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Hello,
I am trying to find any details on my great grandmother Catherine Melrose. Unfortunately we don't have a lot of details on her other that she married my great grandfather, Thomas Steen in February 1920 in West Derby, Liverpool. She had been married previous to this to Joseph Reil in 1916 and had a son James in 1917. Sadly Joseph died in April 1918 on active service in the war, we believe possibly in France. I can find their wedding certificate and James' birth certificate, but I don't know if I order those, it will give us any further information on our great nan.
According to my great grandparents marriage certificate, Catherine was 25 when she married. Unfortunately though I cannot confirm an exact date of birth from any other living relatives. Her father was called Edward and he was a printers compositor. They lived in the West Derby area of Liverpool. My nan said that she thinks Catherine had a brother named Thomas. But I cannot find any trace of either Catherine, Edward or Thomas for me to be able to order any certificates on them.
Many thanks for any help
Regards,
Amy

Do you have this marriage cert? I wonder whether it would give you another clue? Even the witnesses or the address might help.

Marriages Mar 1916 (>99%)
Barkley William Latchford W.Derby 8b 782 Scan available - click to view
Melrose Catherine Reil W. Derby 8b 782 Scan available - click to view
Reil Joseph Melrose W Derby 8b 782 Scan available - click to view
Roberts Robert R_illy W Derby 8b 782 Scan available - click to view
Terry Annie Burns W. Derby 8b 782 Scan available - click to view




Have you found any of the family on the 1911 or 1901 censuses?

Jill

Name: Joseph Reil
Birth Place: Liverpool
Residence: Liverpool
Death Date: 9 Apr 1918
Enlistment Location: Liverpool
Rank: Private
Regiment: King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Battalion: 6th Battalion.
Number: 203333
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
Theater of War: Aldershot

Joseph's details from the CWGC:

REIL, JOSEPH
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment/Service: The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Unit Text: 1st/6th Bn.
Date of Death: 09/04/1918
Service No: 203333
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 27 to 30.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL


Have you looked for his army records on Ancestry? Not sure if they are up to R yet but it might be worth checking. Again, there could be a clue in the address etc which would help to find them in the 1911.

Jill

Well, looking for Catherine on 1901 - there are lots of Scottish 1901 census possibles but none for England. Could she have been born in Scotland?

Jill

I only have my great grandparents wedding certificate (Catherine and Thomas) Catherine's witness on this certificate was an A Linforth and has her address as being Albert Terrace, Everton, Liverpool.
I may order Catherine and Joseph's certificate just to see what information it holds.
I cannot find any trace of the Melrose family on the 1911 or 1901 census.

Mrs Grumpy - I thought that Catherine may well have been born in Scotland as Melrose is a Scottish sounding surname. But according to my nan, she was definitely from Liverpool. It really does seem to be a mystery this one!!

I must admit I'd order the first marriage cert if I were you. Apart from being a bit curious about her first husband, it might turn up something.

Fingers crossed for you ...

Jill

Could this be Catherine's father??

Name: Edward Melross
Age: 16
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1865
Relation: Boarder
Gender: Male
Where born: Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Liverpool
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address: 3 In 18 CT Gildart Gardens
Education:

Employment status: View Image
Occupation: Printer

Registration district: Liverpool
Sub registration district: Howard Street
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Buckley 40
Margaret Buckley 39
Mary Buckley 21
Michael Buckley 16
Catherine Buckley 14
Bridget Buckley 11
John H. Buckley 9
Joseph Buckley 3
Edward Melross 16 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Printer


Cass

1901

Name: Edward Melross
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1866
Relation: Lodger
Gender: Male
Where born: Liverpool

Civil Parish: Liverpool
Ecclesiastical parish: Christchurch
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>??? LODGING HOUSE

Occupation:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>PRINTERS COMPOSITER

Condition as to marriage:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MARRIED

