James McGrevy 1834

1834 (approx) The birth of James is not traced and is almost certainly pre-records. Based on census data, he was born between 1833 and 1835 in Cumberland. 1851 says Harrington, 1861 says Whitehaven, 1871 simply says Cumberland, 1881 and 1891 census both say Harrington (a part of Workington in what is now Cumbria) , whilst 1901 is Cumberland but has Millom or a similar word added in pencil. Millom is still in Cumbria but some way away, although there is a district Millom within the Bootle registration area which extends to at least half of the distance between Whitehaven (south of Workington) and Millom proper. There are few if any records from Millom for the McGrevy name, whilst Harrington, Whitehaven and Cockermouth are well represented.

1841 census, the family are now traced (indexed as McGray) to Hollins or Hollings, High Harrington, Cumberland. District 10 which comprises 'all that part of the parish of Harrington called the village of Higher Harrington together with the two houses called the Scaw'. HO 107/156/18. The exact location is not found, the entry is after 'Grayton Green' (?) but before the entry for 'Wiggington' (?) and what looks like 'Sticky Hill. Next entry is then 'Rectory'.

1851 Finds a likely family at 30 Hill Street in Toxteth Park in the census for that year. The family is apparently led by JOHN McGreevey (more of the name 'John' shortly). 'John' is a journeyman, Ship Smith, born Ireland, Killaleagh, (Killyleagh) married and aged 57 (b. 1794). He is married to Elizabeth, 56, b. Cumberland, Workington. Shown as their children are
  James, son,unmarried, 17, (b. 1834) blacksmith apprentice, b. Harrington, Cumberland.
   Thomas, son, unmarried,15 (b. 1836), sailmaker, b. Harrington, Cumberland.
   Catherine Tyson, daughter, married, 23 (b. 1828) b. Harrington, Cumberland.
   Henry Fitzgerald, 28, b. Ireland, Cork, Master Mariner, Son-in-law. Henry's wife is
   Sarah Fitzgerald, shown as Daughter-in-law to head of house John (after an alteration in the
   ennumerator's book), this is not correct, she is daughter.

1858 James McGrevy marries Mary Hayden. For a long time this was untraceable, however James is wrongly recorded in the GRO Index as John for this marriage, (March 1858, Liverpool 8b 95). The Lancashire records correctly show James McGrievy (another spelling!) marrying Mary Hayden in Liverpool, at St. Barnabas. The marriage was by banns of February 3rd. James gives his age as 23 (b. 1835), a shipwright of 21 Jordan Street (this is very close to the church). His father is also James, a shipwright. Mary is a spinster, aged 22 (b. 1836) and lives at 6 Jordan Street . Her father is Michael Hayden (spelt thus) an Inspector of Police. This agrees exactly with subsequently proven data for these people. Both bride and groom were able to sign their names. The witnesses were John Cusack and Joseph Curtis. No record is shown for 21 Jordan Street in the 1858 PO directory. It is towards the docks, Jamaica Street sits between 34 and 44.

1860 The family are at 59 George Street (=Gelling Street) for the birth of a daughter Elizabeth (this Elizabeth dies in infancy the following year and there is a second Elizabeth b. 1863).

1861 census finds the Heyden family (with McGrevys) at 59 George Street (later to be called Gelling Street) Michael and Ellen are James's parents-in-law. Ellen is a Bonnet Maker - the family later became Dressmakers and Milliners. James is 28, Ship Carpenter, b. Whitehaven. Mary is 29, Family Milliner, b. St Savrs, Surrey. Children with them are Ellen, aged 2, b. Liverpool, Lancs and Elizabeth aged 8 months. This Elizabeth cannot be my great grandmother Elizabeth McGrevy as she was not born until 1863 and her birth certificate is unequivocal. Checking has revealed that the couple had a daughter, Elizabeth, in 1860 who died aged 14 months in September 1861. The name was re-used for a later child, my great gradndmother, Elizabeth McGrevy in 1863.

