Hi
Alfred Birch was name of Florence's father on her marriage certificate. Also Florence's brother Alfred was buried in the same grave as her in 1907 aged 42. There is an Alfred born in 1865 in the 1871 Census with a father Alfred Joseph and mother Susannah Elizabeth Beurle. In the 1881 Census Susannah seems to be referred to as Elizabeth Alfred and Elizabeth now have a 3 month old son William. Is this your William?
The family do not seem to be together in the 1891 Census. I found Elizabeth(Susannah?) Birch living with Clara Rimmer and Joseph aged 15. Then in the 1911 Census an Elizabeth(Susannah) Kell born in Birmingham is living in in Wetherby on poor relief with her grandson William Wright (Birch) This would fit in with the story my mum told me that her mother was in service in Yorkshire and had an illegitimate son. All this did not come to light until my Uncle Bill applied for a passport when he found that his name on his birth certificate was Wright not Birch. Elizabeth Kell was buried in the same grave as Florence in 1913.
It is quite a long time since I did my research and looking back maybe the links to Susannah Elizabeth Beurle are tenuous. I have never been able to find Florence's actual birth. When she died she was living at 159 Boundary Street, Southport. My Aunt told me Florence's middle name was Elizabeth.
I would be interested to know what info William Birch gave you as Uncle Bill was apparently very reluctant to talk about his background to my mum Joan Ada Rigby and my Aunty Anne.
I have rambled on but hope some of the info is of help to you.
Hi
Alfred Joseph Birch and Susannah Elizabeth Beurle had seven children:
Alfred b. 1865 in Birmingham
Ada b. 1867 in Birmingham
Clara b. 1870 in Birmingham
John b. 1874 in Birmingham
Joseph b. 1875 in Birmingham
Elizabeth b. 1877 in Birmingham
William b. 1880 in Liverpool
The family moved from Birmingham to Liverpool and then to Southport.
(The William above is the one you refer to as being 3 months old. John Birch b.1874 married an Eliza Jolley and had a son William - who is my grandfather).
Nobody I have spoken to knows how Florence fitted into the Birch family - someone thought she could have been a half sister to Alfred, Clara, Ada, etc.
Susannah Elizabeth Birch fly Beurle was in Southport in 1891 and her marital status is recorded in the Census as Married. There is no record of Alfred Joseph Birch in the 1891 Census - he just seems to disappear from the face of the earth without any further trace. Also I have been unable to find the whereabouts of his son Alfred Birch in either the 1891 or 1901 Census although we know he was back in Southport in 1902. In 1896 the marriage of Joseph Birch to Mary Ann Jolley records that Alfred Joseph Birch is deceased. Susannah Elizabeth Birch moves to Tadcaster, Leeds presumably connected with Florence being there but what was the connection between Florence and Tadcaster? In 1904 Susannah Elizabeth marries Stephen Kell in Tadcaster. He dies in 1909 at the age of 79.
As you know William is born to Florence in 1907 and the 1911 Census records he is being looked after by his grandmother (Susannah) Elizabeth Kell. By September 1911 William has enrolled at Bury Road School in Southport and his guardian is recorded as Mrs Kell, grandmother. I have found a 'possible' trace for Florence in 1911 - in the Leeds Union Workhouse, Beckett Street, Leeds. Her occupation is recorded as domestic servant.
Elizabeth Kell is buried in Duke St Cemetery Southport together with her son Alfred, her daughter Elizabeth (and 2 children ) and Florence Rigby.
I would be very interested to know if you have any information on what happened to Alfred Joseph Birch.
Best wishes
