Limited info.

[Stanwix England]

That's a great point actually. That could be what happened.

[heywood]

Interesting Debra 

I had tried looking for William as Price but nothing then - more incentive this time.
The address is good too -Eliza ‘s residence on marriage.

Where are they in 1881?

[heywood]

There are 2 James Clark/es b 1869/70 who are inmates in 1881 - Wigan and Kirkdale.

[heywood]

In Catholic baptisms, besides James 1869, there is Robert Christopher Clark, born December 25th 1873,  son of James and Maria (Hay). Godparents are James and Ann MacDevitt.
Other baptisms on the page have an address but not this one.

There is a death later in the year for the poor child.

[heywood]

I think I have accidentally found James Christopher's first marriage.  He is just James, a mariner, father James a surveyor.  He married Maria HAY in Liverpool in 1869, batchelor and spinster, both of Brook Street, both full age, her father is James HAY, a shoemaker.  Witnesses are John EAGAN? and Catherine KEHOE.  James signed his name this time.

This child appears to be theirs...

CLARKE, JAMES
Mother's maiden surname: HAY     
GRO Reference: 1869  J Quarter in LIVERPOOL  Volume 08B  Page 112

He was baptised at St Mary's Catholic Church, Liverpool, and mother's surname is recorded as HAYES.

Debra 

Just rechecking - the mother’s name has been transcribed as Hayes but the page shows Hay.
There is a note in Latin which indicates, I think, that the child was baptised at home as he was in  danger of dying - ‘domi imminens periculum’ (or similar).

There is a Catholic burial at Ford Cemetery 7th August 1870
James Clarke, 15 months, 81 Dundas Street Bootle - no indication of family though. 
However in 1871, there is a Patrick And Honora Clark living there so looks unlikely to be the same James.

It is frustrating that we can’t find William - or James Christopher.

[osip]

I still havn't managed to gain any ground with my investigation but have been intrigued by a comment my late mother made many years ago about her Clark family having connections with 'famous mills'. In Ireland there is the countries oldest fabric mills founded by a William Clark in 1736. And in Scotland there is a James Clark (1747-1829) that started a weavers business which eventually developed into a large well known company. Anchor Mills? Seedhill Mills? Is there a possible way forward in finding out if there are any connections between these and my g.grandfather William Richard Clark (1876) ?