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Liverpool
Sub registration district: Islington
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 107
Household Members: Name Age
Constantine Bleckman 52 >>>>>>>>LODGING HOUSE MANAGER BORN IOM
Felix Bleckman 50 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>BROTHER, ASS
Henry Seifts 50
William Locke 52
Thomas Wilson 35
Edward McNab 48
Smithy Gill 40
Robert Robinson 36
William Hines 66
William Bradthaw 54
Edward Leimer 42
David Broderick 35
Barnard McDermott 42
Peter Hepperont 35
Mathew Brady 54
Thomas Lynch 32
Peter Lyons 45
Pat Conner 18
Tom Bradley 46
Robert Waddington 50
William Gorman 24
John Smith 23
Richard Wilson 48
Robert Angus 52
Edward Connor 64
Edward Jones 45
John Stanton 56
John Wainwright 46
James Hegland 66
Thomas Dogherty 24
Henry Brids 31
William Odonnell 40
Charles Gamson 39
Thomas Wills 55
John Connol 60
John Slynn 50
George Hampson 34
Thomas Ormond 53
William Lytton 45
William Jones 40
James Wilson 35
John Dalton 47
Charles Greenhouse 37
Edward Zelo 37
James Smith 19
John Shelton 54
George Fische 24
Philip Burmaster 21
Michail McKeon 50
James Vanderbilt 23
George Tyson 22
Charles Moriken 22
John Thompson 30
Waller Hurst 35
John Oivens 25
James Harrington 16
Edward Melross 35 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MARRIED PRINTERS COMPOSITER
Thomas Williams 36
William Harris 35
Patrick Jordan 34
Stephen Riley 22
John Cowley 45
William Parry 55

Cass

That could well be something Cass, a variation of Melrose, never thought of that one!
I think I'm going to order Catherine's first marriage cert to see if that will give me anything else to search on. Even a name of a witness that could be a Melrose. They must exist somewhere!!
Does anyone think it would be worth ordering Catherine and Joseph's son's birth certificate too, would that give anything worth searching on??

Poss birth ref??

Name: Edward Melross
Year of Registration: 1865
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Liverpool (1837-1934)
County: Lancashire
Volume: 8b
Page: 50


Cass

I have just looked on Edward Melross and found in the 1891 census the following:
MELROSS, Edward Head Married M 25 1866 Printer Compositor
Liverpool Lancashire VIEW
MELROSS, Catherine Wife Married F 24 1867
Liverpool Lancashire VIEW
MELROSS, Annie Daughter F 2 1889
Liverpool Lancashire
You may be on to something here Cass. Wonder why they became Melrose's?? Do you think that this is just a coincidence or could be my great grandmother's family??
:-)

I think it's a good match :-))) maybe whoever did the census wasn't that good on spelling!!

Cass

Also have just found this on the 1911 census:
MELROSS, EDWARD HEAD MARRIED M 45 COMPOSITOR LANCS LVIERPOOL
MELROSS, CATHERINE WIFE MARRIED 24 F 44 LANCS LIVERPOOL
MELROSS, THOMAS SON M 11 SCHOOL LANCS LVIERPOOL
So that would possibly fit in with my nans thoughts of Catherine having a brother name Thomas. I just wonder if I can now fit in Catherine into this equation and we could be onto something.
Thanks for the info provided so far, I would never have though of looking at it this way.
Amy

Poss birth??

Births Mar 1899 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Melross Thomas Edward Liverpool 8b 123


Cass :-)))

I'm sorry Dee, but you've confused me slightly there, who is Catherine Carley?? I'm not sure where she may fit into the puzzle??

1891 England Census
about Edward Melsness
Name: Edward Melsness
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1866
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Catherine
Gender: Male
Where born: Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Liverpool
Ecclesiastical parish: St Matthew
Town: Liverpool
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Liverpool
Sub registration district: St Martin
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Edward Melsness 25
Catherine Melsness 24 Born Liverpool
Annie Melsness 2


Printer compistor!!!!

I have checked this information out on the 1891 census and I believe these family are in fact the Melross family, the handwritting isn't very clear, but it looks more like Melross and not Melsness. Still cannot find any trace my great nan though :-(

Name: Edward Melross
Age: 16
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1865
Relation: Boarder
Gender: Male
Where born: Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Liverpool
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England

Street address: 3 In 18 CT Gildart Gardens
Education:

Employment status:

View Image
Occupation: Printer

Registration district: Liverpool
Sub registration district: Howard Street
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry Buckley 40
Margaret Buckley 39
Mary Buckley 21
Michael Buckley 16
Catherine Buckley 14
Bridget Buckley 11
John H. Buckley 9
Joseph Buckley 3
Edward Melross 16

I know this is a long shot, but I'm clutching at any straw I can find!! On the 1881 census Edward Melross is down as a boarder living with the Buckley family. I have noticed that a member of this family is a Catherine Buckley. She could well be the future Mrs Melross??? As her age ties in with the Catherine Buckley married to Edward on 1891 census. I am now trying to search if Catherine Buckley married Edward.
If this is right, I don't know how this will help me find any trace of my great nan - Catherine Junior, but it's something to go on.

I have some concrete details on my great nan (eventually)
I have found the reference for her death certificate
Knowsley 36 0102
This article gives her date of birth as being 24/11/1894!! With some luck (think I may need it) I should be able to trace a birth certificate of this shouldn't I???
I'm sorry for posting so many times and asking so many questions. I'm a bit new to the this, but I'm finding it all really interesting :-)