALL. (MORRALL, Martha Alice, (Reference Whitby 9d 446).
In the Victorian Naming system, Martha was most probably named after her grandmother, Martha Clarke, who was William's mother. So it might be the opportunity to see what I can find out about William H MORRILL/MORRELL/MORRALL!
William as we can see from the above 1871 Census was born in York, Yorkshire. In fact I found him in the 1851 Census living off Margaret Street, In York
Census Entries William Henry MORRILL
1851 Census St Margaret, York.
Margaret Place:
Henry Morrill, Head, Married, 23, Confectioner, born York, Yorkshire
Martha Morrill, wife, Married, 21, Born Sutton, Yorkshire
William H Morrill, son, 2months, born York, Yorkshire
Clara Jackson, visitor, 11, Born Newton, Yorkshire
James Buttle, Lodger, 23, Joiner, Born Northumberland
Just wonder if it's a co-incidence, but Henry MORRILL, William's father also moves from Whitby. There is a marriage recorded on Free BMD of a Henry MORRILL and Sarah JACKSON in the
Marriages Jun 1874
Jackson Sarah, Barton 8c 768 & MORRILL Henry Barton On Irwell 8c 768
Then in the Census of 1891
Anyway back to William Henry, Henry's son and his family who moved to Lancashire also.
In the census of 1881, the family are living in Hulme, Manchester:
1881: 215 City Road, Hulme, Manchester, in parish of St Michaels:
Confectioners Shop:
William H. MORRELL, Head, Married, 30, Medicated Lozenge Manufacturer born York.
Alice MORRELL, Wife, Married, 30, Born Sedgefield, Durham.
Martha A MORRELL, daughter, unmarried, 8, Born Whitby, Yorks.
Mary E. MORRELL, daughter, unmarried, 7, Born Whitby, Yorks.
Edith MORRELL, daughter, unmarried, 5, Born Manchester, Lancashire
Douglas H MORRELL, son, unmarried, 4, Born Manchester, Lancashire
Victoria F MORRELL, daughter, Unmarried, 2, Born Manchester, Lancashire
William B MORRELL, son, unmarried, 4 months, born Manchester, Lancs.
So with Henry MORRILL deceased, and now his second wife Sarah and their son John William, who has left a tidy sum to his wife Julia, I think it's time before I confirm the marriage of Robert DIXON to Lily MORRILL which I am going to do with a certificate of marriage sent for today, to have a look at Henry MORRILL's earlier life before he ended up in Whitby. *************(see Marriage record above of Robert & Lily DIXON which arrived on 6 March, 2017. I am going give the details twice, here and at the beginning of the blog because it fits so well with at least one of the christenings of the children.
Certified Copy of Marriage Given at General Record Office, Application 8087857/1
1896 Marriage Solemnized at the Register Office, in the District of Chorlton, in the Counties of Manchester & Lancaster.
No. 30: 18 April, 1896, Robert DIXON, 28 years, Bachelor, Miner, of 9, Galloway Street, HULME, son of Arthur DIXON, deceased, Milk Dealer & Lily MORRILL, 22 years, Spinster, of 17, Newcastle St, Hulme, daughter of William Henry MORRILL, deceased, Confectioner. Were married in the Register Office by Certificate before me, James Bloomfield, Registar & David S. Bloomfield, Supt Registrar.
Robert DIXON & Lily MORRILL signed certificate, in presence of Henry WOODHOUSE & Florence MORRILL.
Henry MORRILL was born in York, Yorkshire and christened in Bedern Chapel:- the record from family Search states: .
Henry Morrill, son of William & Jane Morrill, christened on 25 May 1828, at BEDERN CHAPEL, York, Yorkshire, England.
Here are some photos of this chapel seen on this walk around an area of York.http://www.yorkstories.co.uk/york_walks-2/bedern.htm
He was the first child of William & Jane MORRILL, who married on 31 August 1827: William Morrill aged 26 marriage to Jane STEEL aged 25.
In a census of 1851, William, who now has married for the second time says he was born in Hutton Rudby, Yorkshire.
On 31 Aug 1827 at Beddren, Saint Michael, York, England
Source:
"England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFBB-RY2 : 10 December 2014), William Morrill and Jane Steel, 31 Aug 1827; citing Beddren, Saint Michael, York, England, reference 54; FHL microfilm 1,655,694.
His other siblings were with sources:
So William Henry MORRILL & his wife Alice move to an unknown address and in the June quarter of 1872, their first daughter Martha Alice is recorded as Martha MORRALL. (MORRALL, Martha Alice, (Reference Whitby 9d 446).
In the Victorian Naming system, Martha was most probably named after her grandmother, Martha Clarke, who was William's mother. So it might be the opportunity to see what I can find out about William H MORRILL/MORRELL/MORRALL!
William as we can see from the above 1871 Census was born in York, Yorkshire. In fact I found him in the 1851 Census living off Margaret Street, In York
Census Entries William Henry MORRILL
1851 Census St Margaret, York.
Margaret Place:
Henry Morrill, Head, Married, 23, Confectioner, born York, Yorkshire
Martha Morrill, wife, Married, 21, Born Sutton, Yorkshire
William H Morrill, son, 2months, born York, Yorkshire
Clara Jackson, visitor, 11, Born Newton, Yorkshire
James Buttle, Lodger, 23, Joiner, Born Northumberland
10 years later in 1861, the family are in Stockton on Tees, at 126, High Street,
1861: Stockton on Tees: Durham District 12
Entry no. 81, 126 High Street
Henry MORRILL, Head, Married, 33, Confectioner employing 1 man, born York, Yorks.
Martha MORRILL, wife, Marrried, 36, Born Sutton, Yorks.
William Henry MORRILL, son, 10, Scholar, born York, Yorks.
Elizabeth MORRILL, daughter, 7, Born Barnby Moor, Yorks.
Sarah JACKSON, servant, unmarried, 22, born Newton, Yorks.
So William Henry as had a sister born in 1854, when the family were at Barmby Moor, Yorkshire, which is near Pocklington. Unless of course, Martha went home to have her daughter born there. That Sarah JACKSON was Henry Morrill's sister-in-law.
Then William's mother died in Stockton on Tees in December 1865, and was buried in the churchyard on 21 December, 1865, a sad day for William & the rest of the family. Sometime later William & his family move from Stockton to Whitby, because in the 1871 Census, we know that William was in Raglan Terrace, working as a baker, whilst his widowed father Henry, was living at an address nearby.
1871 census for Henry MORRILL: Township of Ruswarp, town of Whitby
Entry 259: Skinner Street (5 Ivy Place)
Henry MORRILL, Head, widower, 42, Confectioner, born York, Yorks.
Elizabeth MORRILL, daughter, 17, Housekeeper, born Barmby Moor, Yorks.
Sarah JACKSON, sister-in-law, 31, Milliner, born Newton, YORKS.
Skinner Street, is now in the main part of Whitby, so probably that was why Henry had his confectioner's shop there. If you look at the map below, north of the station, is a chapel, and opposite that is Skinner Street.
Meanwhile in William Henry & his wife Alice's life, in the January quarter of 1874 another child's birth was recorded called Mary Elizabeth MORRILL also in Whitby. So she could have been born in 1873, in December, but recorded in the following year. Again only a certificate could prove this or a baptism record, which probably would mean a trip to Whitby Library to find that out or at Middlesbrough Library where they have the records for North Yorkshire. Then William & family move to Lancashire, to Manchester because their next child, Edith is born in 1875 in Chorlton registration area-the record says MORRALL, as opposed MORRILL and MORRELL!!
Just wonder if it's a co-incidence, but Henry MORRILL, William's father also moves from Whitby. There is a marriage recorded on Free BMD of a Henry MORRILL and Sarah JACKSON in the
Marriages Jun 1874
Jackson Sarah, Barton 8c 768 & MORRILL Henry Barton On Irwell 8c 768
So that's the same Sarah who was acting as Henry MORRILL's housekeeper in 1871.
So Henry & his wife Sarah, have a son called John William born in 1875, his baptism record states:
Register No 428: 26 September 1875, John William, son of Henry & Sarah MORRILL, of Stretford, Confectioner, by Rector. I can't find them in the census 1881, Henry is carrying on his life in the Confectionery business. They live about half a mile from Henry's son William & his wife Alice. So maybe they joined forces. The map below shows Oxford Street and City Road, Stretford in 1890.
So Henry & his wife Sarah, have a son called John William born in 1875, his baptism record states:
Register No 428: 26 September 1875, John William, son of Henry & Sarah MORRILL, of Stretford, Confectioner, by Rector. I can't find them in the census 1881, Henry is carrying on his life in the Confectionery business. They live about half a mile from Henry's son William & his wife Alice. So maybe they joined forces. The map below shows Oxford Street and City Road, Stretford in 1890.
Then in the Census of 1891
1891 Census: Lancashire, Stretford, District 6
Entry: 200: 27, Oxford Street, Stretford
Henry MORRILL, Head, Married, 62, Confectioner, born York, Yorks.
Sarah MORRILL, wife, married, 52, Born Newton, Yorks.
