Alice O'Hanlon

[m23to53]

A novelist from Lancashire whose work was published late 1870s to late 1880s, the one firm sighting of her is the 1881 census, born c1840 in Chorley area, lodging with the Thornhill family at 18 Adelaide St, North Meols - and unmarried if that squiggle in the relevant column is correct.
An Alice O'Hanlon's birth was registered Chorley district 1st quarter 1840 on GRO index.

But the census seems to be the last recorded sighting for her, though she was still being published at the end of the decade. The only death I can find for c1840 birth of the name is in Ireland in 1915, which seems doubtful. could possibky have been useful if the BNA had more Lancashire papers on line, then just the Manchester one.

I then thought about marriage and in 1890 an Alice O'Hanlon married a Charles Midgley in the Ormskirk district, would would appear to be the registration district where she was living in 1881. Though notice in the press say the bride is of Southport. The Midgleys, and various children from his previous marriage, are on the 1891-1911 censuses though by the 1901 census are in Cheadle, Cheshire, and her birth year is 1842/1843. The best death I can find is an Alice Midgley, c1939 to 1935 in Essex, her probate entry saying she is a widow.

So we know where she was in 1881 and that she stopped writing by 1890.  Did she stop as she was getting married to a man with several children to whom she would now have to be a mother?
Is it possible to further identify the 1890 bride and say if she is the author or that I am barking up the wrong tree.

Or does anyone know of anyone who is an authority on Lancashire writers, especially of the Victorian era, who could help.

Thanks in advance,
John

[Maiden Stone]

What did Mrs Alice Midgley give as her place of birth on census ?
I think you'll need birth and marriage certificates for Alice to find out if father was same on both. Was her father mentioned in wedding notice in newspaper?
Have you searched births, marriages and census for Alice Hanlon without O' ? Even for Alice Anlon.

[CaroleW]

Where does Alice fit in your FH as that can often be useful for tracing

[CaroleW]

What did Mrs Alice Midgley give as her place of birth on census ?

Transcribed as Charley but meant to be Chorley.  The 1890 marriage was at Holy Trinity Southport as per www.lancashirebmd.org.uk

[CaroleW]

There is a Charles Midgley death in Portsmouth 1919 - birthyear 1843

[Maiden Stone]

Alice O'Hanlon birth registration 1840 Chorley sub district, mother's maiden name Southworth.
(Lancashire BMD)
Other O'Hanlon birth registrations with mother's maiden name Southworth:
1838 William Patrick
1841 Walter
1845 Charles Frazer
1849 Edward
All in Chorley sub district.
(Lancashire BMD)

[m23to53]

One of the problems is that the 1881 census seems to be her only appearance apart from the probable 1840 birth registration. But O'Hanlons seem few on pre-1881 census, like where is the Alice O'Hanlon born c1845 in Lancashire who is the widowed Alice Connor on the 1881 census.
And again, no sign of her siblings on censuses though births are in the GRO Index.

Ah, just found the baptism record of a Mary O'Hanlon born 1837 to William M O'Hanlon and his wife, Alice, nee Southworth of Chorley, the father an independent minister. He is William Murphy O'Hnalon, 1809 to 1933 in Burnley. An Ancestry tree only has William P plus an Alfred (1838) and Emily (1851) as his children. William P is on 1871 census with his young family

This is a bit of a digression from my main question, but does make one wonder about their absence on the censuses before 1881, especially as all Alice's siblings are born in Lancashire over the years. Are they there under some odd misspelling caused by poor transcriptions of poor originals.

And would the marriage certificate say she was a writer if she had given it up for the marriage?

John

[m23to53]

Oops. William Murphy O'Hanlon died in 1855!!!
Regards
John

[CaroleW]

And would the marriage certificate say she was a writer if she had given it up for the marriage?

No way of knowing that apart from buying the cert - but it would show her fathers name and occupation

What is her connection to your FH?