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Hi everyone,

I was searching on the IGI Pilot Record Scheme Website last night and I found the following marriage between John Thomas Simpson (aged 21) and Phillis Brett (aged 21). The marriage took place in Walton On The Hill, Lancashire on 21 November 1839.

Now Phillis' father is recorded as Thomas Brett, making me beleive that she is a very distant aunt of mine. However, her birth year is 'out' by eight years.

I'm interested to see if anyone can spot her in the census. Unless she was widowed and remarried she should appear as:

Phillis Simpson (nee Brett), born 1810 in Wrenbury, Cheshire, wife of John Thomas Simpson.

This is all of the infromation I have for Phillis and her possible spouse. I don't even know if they had any children as of yet! I would suspect that her name is quite unusal, hopefully making it quite easy to spot her?!

Can anyone see Phillis in the census please, and see if the information correlates with the birth information I have for her?

Thank you

1851 England Census
about Phillis Simpson
Name: Phillis Simpson
Age: 39
Estimated birth year: abt 1812
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: J T
Gender: Female
Where born: Wrenbury, Cheshire, England

Civil parish: Farndon
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Registration district: Great Boughton
Sub-registration district: Tattenhall
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 47
Household Members: Name Age
J T Simpson 49
Phillis Simpson 39
Eleanor Simpson 11 - Daughter
Amelia Simpson 30 - Sister
John Simpson 17 - Nephew
Thomas Simpson 12 - Nephew
Sarah Allen 26 - Servant
Rachel Davies 18 - Servant
John Jones 20 - Servant

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2171; Folio: 83; Page: 16; GSU roll: 87159-87161.

1861 England Census
about Phillis Simpson
Name: Phillis Simpson
Age: 45
Estimated birth year: abt 1816
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: John Thomas
Gender: Female
Where born: Wrenbury, Cheshire, England

Civil parish: Farndon
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Registration district: Great Boughton
Sub-registration district: Tattenhall
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 17
Household Members: Name Age
John Thomas Simpson 61
Phillis Simpson 45
Eleanor Simpson 20
Eizat Mostyn 24 - Servant
Catherine Williams 22 - Servant
Hugh Jones 21 - Servant

Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 2624; Folio: 23; Page: 4; GSU roll: 543001

1871 England Census
about Phillis Simpson
Name: Phillis Simpson
Age: 56
Estimated birth year: abt 1815
Relation: Head - Widow
Gender: Female
Where born: Wrenbury, Cheshire, England
Civil parish: Farndon
Town: Farndon
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England
Registration district: Chester
Sub-registration district: Tattenhall
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Household schedule number: 3
Household Members: Name Age
Phillis Simpson 56
Jane Morris 32 - Servant
Eliza Caldnote 28 - Servant

Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 3717; Folio: 26; Page: 1; GSU roll: 842125

Possible, she's cagey with her age!!!!!

1881 England Census
about Phillis Simpson
Name: Phillis Simpson
Age: 59
Estimated birth year: abt 1822
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Wrenbury, Cheshire, England

Civil parish: Farndon
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Street Address: Riverside Back
Condition as to marriage: Windower (Widower)

Occupation: Annuitant

Registration district: Chester
Sub-registration district: Tattenhall
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Phillis Simpson 59
William Judd 30 - Servant
Sophia Judd 30- Servant
Emma Worley 21 - Servant

Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 3552; Folio: 30; Page: 17; GSU roll: 1341850

Same person in 1891, living on own means, same address as 1881

1891 England Census
about Philis Simpson
Name: Philis Simpson
Age: 69
Estimated birth year: abt 1822
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Nantwich, Cheshire, England

Civil parish: Farndon
Ecclesiastical parish: Farndon
Town: Farndon
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Registration district: Chester
Sub-registration district: Tattenhall
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Philis Simpson 69
Elizabeth Edwardson 45 - Servant
Mary Thomas 22 - Servant

Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 2859; Folio 23; Page 1; GSU roll: 6097969

1901 England Census
about Philis Simpson
Name: Philis Simpson
Age: 79
Estimated birth year: abt 1822
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Nantwich, Cheshire, England

Civil parish: Farndon
Ecclesiastical parish: Farndon
Town: Farndon
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Registration district: Chester
Sub-registration district: Tattenhall
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 38
Household Members: Name Age
Philis Simpson 79
Martha E Davies 28 - Servant
Sarah Jane Essam 28 - Servant
Elizabeth Rowson 18 - Servant

Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 3365; Folio: 28; Page: 8

Living on own means

Hello Julia, and wow, thank you!

This seems to be Philis' husbands death:

Deaths Mar 1866 (>99%)
SIMPSON John T 67 Gt Boughton 8a 291 Scan available - click to view

Also, was she just vain? I mean, in regards to her age?