John W. MORRILL, son, 15, Calico Designer Spin Born Manchester, Lancs.
Not long after the Census, Henry & his wife move to Stockport, where in Cherry-tree Lane, Henry dies:
PROBATE RECORDS_ MORRILL:
MORRILL Henry: of Cherry-tree-lane, Stockport, Cheshire, died 17 October 1891, Administration 24 July to Sarah MORRILL, widow, Effects £235 14s.
In the census of 1881, the family are living in Hulme, Manchester:
1881: 215 City Road, Hulme, Manchester, in parish of St Michaels:
Confectioners Shop:
William H. MORRELL, Head, Married, 30, Medicated Lozenge Manufacturer born York.
Alice MORRELL, Wife, Married, 30, Born Sedgefield, Durham.
Martha A MORRELL, daughter, unmarried, 8, Born Whitby, Yorks.
Mary E. MORRELL, daughter, unmarried, 7, Born Whitby, Yorks.
Edith MORRELL, daughter, unmarried, 5, Born Manchester, Lancashire
Douglas H MORRELL, son, unmarried, 4, Born Manchester, Lancashire
Victoria F MORRELL, daughter, Unmarried, 2, Born Manchester, Lancashire
William B MORRELL, son, unmarried, 4 months, born Manchester, Lancs.
So with Henry MORRILL deceased, and now his second wife Sarah and their son John William, who has left a tidy sum to his wife Julia, I think it's time before I confirm the marriage of Robert DIXON to Lily MORRILL which I am going to do with a certificate of marriage sent for today, to have a look at Henry MORRILL's earlier life before he ended up in Whitby. *************(see Marriage record above of Robert & Lily DIXON which arrived on 6 March, 2017. I am going give the details twice, here and at the beginning of the blog because it fits so well with at least one of the christenings of the children.
Certified Copy of Marriage Given at General Record Office, Application 8087857/1
1896 Marriage Solemnized at the Register Office, in the District of Chorlton, in the Counties of Manchester & Lancaster.
No. 30: 18 April, 1896, Robert DIXON, 28 years, Bachelor, Miner, of 9, Galloway Street, HULME, son of Arthur DIXON, deceased, Milk Dealer & Lily MORRILL, 22 years, Spinster, of 17, Newcastle St, Hulme, daughter of William Henry MORRILL, deceased, Confectioner. Were married in the Register Office by Certificate before me, James Bloomfield, Registar & David S. Bloomfield, Supt Registrar.
Robert DIXON & Lily MORRILL signed certificate, in presence of Henry WOODHOUSE & Florence MORRILL.
Henry MORRILL was born in York, Yorkshire and christened in Bedern Chapel:- the record from family Search states: .
Henry Morrill, son of William & Jane Morrill, christened on 25 May 1828, at BEDERN CHAPEL, York, Yorkshire, England.
Here are some photos of this chapel seen on this walk around an area of York.http://www.yorkstories.co.uk/york_walks-2/bedern.htm
He was the first child of William & Jane MORRILL, who married on 31 August 1827: William Morrill aged 26 marriage to Jane STEEL aged 25.
In a census of 1851, William, who now has married for the second time says he was born in Hutton Rudby, Yorkshire.
On 31 Aug 1827 at Beddren, Saint Michael, York, England
Source:
"England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFBB-RY2 : 10 December 2014), William Morrill and Jane Steel, 31 Aug 1827; citing Beddren, Saint Michael, York, England, reference 54; FHL microfilm 1,655,694.
His other siblings were with sources:
. William Thomas Morrill, son of William MORRILL and Jane, christened on 27 March 1831 at Saint Michael-le-Belfry, York England
Citing this Record
"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NK7J-Y5H : 30 December 2014), William Thomas Morrill, 27 Mar 1831; citing York, York, England, reference ; FHL microfilm 990,914.
3. Eliza Jane Morrill, daughter of William & Jane Morrill, christened on 01 July 1832 at
Gender Female
Christening Date 01 Jul 1832
Christening Place Saint Michael-le-Belfry, York England
"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9QL-DMZ : 30 December 2014), Eliza Jane Morrill, 01 Jul 1832; citing SAINT MICHAEL-LE-BELFRY,YORK,YORK,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 990,913, 990,914.
The next record I have found is this one: Bradford Observer - Thursday 29 January 1835
DEATHS: On the 16th Inst., at YORK, aged 31, Jane, wife of Mr. William MORRILL, currier.
So Henry's mother was Jane Steel, born about 1804, and as you can see she died very young in January 1835, when Henry was 7 years of age. William MORRILL, Henry's father's occupation was a currier: This is a description of his work: A currier is a specialist in the leather processing industry. After the tanning process, the currier applies techniques of dressing, finishing and colouring to the tanned hide to make it strong, flexible and waterproof.
Here is the census of 1841:
Census Entries: William MORRILL (father of Henry MORRILL)
1841: BEDDERN William MORRILL, 35, Currier, born Yorkshire
Henry MORRILL, 13, born Yorkshire
William MORRILL, 9, born Yorkshire
Robert HODGSON, 20, Joiner, born Yorkshire
So now William had to work and care for 3 children without a wife to both love and help him. Eventually he did marry again, in 1844, to a Sarah Wood., born Wentworth, Yorkshire.
So the Census of 1851 is this:
1851:Register No. 58, 2, Feasgate, Parish of St Sampson, YORK
William MORRILL, Head, Married, 49, Currier, Master (1apprentice), born Huddon Rudby, Yorkshire
Sarah MORRILL, Wife, Married, 42, Born Wentworth, Yorkshire
William T. MORRILL, Son, Unmarried, 20, Currier (Apprentice), born York, Yorkshire
Sarah MORRILL, Daughter, 5, Scholar, born York, Yorkshire
Thomas Richardson, Lodger, Unmarried, 30, Tailor, born Lastingham, Yorkshire.
Then came some sad news:
York Herald - Saturday 18 October 1851
DEATHS
On Wednesday, the 15th inst., at Wentworth, after one day’s illness, Sarah, the only daughter of Mr. William MORRILL, currier, of this city, aged 6 years.
By all accounts, William Morrill senior died in York between 1851 & 1861-his wife Sarah is a widow in the 1861 census. His son William Thomas MORRILL has a large family, becomes an engine driver which reflects the times when the railway industry became very prominent.
Whilst all this was going on, brother Henry as we have seen at the beginning of this story, had become a confectioner, which I always see as being a person who makes sweets and sells them in a shop maybe. We have to remember that Henry grows up in a family, where his mother, Jane, dies when he is just 7 years old, and his father doesn't marry again until he is 16 years of age. By then, he must have been serving an apprenticeship of some sort, certainly not as a currier like his father. I don't seem to be able to find records of his early life at present. We know he married a Martha CLARKE, who in the census of 1851 & 1861 says she was born in Sutton, Yorkshire. Well there are quite a few places in Yorkshire called Sutton. Her marriage record to Henry Morrill at St Laurence York, on 3 September 1849, in its original form would reveal her father & his occupation, but the shortened one I do have says his name was John Clarke, and there is a baptism of a Martha CLARKE in 1828 in Ingleton, Yorkshire, which is a long way from anywhere like Sutton near York. Also on that marriage record will be the occupation of her husband Henry MORRILL at that time. Certainly by 4 April 1851, they are living in Margaret Place, York, with Henry a confectioner. The census record is above and 10 years later they are in Stockton-on-Tees. We also know now the story of the rest of his life.
The other family involved with the Morrill's is the Munro family. They come into the story, when William Henry, clearly named after his grandfather & father, marries Alice Munro at the Parish Church in Whitby. Remember this find in the Whitby Gazette?
By all accounts, William Morrill senior died in York between 1851 & 1861-his wife Sarah is a widow in the 1861 census. His son William Thomas MORRILL has a large family, becomes an engine driver which reflects the times when the railway industry became very prominent.
Whilst all this was going on, brother Henry as we have seen at the beginning of this story, had become a confectioner, which I always see as being a person who makes sweets and sells them in a shop maybe. We have to remember that Henry grows up in a family, where his mother, Jane, dies when he is just 7 years old, and his father doesn't marry again until he is 16 years of age. By then, he must have been serving an apprenticeship of some sort, certainly not as a currier like his father. I don't seem to be able to find records of his early life at present. We know he married a Martha CLARKE, who in the census of 1851 & 1861 says she was born in Sutton, Yorkshire. Well there are quite a few places in Yorkshire called Sutton. Her marriage record to Henry Morrill at St Laurence York, on 3 September 1849, in its original form would reveal her father & his occupation, but the shortened one I do have says his name was John Clarke, and there is a baptism of a Martha CLARKE in 1828 in Ingleton, Yorkshire, which is a long way from anywhere like Sutton near York. Also on that marriage record will be the occupation of her husband Henry MORRILL at that time. Certainly by 4 April 1851, they are living in Margaret Place, York, with Henry a confectioner. The census record is above and 10 years later they are in Stockton-on-Tees. We also know now the story of the rest of his life.
