I’m a bit confused with this comment you made.
“Annie was the daughter of Ellen Walker and James Oultram, she was born 1880 in Delamere and died in 1915(?), which I question. I believe that she left James and lived elsewhere. Their other children are Merrick, Eric William, and John Walker Blain”.
Presumably you were told that Annie died in 1915 and that it was Ellen who left James Oultram and lived elsewhere. If james remarried a lady called Martha Nickson in 1889, perhaps it was Ellen who died in 1915. Also if James and Ellen parted and James re-married in 1889, it's possible that your Frank Walker, wasn't the son of James Oultram. Perhaps Ellen registered him as Oultram to make his birth appear legitimate, or if she died in 1915 James Oultram took him in and raised him as his own son, but then Frank later found out that he wasn't an Oultram so took his mother's maiden name as his own. I can also see why he may have fallen out with James Oultram if he wasn't his real father. Interestingly, Findmypast have a baptism for a Frank Oultram, birth 1 December 1892, which ties in with the birth Pete found. However, his father's name is given as John and on the 1901 census there is an Outram . I've run out of ideas, I think you need to find a birth around 1889 for a Frank Walker and see if his mother was called Ellen.
Re Eric William Blain, supposedly a brother of Merrick and John Walker Blain. I’ve never heard of him. There is a birth of an Eric Williams Blain in 1905, but on the 1911 census he is living at The Bank, Kingsley with George and Mary Harvey (Mary was born 1884) and shown as a stepson, there is also a child called George Arthur Blain aged 1 month shown as a son. The Harveys stated they had been married less than 1 year. Looking for marriages, there is one in 1910 of a George Harvey and a Mary E Blain. Looking for Mary Blain on the 1901 census brings her up living with her widowed father Thomas Blain. I’m sure there is some connection between Mary Blain and her father Thomas and the other Blains, but I can’t find it without a lot of searching and it’s not really the Blains you are interested in.
There was a will proved on 14 June 1937. Arthur William Blain of Sunny Bank, Norley, Cheshire died 21 April 1937. Probate was issued to his widow Annie Blain, effects £1107 10s 5d.
I knew I was correct when I said that I thought that Mrs Blain (nee Annie Oultram) was in her 90s when she died. I also thought, but didn’t mention it last time, that she was still alive when my aunt, her daughter in law, died suddenly in 1967. I’ve found her death in Jan-March quarter 1975. Her date of birth is shown as 25 January 1879. So she was about 95/96 when she died. I remember my mother saying when my aunt died that Mrs Blain had got what she wanted, to live with her son Jack! which is why her death is registered in the Trafford area rather than Cheshire where you were probably looking.
Looking at the Parish record collection on Findmypast, Annie (nee Oultram) was baptised on 30 March 1879, parents James Oultram and Ellen so that fits in with a birth of 25 January 1879.
Merrick Blain of Norley, Bow Green Road, Bowdon died 23 March 1960 at Golf Links Delamere, Cheshire. Probate was given to his widow Elsie Sanders Blain on 25 May 1960. The effects amounted to £10,263 7s 10d. Presumably he died of a heart attack or something as his place of death is given as a golf course.
On a different topic, you mentioned that your sister used to live at Blake Lees Farm, Kingsley and your youngest daughter spent her first Christmas at Blake Lees. There was an Okell family living there in the mid to late 1800s who seem to have been friendly with my 2 x g.grandparents as one of the Okells was an executor of my 2 x g.grandparents wills, along with my 2 x g.grandmother’s brother.
Lizzie
Ps. Presumably you have Frank's attestation papers. Does it give an address for Annie Blain, or just Norley?
The James Oultram who married Martha Nickson in 1889 is shown as a cattle dealer on the banns. He also states he is a widower. Not unusual in those days, but a bit dodgy if you are re-marrying in the same place as you live and your wife is not deceased but just left.