1863 An address of 47 George Street, Toxteth for the birth of Elizabeth McGrevey (so spelled) is recorded. George Street is an older name for what came to be called Gelling Street by the 1871 census. James is shown on the birth certificate as a Shipwright journeyman. The family are clearly at number 59 in 1861, 1871 and 1881, thus it is assumed that Elizabeth was born at number 47 whilst the family were actually lioving at 59. In the 1861 census number 47 is occupied by a Police Officer, born IOM so it may be that Ellen was with a friend for the birth of Elizabeth. (n.b. there are also police living at number 29). The area is also notable for the abundance of Ship's Carpenters on the census.

1871 The family are at 59 Gelling Street in the 1871 census now under the name of McGravey. James, a ship carpenter, aged 36, (thus born pre-records) born in Cumberland is with wife Mary and Mary's parents Michael and Ellen Hayden. It has thus been possible to trace Mary's maiden name for the first time and re-affirm her London origins, which were first noted in the 1881 census. James's five known daughters are all present. There is just a possibility that a 'missing' child may have grown up and left home but this seems unlikely as none are showing in 1861.

1880 The 1881 Kelly (from data gathered 1880) has just one incidence of a McGrevy in the whole of Liverpool. This is James McGrevy and he is shwon bith as a wardrobe dealer (name listing) and a clothes dealer (address listing) at 84 Park Road. This would be on the west side between Northumberland St (at 70 Park Road) and the Park Street junction (letterbox and St John Baptist both mentioned). No 84 is very close to 128 where the shop is later found. (In 1881 Kelly, number 128 Park Road is a cocoa rooms).

1881 Although Michael and Ellen have both died the rest of the family are still at the same address at 59 Gelling Street. James is now aged 46, consistent with birth in 1835, Ship Carpenter, born Harrington, Cumberland. There are only four daughters with James and Mary,as Ellen has married in January of 1881 and left home.

1891 Some time between 1881 and 1891 the family moved to 128 Park Road, which was to become the home of some of this branch (and relatives) for the next 50 years. In the census of 1891 James, 58, is a Shipwright, employed, born Harrington, Cumberland living with Mary and the same 4 daughters as in 1881. Ellen still being absent.

1894 James's daughter Elizabeth McGreavy married Samuel Jabez Williams. James is shown on the marriage certificate as a shipwright. Elizabeth's address is given as 128 Park Road, thus it is assumed that James was also. (n.b. in the 1894 directory, No 84 Park Road no longer shows James McGrevy in business, supporting the identity of the 1880-81 person).

1901 in the census James McGrevy, aged 67, worker, Shipwright, born Millom(?), Cumberland, is still at 128 Park Road with wife Mary and children Susan, Mary and Ellen (now Farrington). Elizabeth has married (1894) and is living nearby. Sarah has married, moved away and died in the 10 years since 1891 census.

1910 The death of James, aged 75, was on 17th January 1910 ( March qtr 1910 Toxteth Park 8b 103). James, a journeyman shipwright died of a ruptured anueryism, his daughter Susan was the informant. His name is now spelled McGrevey.

siblings	Sarah 1823	Catherine 1828	Peter 1829	James 1834
	Thomas 1837

year	Address	stated age	source	proof	calc age
1834	Harrington, Cumberland	0	census data		1834
1841	Harrington, Cumberland	7	census data		1834
1851	30 Hill Street, Toxteth, Liverpool	17	census		1834
1858	21 Jordan Street. Liverpool	23	marriage certificate		1835
1860	59 George (=Gelling) Street	-	birth of Elizabeth		-
1861	59 George (=Gelling) Street	28	census		1833
1863	47 George Street, Toxteth, Liverpool	-	birth of Elizabeth		-
1871	59 Gelling Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.	36	census		1835
1881	59 Gelling Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.	46	census		1835
1891	128 Park Road, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.	58	census		1833
1894	4th May, 128 Park Road, Toxteth, Liverpool (assumed)	-	Elizabeth marriage		-
1901	128 Park Road, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.	67	census		1834
1910	Royal Southern Hospital, Toxteth Park, Liverpool	75	death		1835