The other family involved with the Morrill's is the Munro family. They come into the story, when William Henry, clearly named after his grandfather & father, marries Alice Munro at the Parish Church in Whitby. Remember this find in the Whitby Gazette?
Whitby Gazette - Saturday 12 August 1871
MARRIAGES:
August 7th, at the Parish Church, by the Rev. H. Woollam, William Henry MORRILL, confectioner, Raglan Terrace, to Alice, daughter of Mr. Douglas MUNRO, optician, Ruswarp.
That's the first time in the Morrill family that the name Douglas has appeared.
In the Census of 1851, Census Entries: MUNRO (MUNROE)
1851 England Census:
Sedgefield:
75:Douglas MUNRO, Head, Married, 32, Optician, Born Scotland
Jane MUNRO, Wife, Married, 21, Born Sedgefield, Durham.
Caroline MUNRO, daughter, 11, born Scotland.
Alice MUNRO, daughter, 1, born Sedgefield, Durham
Martin Keley, servant, Unmarried, 20, Optician’s Assistant, born Scotland.
RAYLNITON Douglas Munro Stockton &c 24 24 Scan available - click to view
No 390: Admitted July 4 1874
Name: George Hy MUNRO, age 14, Where born, Bishop Auckland, Height: 4-10, Hair Red, Eyes, Brown, Figure: Proportionate. Scars: Cut on Forehead
Schools attended: St Batholomew’s Ruswarp, Whitby
Read: Imp: Write Imp, Cipher: Simple Rules
Where employed: Wm. Burnett, Tailor, Whitby:
Name of Parents: Father: Douglas Munro, Occupation: Optician, Residence: Ruswarp, Whitby.
Other relatives: Brother: William MORRILL, Baker, Raglan Terrace, Whitby, Uncle, John HARLAND, Coalpit Steward, Bishop Auckland.
Offence: Stealing 4 Corn Sacks, where & when committed: Whitby, NR. Police Court 18 April, 1874. Before whom: Chas Richardson & ? Gordon:
Sentence: 42 Days 5 years
Previous Character: 1st Conviction: Wilful Damage: Fine 10/6d
Conduct after Discharge:
December 1st 1879: Living in Middlesbrough, Doing well.: 1880: May 1st Left Middlesbrough & came to live in Hull, E Y, doing well. August: Came to the school, out ? etc.
So George had started work with a William Burnett, a tailor in Whitby, but such a high penalty wasn't, mind you 50 years previously he would have been executed or at least transported to Australia.
So with George Henry, Douglas's son away in Leeds in gaol, and his wife dead, his daughter Hannah died: Whitby Gazette - Saturday 11 March 1876
DEATHS: March 8th, at Ruswarp, aged 6 years, Hannah, daughter of Douglas Munroe, Optician.
4. When his daughter Lily married Norman Smith in 1925, she puts the name Robert DIXON as her father's forename.
5. When his death is recorded in 1922, his name ROBERT Dixon is put on the record, and on the gravestone. Deaths Jun 1922
MARRIAGES:
August 7th, at the Parish Church, by the Rev. H. Woollam, William Henry MORRILL, confectioner, Raglan Terrace, to Alice, daughter of Mr. Douglas MUNRO, optician, Ruswarp.
That's the first time in the Morrill family that the name Douglas has appeared.
In the Census of 1851, Census Entries: MUNRO (MUNROE)
1851 England Census:
Sedgefield:
75:Douglas MUNRO, Head, Married, 32, Optician, Born Scotland
Jane MUNRO, Wife, Married, 21, Born Sedgefield, Durham.
Caroline MUNRO, daughter, 11, born Scotland.
Alice MUNRO, daughter, 1, born Sedgefield, Durham
Martin Keley, servant, Unmarried, 20, Optician’s Assistant, born Scotland.
So looking at this census, there appears to be almost 10 years between, Caroline Munro and Alice Munro, with one born in Scotland & the other in Sedgefield, England. Douglas himself says he was born in Scotland, but not where, and his wife Jane, says she was born in Sedgefield, England which does make me wonder if Douglas had been married before, in Scotland, where Caroline was born, but then married Jane, when he was a widower-only the marriage record would show this of course.
Actually finding his marriage record isn't all that easy. On a Free BMD search this is the result:
Putting in a search for Douglas and before 1849, this is result:
RAYLNITON Douglas Munro Stockton &c 24 24 Scan available - click to view
(but it didn't give his wife's name)
However, I now know whom Douglas's wife was called, it was Jane Ann Harland.
However, I now know whom Douglas's wife was called, it was Jane Ann Harland.
Douglas and his wife Jane Ann had a son called George Henry MUNRO, who was born about 1860 in Bishop Auckland Registration area, more like Sedgefield as a place. Anyway at the age of 14 he started to go off the rails, and was convicted of damage at first and then later in May 1874 of Theft of four sacks of Corn. He was sentenced to five years and during some of that time he spent it in Leeds Reformatory School. This is part of the record which I have copied and printed out from Ancestry a record that is in the Yorkshire Archives:
No 390: Admitted July 4 1874
Name: George Hy MUNRO, age 14, Where born, Bishop Auckland, Height: 4-10, Hair Red, Eyes, Brown, Figure: Proportionate. Scars: Cut on Forehead
Schools attended: St Batholomew’s Ruswarp, Whitby
Read: Imp: Write Imp, Cipher: Simple Rules
Where employed: Wm. Burnett, Tailor, Whitby:
Name of Parents: Father: Douglas Munro, Occupation: Optician, Residence: Ruswarp, Whitby.
Other relatives: Brother: William MORRILL, Baker, Raglan Terrace, Whitby, Uncle, John HARLAND, Coalpit Steward, Bishop Auckland.
No 390: Admitted July 4 1874
Name: George Hy MUNRO, age 14, Where born, Bishop Auckland, Height: 4-10, Hair Red, Eyes, Brown, Figure: Proportionate. Scars: Cut on Forehead
Schools attended: St Batholomew’s Ruswarp, Whitby
Read: Imp: Write Imp, Cipher: Simple Rules
Where employed: Wm. Burnett, Tailor, Whitby:
Name of Parents: Father: Douglas Munro, Occupation: Optician, Residence: Ruswarp, Whitby.
Other relatives: Brother: William MORRILL, Baker, Raglan Terrace, Whitby, Uncle, John HARLAND, Coalpit Steward, Bishop Auckland.
Yes, that's it he has an uncle John HARLAND of Bishop Auckland, so when I did a search on Free BMD for Jane Ann Harland marrying in 1848, the result was :
Marriages Dec 1848 :Harland, Jane Ann, Stockton &c, 24 241
Actually this forename Rylniton or Rylinton, must be a family name of some sort I think. Certainly the forename was used when he and Jane had their first born child-Alice and their second child Jane Ann in 1857.
So the census of 1851 has this family:
1851 England Census:
Sedgefield:
75:Douglas MUNRO, Head, Married, 32, Optician, Born Scotland
Jane MUNRO, Wife, Married, 21, Born Sedgefield, Durham.
Caroline MUNRO, daughter, 11, born Scotland.
Alice MUNRO, daughter, 1, born Sedgefield, Durham
Martin Keley, servant, Unmarried, 20, Optician’s Assistant, born Scotland.
Actually this forename Rylniton or Rylinton, must be a family name of some sort I think. Certainly the forename was used when he and Jane had their first born child-Alice and their second child Jane Ann in 1857.
So the census of 1851 has this family:
1851 England Census:
Sedgefield:
75:Douglas MUNRO, Head, Married, 32, Optician, Born Scotland
Jane MUNRO, Wife, Married, 21, Born Sedgefield, Durham.
Caroline MUNRO, daughter, 11, born Scotland.
Alice MUNRO, daughter, 1, born Sedgefield, Durham
Martin Keley, servant, Unmarried, 20, Optician’s Assistant, born Scotland.
10 years later, this is the same family:
Durham County Advertiser - Friday 17 June 1859
DEATHS: At Bishop Auckland, on the 13th inst., aged 19 months, Jane Ann, daughter of Mr. Douglas MUNRO, Rylestone, optician.
You will notice that the word Rylestone is a name, not a place, particularly if you compare it with other named entries. So RYLESTONE here is part of Douglas's name-it appears that he dropped this part of his name, just keeping Douglas MUNRO.
1861: Census: Yorkshire, Whitby, District 02
Old Dispensary
Entry 18: Jane Munro, Wife, 32, Retired Grocer’s wife, born Sedgefield, Durham
Alice Munro, Daughter, 11, Scholar, Born Sedgefield, Durham
Mary MUNRO, daughter, 9, Scholar, born Bishop Auckland, Durham
George MUNRO, son, 1, Born Bishop Auckland, Durham.
(Note no Douglas and no Caroline either, so wonder where they were on census day 1861?
10 years later:
1871 Census Yorkshire, Ruswarp Township Whitby Town District 14
Entry 166: Ruswarp Village:
Douglas MUNRO, Head, Married, 52, Optician, Born Edinburgh, Scotland
Jane MUNRO, wife, married, 41, born Sedgefield, Durham
George H. MUNRO, son, unmarried, 11, Scholar, Born Bishop Auckland, Durham
Charles E. MUNRO, son, Unmarried, 5, Born Ruswarp, Yorks.
