RootsChat.Com

Thanks Harry.
I have the Vallance book.
William BARCLAY and family seem to have left Liverpool around 1872/73.
By 1880 the family are living in West Ham, Essex and William is employed on January 14th, 1880 on the railway at the Victoria Docks. I have copies of the Midland railway records that show his time there until his death in 1898.
I have yet to find where he was between 1872 and 1880 although Vallance says he was on the Great Eastern Railway followed by the Thetford and Watton Railway before joining the Midland.
That's where I'll turn my attention to next.
Regards. Dave

I have already had some success with the Gore's Directory images on Familysearch. In the 1871 edition it has William BARCLAY as an Engineer at 42 Canterbury Street. This is the family home on the 1871 census but William is not recorded as present when the census was done. That is still a mystery.

So I now know he did leave the Syntax at around 1870/71.

Thanks again to Blue.
Dave

I am trying to trace the movements of my Gt Gt Grandfather, William BARCLAY (1824-1898).

I believe he moved to Liverpool in 1865 after leaving the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway, where he was locomotive superintendent. A book on the Highland Railway mentions that William went to Liverpool to manage an hotel.
I have found a newspaper article in Oct 1865 stating a publican’s license for College Lane was transferred from Henry EMERY to William BARCLAY.
In A. Green & Co.'s Directory for Liverpool and Birkenhead 1870, there is a W. BARCLAY listed as the publican at 4 College Lane. This address was variously known as the Syntax Hotel, the Doctor Syntax and the Old Doctor Syntax (Doctor Syntax was a successful racehorse 1811-1838).

I have also found an auction notice showing the contents of 4 College Lane were sold in Jan 1870.

I cannot find William on the 1871 census although his wife Jane and children Alexander, John and William are living in Canterbury Street, Everton, Liverpool. The 1871 census shows a Jane Burke, Licensed Victualler, as head of household at 4 College Lane.

I am wondering if William did indeed leave the Syntax Hotel in 1870 and if he went on to another venture in Liverpool. By 1881 he is with his family and living in West Ham, Essex.

If anyone has access to other trade directories, particularly Gore’s, for the period 1870-1881, I would be grateful to know if he shows up somewhere else in Liverpool.

Many Thanks. Dave