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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cheshire => Topic started by: nalaselig on Tuesday 25 January 11 08:51 GMT (UK)
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Can anybody suggest where I can find documented records for the period 1804-1822 of the keepers (publicans) of Flint Ferry Alehouse in Parkgate, which subsequently became the Ferry House in 1827 (A.J. MacGregor –Alehouses & Alehouse-Keepers of Cheshire), the Boat House in the 1850s and later the Pengwern Arms before being rebuilt as the Boathouse Tea Rooms in 1926 and is now a pub/restaurant of the same name. I believe my great-great-great grandmother, Mary Davies (Née Bloor) was the publican during the period 1804-1821. She married John Davies, a draper, in 1804 but both are recorded as publicans in Parkgate in baptismal records of their children (St. Mary & Helens, Neston) in the period 1806-1814. John Davies died sometime prior to 1818 and Mary remarried George Barlow in 1819 and she herself died in 1821. A.J. MacGregor –Alehouses & Alehouse-Keepers of Cheshire records that a George Barlow was the publican of the Flint Ferry for one year (1822) but was succeeded by John Bloor, who was the publican from 1823-28. George Barlow moved on to become a publican in Heswell. This information from MacGregor suggests that Mary & John Davies were the publicans of the Flint Ferry Alehouse and that it passed to Mary’s second husband after her death before being ‘reclaimed’ by the Bloor family. However I would like to find some formal documentation of this and also try to establish the date of the death of John Davies. Any help or advice as to where to search for this would be much appreciated.
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Hello nasaselig,
Welcome to Roots Chat.
One source of information for you to pursue would be the Trade and Commercial Directories for Cheshire and Parkgate. These were published going back to the 1700s and there would be some available for the period you are querying.
Some of these are available online via the Cheshire Record Office web site. The only one that covers the years are mention is 1822-3 Pigot's Directory of Cheshire which lists this as Flint and Bagillt Ferry House with George Barlow as licensee.
These directories are held in the Record Office and many libraries keep them too. They were prepared for each year generally.
Otherwise, I am aware that many books have been written on the history of Parkgate and you may find some information in one of these. I doubt it would give you the precise detail you are seeking however.
There is a burial of a John Davies in Backford church on 04/09/1816. He is shown as aged 33 and resident in Mollington. This is on the Cheshire Parish Register Database.
Jo
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Jo,
Thanks, that is really helpful. I have found reference in Pigot's directories for 1828 & 1830 to John Bloor being the publican of the Flint & Bagillt Ferry House confirming and expanding on the reference in A.J. MacGregor's book. Obviously I need to locate copies for the earlier years I am interested in. Any ideas where they may be? I live in France but visit London & Cheshire frequently. Thanks also to reference to the burial of John Davies in Backford. I have checked all the 'family' parish churches without success. Backford was not one on the list but it is not far from Neston so certainly it is worth checking out.
Thanks again
Alan
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Hi, nalselig, The Cheshire Archives have licence agreements for certain years. I have some publicans in my line and found the licence for 1820. The online catalogue does not always give you exactly what you are looking for and I suggest you give them a ring to see just what they have. Not all records are held on site and if they have what you are looking for, just check that they don't have to be ordered.
Good Hunting
Regards
Kathb
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Hello nalaselig,
The Trade and Commercial Directories are kept in the Cheshire Record Office in Chester and also in the Chester History and Heritage Centre which is on Bridge St Row, Chester. Chester library holds some of them as well.
Since Parkgate was in The Wirral, you may find that a few libraries hold them there.
I did wonder about the burial in Backford. This was in view of the fact his residence was shown as Mollington, just a short distance from Parkgate.
In years gone by, maybe even now, The Boathouse in Parkgate was a very "in" place with the Cheshire and Wirral sets. I remember it well!
My advice would be to enquire as to the research facilities offered by the RO. this type of thing would not be too time consuming and it may be cheaper than coming over yourself. It depends on whether you are due for a visit anyway.
Jo