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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: Debwilson1967 on Wednesday 28 March 07 07:46 BST (UK)

Title: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: Debwilson1967 on Wednesday 28 March 07 07:46 BST (UK)
I am looking for any info on the Brooker family born in Liverpool.  My husband's X4 great Grandfather, James Brooker, was born in 1815, Liverpool, the son of William Brooker & Esther Gorton.  We know that James moved to Cumberland and was a well known ship carver, winning a medal at the 1851 Great Exhibition.  For some reason they moved to Sunderland where he came on hard times and eventually ended in a workhouse where he died.
Not having much luck in tracing the Brooker family in Liverpool.  Esther Gorton is possibly the daughter of Richard Gorton & Esther Benson.  Was wondering if anyone Else can help.  Any help greatly appreciated ::)
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: Mike Thw on Wednesday 28 March 07 15:24 BST (UK)
The Brooker family is in the 1841 Census: do you have that?

William c1781
Ester c 1781
Then an extended family of at least 2 generations from William and Mary (both c1810) to Margaret Brooker (c1839).

There is no James in Liverpool  - presumably he's in Cumberland with his wife Jane.

Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: Pegasuss on Thursday 29 March 07 00:37 BST (UK)
Deb.

Further to Merc's comment:

1841 Census

William    BROOKER, 60Yrs old, Ship Wright
Esther     BROOKER, 60Yrs old
Mary        BROOKER, 25Yrs old
John        BROOKER, 20Yrs old, Ship Carver
Margaret BROOKER, 15Yrs old
William    BROOKER, 31Yrs old, Ship Wright
Mary        BROOKER, 31Yrs old
Esther     BROOKER, 11Yrs old
Priscilla    BROOKER, 9Yrs old
William    BROOKER, 3Yrs old
Margaret BROOKER, 2Yrs old
(All born 'In County')

Also, from IGI familysearch:

Christenings

1. William BROOKER
Christened: 11th August 1833, St Nicholas, Liverpool
Parents: William & Mary BROOKER
(This Wm must have Died @1833-38?)

2. William Gorton BROOKER
Christened: 4th February 1838, St Nicholas, Liverpool
Parents: William & Mary BROOKER

3. Margaret BROOKER
Christened: 9th June 1839, St Nicholas, liverpool
Parents: William & Esther BROOKER

4. Hester BROOKER
Christened: 20th September 1829, St Nicholas, Liverpool
Parents: William & Esther BROOKER

5. Pricilla BROOKER
Christened: 20th November 1831, St Nicholas, Liverpool
Parents: William & Mary BROOKER

6. Alfred BROOKER
Christened: 6th May 1849, St Nicholas, Liverpool
Parents: William & Mary BROOKER

7. Esther BROOKER
Christened: 20th Bebruary 1803, Eccleston by Chorley, Lanc's
Parents: William & Esther BROOKER

Marriages

1. William BROOKER & 'Easter' GORTON (miss-Transcribed I think!) ::)
12th April 1801, Leyland, Lanc's

2. William BROOKER & Mary WHELSBY
30th March 1829, St Nicholas, Liverpool

Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: Debwilson1967 on Thursday 29 March 07 07:45 BST (UK)
Big thanks, i didn't have the 1841 census, only James and yes he was in Maryport by then.  Will keep on looking  ;D
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: simone on Saturday 21 July 07 21:13 BST (UK)
Hello Deb

I have the same family as you in my tree.  William Brooker and Esther Gorton were my gggg grandparents.  I am descended from their son Richard, b c1809 in Wrightington.   :)
The story has been passed through our family that the Brookers were very famous for their carving, and my grandfatehr used to say that they had carved the organ in St Georges Hall.  I did not know about James though and his medal.

I also have Esther's parents as possible Richard Gorton and Esther Benson, though haven't been able to prove it yet.

William Brooker was born Bristol c 1780, but haven't anymore on him yet.

It look like we have followed the same route near enough and come to the same dead end :-\

Do you have your tree on Genes Reunited.  If you are a member I would be happy for you to see mine.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Simone x
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: redkop on Sunday 29 July 07 21:04 BST (UK)


Hi Deb,

I will try and get a copy of the marriage cert of William and Mary, next time I go to the RO. At least this will give you their fathers.

Red   :)
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: simone on Sunday 29 July 07 22:02 BST (UK)
Hi Deb & redkop

In have William married to Mary Whelsby as son to William and Esther.  They had a son William Gorton Brooker, so I assume named after his grandmother with the Gorton bit. ;)  Although I don't actually have the marriage cert for William to Mary, so I too would be grateful for your lookup, thank you Redkop, then I can mark it all as confirmed :D

I have tried and treid to get the marriage for William and Esther at Leyland, but I have been told by Leyland that the records are missing ???

Richard Brooker was born 1809 in Wrightington and according to the census records & BIVRI. Richard married Charlotte Bainbridge Whatton in 1832, so he is not on census with the family, but is listed in his own right.
HO107 519 12 32 12  at
Name Age  Lower Castle Street
Caroline W Brooker 1 
Charlotte Brooker 30 
Charlotte Brooker 6 
Elizabeth Brooker 5 
Richard Brooker 30  -joiner
Richard Brooker 8 

I have William Brooker b c 1780's death certificate, as well as Richard's, so if you would like a copy Deb, let me know :)
William died of Climateric decay on 28 Dec 1860, at 93 Soho Street, Liverpool, where Esther is listed as publican of the White Lion in 1861.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Simone x
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: redkop on Tuesday 31 July 07 20:38 BST (UK)

Hi,

I have the marriage cert, if you pm me your email addy, I will send it to you.

