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Hi,

You may find it interesting when looking for information around Cheshire in the earlier years to look at Cheshire Parish Register Database (it has individual parishes for births, marriages and deaths) so you can concentrate on one area such as Nantwich.

Just a thought for you to consider and add to your weapons to maybe find additional details, For example - William Hope's probable birth was on 4 May 1807 parents Thomas (a Cordwainer) and Ann Kettle (married 31 May 1803) and details of many of his siblings

Alan

Hi,

Like CaroleW, I am also from Liverpool, loved the Beatles music, and visited the cavern on many occasions, saw The Beatles live at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool with Cilla Black also on the the show - it was a great night - happy memories.

There was a recording done at the Cavern Club, called At The Cavern, recorded live and a 16 track Decca LP was released in 1964, introduced by Bob Wooler, the compere and DJ at The Cavern featuring Nine artists at the time - including Heinz, The Big Three, The Marauders, The Fortunes, Dave Berry and the Cruisers, Beryl Marsden, Lee Curtis and the All-Stars, The Dennisons, and Bern Elliott and the Fenmen. There is a picture of me in my youth on the back cover of the LP. 

Hi,

I am beginning to think that with reference to Piers (or Peter Legh) that this branch of the Legh family was not the Adlington Legh's but the Lyme Legh's.

Various Sir Piers Legh are associated with what is now Lyme Hall (in Lyme Park, Disley, Stockport  and from your timescale maybe you should be looking at Sir Piers Legh (1563-1636) who was an MP for Wigan, knighted at Greenwich in 1598. His father Piers died in 1570, and a son Peter (1588-1624) lived at Bradley Hall near Standish Wigan.

Another option is Sir Piers Legh who built Lyme Hall who died 6 Dec 1589, knighted in 1544 and was the High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1550, but may be a little early to fit with your time frame. The family wealth came from Coal Mining.

Lyme Park is now run by the National Trust - the location was used for the film Pride and Prejudice.

Lots there to investigate if it is of interest.

Alan 

Hi

I have a brochure/booklet from Adlington Hall which is the home of the Leghs of Adlington, which shows the male line and their wife's (but unfortunately not all of the individual children)

You could perhaps contact the Hall 01625 829206 to see if they have any knowledge of Margaret Legh. I don't think it is open to visitors any longer as I believe the family have recently left and it was being sold. However I think a caretaker may still be in place there. 

There are numerous Thomas Legh's dates as follows -

1452-1519 - Wife Catherine (daughter of Sir John Savage)
1527-1548 - Wife Maria (daughter of Richard Grosvenor)
1547- 1601 - Wife Sibilia (daughter of Sir Urian Brereton)
1593-1644 - Wife Ann (daughter and co-heiress of John Gobarte)
1614- 1687 - Wife Mary (daughter of Thomas Bolles)
1644- 1691 - Wife Joanna (daughter and heiress of Sir John Maynard)

The brochure/booklet lists the tree starting with Robert De Legh (1308-1370) whose wife was Sybil daughter of Henry De Honford. He had a second wife Matilda who was the daughter and heiress of Sir Adam Norley.

However the history of the owners of the Hall goes back to Saxon times when Earl Edwin built a Hunting Lodge there. It became the ancestral home of the ancient and noble family of Legh, when the daughter of Hugh De Corona, Lucy had one son Thomas, who died childless, and two daughters Ellen and Isabel. Ellen married John De Legh of Booth and during the reign of Edward II, Thomas granted Adlington Hall to John and Ellen for life.

There are 14 generation between 1308 and 1644 - 6 x Robert's; 6 Thomas's; 1x George; 1x Uriah, and a further 13 generations post 1644.

Hopefully this gives some insight into the family history.

Alan
 

Hi,

Looking at the GRO records, these indicate that Hannah Jane Smith birth (Wrexham Sept Qtr 1876, Vol 11B, Page323) did not show a mothers maiden name. This normally tends to suggest an illegitimate birth.

I would contend that in the 1881 census, it is not unreasonable to presume it very likely to be the same person, now being looked after by Mary Dodd - possibly a sister or other relative of Jane Smith?

I have seen similar situations previously, with the position becoming clearer when the individual married and her birth fathers name appeared on the marriage certificate.

I would think her birth fathers surname was "Harper" but if you cannot find an actual marriage for Hannah, which could have information to help solve your dilemma, it could be difficult to establish precise details. 

Have you looked for male "Harper" in the area and discounted any of them?  There is a boarder James Harper in the same area Gresford age 35 in 1881 which might be of interest?

Its a bit of guesswork currently I'm afraid.

Alan