Find Ancestors

Would deaths in Widnes or Runcorn area be registered in Prescot?
I'm trying to find the death of Thomas Birchall.
He was born about 1813 in St. Helens, and married Indiana Nield in 1832. Indiana died in 1854 and Thomas re-married to Millicent Bishop in 1855.
Thomas was a waterman/mariner and in 1861 was working on his boat while his wife, Millicent, was at home in Farnworth with two of the children.
In 1871 Millicent is shown as a widow, living in Runcorn with two children - Blanche age 6 and William age 2.
This is my dilemma - I don't know where or when Thomas died. Was he at home or on his boat?

Have you checked freebmd

What about this one

Thomas Birchall
Gender: Male
Age: 48
Birth Date: 1813
Death Date: 11 Oct 1861
Burial Date: 15 Oct 1861
Burial Place: St. Thomas, Ashton In Makerfield, Lancaster, England
FHL Film Number: 1885663
Reference ID: p15 rn 117


But there are several of the same name

Click on the district name on freebmd to see what area it covers

For the time-scale in question..........

Runcorn is a DISTRICT in Cheshire,

Prescot is a DISTRICT in Lancashire

1861 census doesn’t seem to give any indication of where in the country the barge was situated

Look for a possible death on the GRO site, where age is given

The only way to be sure is to buy a copy of the death cert..............suggestion only

BIRCHALL, THOMAS 47
GRO Reference: 1861 S Quarter in PRESCOT Volume 08B Page 349


This is the one whose burial is posted above
BIRCHALL, THOMAS 48
GRO Reference: 1861 D Quarter in WIGAN Volume 08C Page 5

Name: Thomas Birchall
Gender: Male
Age: 42
Birth Year: abt 1813
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 17 Dec 1855
Parish: Prescot, St Helens, Lancashire, England
Spouse: Millecent Bishop
Spouse Age: 28
Father: Joseph Birchall**********************************Bargeman
Spouse Father: Thomas Dickin

Name: Thomas Birchall
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 28 Nov 1813
Christening Place: St Helens, Lancashire, England
Father: Joseph Birchall ***********************************
Mother: Hannah Birchall

Although the births of Indiana's daughters Annie and Mary Ellen are registered, none of Millicent's children's births appear to be registered - or at least not as Birchall.

Frank (c1865 per 1881 census); Blanche c1865 (per 1871 census) ; William c1869 (per 1871 and 1881 censuses).
No sign of Frank in 1871 census.

Millicent seems to have been born Dicken/Dickin, probably illegitimately.
Married Charles Bishop in 1853, then Thomas Birchall in 1855.

Thanks everyone. I think this is a tough one. I don’t know the exact date of Thomas’ birth so it would be a guess of his age at death. There are quite a few deaths for Thomas Birchall and this is why I was wondering about area.

The ONLY way is to bite the bullet and order a copy cert to see who the informant was

The exact DoB won’t be recorded, but the baptism gives you a clue. Did you SEE that?

I would go for the Prescot one, in your shoes.

On the night of the census, April 7th 1861, the vessel Julia, belonging to St Helen, was on the River Mersey. Thomas and Joseph Birchall were on board.

This is according to the Census Form for Vessels that was given out.

I guess the River Mersey brings us back to Runcorn, Widnes or St. Helens areas, so maybe I will have to get a certificate to see if that’s any help.

Just found a burial for Thomas in Farnworth for 28 August 1861, age 47. This could be the one mentioned above.
If so, then who was father of Blanche and William - no wonder we can't find any birth reference for them.

Farnworth is BOLTON area

There is a Farnworth in Bolton area but the Farnworth where Thomas lived was near Widnes.

My mistake - wasn't aware of that

I still say get a copy of the PRESCOT death cert if you wish to put the matter to rest

Before 1974 Widnes was a sub-district of Prescot Registration district.

Kath. x

For our info.


1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census

Dowards Cottages, Widnes Farnworth, Prescot, Lancashire & Cheshire, England

Millicent Birchall Wife Married Female 29 1832 School Mistress Derby, Derbyshire, England
Annie Birchall Daughter Unmarried Female 12 1849 Scholar Widnes, Lancashire, England
Mary Ellen Birchall Daughter Unmarried Female 8 1853 Scholar Widnes, Lancashire, England




1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census

Cooper Street, Runcorn, Cheshire, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Millicent Birchall Head - Female 41 1830 - Derbyshire, England
Blanche Birchall Daughter - Female 6 1865 - Cheshire, England
William Birchall Son - Male 2 1869 - Cheshire, England
Thomas Stanley Boarder - Male 72 1799 - Lancashire, England



1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census

64, Bk Chapel Street, Little Bolton, Bolton, Lancashire, England


Millicent Birchall Head Widow Female 49 1832 - Derby, Derbyshire, England
Frank Birchall Son Single Male 16 1865 Iron Fitter Runcorn, Cheshire, England
William Birchall Son Single Male 12 1869 Scholar Runcorn, Cheshire, England
Andrew Allen Lodger Single Male 37 1844 General Labourer Renfrewshire, Scotland

I guess it’s the Prescot certificate then.
If he did indeed die in 1861 then it means the children with Millicent aren’t the his!

Thanks everyone.

Annie and Mary Ellen are his, but Frank, Blanche and William can't be, if he died c1861.

BIRCHALL, MARY ELLEN mmn NEILD
GRO Reference: 1851 D Quarter in PRESCOT Volume 20 Page 816

BIRSHALL, ANNA mmn NEILD
GRO Reference: 1849 S Quarter in PRESCOT Volume 20 Page 729

Blanche doesn't seem to exist at all, except in 1871.