Hampson family - Runcorn watermen

[Meezer]

Simeon John was a son of William Hampson.

[frankray]

Simeon John was a son of William Hampson.

Which William Hampson would that be please.

[Meezer]

William Hampson, railway signalman - living at 26, Suffolk Street Runcorn on the 1891 census. If you type in "Simeon Hampson" (without the J) you'll find the family on the 1891 census.

[hoople]

Meezer - delighted to see photo of Harriet Hampson, who is also my Great - Great Grandmother. My Grandfather was Herbert Hampson 1868-95. He was Harriet and James' youngest child. That photo would almost certainly have been taken by George Brocklebank at his studio in Widnes. Harriet was living close by in Charles Street with her daughter and son-in-law.
Do you know who the two children are? I would guess that the girl is Harriet Brocklebank or it could be her sister Flora.

[hoople]

Correction.   That should have said that Herbert Hampson was my GREAT Grandfather.

[Meezer]

Hi Hoople - have replied to you via message.

I'm pretty sure that the children are Flo (Flora) and John. George, who worked as a photographer, was Harriet's grandson, my grandmother's brother.

[Ceratonia]

Meezer - delighted to see photo of Harriet Hampson, who is also my Great - Great Grandmother. My Grandfather was Herbert Hampson 1868-95.

Herbert Hampson was my Grandmother's Grandfather (she is in her 90s). I have a pdf of a Widnes directory of 1895 which lists "Hampson Hrbt Relieving Officer 55 Birchfield Road Appleton." but I've yet to discover what a Relieving Officer did.

[Meezer]

A Relieving Officer was an "Official of the Poor Law Union to whom the poor or retarded persons in the parish could apply for poor relief". ("Retarded" is the word from the occupations list of the time not mine!)

[hoople]

Herbert Hampson was appointed Relieving Officer for Widnes in 1891, at £100 per year. At the same meeting it was proposed that a straight-jacket for lunatics also be purchased!

Herbert died in 1895 after a visit to Manchester to see his sister, when he caught a chill in poor weather and died a few days later.