The Curious Case of Elijah Westwell: A Mare, a Fair, and a Tangle of Excuses

In the summer of 1897, the usually unremarkable life of Elijah Westwell, a 51‑year‑old labourer from Oswaldtwistle, took a dramatic turn that would land him in newspapers across Lancashire and ultimately before the judges of the Liverpool Assizes. What began as a simple errand to help a neighbour ended in accusations of theft, claims of drugging, and a courtroom drama that reveals much about working‑class life, horse fairs, and the social tensions of the period.

Trusted with a Mare
The story began when Richard Taylor, a farmer of Oswaldtwistle, entrusted Westwell with a mare belonging to James Whittaker. Taylor was acting on Whittaker’s behalf and asked Westwell to take the animal to the Blackburn Fair—a bustling, noisy, and often chaotic event where horses changed hands quickly and not always honestly.

Taylor later testified that he saw the mare safely stabled in Blackburn. But when he returned to check on her, both the horse and Westwell had vanished.

A warrant was issued, and Westwell was soon arrested in Accrington by Detective Lofthouse.

A Tangle of Explanations
When brought before the Blackburn Borough Police Court, Westwell offered a defence that shifted with each retelling.

In one version, he claimed Taylor had given him permission to sell the mare for £10. In another, he said he met a group of gipsies who offered him £3—an offer he supposedly refused. According to Westwell, the gipsies then treated him to a drink, after which he remembered nothing. “The gipsies must have put something in my beer,” he insisted.

But the facts told a different story.

Multiple reports stated that Westwell had taken the mare from the stable during the afternoon and sold her for £3 10s, despite her true value being around £12. Whether he was drunk, drugged, or simply opportunistic, the sale was made without any authority.

Committed for Trial
The Blackburn bench was unconvinced by his shifting explanations. Westwell was committed for trial at the Liverpool Assizes, where the case was presented more starkly: a trusted labourer had taken advantage of his position and sold a valuable mare for a fraction of its worth.

At the Assizes, the prosecution laid out the evidence plainly. Taylor had entrusted Westwell with the mare. Westwell had removed her from the stable. He had sold her to a gipsy for a suspiciously low sum. And he had no permission to sell her at all.

The jury took little time to reach a verdict: guilty.

A Harsh Sentence for a Familiar Offence
The judge noted that Westwell had “a bad record,” suggesting this was not his first brush with the law. For this offence, he was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour—a severe but not uncommon punishment for working‑class offenders in Victorian Lancashire.

X00379 Nancy Rothwell after 1841

I had previously talked about finding Nancy Rothwell's birth information. Aside from her birth information, however, I had only found her in the 1841 census and nothing beyond that.

Ancestry hints suggested a marriage record, which turned out to be a marriage record between a Nancy Hacking and a James Hindle.

No age is given, which doesn't help identify to see if this is the right person. The only witness to the marriage appears to be from the Hindle side, which doesn't help. As well, there are some questionable details.

For one thing, her name is given as Nancy Hacking, which could mean that she went by her mother's name, which might make some sense, given that she was likely born out of wedlock.

As well, her father's name is listed as "Benjamin Farrar". This doesn't help in identify her as the correct Nancy, but it does lean to someone who was born out of wedlock, as the surname doesn't match and the marriage record does not indicate that she had a prior marriage. If this is the correct Nancy, it would shed some light on who her biological father is.

The location doesn't help in making any identifications either, as I haven't found any other connections to Bury, Lancashire at this point.

So, there isn't a whole lot of definite proof that the Nancy in the marriage record is the correct one, other than the name fitting.

But I had a look to see if I could find more records about the family and I managed to find them in the 1851 census.

In the 1851 census, they are living next door to Henry Rothwell and Alice Hacking and family, which would be too much of a coincidence for them not to be connected.

So, now having identified the correct Nancy in the marriage record, we now have found her up to 1851. Of course, we still have the question of what happened after 1851. I have not been able to definitely find the family in later census years, or in any death records. Plus, there is now the new question of who was Benjamin Farrar?

Next Steps:

• Continue looking for family members in the later census records
• Continue looking for death records for either Nancy or James Hindle
• Look for the children found in the 1851 census (Alice and Richard) in later records

The Taylor-Rothwell Family of Blackburn, Lancashire

The Taylor-Rothwell Family of Blackburn, Lancashire

The story of James Taylor and Alice Ann Rothwell is one of industrious lives, early love, and enduring legacy in the heart of Blackburn, Lancashire. Their journey, though marked by hardship, laid the foundation for generations to come.