Philis' was a farmer's daughter, whose father died in the workhouse, so I am curious to see her husband's occupation, especially as he and she seem to be living constantly with three servants!

Possible death, if it is her, whoever registered knew her correct age at least!!!!

Name: Phyllis Simpson
Estimated birth year: abt 1811
Year of Registration: 1906
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at Death: 95
District: Chester
County: Cheshire, Flintshire
Volume: 8a
Page: 243

I think this is her daughters marriage

Marriages Jun 1861

Gill Robert Preston Gt Boughton 8a 497
Simpson Eleanor Lawrence Gt. Boughton 8a 497

If so, she married well

1881 England Census
about Robert P. Gill
Name: Robert P. Gill
Age: 62
Estimated birth year: abt 1819
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Eleanor L.
Gender: Male
Where born: Manchester

Civil parish: Ashton Upon Mersey
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Street Address: Wood Heys Hall
Condition as to marriage: Married

Occupation: Justice Of Peace & Wine Merchant

Registration district: Altrincham
Sub-registration district: Altrincham
ED, institution, or vessel: 13
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Robert P. Gill 62
Eleanor L. Gill 40
Robert P. Gill 19
Eleanor S. Gill 13
William Gibson 44 )
Jane Dobinson 53 )
Hannah Jenkinson 39 )
Eliza Sneath 36 ) All servants
Maria Thomas 20 )
Elizabeth Hawksworth 29 )
Louisa Radford 33 )

Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 3504; Folio: 129; Page: 3; GSU roll: 1341840

Wow Julia you are doing great! Phillis is a bit of mystery but I am interested to see she died at 95! That must almost doule the national average in 1906?!

I have just looked on the Pilot Scheme on IGI and yes the marriage of her daughter to Robert Preston Gill is correct! This seems to be her death!

Deaths Sep 1915 (>99%)
Gill Eleanor L 74 Chester 8a 354 Scan available - click to view

What a leap for her, when her own grandfather died in the Workhouse in 1862! I wonder if this was perhaps kept a secret?

I've just looked at the 1881 on ancestry; the son is at Cambridge! And all of those staff! That is a very affulent family?1

What was Philis' husband's occupation? Perhaps that helped bridge Eleanor's movement into the upper classes which she seems to have done! This must be quite an unusal story.

I know I have asked for a lot of help today, but can you, or someone else perhaps look for Eleanor and her family in 1871, 1891, 1901 and 1911?! I am very excited by this! Family history never ceases to amaze me!!!!!

Julia thank you so much! Your helpreally is appreciated! I need to dash out but don't fear, I will definitley be back, and looking forward to find out more!

Thank you again!

In 1851 JT's occupation is listed as Merchant and in 1861, retired merchant

1871 England Census
about Eleanor Lawrence Gill
Name: Eleanor Lawrence Gill
Age: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1841
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: Robert Preston
Gender: Female
Where born: Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Civil parish: Ashton Upon Mersey
Ecclesiastical parish: St Martin
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England
Registration district: Altrincham
Sub-registration district: Altrincham
ED, institution, or vessel: 9
Household schedule number: 30
Household Members: Name Age
Robert Preston Gill 52 - Wine & Spirit Merchant
Eleanor Lawrence Gill 30
Robe Preston Gill 9
Herbert Simpson Gill 7
Wm Preston Gill 5
Eleanor Simpson Gill 3
George Penny 40 )
Mary Davies 39 )
Jessie Johnson 28 )
Sarah Allen 40 ) All servants
Harriet Gregory 21 )
Salome Whittaker 30 )
Elizabeth Harksworth 19 )

Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 3683; Folio: 105; Page: 8; GSU roll: 841872

1891 England Census
about Eleanor L Gill
Name: Eleanor L Gill
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: abt 1841
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: Robert P
Gender: Female
Where born: Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Civil parish: Ashton Upon Mersey
Ecclesiastical parish: Bowdon St Mary
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Registration district: Altrincham
Sub-registration district: Altrincham
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Robert P Gill 72 - Wine Merchant
Eleanor L Gill 50
Robert P Gill 29 - Wine Merchant
Eleanor S Gill 23
Thomas H Stanbridge 30 - Visitor
Emily Stanbridge 23 - Visitor
Marion Armitage 23 - Visitor
Charles F Worrall 29 - Visitor
William Gibson 54 - Butler
John Lamond 20 - Footman
Rosa Tiernan 40 - Cook
Agnes Dunn 34 - laundress
Jane Robinson 63 - Housemaid
Emma Hall 32 - Housemaid
Kezia Ince 24 - Housemaid
Emma Cluton 18 - Kitchen maid

Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 2823; Folio 135; Page 56; GSU roll: 6097933

1901 England Census
about Eleanor L Gill
Name: Eleanor L Gill
Age: 61
Estimated birth year: abt 1840
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: Robert P
Gender: Female
Where born: Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Civil parish: Ashton Upon Mersey
Ecclesiastical parish: Ashton upon Mersey St Martin
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England