Hannah I. MUNRO, daughter, 3, Unmarried, Born Ruswarp, Yorks.
Daniel HAMPTON, unmarried, 19, Clerk, Born Middleton-on Row, Durham
Alice was working as a servant in April 1871, next door to her future husband William Morrill, whilst her parents were living in Ruswarp Village. So sometime 1862 & 1866 the MUNRO family move from Sedgefield to Whitby. In 1871 there is a clerk called Daniel Hampton working for Alice's father-later Charles Edward, her brother marries Florence Elizabeth Hampton-wonder if there is any connection?
So lots of things seem to happen to this Munro family in the 1870's. Firstly Alice, their eldest daughter marries William MORRILL the local confectioner, on August 7th and produces for her father 2 grandchildren, Martha Alice in 1872 & Mary Elizabeth in 1874. Soon after that she and her family move away from Whitby to Manchester.
Soon after Alice's marriage to William Morrill, Jane Anne, Douglas's wife died:
Whitby Gazette - Saturday 09 September 1871
DEATHS: September 7th, at Ruswarp, aged 42 years, Jane Ann, wife of Mr. Douglas Munroe, optician.
Just wonder how much that affected George Henry Munro:-
In 1874, George Henry, their eldest son gets into trouble with the law. But prior to this he did go to school at St Bartholemew Church of England Primary School in Ruswarp which is still in existence. This what I have found about George's teenage years:
George Henry MUNRO
Whitby Gazette - Saturday 18 April 1874
Whitby Police Court
Remanded: George Henry MUNROE, a lad belonging Ruswarp, was remanded until Saturday on a charge of stealing sacks the property of Joseph Featherstone and the North Eastern Railway. The sacks had been stolen at different times in the last fortnight and sold to a marine store dealer in the town.
Whitby Gazette Saturday May 16 1874
George Henry Munro convicted of receiving stolen goods giving evidence.
SERIOUS CHARGE OF RECEIVING STOLEN GOODS
William GRIER, marine store dealer, Church Street, was placed in the dock on a charge of receiving certain sacks, the property of the North Eastern Railway, knowing the same to be stolen. James Campbell, superintendent of police in service of the company, prosecuted, Mr Dale of York, being the solicitor for the prosecution. Mr. Dotchen watched the case on behalf of prisoner. The case was brought under the notice of the Bench on the 18th of April, when a youth named George Henry Munroe was convicted for stealing sacks from the stable of Joseph Featherstone, at Ruswarp, and the evidence then given was substantially repeated on present occasion. The boy, Munroe, was brought from Northallerton, under a writ of Habeas Corpus, and was in charge of Capt. Gardiner, governor of the gaol. Mr. Dale addressed the Bench at some length in opening the case, and said the evidence would show that is it was the readiness with which Grier bought the first lot of sacks from the boy, without even asking his name or where he obtained them, that led him to steal other sacks. The first witness called was Thomas Winspear, corn factor, Egton, who deposed to receipt of 10 quarters. of corn in 80 sacks belonging the Railway Company at the beginning of March. The sacks were all marked “N.E.R”, said the corn was warehoused at Whitby. He delivered the five of the sacks at three different times to Mr. Featherstone-Joseph Featherstone deposed to having five sacks in his stable, and at the latter end of March he missed them. This was on a Friday, and a few days afterwards he missed some sacks of his own from the stable. It was about 10 days after this that he gave information to the police. One of the sacks was very indistinctly marked, and this he identified. Was in company with police when the sacks were found on Grier's premises on Sunday, the 12th April-George Henry Munroe deposed: Before I went to Northallerton I used to live with my father, Douglas Munroe in Ruswarp. I am 14 years of age. I know Featherstone’s stable. In March last I stole three sacks from that stable. The stable door was not locked; I saw the key just underneath in a little hole. One of these sacks was marked N.E.R. The same day that I stole them, I took the sacks to Wm. Grier’s marine store. I did not know him, had never been in his shop before, and had to enquire where he lived. I saw him and said I had got Some bags, and he said I was to take them out and let him see them. I had two in one bag. He looked at them and said he was not allowed to buy any bags with marks on them. I asked him what they were worth. He said they were not worth a shilling, but he would give me a shilling as it was me. He gave me a shilling and I left the sacks with him. I could see the letters N.E.R. plainly when he looked at that sacks it was about noon. –Three of four days after this I stole three other sacks from the same stable. I unlocked the door taking the key from where I had seen it on the last occasion. In this second lot one or two of the sacks were marked N.E.R.. I cannot say whether there were two marked or only one. I took them to Grier and told him I had got some more sacks. He said, turn them out and I’ll look at them. He showed me the bags I had sold him before, and he said they were rotten and had holes in them. He showed me some holes in the bottom and said they were not worth half the price. He examined the sacks I then brought and said he would give me the same as before. I saw the letters N.E.R. on one of the sacks. He said nothing more, but gave me a shilling, and I left the sacks with him. Witness in nearly the same words, detailed his third robbery of three other sacks and the sale of them to Grier for eight pence. He never stole but three lots of sacks and on none of the three occasions did Grier ask him where he lived or where he had obtained the sacks. Cross Examined by Mr. Dotchon: Prisoner asked me if I knew anyone called Myers, and I said Yes. He never asked where I had got the sacks, and I never told him I had got them from my uncle. I said Myers had bought a piebald Galloway of prisoner, and he replied, Yes, and it was a good one-Supt. Ryder deposed to finding the five sacks produced upon prisoner’s premises, on the 12th April. Prisoner brought three of the sacks from upstairs and said that were all he had bought. On searching the premises he found eight other sacks, a portion of which had been identified by Mr. Featherstone as his property. Two of the sacks were distinctly marked N.E.R, with the year also. The other two were similarly marked but not so distinctly, and one had no mark by which it could be identified. Witness pointed out the marks to the prisoner, and he said he was bad of sight-In reply to Mr Dutchon, witness said prisoner was ready to give him information about the bags he bought down stairs, but he had to find the others..-James Campbell identified the sacks as the property of the Company, and said the sacks were never sold until worn out, when they were being sold by the ton to the manufacturers-On being charged, the prisoner said he would reserve his defence, and asked to call two witnesses.-John Myers, coal leader, was called, and was proceeding to state a conversation had taken place between him and prisoner, when he was stopped by Mr. Dale-John Grier, son of the prisoner, deposed that his father could neither read nor write. The Bench said that they had no alternative but to commit for trial at the Sessions-Mr Dutchon asked for bail, which was granted on his finding two sureties of £25 each.
William Grier's defence was that he couldn't read or write, backed up by his son-this defence worked-
Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough - Friday 03 July 1874
ROBBERY FROM THE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY
William Grier, on bail, was charged with feloniously receiving from George Henry MUNROE, four sacks the property of the North-Easter Railway Company, he the said William GRIER, well knowing the same sacks to have been stolen, at the township of Whitby, on or about the 20th of March last. Mr. Darnbrough prosecuted, and Mr. Skidmore defended. After hearing the case the prisoner was discharged.
ROBBERY FROM THE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY
William Grier, on bail, was charged with feloniously receiving from George Henry MUNROE, four sacks the property of the North-Easter Railway Company, he the said William GRIER, well knowing the same sacks to have been stolen, at the township of Whitby, on or about the 20th of March last. Mr. Darnbrough prosecuted, and Mr. Skidmore defended. After hearing the case the prisoner was discharged.
Makes you wonder doesn't surely he could see there were marks on the bags & could have asked our George what those marks were, but he didn't, so George went and stole some more and William Grier, though prosecuted, was found innocent.
Meanwhile George Henry was sent on remand to Northallerton jail to await the trial of Grier, but after he had given evidence he was sent to a reformatory school in Leeds where this record comes from:
No 390: Admitted July 4 1874
Name: George Hy MUNRO, age 14, Where born, Bishop Auckland, Height: 4-10, Hair Red, Eyes, Brown, Figure: Proportionate. Scars: Cut on Forehead
Schools attended: St Batholomew’s Ruswarp, Whitby
Read: Imp: Write Imp, Cipher: Simple Rules
Where employed: Wm. Burnett, Tailor, Whitby:
Name of Parents: Father: Douglas Munro, Occupation: Optician, Residence: Ruswarp, Whitby.
Other relatives: Brother: William MORRILL, Baker, Raglan Terrace, Whitby, Uncle, John HARLAND, Coalpit Steward, Bishop Auckland.
Offence: Stealing 4 Corn Sacks, where & when committed: Whitby, NR. Police Court 18 April, 1874. Before whom: Chas Richardson & ? Gordon:
Sentence: 42 Days 5 years
Previous Character: 1st Conviction: Wilful Damage: Fine 10/6d
Conduct after Discharge:
December 1st 1879: Living in Middlesbrough, Doing well.: 1880: May 1st Left Middlesbrough & came to live in Hull, E Y, doing well. August: Came to the school, out ? etc.