James Taylor & Alice Ann Rothwell
James Taylor was born on 30 September 1845 in Blackburn, Lancashire, to John Taylor and Jane Whittle【James Taylor: 1,7】. Baptized at St. Mary the Virgin Church on 23 November 1845【James Taylor: 1】, James grew up in a working-class household and began his career as a cotton weaver before becoming a blacksmith’s striker and eventually a cabinet maker【James Taylor: 3,5,27】.

Alice Ann Rothwell was born on 11 November 1844 in Blackburn to Henry Rothwell and Alice Hacking【Alice Ann Rothwell: 1,4】. Baptized at Saint Mary’s Church on 23 February 1845【Alice Ann Rothwell: 3】, she worked as a throstle spinner and later as a cotton weaver’s wife【Alice Ann Rothwell: 5,10】.

The couple married on 28 June 1864 at Blackburn【Alice Ann Rothwell: 7】【James Taylor: 8】. Their union, though brief due to Alice’s untimely death at age 27 from uterine hemorrhage【Alice Ann Rothwell: 9】, produced three children who carried forward their legacy.

Children of James and Alice
1. Jane Taylor (1864–1941)
Born on 12 October 1864 in Blackburn【Alice Ann Rothwell: 10】【James Taylor: 12】, Jane was just seven when her mother passed away. She later married Christopher Place on 6 May 1883【James Taylor: 33】. Jane lived through the industrial boom of Blackburn and raised her own family amidst the changing tides of Victorian England.

2. Mary Alice Taylor (1867–1938)
Mary Alice was born on 7 January 1867【Alice Ann Rothwell: 11】【James Taylor: 13】. Baptized in Blackburn【James Taylor: 14】, she married Thomas Lee on 8 August 1891 at St. Michael and All Angels Church【Alice Ann Rothwell: 15】【James Taylor: 16】. Her life spanned the transition from Victorian to modern Britain, and she remained in Blackburn until her death in 1938【James Taylor: 20】.

3. William Charles Taylor (1870–1946)
The youngest, William Charles, was born on 15 September 1870【Alice Ann Rothwell: 21】【James Taylor: 22】. Baptized at St. Mary the Virgin Church【James Taylor: 23】, he lived a long and varied life. From working as a cotton spinner and coal miner to becoming a chip fryer and timber yard laborer, William embodied the resilience of the working class. He married Elizabeth Ann Briggs on 24 December 1898【James Taylor: 25】 and died in Blackburn in 1946【James Taylor: 30】.

Legacy and Later Years
Alice Ann Rothwell passed away on 8 March 1872【Alice Ann Rothwell: 9】【James Taylor: 32】. James remarried Hannah Holden in 1876【James Taylor: 9】 and continued working until his death from heart disease on 17 April 1893【James Taylor: 10】.

Their children remained rooted in Blackburn, contributing to its industrial and social fabric. The Taylor-Rothwell lineage is a testament to perseverance, family bonds, and the enduring spirit of Lancashire’s working class.

Source Citations

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates from the General Register Office, Southport【Alice Ann Rothwell: 1,7,9,10,11,21】【James Taylor: 1,7,8,9,10,12,13,22,25,30】
• Census records from 1851 to 1921【Alice Ann Rothwell: 4,5,6】【James Taylor: 2,3,4,5,11】【William Charles Taylor: 3,4,7,8,9,10】
• Baptism records from St. Mary the Virgin and other Blackburn churches【Alice Ann Rothwell: 3】【James Taylor: 1,23】【William Charles Taylor: 6】
• Marriage records from Church of England parishes【Alice Ann Rothwell: 15】【James Taylor: 16,33】【William Charles Taylor: 2】

Uncovering Mary Alice Taylor: A Hidden Branch of My Family Tree

As I delve deeper into the Rothwell family line, I’ve found myself drawn into the lives of their extended family - the Taylors. One name in particular stood out: Mary Alice Taylor, my second great grand aunt. She was the daughter of James Taylor and Alice Ann Rothwell, and sister to Jane Taylor (Place), my second great grandmother. Yet, despite her close familial ties, Mary Alice remained something of a mystery in my research.

