James Birtwistle of Preston, Lancashire

[cosmac]

I am trying to establish the maiden name of my mother's aunt and godmother.  On the 1911 Canadian census for the area around Marshall, Saskatchewan she is married to Arthur Frederick Heap.  She is shown as Elizabeth, b. Dec 1883 England with an immigration year of 1909.  There was a census in the prairie provinces in 1916 and they are still living in the same area.  This time her birth year is the same (1883) but her immigration year is shown as 1911.

Arthur moved to Canada from Derby in 1906 and didn't return to England until much later in life.  Apparently he met and married Elizabeth in Saskatchewan.  So far Saskatchewan doesn't have any marriages up on their online site.

Arthur and Elizabeth (known as Bessie) eventually gave up farming and settled in Nova Scotia, close to Arthur's younger brother.  There are passenger records for trips that Bessie made back to England which show her birthplace as Manchester.

With the introduction of the outgoing passengers lists on ancestry I found Bessie Heap leaving in 1934 and 1937 from the same address in England  -  158 Brownedge Road Lostock Hall, Preston.   Arthur accompanied Bessie in 1937 and he left from his brother's address in Derby and her last address was the one in Lostock Hall.  From this you can suppose that there was a family connection to the Preston address for Bessie.

The library in Lostock Hall looked up the address and said that between 1932 and 1940 James Birtwistle, joiner, lived at that address.  I am now looking to take this family back in time and find out the connection, if any, to Elizabeth/Bessie Heap - maiden name unknown.

Going forward in time at that same address from 1969-1978 there is a F. Birtwistle and in 1980 a B. Birtwistle.

Arthur Heap was born in 1883 Derby and although census and passenger records give Bessie's year of birth as 1883-1886 my grandmother apparently thought Bessie was much older than she admitted to.  Bessie would never give out her birth year to be entered into the bible.  Arthur and Bessie also did not have children so no next generation to ask these questions to.

[CaroleW]

The 1901 PRO index has an entry for a James Birtwistle - age 24 - occ joiner living in Penwortham (Preston) but born Gt Harwood

In 1881 he is shown as a "Relative" to Thomas & Margaret Mercer - I checked the 1891 and they do not have a dtr Elizabeth

In 1891 and 1901 he is with his mother Jane and older siblings - none called Elizabeth

He married Sarah Reynolds in Preston in 1905

Perhaps she was Elizabeth's sister?

[cosmac]

Sounds logical - if Elizabeth wasn't a Birtwistle the next logical choice is that he is a brother-in-law.

[CaroleW]

Sarah's parents were Richard and Sophia Reynolds found in Yorkshire in 1881.  Sarah was b Yorks and the family were living in Skipton RD in 1881 but there is no Elizabeth Reynolds birth there in 1883

Sophia was b Manchester

An Elizabeth Reynolds b 1882 left Liverpool 1909 for Canada but no idea if she is the right one

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/passengerListPersonSearchStart.action?redef=0

[CaroleW]

1891 for Walmer Bridge (near Preston)

Sophia Reynolds 51 widow b Manchester
Joseph A   16 b Southport
Sarah  15 b Crosshills Yorks
Thomas   11  ditto
Elizabeth   9 b Town Green (near Ormskirk/Aughton Lancs)
Robert   5 b Little Hoole (nr Preston)
RG12 Piece 3428 Folio 78 Page 8

The family minus Thomas are in Chorley in 1901  RG13 Piece 3937 Folio 21 Page 33

Sophia died in 1918 aged 80

[cosmac]

I think you found the right family CaroleW!
There is a passenger list for Elizth Reynolds on the Lake Manitoba arriving Quebec 02 Aug 1909 from Liverpool.  Her destination is Marshall, Saskatchewan.  Previous occupation weaver, intended occupation lady's maid.  She is travelling on the same ticket as Emily Petcher, 24, also going to Marshall.  The destination of Marshall, Saskatchewan makes me believe that Reynolds was Bessie's maiden name.

[CaroleW]

You mention that Arthur was from Derbyshire - so was Emily E Petcher

1901 shows her as b Belper 1886 

[cosmac]

Interesting.   Will have to look at her further - no known connection to the family that I know of.  Thanks very much for finding the correct James so quickly.  I looked at records this pm but knew my brain wasn't working effectively.  It's always useful to have that 2nd set of eyes to point you in the right direction.

[Gibel]

www.lancashirebmd.org.uk shows an Elizabeth Reynolds' birth registered in the sub district of Aughton (Town Green is part of Aughton) in 1882. Mother's maiden name Pearson.

Joseph Arthur mother's maiden name Pearson was registered in the sub district of North Meols (Southport) in 1784.

Richard Reynolds married Sophia Pearson at Holy Trinity Southport in 1873

From www.lan-opc.org.uk
Marriage: 9 Apr 1873 Holy Trinity, Southport, Lancashire, England
Richard Reynolds - 27 Basket Maker Widower of Halsall's Buildings
Sophia Pearson - (X), 33 Spinster of 20 Hesketh St.
    Groom's Father: Thomas Reynolds, Cartman
    Bride's Father: Charles Fawcett Pearson, Deceased, Railway Porter
    Witness: Thomas Henry Mayhew, (X); Jane Gaskell
    Married by Banns by: Edgcumbe Staley