So George had started work with a William Burnett, a tailor in Whitby, but such a high penalty wasn't, mind you 50 years previously he would have been executed or at least transported to Australia.
So with George Henry, Douglas's son away in Leeds in gaol, and his wife dead, his daughter Hannah died: Whitby Gazette - Saturday 11 March 1876
DEATHS: March 8th, at Ruswarp, aged 6 years, Hannah, daughter of Douglas Munroe, Optician.
York Herald - Monday 12 June 1876
Then Douglas Munro gets married again to an Alice Stonehouse.
MARRIAGES: MUNROE-STONEHOUSE: On the 5th inst.,, at Whitby, Mr. Douglas Munroe, optician, to Alice, daughter of Mr. John Stonehouse, Aislaby
Now here is a puzzling census entry:
1881 Census for Douglas & Charles Munro: Yorkshire, Middlesbrough, District 33
Fleethouse Street, Middlesbrough entry 53
James RICHARDSON, Head, married, 56, Cabinet Maker, born Colne, Lancashire (Deceased brain)
Sarah RICHARDSON, wife, married, 61, Born Colne, Lancashire
James BRIGHT, Lodger, Unmarried, 41, Shoe maker, born Ravensworth, Durham
Charles MUNRO, Lodger, Unmarried, 14, Optician, born Whitby, Yorks
Douglas MUNRO, Lodger, widower, 58, Hawker, born Whitby, Yorks
So young Charles MUNRO is in Middlesbrough with his father Douglas, who is saying he was born in Whitby, when he was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is a widower, but I can't find the death of his wife.
Meanwhile George Henry who did go to Middlesbrough in 1879, but left there on May 1st to go to Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, but then went back to Leeds in the August of 1880. So I can see now why George after he had finished his jail sentence went to see his father for a short while, but then went away again, to Hull. Maybe he went there to see his father's ex-wife Alice,-I can't a death recorded for her even though his father a year later is saying he is a widower. Anyway then George went back to Leeds. Maybe something or someone was pulling him there. I did find the newspaper article about a marriage there which I will check on at Leeds Library.
Leeds Times - Saturday 01 January 1881
MARRIAGES:
MUNRO-AINSWORTH December 27th at St Ann’s Church, Leeds, George Henry MUNRO, gardener to Mary Teresa AINSWORTH, both of Leeds.
Today Saturday 4 March 2017 I went to Leeds Central Library, Family History & Reference Section, and enquired as to whether they had copies of marriages at St Ann's Church, Leeds. I was thinking that the church was a local Anglican Church forgetting that St Ann's in Leeds is currently the Roman Catholic Cathedral. I was given use of a Microfiche reader and a Microfiche of marriages at St Ann's and settled down to search for the above marriage. Sure enough I found it, and had a printout made.
It's in Latin script, never gave it a thought that one of them was Roman Catholic.
The record reads: Year 1880, 27 December (by Jacobus Gordo-maybe priest's name as it is repeated on all of them.) George Henricum Munroe, of Long Row, Horsforth son of Douglas Munroe & Maria Theresa Ainsworth of Long Row, Horsforth, daughter of Joannis Ainsworth, witnessed by Joseph Banton of Camp Field, Leeds & Dora Mckenzie of Cookridge St., Leeds.
Jacobus W Canarious Gordon, Leeds ?
So the important and useful pieces of information confirm that both George & his wife Marie Theresa live at Long Row, Horsforth, it confirms their parents.
So this this our George Henry in the 1881 census for George Henry MUNRO
Yorkshire Horsforth District 5
Lane Head: Entry 115: George Hy MUNRO, Married, 22, Gardener, born Scotland (crossed through), Wick
Mary G MUNRO, wife, Married, 23, Born Chester, Cheshire
George Henry has lied about his place of birth-he wasn't born in Scotland, but as we know in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. His wife, Mary says she was born in Chester, but other census says it was Flint. Nevertheless it's good that I have been able to verify their whereabouts in 1881.
Meanwhile, in Middlesbrough, Charles and Douglas Munro, are still in the same household as lodgers in the 1891 Census
1891 Census for Richard & Douglas Munro
Durham, Stockton-on-Tees, District 43
Entry-134, 135, 136, 30 Thistle Green,
Douglas MUNROE, Lodger, widower, 70, Licensed Hawker, born Scotland
Charles MUNROE, Lodger, Single, 21, Licensed Hawker, born Middlesbro, Yorkshire
Both are classed as hawkers. In fact in 1871 there was a Pedlar's Act, and a hawker was described as this:
A Pedlar is defined as "... any hawker, pedlar, petty chapman, tinker, caster of metals, mender of
chairs or other person who, without any horse of other beast bearing or drawing burden, travels
and trades on foot and goes from town to town or to other men's houses carrying to sell or
exposing for sale any goods, wares or merchandise, or procuring orders for goods, wares or
merchandise immediately to be delivered, or selling or offering for sale his skill in handicraft."
So with Douglas and his son both having optician skills maybe they used them to travel around the area selling that skill to the local people. Douglas eventually died on 25 June 1899 at Thorpe |Street, Stockton on Tees and was buried in Stockton-on Tees Cemetery. This meant that Charles was free to marry and did so in the January quarter of 1900 Florence Hampton, born in Darlington. So in the census of 1901,
1901 Census for Charles Edward MUNROE
Thorpe St: No 6 Terrace:
Charles MUNROE, Head, Married, 33, Optician in his own business, born Whitby, Yorkshire
Mrs E. MUNROE, wife, Married, 23, born Darlington County Durham
Me Hampton, Sister-in-law, 11, Born Stockton, Durham
L. Hampton, Sister-in-law, 13, born Stockton, Durham
Ada Hampton, Sister-in-law, 18, Born Stockton, Durham
Wardle SMITH, visitor, 5, Born Stockton, Durham
Fonder Jan Van Mill, Visitor, , 27, Market Salesman, Born Holland a British Subject..
Meanwhile let's get back to the Morrill family, yes defintely MORRILL as opposed to Morrell, I keep doing searches and Morrill makes a better search.
By 1891, in the Morrill family, where Alice formerly Munro was mum and William Henry was dad, William Henry had died in 1887, but i can't find the family in 1891 Census, certainly by the 1901 census some of the people were married.
I did do a search on Free BMD using the surname MORRILL and Chorlton as the Registration area.
Marriages Jun 1896 (>99%)
Morrill Lily Chorlton 8c 1341 Scan available - click to view
Marriages Jun 1901 (>99%)
MORRILL Douglas Henry Chorlton 8c 1454 Scan available - click to view
Marriages Sep 1904 (>99%)
Morrill Martha Alice Chorlton 8c 1404 Scan available - click to view
Marriages Dec 1905 (>99%)
MORRILL William Bertie Chorlton 8c 1388 Scan available - click to view
1901 Marriage Solemnized at the Parish Church of St Paul's Hulme, Manchester.
Register No. 447: June 8 1901, Douglas Henry MORRILL, 24, Bachelor, Confectioner, 25 Walnut St, son of William MORRILL, Confectioner & Florence JONES, 24, spinster, Umbrella Finisher, of 25, Walnut St, Daughter of Thomas JONES, Furniture Dealer were married in this church by Banns, by me Hubert James Bushby, in presence of George JONES & Martha Alice MORRILL.
On 29 May, 1902, their first child, Florence, was christened at Hulme St Paul, Church-the record gives her birthdate as 13 May 1902, christened on 28 May 1902, her father Douglas Henry being a confectioner, and the family then living at 9 Sadler Street Clayton Street.
On August 7, 1910, Nora MORRILL was christened at Hulme St Paul church, where her parents married in 1901. The family were then living at 121 Moorside Road, Flixton, which is now in Urmston,Lancashire, and that her father Douglas Henry was a confectioner. The record states she was born on July 16 1910. The source is Hulme St Paul baptisms on Ancestry.
William Bertie MORRILL married in the December quarter of 1905 to Emma Jane ALLEN, those two who witnessed Martha Morrill's wedding in 1904.His marriage and that of Lily MORRILL are not on Ancestry in detail. Maybe they married in a register office or a Methodist Church.
Their first born child was William Henry MORRILL, born 6 November 1906 & christened at Hulme St Paul 19 November 1906. His family were then living at 12 Daisy Street, Hulme, and his father, Bertie was a man in a brewery.
Meanwhile, in Middlesbrough, Charles and Douglas Munro, are still in the same household as lodgers in the 1891 Census
1891 Census for Richard & Douglas Munro
Durham, Stockton-on-Tees, District 43
Entry-134, 135, 136, 30 Thistle Green,
Douglas MUNROE, Lodger, widower, 70, Licensed Hawker, born Scotland
Charles MUNROE, Lodger, Single, 21, Licensed Hawker, born Middlesbro, Yorkshire
Both are classed as hawkers. In fact in 1871 there was a Pedlar's Act, and a hawker was described as this:
A Pedlar is defined as "... any hawker, pedlar, petty chapman, tinker, caster of metals, mender of
chairs or other person who, without any horse of other beast bearing or drawing burden, travels
and trades on foot and goes from town to town or to other men's houses carrying to sell or
exposing for sale any goods, wares or merchandise, or procuring orders for goods, wares or
merchandise immediately to be delivered, or selling or offering for sale his skill in handicraft."
