Degan
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Henry FirthMy Great Grandfather Henry Firth was born in Wakefield in 1847. He married Rose Johnson in 1871 and they eventually moved to Southport via Accrington with their children.
The family's first known sitings in the area, are at 211 Kew Rd Birkdale in Slaters 1900/1 Directory and the 1901 census
In both entries it is Rose that is listed and not Henry, and in the census she is listed first as wife and not head of the house. I've tried searching for Henry/Harry and variations of the surname (even no surname) but have not found a match for him.
Rose died in 1905 and the death certificate states she was the wife of Henry Firth. She was buried in Duke St Cemetery and also in the plot are two daughters and her husband Henry who died in 1921.
Henry was usually described as a Brass/Iron Moulder in the earlier census and his children's birth certificates, but on his children's marriage certificates and his wife's death certificate he is also described as a Publican and a Furniture Remover.
211 Kew Rd is missing from the Electoral Register for 1905 and a Street Directory of 1906 lists Firth W Henry labourer as the householder, who I assume to be their son William Henry (born 1883). A Burgess Roll of 1921 shows at 16 Virginia St (where Henry died)Helen McDonald, Ellen Firth and Henry Firth. I have no idea who the two women are and I haven't found a marriage for Henry to Ellen.
Has anyone any thoughts on why Rose is not shown as head in the census,if her husband is absent (prison/hospital/pub/furniture removal van?)
My late sister got the Electoral Register/Street Directory info from the librarian at Southport, but I am not sure how many years were checked. I should like to check all the years possible, but I also want to look at Parish Registers for St Cuthberts and other churches in the area (I have Rimmers, Wrights, Halsalls, Howards etc). I'm hoping to get a few days in a Record Office next year and wonder if is better to go to Preston CRO or Southport Library. I have most of the census copies that I want, but almost no copies of parish registers.
Sorry it's a long posting, but I wanted to get all the relevant info on.
Regards Degan
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Jane
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A quick reply.
Southport reference library hold census, local directories, old local newspapers & electoral registers.
The record office in Preston holds all parish records.
That may help you to decide where to go
I have come across women on census described as wife rather than head but have no idea why - I can only assume that is how they described themselves when they filled in the schedule. The enumerator then entered the information (copied it) into their book and these are the transcripts we see.
Have you tried looking for him by first name only? You never know what his surname was transcribed as - some of the things I have seen are unbelievable
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bobg
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Seed's Southport 1914-15 Directory shows a Harry Firth, upholsterer, at 210 Bispham Rd
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