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My grandmother's family and paternal line has baffled me for ages and I have made little headway in finding out anything about my great grandfather Robert Halsall Jones.  He marries in Cardiff where my grandmother was born and later moves the family to West Derby:

Marriage of Robert Jones to Pryna Jane Jones (from marriage certificate)
27 April 1896 Robert Jones aged 37 (widower) and a ship's telegraph maker marries Pryna Jane Jones aged 33 (spinster) registered in Cardiff.  Robert's father (deceased) **amendment Goodman Jones** was a caterer and Pryna's father was a Philip Jones (collier).

I have tracked Pryna's family (variety of spellings on records I have obtained) through census records (born 1863 as Catherine Pereina Jane Jones) from Merthyr Tydfil.

I have tracked a Goodman Jones (waiter) with wife Jane and a son Robert.  However, ages for their son Robert and my grandfather (born cal 1859) do not match so not 100% sure I have correct family.  Did he lie about his age on his marriage certificate? 

To date I have been unable to track any further details of my grandfather.

I would love to find a lead on Robert's first wife or verify that Goodman & Jane were his parents.

Birth of 1st Daughter (My grandmother) - taken from Birth Certificate
Maud Harriet Halsall Jones born 21 May 1896 registered in Cardiff, father Robert Halsall Jones, mother Pryna Jane Jones formerly Jones.  Living at 11 Telford Street Canton in Cardiff.  Died in 1990

Birth of 2nd Daughter - taken from Birth Certificate
Florence Edith Halsall Jones born 22 August 1899 registered in West Derby.  Father Robert Halsall Jones (journeyman ship's telegraph maker) and Prhyna Jones formerly Jones.  Couple were living at 6 Sherdley Street West Derby.  Died in 1993.

There were no other children.  I know that my grandmother later grew up in the Birkenhead district and there is very hazy information that both children went into a children's home.  My father and aunts and uncles have all said that said my grandmother and sister never talked about their their childhood.

Can anyone find the baptism record for Florence in the area of West Derby in 1899?

Can anyone find the family on the 1901 census?

There is reference to a Maud in the Kirkdale Industrials School but I can find nothing for Florence or her parents (had they both died or were they all in the Workhouse):

Maud Jones age 4 pauper inmate
RG13/3472/259 p 20 Kirkdale Industrials School

Can anyone find the deaths/burials of either parent?


I live in Southampton and have thus far not made it to the Records Office in Liverpool which might hold the information I am desperately seeking.

If anyone can help I would be eternally grateful.

Kind regards
Sue Donaldson

PS This is a link to a photograph of my Grandmother with either her father Robert or grandfather (I submitted the photo several years ago on Rootschat for restoration).

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,95272.0.html

PPS Sherdley Street (last known address of the Jones family in West Derby) is no longer in existence.  I found this information on another site, "Sherdley St, Liverpool 7, ran from Crown St to Minshull St. between Little
Woolton St and Wide St. All these streets seem to be still there with the exception of Sherdley."  This may help in locating a nearby church where my Grandmother's sister Florence may have been baptized.

I think this picture was taken in about 1902, it has just been sent to me by a distant relative.  Not sure who the toddler is yet and although baby is wearing a dress ... not sure whether a little boy or a little girl!

Appreciate someone working their magic ... this could be my grandfather Im looking at.

Many Thanks
Sue

This is a picture of my father and his sister, could they be cleaned up a bit please .... I know someone will sprinkle their magic and make them look as good as new.  Thanks

If you are researching families from this village please add to this thread.  My main interests are with the surnames Belcher, Barrett, Gibbons (also of Helmdon/Kings Sutton)and Rutland. 

Would love to share information and photographs about the village.  I have several old postcards which I could post if anyone is interested and information about the fire that destroyed some of the parish records in the 1920s.

Sue