So with Douglas and his son both having optician skills maybe they used them to travel around the area selling that skill to the local people. Douglas eventually died on 25 June 1899 at Thorpe |Street, Stockton on Tees and was buried in Stockton-on Tees Cemetery. This meant that Charles was free to marry and did so in the January quarter of 1900 Florence Hampton, born in Darlington. So in the census of 1901,
1901 Census for Charles Edward MUNROE
Thorpe St: No 6 Terrace:
Charles MUNROE, Head, Married, 33, Optician in his own business, born Whitby, Yorkshire
Mrs E. MUNROE, wife, Married, 23, born Darlington County Durham
Me Hampton, Sister-in-law, 11, Born Stockton, Durham
L. Hampton, Sister-in-law, 13, born Stockton, Durham
Ada Hampton, Sister-in-law, 18, Born Stockton, Durham
Wardle SMITH, visitor, 5, Born Stockton, Durham
Fonder Jan Van Mill, Visitor, , 27, Market Salesman, Born Holland a British Subject..
Meanwhile let's get back to the Morrill family, yes defintely MORRILL as opposed to Morrell, I keep doing searches and Morrill makes a better search.
By 1891, in the Morrill family, where Alice formerly Munro was mum and William Henry was dad, William Henry had died in 1887, but i can't find the family in 1891 Census, certainly by the 1901 census some of the people were married.
I did do a search on Free BMD using the surname MORRILL and Chorlton as the Registration area.
Marriages Jun 1896 (>99%)
Morrill Lily Chorlton 8c 1341 Scan available - click to view
Marriages Jun 1901 (>99%)
MORRILL Douglas Henry Chorlton 8c 1454 Scan available - click to view
Marriages Sep 1904 (>99%)
Morrill Martha Alice Chorlton 8c 1404 Scan available - click to view
Marriages Dec 1905 (>99%)
MORRILL William Bertie Chorlton 8c 1388 Scan available - click to view
I also looked on the 1901 census to find this family-by then both parents are deceased, William in 1887 & Alice in 1896.
1901 Census MORRILL_Lancashire, South Manchester, Hulme, District 35
John H. JONES, Head, married, 28, Railway Clerk, worker, born Manchester.
Sarah G JONES, wife, married, 32, Born Manchester
Ada JONES, daughter, 4, Born Manchester
Filly JONES, daughter, 10 months, Born Manchester
George H JONES, Brother, Single, 22, Bottler Cellar Ales & Stout, Born Manchester
Minnie MORRILL, Boarder, Single, 27, Confectioner, Maker of ? Born Whitby, Yorks.
Douglas H. MORRILL, Boarder, Single, 24, Confectioner, maker of ?, Born Hulme, Manchester
William B. MORRILL, Boarder, single, 20, Cellar Bottler, ales & stout, Born Hulme, Manchester.
So you notice here that you can recognise Douglas H MORRILL & William B. MORRILL, but I did puzzle at first with Minnie MORRILL, until I looked back at the 1881 Census and saw Martha A. MORRELL or MORRILL, & then I looked at those marriages above and saw a marriage for Martha Alice MORRILL. Also notice that all the MORRILL children are living with a family called JONES, so I was quite pleased when I found this marriage.
1904 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church, of St Paul, Hulme, in Lancashire.
No. 45: August 1st 1904, George Rowarth JONES, 26, Bachelor, Ale & Porter Stores, of 47, Walnut Street, son of James William JONES, a warehouseman & Martha Alice MORRILL, 31, Spinster, Maker up, of 199, Warde St, daughter of William Henry MORRILL, Confectioner, deceased were married in the Parish Church by Banns by B. Trueman Rylands in presence of William Bertie MORRILL & Emma Jane ALLEN.
So wasn't I pleased with this marriage record-William Bertie MORRILL on it as well with his future wife as witnesses, and the record gives me encouragement when I saw that Lily MORRILL was in the record above married in Chorlton in 1896.
Sadly, Martha Alice died in 1908, in the June quarter.
Douglas Henry MORRILL married in September quarter of 1901:
Register No. 447: June 8 1901, Douglas Henry MORRILL, 24, Bachelor, Confectioner, 25 Walnut St, son of William MORRILL, Confectioner & Florence JONES, 24, spinster, Umbrella Finisher, of 25, Walnut St, Daughter of Thomas JONES, Furniture Dealer were married in this church by Banns, by me Hubert James Bushby, in presence of George JONES & Martha Alice MORRILL.
On 29 May, 1902, their first child, Florence, was christened at Hulme St Paul, Church-the record gives her birthdate as 13 May 1902, christened on 28 May 1902, her father Douglas Henry being a confectioner, and the family then living at 9 Sadler Street Clayton Street.
On August 7, 1910, Nora MORRILL was christened at Hulme St Paul church, where her parents married in 1901. The family were then living at 121 Moorside Road, Flixton, which is now in Urmston,Lancashire, and that her father Douglas Henry was a confectioner. The record states she was born on July 16 1910. The source is Hulme St Paul baptisms on Ancestry.
Their first born child was William Henry MORRILL, born 6 November 1906 & christened at Hulme St Paul 19 November 1906. His family were then living at 12 Daisy Street, Hulme, and his father, Bertie was a man in a brewery.
Their second child, a daughter, called Lucy Marion was born 8 March 1910 and christened at Hulme St Paul Church on 6 April, 1910. Bertie MORRILL is shown as employed as a bottler, and the family live at 14 Cauldon Grove or is Camden Grove as it is in 1911 Census.
1911 Census for William Bertie MORRILL & family in Hulme, South Manchester, District 29
1. William Bertie MORRILL, Head, 30, Married, 5 years, Beer Bottler, Worker, Born Hulme, Manchester.
2. Emma Jane MORRILL, Wife, 26, Married for 5 years, with 3 children born alive but 1 has died and 2 still living, born Cheadle, Lancashire.
3. William Henry MORRILL, son, 4, Born Hulme, Lancashire
4. Lucy Marion MORRILL, Daughter, 1 year, Born Hulme, Lancashire all living at 8 Camden Grove, Hulme, Manchester.
William Henry MORRILL married Elsie PLUMB on July 26 1930 at St Mark's Parish Church, Gorton, Manchester.
The record reads: 1930 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church, Saint Mark, Gorton, Lancashire.
Register Number: 366: July 26th 1930, William Henry MORRILL, 23, Bachelor, Spindle maker, of 11, Pollit Place, Gorton, son of William Bertie MORRILL, Labourer & Elsie PLUMB, 23, Spinster, Dress Finisher, of 9 Pollitt Place, Gorton, daughter of John PLUMB, Tin Case Maker, married by Banns by R J Newell, Rector in presence of John Lawrence & Florence Plumb.
Elsie was born 28 December 1906, and christened at Hulme St George on 16 January 1907, as daughter of John Plum, of 3, Hurlbutt St, Tincase Maker and Victoria GALLEY of St Margarets Whalley Bridge.
There is this record on Ancestry:
Outward Passenger List for William & Elsie MORRILL on Board ship called “Washington” from Southampton on 8 May 1948 bound for New York.
107995: William MORRILL, of 25, Cedars Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, Engineer, age 41, Going to USA
Elsie MORRILL, &same address), H’wife, 41, Going to USA
Elsie MORRILL, same address, Student, age 16, Going to USA
John MORRILL, same address, 4 years, going to USA
So today, 6 March, 2017, having received from GRO, a copy of the marriage record of Robert DIXON and Lily MORRILL I am reminded that Elizabeth is often shortened as Lily bet! Just to remind you this is that marriage record which is now going to send me off in a different direction to find a Robert DIXON.
Certified Copy of Marriage Given at General Record Office, Application 8087857/1
1896 Marriage Solemnized at the Register Office, in the District of Chorlton, in the Counties of Manchester & Lancaster.
No. 30: 18 April, 1896, Robert DIXON, 28 years, Bachelor, Miner, of 9, Galloway Street, HULME, son of Arthur DIXON,Milk Dealer, deceased & Lily MORRILL, 22 years, Spinster, of 17, Newcastle St, Hulme, daughter of William Henry MORRILL, deceased, Confectioner. Were married in the Register Office by Certificate before me, James Bloomfield, Registar & David S. Bloomfield, Supt Registrar.
Robert DIXON & Lily MORRILL signed certificate, in presence of Henry WOODHOUSE & Florence MORRILL.
Looking at the names on this marriage record and now have to research them too, well some I have done already.
Robert DIXON, miner-well that usually means coal miner but in the 1911 Census it says Clay Miner. On his wedding day, in 1896, Robert says he was 28, so born 1868, but on the 1911 Census 15 years later as above he says he was 50, when he would have been 43, but if he was 50 in 1911, he would have been born in 1861. All very confusing. Just wonder how old his family said when he died. He gives his father as Arthur DIXON, a milk dealer, who on his wedding day was deceased. In that 1911 Census, Robert says he was born in Durham, and looking at the other members of the family places of birth are given as towns, not counties, and some with town & county, so I am thinking that Robert was born in Durham City as opposed to a place in County Durham.