Red  :D
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: redkop on Wednesday 01 August 07 11:06 BST (UK)


Hiya,

I have sent you the cert this morning, plus a photo of the church. Can you let me know if you get them please.

Red   :D
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: Jaychris on Sunday 16 November 14 00:44 GMT (UK)
William Brooker & Esther Gorton are my 4 x great grandparents.   I am descended from their daughter Esther who married William Guest.   I have dug out a lot of info on this branch of my family and here's what I've got.   William Brooker & Esther Gorton married on 12 April 1801 at Leyland, Lancs.   William was a Carpenter.   The witnesses at their wedding were Robert Gorton and Nicholas Plaskett.
These are the children I've found from the marriage.
1.  Esther Brooker (mine)
X (bapt) 20.02.1803, St Mary the Virgin, Eccleston by Chorley
Abode:  states This Parish - covered a few villages incl Shevington & Wrightington
2.  Priscilla Brooker
X 17.06.1805, St Wilfrid's, Standish
Abode:  Shevington
3.  William Brooker
X 10.05.1807, St Wilfrid's, Standish
Abode:  Shevington
4.  Richard Brooker
X 20.08.1809, St Wilfrid's;  Abode:  Shevington
5.  Mary Brooker
X 28.02.1813, Liverpool St Nicholas
Abode:  Queen Street
6.  James Brooker
X 08.10.1815, Liverpool St Nicholas
Abode:  Leeds Street
7.  John Brooker
X 08.01.1819, Liverpool St Peter
Abode:  Leeds Street
8.  Margaret Eliza Brooker
X 20.06.1821, Liverpool St Peter
Abode:  Eaton Street
9.  George Brooker
X 16.04.1824, Liverpool St Peter
Abode:  Leeds Street

There is other information if you'd like it.

Jay
Richard Brooker
X 20.08.1809, St Wilfrid's, Standish
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: Jaychris on Sunday 16 November 14 00:57 GMT (UK)
Just seen a post saying that someone has the marriage certificate for William Brooker & Esther Gorton.   The post said to pm that person with an email address and he/she would email a copy of the MC.   Do you think I could have a copy too, please?   Not sure how I pm anyone though - so would some kind person tell me?

By the way I, too, have Esther Gorton (m Brooker) as being the daughter of Richard Gorton & Esther Benson.   Esther Gorton was baptized on 12 September 1779 at Eccleston (with Douglas Chapel), near Croston (nr Chorley).

Did James die in a Sunderland Workhouse?   I found his widow living in Sunderland with her son George Brooker who obtained Masters & Mates Certificates at Sunderland (2nd Mate issued 10.11.1869, 1st Mate issued 22.05.1877 and Masters issued 20.03.1876).   I thought his widow Jane had already been widowed before she moved to Sunderland - but I did not check it out thoroughly. 

Only one child remained in the Sunderland area after she married - it looks as though some returned to Cumberland.

This is a very interesting family history as far as I can see - and yes, my own great-grandfather was a ship's carver.   
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: Jaychris on Sunday 16 November 14 01:06 GMT (UK)
I have more children of William Brooker & Mary Whelsby to add to the list that Pegasus posted.

There were two Marys:

Mary Brooker (the first one who must have died)
X 12.06.1836 at Liverpool St Nicholas
Fthr's Occ:  Shipwright
Abode:  Eatson Street

Mary Brooker (the second one)
X 06.02.1842, Liverpool St Nicholas
Fthr's Occ:  Shipwright
Abode:  Green Street (but I think this may have been mis-read)

George Brooker
X 03.12.1843, Liverpool St Nicholas
Fthr's Occ:  Shipwright
Abode:  Gascoyne Street

John Brooker
X 19.09.1852, Liverpool St Nicholas
Fthr's Occ:  Shipwright
Abode:  Eldon Place.

Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: Jaychris on Sunday 16 November 14 13:16 GMT (UK)
I found one death for a James Brooker - at Stockton District in Co Durham in 1860.   There is a burial index for James Brookes (often mistaken r for s) in Sunderland the same year but I don't have access to these.

If James died at Stockton he could have been working at the shipyards that were then.
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: Jaychris on Friday 09 October 15 15:04 BST (UK)
There's a photo of James BROOKER, born 1815, Liverpool online.  He is my 3 x gt uncle.
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: ericamcc1 on Friday 30 October 15 11:26 GMT (UK)
Hi,
I'm not sure if someone has already mentioned this but there is a great article on the Brookers called 'James and George Brooker: West Cumberland shipcarvers of the mid-19th
century' By D. Ian Smith which is worth a read. Also, does anyone know of any proof that he one a medal at the Great Exhibition? I can't find his name on the Reports by the Juries.
Thanks
Title: Re: Brooker/Gorton family, Liverpool
Post by: Jaychris on Sunday 29 November 15 16:13 GMT (UK)
I can confirm that James Brooker born 1815 did die at Sedgefield, County Durham in 1860.