What I Knew
From census records, I knew that Mary Alice was born around 1867 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. She appears consistently in household records through the 1891 census, living with her family. But I hadn't found anything beyond the 1891 census.

A Hint from Ancestry
Ancestry.com offered a possible clue: a marriage to a Thomas Lee around 1891. Intrigued, I began to investigate.

Sure enough, I found a marriage record dated 8 August 1891 in Blackburn between a Thomas Lee and a Mary Alice Taylor. At first glance, it seemed promising. The bride’s father was listed as James Taylor — a match. But then came a snag: his occupation was recorded as beer seller, whereas in every other record I’ve found, James Taylor is consistently listed as a striker for a blacksmith.

This discrepancy gave me pause. Could this be a different Mary Alice Taylor?

The Clue That Confirmed It
Then I noticed something compelling: Mary Alice’s address on the marriage record was 133 Cleaver Street, Blackburn. That’s the exact same address where she was living during the 1891 census—with her sister Jane and her family.

That detail sealed it for me. Despite the occupational mismatch, the address provides strong evidence that this is indeed my Mary Alice Taylor.

What’s Next?
This discovery opens up a new chapter in Mary Alice’s life—one that I hadn’t previously documented. It also raises new questions: Did James Taylor briefly work as a beer seller? Was this a clerical error? Or perhaps a side occupation not captured in other records?

That’s a research thread I’ll follow another day. For now, I’m thrilled to have reconnected with Mary Alice and added another piece to the puzzle of my family’s story.

Profile: Rachel Taylor 1855-1855

As I have been researching the Rothwell family, I have also come across a child in the connected Taylor family of Blackburn, Lancashire who was born and died in between the census years and therefore did not appear in any census records. I have managed to trace her birth, baptism, death and burial records. I have put together the below profile for Rachel Taylor:

Remembering Rachel Taylor (1855-1855): A Brief Life in Victorian England

In the bustling industrial town of Blackburn, Lancashire, England, in the mid-19th century, a baby girl named Rachel Taylor was born. Rachel entered the world on February 26, 1855, into a family already brimming with life and activity. Her father, John Taylor, and mother, Jane Whittle, were steadfast parents working hard to provide for their growing family. John Taylor worked as a labourer in a foundry.

Rachel was christened just a few weeks later, on March 14, 1855, in Blackburn. As her parents held her close during the baptismal ceremony, they must have been filled with hopes and dreams for their youngest daughter's future.

The Taylor family resided at 25 Daisy Street, a modest home in Blackburn. It was within these walls that Rachel spent her brief but cherished moments. Surrounded by her siblings — James, Mary Elizabeth, Ellen and John - Rachel was part of a close-knit family. Her oldest brother, James, was nearly ten years her senior, while her youngest brother, John, was just a toddler at the time.

Tragically, Rachel's life was cut short by the harsh realities of the time. On September 27, 1855, after just seven months of life, she succumbed to influenza pneumonia, a common and deadly illness in Victorian England. Rachel's passing left a void in the Taylor family, who mourned the loss of their precious daughter and sister.

Rachel was laid to rest on September 30, 1855, in Blackburn. Her brief presence, though fleeting, was deeply felt by those who knew and loved her. The Taylor family's story continued, marked by both the joys and sorrows that characterized life during that era.

As we remember Rachel Taylor, we honor her short but meaningful journey and the love that surrounded her. Her story is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring bonds of family.

---

Sources:
[D09238] (Blackburn, Lancashire, England), Lancashire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials 1813-1986, "Burial Record - Rachel Taylor," 3212; digital images, ancestry.ca, ancestry.ca.

[D09242] (Blackburn, Lancashire, England), Lancashire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1911, "Baptism Record - Rachel Taylor," 1098; digital images, ancestry.ca, ancestry.ca.

[D09247] England and Wales, birth certificate, born 26 February 1855; citing 08E/284/158, Q1 quarter 1855, Blackburn registration district, Blackburn sub-district; General Register Office, Southport.

[D09249] England and Wales, death certificate for Rachel Taylor, died 27 September 1855; citing 08e/169/132, Q3 quarter 1855, Blackburn registration district, Blackburn sub-district; General Register Office, Southport.