Then as above I found these christening/baptism records for William Robert MORRILL & Lily MORRILL plus marriage of Lily MORRILL to a Norman SMITH.
1, William Robert DIXON
Born March 15, 1897, Christened at Hulme St Philip on 18 April, 1897, William Robert, son of Robert & Mary DIXON, of 17, Newcastle Street, Hulme, Miner, by Rev. Bailey, Rector. Note that when Robert & Lily DIXON married, Lily gave her address as 17, Newcastle Street, Hulme. But also note that Robert's wife on both the christenings above is called Mary & Mary Elizabeth confirming that Mary Elizabeth also called herself Lily!!
2. Lily DIXON
Born June 24 1902, christened at Hulme St Paul on July 9, 1902, Lilly, daughter of Robert & Mary Elizabeth DIXON, of 9 Sadler Street, Miner, by H J Bushley
Now that's another co-incidence, 9, Sadler Street, in 1902, was also the address where Douglas Henry MORRILL was living when his & his wife Florence had their daughter Florence christened at the the same church of Hulme St Paul. (Remember this record-On 29 May, 1902, their first child, Florence, was christened at Hulme St Paul, Church-the record gives her birthdate as 13 May 1902, christened on 28 May 1902, her father Douglas Henry being a confectioner, and the family then living at 9 Sadler Street Clayton Street.
I think that this is another clue to show that Lily MORRILL who married Robert DIXON is the sister of Douglas Henry MORRILL & William Bertie MORRILL and Victoria Florence, Martha Alice & Edith.
Lily MORRILL marriage to Norman SMITH-shows that Robert and excavator was dead when she and Norman married in 1925.
1925 Marriage solemnized at Higher Broughton Chapel, Great Cheetham Street, Broughton, in the District of Salford, In the County of Lancaster & Salford C. B.
Entry 22. August 1st 1925, Norman SMITH, 25 years, Bachelor, Boot & Shoe maker, Journeyman, of 13, Bradshaw Street, Higher Broughton, son of John Smith, Painter & Decorator & Lily DIXON, 23 years, Spinster, Cloth Caps Cutter, of 90, Marlborough Rd, Higher Broughton, daughter of Robert DIXON, Excavator (deceased) were married in the Higher Broughton Chapel, according to the Rites & Ceremonies of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, by Certificate, witnessed by Leonard SMITH & Emily DIXON.
So Lily did get married to a Norman Smith & her sister Emily witnessed it.
So using the information on this marriage record I can search for information about Norman SMITH-a common surname.
Boot & Shoe maker, Journeyman, of 13, Bradshaw Street, Higher Broughton, son of John Smith, Painter & Decorator
2. Lily DIXON
Born June 24 1902, christened at Hulme St Paul on July 9, 1902, Lilly, daughter of Robert & Mary Elizabeth DIXON, of 9 Sadler Street, Miner, by H J Bushley
Now that's another co-incidence, 9, Sadler Street, in 1902, was also the address where Douglas Henry MORRILL was living when his & his wife Florence had their daughter Florence christened at the the same church of Hulme St Paul. (Remember this record-On 29 May, 1902, their first child, Florence, was christened at Hulme St Paul, Church-the record gives her birthdate as 13 May 1902, christened on 28 May 1902, her father Douglas Henry being a confectioner, and the family then living at 9 Sadler Street Clayton Street.
I think that this is another clue to show that Lily MORRILL who married Robert DIXON is the sister of Douglas Henry MORRILL & William Bertie MORRILL and Victoria Florence, Martha Alice & Edith.
Lily MORRILL marriage to Norman SMITH-shows that Robert and excavator was dead when she and Norman married in 1925.
1925 Marriage solemnized at Higher Broughton Chapel, Great Cheetham Street, Broughton, in the District of Salford, In the County of Lancaster & Salford C. B.
Entry 22. August 1st 1925, Norman SMITH, 25 years, Bachelor, Boot & Shoe maker, Journeyman, of 13, Bradshaw Street, Higher Broughton, son of John Smith, Painter & Decorator & Lily DIXON, 23 years, Spinster, Cloth Caps Cutter, of 90, Marlborough Rd, Higher Broughton, daughter of Robert DIXON, Excavator (deceased) were married in the Higher Broughton Chapel, according to the Rites & Ceremonies of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, by Certificate, witnessed by Leonard SMITH & Emily DIXON.
So Lily did get married to a Norman Smith & her sister Emily witnessed it.
So using the information on this marriage record I can search for information about Norman SMITH-a common surname.
Boot & Shoe maker, Journeyman, of 13, Bradshaw Street, Higher Broughton, son of John Smith, Painter & Decorator
1901 Census for Norman SMITH (husband of Lily DIXON, born 1902)
Lancashire, Broughton, District 31
Dudley Street, entry 49, Number 94:
John SMITH, Head, Married, 37, House Painter Journeyman, worker, born Scotland
Alice SMITH, wife, Married, 31, Born Tipton, Staffordshire
Harold SMITH, son, Single, 14, House Painter apprentice, Worker, born Salford, Lancs.
Norman SMITH, Son, Single, 1, Born Salford, Lancs.
Stewart SMITH, brother, Single, 28, House Painter, journeyman, worker, born Liverpool, Lancs.
10 years later, Norman is at school and there are some more members in the family.
1911 census for Norman SMITH (husband of Lily DIXON born 1902).
Address: 338, Hornby St, Bury, Lancashire.
John SMITH, head, 46, married, for 12 years, with 5 children, all survived birth, House Painter, Worker, born Perth, Scotland, British Subject
Alice SMITH, Wife, 41, Married for 12 years with 5 children, all survived birth, born Ocker Hill, Staffordshire.
Norman SMITH, son, 11, at School, born Higher Broughton, Lancs.
Doris SMITH, daughter, 8, Born Higher Broughton, Lancs
Leonard SMITH, son, 6, Born Higher Broughton, Lancs
Stanley SMITH, son, 4, Born Higher Broughton, Lancs
Edith SMITH, daughter, 1, born Bury, Lancs.
Leonard SMITH aged 6, is the witness to his marriage to Lily. I think that John Smith married twice, because that son Harold, is 13 years older than young Norman SMITH.
Yes in the 1891 census,
1891 Census Lancashire Salford, Greengate, District 3:
Entry: 217, 19, Temperance Street:
John SMITH, Head, Married, 26, Decorator, Born Scotland
Elizabeth SMITH, wife, Married, 24, Born Salford, Lancs.
Lillian SMITH, Daughter, Single, 6, Scholar, Born Salford, Lancs
Harold SMITH, son, Single, 4, Born Salford, Lancs.
John has married a lady called Elizabeth, sometime before 1885, when their daughter Lillian was born in Salford-she isn't with the family 10 and 20 years later is she? So Elizabeth SMITH must have died before 1899, because that was when Norman was born.
So anymore clues & stories this Robert DIXON, who is in the census of 1911, but not there in 1871-1901. Certainly from that marriage of Norman SMITH & Lily DIXON, Robert was dead in 1925. The information I have received states that Robert Dixon died on 22 April, 1922, and buried 27 April, 1922.
On Free BMD, there is this record: Deaths Jun 1922 Dixon, Robert aged 54, Salford, 8d, 96.
So if he was 54 years old in 1922, then he was born about 1868, which ties in with that marriage record to Lily MORRILL. Well there is this birth: Births Mar 1868 , DIXON, Robert, Durham, 10a 364.
Hooray, thanks to Roots.com I have found our Dixon family in the 1901 Census. This is the entry:
1901 Census for Robert DIXON
Lancashire, North Manchester, Newton, District 02
Entry 149, 14, Leamington Street
Robert DIXON, head, Married, 34, Miner of Sewers, worker, born Durham, County of Durham
Mary E. DIXON, married, 26, Born Whitby, Yorkshire
William DIXON, Son, 4, Born Manchester, Lancs.
Edith DIXON, daughter, 1, Born Stockport, Cheshire.
Also, in the 1911 Census, the 1911 Census does not ask the gender breakdown of the children.
It asks
1) How many "children born alive to this present marriage"
2) How many are still living?
3) How many have (since) died?
So it would seem to me, that they have answered she had 8 children born alive; 4 are still alive and 4 have died.From the GRO indexes, the 8 children may be these 8 - all with mms indexed as MORRILL:
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp
1: 1897: William Robert - reg. Chorlton
2: 1898: Martha Alice - reg. D Qtr Stockport 08A / 84
3: 1898: Victoria Florence - reg. D Qtr Stockport 08A / 84
4: 1900: Edith Frances - reg. Stockport
5: 1902: Lily - reg. Chorlton
6: 1905: Emily Maud - reg. Salford
7: 1907: Thomas Henry - reg. Salford
8: 1910: Douglas Henry - reg. Salford
9. December 1912: Edward Reg: Salford
10.March 1914: Frederick: Reg: Salford.
