The mysterious Mr Marsden

[PatLac]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for posting. Yes, I have this info. I wonder if the other newspaper notice of his death has more info? I don't have access to British Newspaper Archive website. If his navy file was wrong regarding birthplace, the newspapers would have published the info given by his employers, I reckon? I've seen on FindMyPast that one Wolverhampton (Parish of Tettenhal) file from the 1861 census is missing, maybe that's why we can't find his father John Marsden.

[Dave Francis]

The other newspaper article I can see was in the Liverpool Daily Post on 9 May 1902. Basically says the same thing.

[PatLac]

Thanks!

[PatLac]

1887 Gore's directory of Liverpool, page 495:

Marsden Arthur beerseller 27 Kitchen st., W
______ John railway checker 37 Garston Old Salt Works, S
______ John railway porter 3 Window lane Garston, S

Arthur is also mentioned in the 1888 directory, same address.

[PatLac]

Until 1885 the beerseller at 27 Kitchen st was Annie Godfrey. In 1886 no one is at this address, and John Marsden, railway checker (machinist in the street entry), appears at 3 Window lane Garston. In 1887-1888 Arthur Marsden is the beerseller at 27 Kitchen st. In 1889 both Arthur and John Marsden (checker) are gone.

[PatLac]

1894 Gore's directory of Liverpool

Marsden Arthur warehouseman 39 Farnworth st. Kens'ton, E
_______ John railway clerk 6 Norgate st. Sleepers hill, N

Nothing until 1900.

Interestingly, a Dorothea Marsden appears in 1896-1898 at 35 Upper Beckwith st. Birkenhead. Arthur's daughter Elizabeth Maud(e) adopted the forename Dorothea after she emigrated to Australia.

[PatLac]

Living at 35 Upper Beckwith st, Birkenhead:

Dorothea Marsden, aka Dorothy Marston (Marsdon) married to Jonathan Marsden, aka Jonathan Marston (Marsdon).

Arthur could have had his name changed or mispelled as well.

[Dave Francis]

Arthur Marsden (publican of Kitchen Street) and Charlotte Parr (widow of Toxteth Park) were married on 14 June 1886 at St James Church, Toxteth.

Charlotte was supposedly 28 years old at the time and said to be daughter of a mariner called Edward Richardson.

Going back in time, we find that Charlotte Richardson (19, daughter of Edward Richardson) and James Parr (age 20, son of Robert Parr) were married on 15 Sept 1873 at St John the Bapist, Toxteth.

Publican Arthur Marsden was said to be the son of another publican called George Marsden.

But he was 23 years old in 1886 and basically the same age as 'our' Arthur.

And the signature on the marriage register is suspiciously similar to his as well.

I can't find Charlotte in 1891.

But there's a possible sighting of her in 1901. A married 44 year old woman called Charlotte Marston is living in Wednesfield, Staffs, supposedly as the 'wife' of a man called William Chidley. Census also says she was born in Willenhall.

So...

Did our Arthur first marry Charlotte in 1886?

Did they split up?

Did he commit bigamy when he married Hannah in 1896?

Did he conceal his father's real name in order to partially conceal his identity?

Not sure whether all the dots join up.

Anyone want to have a bash?

[PatLac]

Charlotte Marsden, buried 24 Nov 1892, aged 38, Toxteth Park Cemetery, Sec. 8, Grave 78. Could it be her?