The Rothwell Family - Part 1

As a genealogist, I often find myself sifting through old records, attempting to piece together the puzzle of my family history. Recently, I decided to revisit some of my unfinished cases in an effort to resolve and close them. One such case, labeled X00188, involves the mystery surrounding the death of my 4th great-grandfather, Henry Rothwell.

Henry Rothwell appeared in the 1871 census, but by the time the 1881 census rolled around, he was nowhere to be found. His wife was listed, but Henry was conspicuously absent. Naturally, I assumed that he had passed away sometime before 1881. However, finding the correct death record proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated.

The name Henry Rothwell is not particularly uncommon, and I struggled to locate a death record that matched both his age and the likely death location of Blackburn, Lancashire. After an exhaustive search, I finally stumbled upon a death record from Blackpool, Lancashire that seemed to fit the bill. Given that Blackpool was a popular vacation destination, it was entirely possible that Henry had been visiting the area at the time of his death. Intrigued, I decided to order the death certificate from the General Register Office (GRO) to see if it held any clues.

When the death certificate arrived, it revealed that Henry Rothwell had indeed died at a hotel in Blackpool. At first glance, everything seemed to fall into place. However, as I delved deeper into the records, I discovered that there was more than one Henry Rothwell in the area of Blackburn, and both were married to women named Alice. This revelation complicated matters significantly and forced me to re-examine my assumptions about Henry's family and what I know about them.

As I continue to investigate, I'm uncovering new mysteries that require further exploration. The tangled web of historical records and similar names has made it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Nevertheless, I remain determined to piece together the story of Henry Rothwell and his family.

Stay tuned for future blog posts as I dive deeper into this intriguing case and work to unravel the secrets of my ancestors.

X00022 Place-Nightingale Marriage - Solved!

I've been going back and having a look at some of the older queries that I had noted in the past with fresh eeyes and new discoveries that have been made since then.

It looks as if back in 2012 I purchased a marriage certificate between a Thomas Place and an Elizabeth Nightingale (nee Moorby), likely thinkng that it was Thomas Place, son of Robert Place, born 1827 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. But on receiving it, I discovered that the father of Thomas Place in the marriage certificate is Joseph Place:

So, the question was, was that the wrong information on the marriage record (which I have seen before), or were there two different Thomas Places, born around the same time in the same place.

As for the Thomas Place, son of Robert Place, the only records that I have been able to definitely verify as being his are baptism records and the 1841 census. I did some digging, however, and managed to find records of the Thomas Place, son of Joseph Place in a baptism record.

I have also found both of them in 1841 census records. So, it would appear that we are looking at two different individuals and the marriage record is from a different Thomas Place.

So, mystery solved, but this raises the question of what became of Thomas Place, son of Robert Place? I don't have any definite records for him beyond his appearance in the 1841 census. Other trees on Ancestry have him dying in 1866 and some have him marrying a Sarah Ramsbottom in 1870. Not sure if either of them are true (they obviously both can't be true) but that is a mystery for another day.

X00062 Charlotte Ann Hennell Baptism - Solved!

Charlotte Ann Henneel is my third great grandmother and the wife of Adam Clarke Hook. I knew that she was born around 1830 due to various census records and her death record. But I wasn't able to find a bpatism record. I had checked a number of sources including Ancestry, FindMyPast, FamilySearch and the British Isles Vital Records Index, with no luck.

I had a note in my genealogy database that she had been baptised 1 September 1830 at St. Mary Abbott Church in Kensington, although I'm not sure where that came from.

I had a look for records of St. Mary Abbott Church in Family Search. The church was listed, but unfortunately the year 1830 was missing:

I went back to Ancestry and did some creative searching and found that the record had been indexed under the surname "Kennell" rather than Hennell. It did confirm a date of 1 September 1830 as a baptism date:

A number of trees on Ancestry, however, also give a birth date of 6 August 1830. I haven't found a source for that yet. The year is consistent with all the other sources, but nothing that I've found gives an exact date of birth

X00197 Christopher Place date of death - Solved!

Christopher Place is my 3rd Great-Grandfather. Finding his death information presented a bit of a challenge. I knew that it was likely before 1891 because he didn't appear in the 1891 census, but did appear in the 1881 census. The problem was that there were two individuals named Christopher Place who died in 1888 in Blackburn. Both worked in the cotton industry:

There's a Christopher Place who died 2 February 1888 in Oswaldtwistle, formerly a Cotton Carder and married to a Jane Place

Also, another Christopher Place who died 11 November 1888 in Blackburn, formerly a Cotton Sizer and married to a Nancy Place.