Looks like the 4 deceased were 3 girls (including twins) and 1 boy. The GRO also seems to show:9th child born 1912, Edward, 10th child born 1914, Frederick. So the children who died were the twin girls, Victoria Florence & Martha Alice, both born in March Quarter of 1898 but died a year later in the March quarter of 1899. The other child who died was Edith Frances, who we can see with the family in April, 1901, but by September quarter of that year she has died. Their son Thomas Henry, born to them in 1907, dies in the March quarter of 1908, not yet a year old, but he dies in the Prestwich Registration area which includes Blackley & Newton Heath, Manchester.
Robert Dixon was buried 27 April, 1922 in the Non Conformist section of Southern Cemetery grave reference Southern Cemetery KNon Conformist Grave 2163 position 1 Robert Dixon-Apparently his wife Lily/Mary Elizabeth was buried there in 1947 when she died so much later on.
So what is the evidence that Robert was the forename of the father of Douglas Henry DIXON?
1. On his wedding day to Lily MORRILL, he records his name ROBERT on the marriage record, not William ROBERT:
896 Marriage Solemnized at the Register Office, in the District of Chorlton, in the Counties of Manchester & Lancaster.
No. 30: 18 April, 1896, Robert DIXON, 28 years, Bachelor, Miner, of 9, Galloway Street,
2. When their first child William Robert is christened he records his forename as ROBERT DIXON.
3. When Lily, their second child was christened he records his forename as Robert DIXON.
Dudley Street, entry 49, Number 94:
John SMITH, Head, Married, 37, House Painter Journeyman, worker, born Scotland
Alice SMITH, wife, Married, 31, Born Tipton, Staffordshire
Harold SMITH, son, Single, 14, House Painter apprentice, Worker, born Salford, Lancs.
Norman SMITH, Son, Single, 1, Born Salford, Lancs.
Stewart SMITH, brother, Single, 28, House Painter, journeyman, worker, born Liverpool, Lancs.
10 years later, Norman is at school and there are some more members in the family.
1911 census for Norman SMITH (husband of Lily DIXON born 1902).
Address: 338, Hornby St, Bury, Lancashire.
John SMITH, head, 46, married, for 12 years, with 5 children, all survived birth, House Painter, Worker, born Perth, Scotland, British Subject
Alice SMITH, Wife, 41, Married for 12 years with 5 children, all survived birth, born Ocker Hill, Staffordshire.
Norman SMITH, son, 11, at School, born Higher Broughton, Lancs.
Doris SMITH, daughter, 8, Born Higher Broughton, Lancs
Leonard SMITH, son, 6, Born Higher Broughton, Lancs
Stanley SMITH, son, 4, Born Higher Broughton, Lancs
Edith SMITH, daughter, 1, born Bury, Lancs.
Leonard SMITH aged 6, is the witness to his marriage to Lily. I think that John Smith married twice, because that son Harold, is 13 years older than young Norman SMITH.
Yes in the 1891 census,
1891 Census Lancashire Salford, Greengate, District 3:
Entry: 217, 19, Temperance Street:
John SMITH, Head, Married, 26, Decorator, Born Scotland
Elizabeth SMITH, wife, Married, 24, Born Salford, Lancs.
Lillian SMITH, Daughter, Single, 6, Scholar, Born Salford, Lancs
Harold SMITH, son, Single, 4, Born Salford, Lancs.
John has married a lady called Elizabeth, sometime before 1885, when their daughter Lillian was born in Salford-she isn't with the family 10 and 20 years later is she? So Elizabeth SMITH must have died before 1899, because that was when Norman was born.
So anymore clues & stories this Robert DIXON, who is in the census of 1911, but not there in 1871-1901. Certainly from that marriage of Norman SMITH & Lily DIXON, Robert was dead in 1925. The information I have received states that Robert Dixon died on 22 April, 1922, and buried 27 April, 1922.
On Free BMD, there is this record: Deaths Jun 1922 Dixon, Robert aged 54, Salford, 8d, 96.
So if he was 54 years old in 1922, then he was born about 1868, which ties in with that marriage record to Lily MORRILL. Well there is this birth: Births Mar 1868 , DIXON, Robert, Durham, 10a 364.
Hooray, thanks to Roots.com I have found our Dixon family in the 1901 Census. This is the entry:
1901 Census for Robert DIXON
Lancashire, North Manchester, Newton, District 02
Entry 149, 14, Leamington Street
Robert DIXON, head, Married, 34, Miner of Sewers, worker, born Durham, County of Durham
Mary E. DIXON, married, 26, Born Whitby, Yorkshire
William DIXON, Son, 4, Born Manchester, Lancs.
Edith DIXON, daughter, 1, Born Stockport, Cheshire.
Also, in the 1911 Census, the 1911 Census does not ask the gender breakdown of the children.
It asks
1) How many "children born alive to this present marriage"
2) How many are still living?
3) How many have (since) died?
So it would seem to me, that they have answered she had 8 children born alive; 4 are still alive and 4 have died.From the GRO indexes, the 8 children may be these 8 - all with mms indexed as MORRILL:
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp
1: 1897: William Robert - reg. Chorlton
2: 1898: Martha Alice - reg. D Qtr Stockport 08A / 84
3: 1898: Victoria Florence - reg. D Qtr Stockport 08A / 84
4: 1900: Edith Frances - reg. Stockport
5: 1902: Lily - reg. Chorlton
6: 1905: Emily Maud - reg. Salford
7: 1907: Thomas Henry - reg. Salford
8: 1910: Douglas Henry - reg. Salford
9. December 1912: Edward Reg: Salford
10.March 1914: Frederick: Reg: Salford.
Looks like the 4 deceased were 3 girls (including twins) and 1 boy. The GRO also seems to show:9th child born 1912, Edward, 10th child born 1914, Frederick. So the children who died were the twin girls, Victoria Florence & Martha Alice, both born in March Quarter of 1898 but died a year later in the March quarter of 1899. The other child who died was Edith Frances, who we can see with the family in April, 1901, but by September quarter of that year she has died. Their son Thomas Henry, born to them in 1907, dies in the March quarter of 1908, not yet a year old, but he dies in the Prestwich Registration area which includes Blackley & Newton Heath, Manchester.
Robert Dixon was buried 27 April, 1922 in the Non Conformist section of Southern Cemetery grave reference Southern Cemetery KNon Conformist Grave 2163 position 1 Robert Dixon-Apparently his wife Lily/Mary Elizabeth was buried there in 1947 when she died so much later on.
Robert DIXON, Died 23rd April, 1927 aged 54 years, Mary E. DIXON, Died 30th November 1947.
My information above is certainly at odds with the inscription above, but searching for a death of a Robert Dixon in Salford Registration District in 1927 proves negative, so I do wonder if the inscription is wrong. I have recently contacted the daughter of Douglas Henry DIXON, him born in 1910, and not on the census of 1911 as Douglas Henry but as William Henry. However, both free BMD and this gravestone both say he was 54 when he died, so born about 1868, not 1861 which it says in the 1911 census, well it said he was 50 years of age at the time of the census.
The record of birth of Douglas Henry DIXON shows this:
1910 Birth in Salford Registration Area in sub-district of Broughton in the County of Lancaster.
No. 476: 19 February 1910 at 124 Walnut Street, Broughton, Douglas Henry, son of Robert DIXON and Mary Elizabeth DIXON formerly MORRILL. Robert Dixon's occupation is an excavator & Mary Elizabeth DIXON goes to the registration & births & deaths office and registers the birth on April 1, 1910, that's almost 6 weeks later. Clearly someone wanted a copy of this record on 21 September 1945. So this record proves that Mary Elizabeth MORRILL was the wife of Robert DIXON and that her maiden surname was spelt MORRILL not MORRELL, so she did use the name Lily to marry Robert in 1896, but on birth & baptism records reverts to her birth name of Mary Elizabeth. She would have known her husband Robert a lot longer than Douglas Henry when he marries, knew his father who died in 1922 when Douglas was 12. The family were living in 124, Walnut Street, Broughton at the time of the 1911 Census, so again more proof that I have the right family. This is where documentary evidence-certificates are so useful and important when researching family history.
So what is the evidence that Robert was the forename of the father of Douglas Henry DIXON?
1. On his wedding day to Lily MORRILL, he records his name ROBERT on the marriage record, not William ROBERT:
No. 30: 18 April, 1896, Robert DIXON, 28 years, Bachelor, Miner, of 9, Galloway Street,
2. When their first child William Robert is christened he records his forename as ROBERT DIXON.
3. When Lily, their second child was christened he records his forename as Robert DIXON.
4. When his daughter Lily married Norman Smith in 1925, she puts the name Robert DIXON as her father's forename.
5. When his death is recorded in 1922, his name ROBERT Dixon is put on the record, and on the gravestone. Deaths Jun 1922
| Dixon | Robert | 54 | Salford | 8d | 96 |
Okay it's always possible that he was named as William Robert or Robert William, and christened that as well, but didn't like the name William so didn't use it himself. The trouble is without that record we wont know for sure.