Registration district: Bucklow
Sub-registration district: Altrincham
ED, institution, or vessel: 16
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 142
Household Members: Name Age
Robert P Gill 82 - retired Wine Merchant
Eleanor L Gill 61
Robert P Gill 39 - Wine & Spirit Merchanr
Herbert S Gill 37 - Wine & Spirit Merchant
William Gibson 64 - Butler
Edward Ivery 25 - Footman
John Foster 25 - Groom
Ernest Preice 23 - Groom
Rosa Tidnan 52 - Cook
Eliza Jones 26 - Maid
Joan Miller 26 - Laundress
Sewan Veysey 21 - Housemaid
Annie S Stevens 20 - Kitchen maid
William P Gill 35 - Visitor, living on own means

Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 3323; Folio: 16; Page: 23

Maybe somebody with subs for 1911 can find her then.

Well I am flabbergasted! I had no idea I was related, albeit very distantly to such a wealthy family! I am quite shocked!

If anyone is able too, can you possibly look for the 1911?

I've looked and looked for the death of Robert Preston Gill, who was 82 in 1901 but nothing that I can see. I also looked on Free BMD for his sons but nothing is jumping out, so perhaps they emmigrated!

I'm just shocked; even though Eleanor's father was a Merchant, her maternal grandfather Thomas Brett (Philli's father, died in a workhouse). Philis' brother, my ancestor also died in a workhouse after trying to commit suicide for his destitution, and another brother killed himself after financial troubles. A cousin of Eleanor, my ancestor was in court three times for petty theft, and another cousin of hers hung himself in 1900 due to troubles with his buisness!

I do wonder if I have gone down the wrong route, even though the facts seem to match. I am just surprised that socailly Eleanor was 'allowed' to marry into such affulence, when some of her living relatives were destitute and living in abject poverty! I wonder if they all knew of one another?!

Anyone got any opinions?

Thank you Julia!

1911 census, Eleanor L Gill...


1911 address search redefine current search
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth
Year Occupation Where Born Original
census
image

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GILL, Eleanor L Head Widow F 70 1841 None Private Means Lancs Liverpool VIEW
PERRY, Jenny K Servant Single F 57 1854 Companion Domestic London Finsbury VIEW
BROOKES, Annie Servant Single F 32 1879 Nurse Sick Domestic Kentsford Cheshire VIEW
EMAN, Sarah Jane Servant Single F 38 1873 Cook Domestic Rushton Northamptonshire VIEW
PRICE, Margret Servant Single F 29 1882 Housemaid Domestic Evancoyd Radnorshire VIEW
WILD, Arthur Servant Single M 24 1887 Chauffeur Domestic Altrincham Cheshire VIEW

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RG number:
RG14 Piece:
21833 Reference:
RG14PN21833 RG78PN1301 RD450 SD1 ED2 SN1

Registration District:
Chester Sub District:
Tattenhall Enumeration District:
2 Parish:
Farndon

Address:
Dee Bank Farndon Chester County:
Cheshire


census search results 1911 address search redefine current search
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth
Year Occupation Where Born Original
census
image

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GILL, Robert Preston Boarder Single M 49 1862 Wine Merchant Manchester Lancs VIEW
GILL, Herbert Simpson Visitor Single M 47 1864 Farmer Manchester Lancs VIEW
WYRME, Catherine E Servant Single F 41 1870 Housekeeper Llansliden Denbigh VIEW
JONES, Annie Servant Single F 44 1867 Laundry Maid Hentton Denbigh VIEW
HOSEDEI, Urnisther Servant Single F 18 1893 Kitchen Maid Endon Staffs VIEW
PRESTON, Alice Servant Single F 22 1889 Housemaid Hambelton Rutland VIEW
FOAR, Annie Elizabeth Servant Single F 26 1885 Housemaid Burton on Trent VIEW
HARRISON, Thomas Servant Single M 30 1881 Butler Farndon Chester VIEW

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RG number:
RG14 Piece:
21561 Reference:
RG14PN21561 RG78PN1284 RD445 SD3 ED5 SN179

Registration District:
Bucklow Sub District:
Sale Enumeration District:
5 Parish:
Ashton upon Mersey

Address:
Woodheys Hall Washway Road Ashton - upon - Mersey County:
Cheshire

Chris :)

Cannot find a death reg for Robert Preston Gill Senior, this is possibly the son, age is correct

Name: Robert P Gill
Death Registration Month/Year: 1927
Age at death (estimated): 65
Registration district: Bucklow
Inferred County: Cheshire
Volume: 8a
Page: 172

Looks like he died in Scotland, 5th September 1902.
(notice in The Times, some other snippets too!)

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/borrower/join.asp

By joining the above library, you will get access to old newspapers.

Chris :)