Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I have been told that one of my great aunts, Johanna de la Cruz, was a medium in the early 20th century in Liverpool and was consulted by some notable people. Can anyone advise me on where I begin my search for further information on this?

Hi

You could try contacting Liverpool Spiritualist Church they might have some knowledge of her work:-

http://www.liverpool-snu.com/


Blue

Thanks Blue. Will pluck up the courage to contact them.

Hi,
In case you don't have background for Johanna, 1901 she is at 29 Frederick Street, Liverpool, the household of Alice M Goungee, widow, lodging house keeper, bn abt 1880 in Liverpool. Johanna is u/m, a visitor, and her occupation is 'Vest Tailoress' [men's waistcoats?]. RG13 - Piece:3414 - Folio:17 - Page:26.

In 1904 she marries...
Name: DELACRUZ, Johanna
Registration District: West Derby.
Year/qtr of registration: 1904 / Apr-May-Jun
Spouse's name: Fitzgerald, William.
Volume No: 8B; Page No: 554

7 years later she has 3 children and is living at 15 Forrest Street. William is not at home but believed to be a fireman aboard a ship docked in Liverpool. You would need the marriage cert to check his occupation. Johanna is a 'finisher of ready-made clothing'.

These are Fitzgerald nee De La Cruz births in Liverpool from 1912.....
FITZGERALD, Henry F - Liverpool - 1912
FITZGERALD, Johanna - Liverpool - 1920.
FITZGERALD, Margareta - Liverpool - 1922.
FITZGERALD, Mary I - Liverpool - 1925.

Johanna appears to have passed away in 1975.
Death: FITZGERALD, Johanna
Registration District: Knowsley, Lancashire.
Year/qtr of registration: 1975 / Apr-May-Jun
Date of Birth: 5th August 1881
Volume No: 36; Page No: 0167.

If she was, as you have been told, a noted medium, there's a possibility of an obituary.

DS

Thanks for that info. I knew about her marrying William Fitzgerald but all the other info is new to me. When I was born in 1947 my parents were staying at her house in Kimberley Street, Toxteth. My mum had a part time job and came home to find I was not there. Apparently, Johanna had whisked me off to the local church to have me baptised! The story goes that she went into a trance when she gave her spiritual readings but never rememberd a thing about them.

You can e-mail them look under contact heading on the website.

Blue

Good info Blue about the Spiritualist Church.
I don't think there's any point in my looking in Directories
In 1891 census Frederick St, in Anx, someone has put in a surname correction. Could be worth getting in touch?
It looks like her father John was born in Mannila? Phillipines perhaps?
Ship's cook
Johanna Margaret Elizabeth Delacruz baptised
18.9.1881 St Peter's to John & Elizabeth.
No John 1881, Elizabeth and 4 kiddies Fredk St.

Tina

Yes Tina. Family lived in Frederick Street for over 50 years. John was a Filipino sailor, a ship's cook. Married in 1870. Must have been a family loving man because he had 8 children with Elizabeth and when he died in a shipwreck off the coast of Scotland in 1911 his home address was Frederick Street. Hence Manila Jack. My avatar is his picture. Have just contacted the person concerned. Can't see any connection from his profile but one never knows.

Hi Just wondered if the De La Cruz on this link are related Frederick st Liverpool No 12 and 16 one U.S.A and the other Spain,
http://www.liverpoolhistoryprojects.co. ... idence.htm
John

Hi John,

Thanks for the link. That's interesting. I never knew that one existed. The John de la Cruz 16 Frederick Street is almost certainly my Great Grandfather, John or Juan. He was born in Manila, Philippines so can't understand country as USA. However, by 1911 Philippines was ruled by USA so that's maybe why. Felipe, as far as anyone could tell me, was not a relation but I have record of him also declaring from Manila which was Spanish up to 1898 then governeed by USA after Spanish-American war. Divided loyalties perhaps?

Hi ,I know this is not about the question you asked but just incase,John was a naturalized british subject 29 April 1911
*de la Cruz, John United States of America 29th April, 1911 Liverpool, 16, Frederick Street
taken from The London Gazette 2 June 1911
Felipe still Spain,24 August 1911 still 12 Frederick st,published 1 September 1911,both are serving in British ships
John

Thanks for the info John. Like many vessels perhaps they were flags of convenience!

There's also this. Almost certainly the son of your Johanna.

http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews ... 36683.html

Thanks Chief. It certainly looks like it was her son. That's very sad. I didn't know about this. The men of the de la Cruz family did tend to be cooks/stewards and a lot of them did serve on the Larrinaga ships. I noticed that Larrinaga lost a lot of vessels to U-boats and other enemy action.