Prior to ordering the certificates, I wasn't sure which one was the correct one, because both of them matched the age and location. But I bought both of them to get more information. At the time, that I first discovered this, I wasn't entirely aware that Nancy Place was still alive in 1888 and so didn't know what to make of the two certificates. Not to mention, there was a marriage of a Christopher Place and a Jane just prior to 1888. But if I compare the two, the one with a death date of 11 November makes more sense because:

• The location of Blackburn makes more sense than Oswaldtwistle
• Nancy Place as a wife's name makes more sense

So, I've decided that the second one makes more sense. This is another closed X-File!

X00047 The Sir Slade Connection

Family lore has it that our Slade line is descended from a "Sir Slade" somewhere along the line. So far, I've only managed to trace the Slade line back to a William Slade (born 1800) and his father, a Robert Slade.

I had a search of the last name Slade in FindMyPast's Britain, Knights Of The Realm & Commonwealth database. All of the occurrences of the surname Slade were born after 1800 except one: a Sir Thomas Slade 1703-1771 who was a Naval architect.

According to WikiTree, Sir Thomas Slade lists only one child in his will, dated 1760 and that child is Thomas Moore Slade 1749-1831. WikiTree hasn't identified any spouse or children for Thomas Moore Slade. If the family lore store is true, then it would likely have to be the case that Robert Slade is the son of Thomas Moore Slade. It's just a matter of proving things one way or the other.

X00093 Elizabeth Logan Hook Death Information

Elizabeth Logan was my 5th Great Grandmother, and the wife of Andrew Hook. I had some difficulties in tracking her down later in her life, partly because I didn't have much to go on, and partly because the name of Elizabeth Hook is not that uncommon.

I found a few death certificate candidates and a few candidates in the 1841 census - including ones living in Belford, Northumberland, England. I had figured that the person in the Belford death record and 1841 census record was the most likely candidate, but wasn't 100% sure, until I found this news article in the Newcastle Courant:

The date corresponds with the date of death in the Belford death record and provides a link to Andrew Hook, and so I'm now confident that I have the right one.

On a side note, she's living with an Isabella Kinghorn in 1841 (born in 1820), and the witness to her death in 1847 was an Isabella Bromfield. Could it be the same person? Could Isabella be a granddaughter?

X00071 Andrew Hook EOL

Andrew Hook is my 5th Great-Grandfather and currently and End-Of-Line Ancestor. To this point I haven't found out much about him, other than he married Elizabeth Logan in Belford, Northumberland, England on 23 July 1786 and was a shepherd (according to his wife's death record). Elizbeth Logan Hook is listed as a widow in 1847, so he likely died before then.

Recently, I've found an index of a record for a burial on 24 October 1820 in Belford for an Andrew Hook. The age at death was 58 years, which would correspond to a birth year of about 1762, which would work with a marriage in 1786. so, it's a possibility. It's not definite, but the name, dates and locations match.

I don't have the original record yet, but I'll see if I can get a copy through the Family History Library and see if it gives any more information on it.

Ann Wood Hardy Baptism

A lot of people get Ann Wood Hardy's birth information incorrect. I've seen it many times.

Ann Wood is the wife of Lancelot Hardy. It's easy to verify that via Lancelot and Anne's marriage record from 11 November 1824 in Sherburn-in-Elmet, Yorkshire, England [D00023].

Then, you can find the family in the 1841 census for England living in Farndale, Yorkshire, England [D01519].

But therein lies the problem that a lot people make. They look at Anne's age in the 1841 census (which is given as 40 in the census) and then assume that was she was born in 1801. And then it's not difficult to find a baptism record for an Ann Wood in 1801 in that general area. But it's completely wrong. Why? Because the 1841 UK census rounded individual's ages to the nearest multiple of five. Which means that an age of 40 years old is only an estimate.

If you assume then that the birth year is only an estimate and then widen your search you'll come across a baptism record for an Ann Wood, born 18 December 1804, daughter of Joseph and Jane Wood [D01077].

