Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi

I wonder if anyone can help?

I'm trying to find out what happened to my ggGrandfather William Foxley (b1851). He seems to have vanished from the records after 1882 in Liverpool.

The last dated record I believe I can locate him in Liverpool is at the Baptism of his son William on the 1st May 1882. "William Foxley is baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Walton on the Hill on the 1st May 1882. Son of William Foxley a Mariner and Margaret Foxley of 75/3 Upper Mann Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool."

His wife Hannah Foxley died in 1884, but her death was not registered by William (b1851), rather by his brother, Joseph. "Margaret Foxley aged 26 dies of Smallpox Abortion (vaccinated) in Mill Road Workhouse, Mill Road, Everton, Liverpool. Wife of William Foxley a Mariner of 24 or 211 Mann Street, Toxteth Park. Death certified by JJ Tisdall LRCP. Informant was Joseph Foxley, brother in law of 74 Tavistock Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Registered 30th May 1884. "

In the census of 1891 William's sons, Samuel aged 11 and his brother William aged 7 are living in the house of their Aunty Catherine and Uncle Samuel Foxley at 10 Cleopas Street, Liverpool. Their sister Hannah M Foxley is working as a Domestic Servant at 94 Windsor Street, Toxteth Park.

I can't locate William (b1851) in the 1891 census - did he die before this? I assume he died between April 1882 when son William was baptised and September 1899 when daughter Hannah records him as deceased on her Wedding certificate (her marriage to Ralph Reginald Radcliffe, Toxteth Park, 10th September 1899).

Thanks
John (Alsace, France)

Hello John and welcome to the forum.
It would appear that William was a mariner or bargee. According to the 1871 his wife and children are here:
RG 10 - Piece:3801 - Folio: 119 - Page:29; Address: Greaves Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.

William himself is on board a vessel, the Mary Foxley, of Northwich, Cheshire.
FOXLEY, William - 21 - 1850 - Cheshire
RG10 - Piece:3769 - Folio: 213 - Page:0
Address: Vauxhall Ward.
I believe the Mary Foxley is a barge since she was registered in Northwich, a small town in Cheshire.

There are only two WF deaths [with a YoB of 1851 +/-2] between 1880 and 1891 in England.
FOXLEY, William
Registration district: Altrincham; Cheshire
Year/qtr of registration: 1885 / Apr-May-Jun
Age at death: 35
Volume no: 8A; Page no: 146.

And,
FOXLEY, William Edward
Registration district: Lambeth, London
Year/qtr of registration: 1886 / Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at death: 37
Volume no: 1D; Page no: 292.

Because William was apparently a bargee, he would have travelled the country but reasonably local to his roots. I suggest the Altrincham death would be the most likely.

DS

Hi DickieSam,

Thanks for the welcome - I thought I would try to connect to local knowledge support - I live quite away away.

My William Foxley b1851 is at 13 Greaves Street in the 1871 census, he is a ship's steward. His birthdate was the 3rd April which means he would have been 20 the day after the census record was made. The other William Foxley may well be a relative because the Foxley family came from Northwich. William b1851 is noted in various records as a Mariner, Ship's steward, Ship's Cook. I suspect that "Mariner" is an exaggeration. He may have been registered in the Merchant Service.

Thanks for the hints for the death records - i'll send off for the Altrincham one.

regards
John

Hi In 1881 census his birthplace is Northwich Ches, he's 26 genl labr at
193 Uppr Mann St Tox Park, Margaret 25, Hannah 6, Samuel 1
all born Lpool.
1871 with his mother & sibs in Tox Pk, a ship's steward.
The brother Joseph is 20yrs of age in 1861, all living in Tox Park born Northwich.

Tina

There's a death in Tox Park 1897 for a Wm Foxley, his age listed as
63yrs, could this be an error?

Tina

Hi John
In 1851 census the family are in Leftwich Ches.
Youngest is Margaret, so perhaps your William was born after the night
of the census?
Cheshire BMD have lots of births for Foxley's in Northwich.
Free BMD have a birth for a Wm in the june qtr 1851 Northwich.

Tina

I received the certificate for the William Foxley Altrincham death.

death register entry: William Foxley 1885 Jun Altrincham vol 8a page 146 entry 390

William Foxley died 8th april 1885 at Station House, Knutsford Inferior. Male, aged 35 years, a Waterman. Cause of death Chronic Pneumonia, Pthisis, certified by JS Appleby MRCS. Informant was brother-in-law, Thos Senior of Station House Knutsford Inferior who was present at death. Registered on the 11th April.

I conclude that this is not my William Foxley because:-
1. Thos Senior this man's brother-in-law was married to Emily Foxley. They married in Bury in march qtr 1875 (vol 8c page 707 ). However my William did not have a sister Emily.
2. occupations not matched
3. age at death date not correct

It looks like this William Foxley in Altrincham was a bargee. Quite possibly he is related to my Foxley family because the family from Leftwich were ship's carpenters and also had a lot of the family members working for the Railways.

At least this closes down one line of enquiry. I suspect that I need to find how to research the Merchant service - as I suspect that is where my William may have spent the remainder of his life, based on snippets of family folklore.

If you have any ideas......

thanks
john