Genealogy Chat

Hi wonder if anyone can help? I have recently received a copy of May great grandfathers and great grandmothers wedding certificate. 1914 Preston. Thomas Head Billington and Alice Willan. Unfortunately where her fathers details should be are blank. I have found her on the 1901 census aged 7 living with her Grandfather a Thomas Edmonton and grandmother Isabella. Census says she was born in 1894. On the 1911 census she is living with her uncle and Aunt Thomas and Jane Edmondson. I just can't find any details of her birth or her parents anywhere. In an earlier census 1881 I think it was there was a Mary Alice Edmonton living with Thomas and Isabella aged 18 so I wondered if maybe this was Alice's mother who maybe married a Willan but I can find no record of a marriage between an Edmonton and Willan send no record of Mary Alice Edmonton after the 1881 census. Feeling frustrated and stuck. Grateful for any ideas. Thank you.

Have you ruled out the birth in 1893 in Preston

Possible baptism


Name: Alice Willan



Birth Date:17 Sep 1893



Baptism Date:4 Oct 1893



Parish:Preston, All Saints



Mother:Mary Alice Willan



Reference Number:Pr 3295/1/3

From Lancs OPC http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/

Baptism: 4 Oct 1893 All Saints, Preston, Lancashire, England
Alice Willan - [Child] of Mary Alice Willan
Born: 17 Sep 1893
Abode: 4 Trinity Place
Occupation: Carder
Baptised by: Vickers English. (Curate)
Register: Baptisms 1876 - 1900, Page 156, Entry 1246
Source: FHL 1544765

So maybe Thomas Edmondson was Mary Alice's step-father?

Thomas & Isabella's marriage.

Marriage: 15 Nov 1873 St John, Preston, Lancashire, England
Thomas Edmondson - (X), 26, Shoe Maker, Bachelor, Lawson St
Isabella Willan - (X), 22, Machinist, Spinster, Back Lane
Groom's Father: John Edmondson, Shoe Maker
Bride's Father: John Willan, Shoe Maker
Witness: Stephen Willan; Mary Mayor, (X)
Married by Banns by: Edmund Lee, Curate
Register: Marriages 1872 - 1873, Page 243, Entry 485
Source: LDS Film 94000

http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/

So could mary Alice Edmondson on 1891 census be the child of Isabella before she married in 1873

Wow. Thank u so much I did wonder about 1893 being possible birth date. Now I just need to get my head round this information. Her mother Mary Alice is down as Edmondson on the 1881 census but as Willan in the babtism. Isabella's maiden name was Willan. Will have to see if I can find birth details of Mary Alice somewhere to see if any confirmation of fathers name to see if it was a Thomas Edmondson or not. Also wonder what happened to Mary Alice as she is not on any census's with her daughter Alice but can't find details of her death anywhere? Oh the joys!!!! So interesting but sooo confusing!! Thank you very much! Xxxx

Mary Alice Willan married John Bucknall in 1900 in Preston and no father named on the marriage cert

Name: Mary Alice Willan
Age: 27 Birth Year: abt 1873
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 3 Jun 1900
Parish: Preston, All Saints
Spouse: John Bucknall Spouse Age: 21 Spouse
Father: John Bucknall
Reference Number: Pr 3295/1/5

John is a bricklayer

On 1901 census
Class: RG13; Piece: 3953; Folio: 95; Page: 20.

Goodness me! Thanks again. So it appears by all accounts that my great grandmother Alice was probably illegitimate and so was her mother Mary Alice! Wonder why she didn't keep Alice with her when she married John? Wish I could go back in time. So many questions. Thank you so much for your help. Xxxxx

Could you please tell me when I am looking for information on the death of Alice Billington and she died in Ludham in Norfolk but was buried in Preston. Under the 'district' field will that be where she died or where she was buried? Thank u.

There is a death registered in North Walsham, Norfolk in 1969 - born 17 Sep 1893

Is that the one you mean

Baptism: 18 May 1873 St John, Preston, Lancashire, England
Mary Alice Willan - [Child] of Isabella Willan
Abode: Back Lane
Baptised by: R Thistlethwaite
Register: Baptisms 1870 - 1875, Page 310
Source: LDS Film 93991

Baptism: 20 Apr 1851 St John, Preston, Lancashire, England
Isabella Willan - [Child] of John Willan & Alice
Abode: Friargate
Occupation: Shoemaker
Baptised by: John Kitton, Curate
Register: Baptisms 1850 - 1852, Page 103, Entry 818
Source: LDS Film 93988

Deaths should always be registered in the place the person died, regardless of where they lived or were buried. Also, you wondered why Mary Alice didn't have Alice with her after she married - it is possible her husband did not want the responsibility, after all she was 7 by the time they married. And he was a good few years younger than her mother!

By 1911 Mary Alice/John had 3 children, but only 1 survived to the 1911 census:

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1902
Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Mother's Maiden Name Reference
BUCKNALL Mary Edith Trinity Preston WILLAN TR/63/14

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1904
Surname Forename(s) Sub-District Registers At Mother's Maiden Name Reference
BUCKNALL John Henry East Preston Preston WILLAN EP/3/3 <<< on 1911 census

BUCKNALL Edward East Preston Preston WILLAN EP/5/95 (1906)