24 Ruthin Street, Liverpool

[HistoricalGenealogy]

The 1871 census has two households at that address:

James Lodgwick/Sedgwick, 30, and his wife Hannah
John Ayrey? 37 (tenor vocalist!) wife and daughter

The Ayrey entry is
Registration District West Derby
ED 7
piece 3840
folio 55
page 40

He was a Tenor Vocalist! That’s amazing!

[LizzieL]

The two year old Ann Ayrey (b Middlesex) could be Annie Carrington Ayrey birth reg Pancras 1869 mmn Gordon
There is a marriage of a John Ayrey reg West Derby district 1865, one possible bride Mary Ann Gordon.
John born Leeds, Mary Ann b Wales (can't read town)

[LizzieL]

Found the marriage record on Ancestry, but John is a bookkeeper. Ages match with those for John and Mary Ann in 1871. Her residence was Swansea at time of marriage. Perhaps he started singing as a hobby then became a professional.

[HistoricalGenealogy]

Who lived before James & John?

[LizzieL]

The street isn't on 1861 census, which is consistent with reply #9 - area developed in 1863.
In 1881 there is a William Ball (horse shoer) and wife and 1 year old son. Maybe the one you have as William Beh in original list.

[AlanBoyd]

1872
possible sighting:
St Giles and Bloomsbury Workhouse admission
Sunday 22nd December
Mary A Ayrey, b 1843
Ann Ayrey b 1868

[AlanBoyd]

1881
6 Canon? Street St Mary, Islington
John Ayrey, 47, vocalist born Leeds
his wife Ada 30 mantle maker "Kent 7 Oaks"
Ada, 4 born Finsbury

[scotmum]

Numerous newspaper mentions of a John Ayrey, tenor vocalist, including links to the Mowhawk Minstrels https://musicb3.wordpress.com/2019/10/25/minstrels/ . Possibly began young, as also mention of a John Ayrey, alto.

[LizzieL]

Oh dear, wife and child in the workhouse. Did he dump Mary Ann and take up with Ada?