And how do Iknow that that is the correct one? Because a number of the baptism records for Lancelot and Ann's children will list the grandparents as well, and they often list the mother as "Ann Wood, daughter of Joseph and Jane". Which is why it's always important to check the original record to see if there is more information on it.

---

Sources:
[D00023] (Sherburn, Yorkshire, England), "Marriage Record - Lancelot Hardy & Ann Wood". Rec. Date: 10 Apr 2016. ID: D00023. Cit. Date: 10 Apr 2016.

[D01088] (Kirkby Moorside, Yorkshire, England), "Baptism Record - Lancelot Hardy 1827," C10840-1; FHL microfilm 990901 990,901, item 1369.

[D01519] 1841 census of England, Kirkby Moorside, Yorkshire, folio 5, page 7; digital images(accessed 5 Feb 2018); citing PRO HO 107/1263/4. Rec. Date: 12 Mar 2017. Cit. Date: 5 Feb 2018.

X00349 Sorting out Nathaniel D'Eye d. 1773 Part 2

I posed a few weeks ago about X00349 and the discrepancy with Nathaniel D'Eye's birth year.

I have since found in the parish records for Eye in 1737 a baptism record and a burial record for a Nathaniel D'Eye, son of Nathaniel D'Eye. The baptism was dated 25 July 1737 and the burial was 23 October 1737

So, it would appear that there was a child named Nathaniel D'Eye who was born and died in 1737 as per the Find-a-Grave reference. It would appear to be the same one, as they are both listed as the son of Nathaniel D'Eye and the burial record wouldn't have likely said "son of Nathaniel D'Eye" if he was older.

So, what does that now mean for Nathaniel D'Eye who died 1773? Well, I went back to what my original source, which was the Visitation of Norfolk 1664. Sure enough, I did find the mention of Nathaniel D'Eye buried 13 January 1773, son of Nathaniel D'Eye and Mary Cullum. That one is definitely my ancestor, as he married Ann Rust in 1770.

But then I also found a Nathaniel D'Eye, son of Francis D'Eye and Mary Stebbing who died 6 January 1773.

So now this is interesting. If the information in the Visitation is correct, then these two Nathaniel D'Eyes would be first cousins and would have died around the same few days as each other. It seems quite unlikely that that would be the case; unless there was some disaster or plague that happened. On the other hand, if the Visitation is wrong and they are the same person, which set of parents is the correct one? Looks like this investigation just got a whole lot more complicated.

X00349 Sorting out Nathaniel D'Eye d. 1773

I have a number of direct ancestors in my tree named Nathaniel D'Eye and a good number of them were members of the clergy. One in particular that I am looking at is my fifth great grandfather, Nathaniel D'Eye who died in 1773.

I had his year of birth down as 1737. But recently, I found another Nathaniel D'Eye listed on Find A Grave from the same parents who was supposedly born and died in 1737. There is no photo of the gravestone or inscription on Find A Grave so it hasn't been verified. But it has my thinking if I have the right year of birth or not. It's very unlikely that the parents could have had two children by the same name in the same year.

So, I went back to check my sources for the year of birth and found that it was "Ancestral File" and must have gone back to my early days of genealogy research when I wasn't so thorough with my research, and took the Ancestral File as a valid source. I suspect what likely happened is that someone found the 1737 baptism record for the Nathaniel who died young and took it as the baptism record for the Nathaniel who died in 1773. So, now it's time to start checking for the original records. More to come....

X00241: More on Ann Hardy Barnhill and Mary Hardy Hyatt Sisters?

I've posted previously about X00241 and whether Ann Hardy Barnhill and Mary Hardy Hyatt were in fact sisters.

I've recently found Ann Hardy Barnhill in the 1911 census living in Esquesing.

The census record gives a correct age for Ann of 72 years (which she would have been in 1911), but an incorrect year of birth of 1831 (as opposed to 1838). It also says that she came to Canada in 1835, which is incorrect. But if she had said that she came to Canada when she was four years old (which would have been correct) they would have recorded it as 1835.

She's living with her daughter Nancy as well as Everett Barnhill, son of Matthew Hyatt and Mary Hardy. Nancy's relation to the head of household is given as "aunt" and Ann's relationship is given as "Grandma", which further confuses things because if my theory is correct, their relationships would be "cousin" and "aunt" respectively.

So, it looks as if Everett is related to the family, but it's not entirely clear what the relationship is at this point. It looks like I'll have to go back and re-evaluate what information I have at this point.

