Ellen Rooney. St.Helens, Lancs.

[carole oh]

Hi Nieve, I have never heard of Sutton rd Rainhill and I only live 10 mins or so from Rainhill.
There is however a Sutton Heath Rd that runs off Rainhill rd, maybe it could be that. Rainhill Mental Hosp no longer  exists, well part of it does but its just a clinic , the majority of the hospital; was knocked down and is now a housing estate.
There is a row of large houses that I believe were Doctors houses, the address of the doctor you gave rang a bell I will check it for you.
Have you ever considered Ellen could have been buried in a catholic church yard? as you say it's a mystery do you think  she died in Rainhill hosp, if so perhaps her family tried to hide the fact she died in a mental institiuon.  I'will be in touch when I have checked that address out Best Wishes caroleoh

[heywood]

Hi Carole,

I had looked for Sutton Road on 1881 census and it was there - still is on map- I have googled it and tried to send a link but it just goes to the general site.
Can you think of any Catholic churches nearby where this Ellen may have been buried from?
heywood

[MUMMYG]

Nearest RC church probably St Austins, Heath Street Thatto Heath.

RSD = Rural Sanitary District similar to Borough Council

Rainhill Asylum wasnt that bad as Mental Hospitals go, there is a story on this site

http://www.gentgoddard.co.uk/index.php/william-gent-1879-1949

And heres somewhere that tells you how to obtain records...

http://www.mersey-gateway.org/server.php?show=ConNarrative.186&chapterId=1011

Hope it helps

[jvy20]

Hi,

Another RC Church in Rainhill is St Bart's in Warrington Road close to Rainhill Stoops.

Regards

John

[MUMMYG]

Also the great Irish church then was Sacred Heart on Borough Road, its gone now but records

must still be around, in fact Im sure someone on here has all these records, ?Willowtree?

[Mojave59]

Try St Annes and Blessed Dominic Catholic Parish
Church Monastry lane  Sutton St Helens.

[carole oh]

Hi Nieve, Not had chance to check out the doctor address yet, but apparently Sutton Rd is'nt in Rainhill ,it actually runs along side Peasley cross Rd. Which we have always referred to that area as Peasley Cross.
There was a catholic church in Peasley cross called St Josephs unfortunately no longer there.
Also only about a mile down the road from there is Holy Cross which is still there.
Perhaps if you asked St Helens Library of any possible burials there they could tell you.
I know St Austins very well there is no graveyard there and Sacred Heart is also unlikely . St Barts at Rainhill, could have had one in the past but i'm not very well informed on that particular church. Be in touch when I have checked that address for you. Best Wishes Caroleoh

[nieve]

Hi everybody, thank you all for interest and input.   How easy is it to find out whether Sutton Road, Rainhill was a hospital or a private address?    If it was just a private address then Ellen died in her own little bed, but if it was a hospital then there may be records.  Next point is:-  The name Rooney was crossed out and corrected.    Obviously John instructed the registrar.   I think, by the absence of records, that he made that name up in a hurry/panic/or the registrar misheard him.   Either way, it looks a little fishy!    Next:-   Where was she buried.   The St.Helens grave site has no records of her and I can't see her being buried any further afield.   If she was buried in any Catholic Church graveyard then wouldn't it still be listed in the St.Helens grave site?   My next plan is, as Carole oh suggested, is to write to St.Helens library to see if they have any info. about Ellen Rourny.    Thank you Heywood - I have read the topic you mentioned.   Carole oh - just reading your last message.   You mentioned that Sutton Road runs along side of Peasley Cross Lane.   In the 1881 census they all lived at 110 Peasley Cross Lane, which means that she was, if it is her, familiar with the area.   To be continued.........Nieve. 

[carole oh]

Hi Nieve,
Dont     worry too much about the name Rooney being misspelt, was her brother or Ellen born in Ireland? if so the dialect was very hard to understand so the person writing out the record often could'nt understand what was said so put down what they thought to be correct. I think I mentioned the same thing happened to me when I was looking for the birth of my husbands GGrandma her name was O'Keefe but she was actual Kieve on her birth cert.
Secondly Rainhill Hosp was never on Sutton Rd, it actually ran down Rainhill Rd for as long as I can remember  I was brought up 5 minutes away from the hosp.
 What makes you think she died in  Rainhill Hosp? there was St Helens Hospital in Peasley Cross Rd for many years there is a modern hospital on the same sight now, as Ellen lived in Peasley Cross it could have been there.
 Also the catholic church St Josephs must have had a grave yard then, so obviously when it was demolished the bodies would have been reburied.
 If she died in the St Helens District there must be a record of her burial somewhere, have you tried Lancashire Records they are quite helpful you will find them on the internet. There is another very old church at Sutton down the road from Peasley Cross called St Nicholas but unfortunately it is C.OF E I'll be in touch Best Wishes Caroleoh