Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I have just found out that my gt gt grandmother Alice Flood had a second marriage . Her husband James died june qtr 1883 and it looks as if she remarried during that same qtr to a John Keating by 1891 she was a widow in the workhouse at Whiston and then went back to using Flood in 1901 and 1911 I have found two John Keatings in the area on the 1881 census both with a wife called Bridget one of which died in the same qtr as James death and the remarriage looking at her age at death it looks as if they came from Walmsley St Widnes can any one have a look at the records for St Maries Widnes to confirm this . I think John died 1890 and this may be why Alice was in the workhouse Even though she went back to Flood I think her death was in 1929 and listed as Keating but again if anyone can help me prove this .

Hope this makes sense
Thanks Carolyn

Hi Carolyn & Peeps
Lancs BMD have the marriage at Prescot R.O
Alice Flood prev Geoghan to John Keating.
Oct-Dec qtr 1883.
Alice Keating pauper/dom serv in 1891 was born in Ireland
she's aged 49yrs.

There's a death for a James Flood in Prescot rego
aged 44yrs March qtr 1883.


Tina

Good result there by Tina.

If your Alice's maiden name was Geoghan then it would seem certain that she is the one you are searching for.

Widnes churches are listed on the Genuki site Unfortunately as the marriage is listed as "Prescot Register Office or Registrar Attended" this may mean that it took place in an RC or non conformist church, or may indeed have taken place in the Register Office.

If the latter is the case, I'm afraid that these aren't available to look up, but would have to be ordered from the GRO.

Marriage: FLOOD, Alice [to John Keating]
Registration District: Prescot, Lancashire
Year/qtr of registration: 1883 / Oct-Nov-Dec
Volume No: 8B; Page No: 1182.

Assuming Alice survived beyond 1911, didn't marry again and kept the name Keating [she would have done that for 'Social Insurance' and Widow's Pension etc, a blanket search for a death from 1911 to 1935 in Lancashire with a YoB of 1842 [from Tina's post] +/- 5 years, through up only one hit. I'd say there's a very strong probability that this is her.

Name: KEATING, Alice
Registration District: Prescot, Lancashire.
Year/qtr of Registration: 1925 / Apr-May-Jun
Age at death: 79 [calculated YoB = 1846]
Volume No: 8B; Page No: 747.

DS

Hi
Yes Alice was Geoghan before her marriage to James Flood. She did live after 1911 but is listed as Alice Flood living with her unmarried son John I have looked for a death for her before and could not find one gor Flood but Alice Keating died in I think 1929. I dont know why she went back to Flood I know it is done now with divorces but not then.
Alice was a catholic so the marriage I would think took place in St Maries Widnes.
The oldest member of our family died a few weeks ago aged 98 she was the daughter in law of Alices daughter Elizabeth and close to her. She gave my Aunt a lot of family information but not this marriage so for whatever reason it was as they say brushed under the carpet

I have looked for a death for her before and could not find one gor Flood but Alice Keating died in I think 1929.

The death I posted from Prescot in 1925 is the only one between 1911 and 1935. It has a close match for her age considering that informants often used a best guess for a deceased person's age when asked by the Registrar. No proof was needed.

DS

Hi
Yes 1925 not 1929 I think this must be right
Thanks again
Carolyn

Hi
There is one Alice Keating buried in Widnes Cemetery died age 79 on 15 April 1925 buried 20 April 1925 status widow, died at Prescot Union Institute.
There are no Alice Flood's shown in cemetery.
cheers chris

Hi Chris

I am not sure if this is Alice or not as she was living in Widnes with her son John in 1911. Was this Prescot union part of Whiston Hospital that was more or less " the workhouse" I seem to remember my Mum telling me that part of Whiston was a geriatrics ward but like the workhouse. Do you happen to know?
Carolyn

This list of graves in Widnes Borough Cemetery http://mumov04.bravehost.com/section_11c_i-l.html shows many of the 'occupants' were buried from the Prescot Institute.

Many of the former infirmaries attached to the old workhouses were later used to house elderly people of very little means who were unable to look after themselves, or suffered from a debilitating condition such as dementia or what is today known as Alzeimer's. Some of these 'Institutes' were still running up to the late 1960s.

That 1925 death is the only near match in age, it is spot on for location, and if the death was reported by the Institute that could well account for the age disparity. They may not have known exactly how old Alice was when she was admitted and if records exist, they will be subject to the 100 year rule and unfortunately closed.

DS

The Prescot Union workhouse was at Whiston. If you google Prescot Union worlhouse you will find quite a lot of inofrmation on the place. Widnes was a township within the union and that would have been where Alice would have been placed if she was ill, old or unable to care for herself.

I think you have to contact the present Whiston Hospital for permission to view records less than a 100 years old and I suspect you might need to be able to give the date of death. Again google Prescot Union Workhouse records and I'm sure you'll be able to find out what you need to do.

Hi
Yes, Prescot Union Institute was Whiston Hospital, Previously Workhouse. I believe, but am not certain that a lot of the older records were lost in a flood. Dont know about 1925 though.
Regarding St. Maries Records, although Baptism register has been filmed and transcribed between 1860 and 1900. The marriages havent to the best of my knowledge. St. Maries Church is now closed. The last I heard of the registers they were at St. John Fisher in Moorfield Rd. but that was some years ago. You would have to contact the Priest there or perhaps at St. Bedes and enquire.
cheers chris.

The Admission and Discharge Registers for Whiston are very scarce. some registers are in St Helens Local Studies Department I cant offhand remember if they cover 1925, you will have to get in touch with them. You could apply for her death certificate from Prescot Registry Office and state Widow of etc and state that you only want the certificate if all the details match what you have put on the application form. You could always look to see if there was a obituary placed in the Local paper that covers Widnes.

Hi thanks for all the advise

Carolyn