George Hardy and Mary Buckton

I've written previously about the Trafalgar Hardy Letter as well as some of the other Hardy gravestones in Mississauga. All of the Hardy surname connections seem to be tied to George Hardy and Mary Buckton, who originated from Yorkshire in the UK. Which caught my interest because my Hardy family also comes from Yorkshire.

I did manage to find the marriage record for George Hardy and Mary Buckton:

Interesting that one of the witnesses is named Hannah Hardy. This one had me wondering if there was a connection to my Hardy family, and that the Hannah Hardy witness was the same Hannah Hardy who was the mother of Lancelot Hardy.

But on further examination, I'm not so sure that there is a connection, or at least not an obvious one. George Hardy seems to have come from a different location in Yorkshire than the rest of the Hardy family and I have not been able to find a definite connection between the two Hardy families. Hardy seems to have been a fairly common name in Yorkshire, and so, it's entire plausible that the Hannah Hardy as a witness would have been a different person. Hannah, the mother of Lancelot Hardy would have been in her sixties at the time of the marriage.

And so, with no definite connection found at this point, I'm going to chalk this up to a coincidence that the two Hardy families wound up in approximately the same area.

X00216 The Trafalgar Hardy Letter

In 2017 Summer newsletter of the Trafalgar Township Historical Society, there's a mention of a letter in their archives written in 1855 from a Mary Hardy to her sister Elizabeth in Yorkshire, England. Given the surname Hardy and the timeline, I was curious to know if this Mary Hardy was connected to my Hardy family. I have not found any evidence of the family being located in Trafalgar Township, but it's not that far from Churchville, so it could be a possibility.

The article mentions that the letter was written by Mary Buckton Hardy (1801-1881) who married a George Hardy. Interestingly enough, I had previously come across and photographed both of their gravestones at St. Peter's Anglican, Erindale when I was looking for the gravestone of Lancelot Hardy.

Knowing this, I could now solve a couple of mysteries at the same time - the first as to whether the letter was connected to my family and the second as to whether the George and Mary Hardy buried in St. Peter's Anglican Cemetery were connected.

George Hardy died in 1850, which is before civil registration began in Ontario, but I was able to find Mary Hardy's death registration:

Unfortunately, it doesn't give anything additional to confirm or rule out a connection between the two families. I have since found evidence of a marriage between a George Hardy and a Mary Buckton 30 December 1830 in Kirk-Leatham, Yorkshire, England. The original record may give some more information about George's background, but I'd need to get that from a Family Search Centre or Family Search affiliate library. Stay tuned for more...

X00214 Solved!

In reviewing what I know about the Hardy family, I've come across one issue that I thought I'd have another look at. In my research trying to find the baptism record for Jane Tricker I have found two possible options.

Jane Tricker married Lancelot Hardy (the details of which I am currently sorting out in X00192) and then later on William Carthew (which I am sorting out in X00318)

Her gravestone gives a birth year of 1823 and census records give a birth location of England. Looking at baptism records around that time, I found two possibilities, both in Suffolk.

The first one, [D02614], gives a baptism date of 3 October 1824, and the parents listed as James Tricker and Sarah Wade

The second one, [D02976], gives a birth date of 30 October 1824 and a baptism date of 15 November 1824. The parents listed were John and Ann Tricker.

I then found the record for her second marriage and in it, it gives the names of the parents as James and Sarah Tricker. So it would appear that the first one is the correct baptism.

X00307: White Bear Hotel

In the 1841 census as well as some of his children's birth and baptism records show Thomas Williams as being the publican of the White Bear Hotel on Dale Street in Liverpool.

I was doing some research on the history of the hotel and found out that Herman Melville stayed at the hotel on 8 November 1856, according to his diaries.

I was trying to determine the time period in which he would have owned the hotel. I first found this article [D06804] from the Liverpool Mercury, 22 September 1837 and mentions that Thomas Williams just took over the operations:



Then I found this article [D06806], also from the Liverpool Mercury, dated 3 May 1871 that mentions that the hotel has remained under the same ownership for 30 years.



So that gives us a range of 1837 to 1841 in which Thomas Williams ran the hotel.

Next, I'd like to find out more about the history of the Inn - when it was founded and when it went out of business. It no longer exists.