St.Olav’s Day walk/ pilgrimage - Monday 28th July

Dear friend/colleague

We are having our annual St.Olav’s Day walk/ pilgrimage again on Monday 28th July (Part 1) and Tuesday 29^th July St. Olav’s Day (Part 2) –celebrating both St. Olav (Olav Haraldsson, the Patron Saint of Norway) – and Wirral’s (and the North-West’s) great Viking Heritage.  The main St Olav walk is in Norway, but if you are not fortunate enough to be there why don’t you join us instead?

This year for the first time we are going the whole way from St. Bridget’s Church in West Kirby to St. Olave’ in Chester, and over 2 days:

Part 1: (28^th) from St. Bridgets to St. Mary and St. Helen in Neston (approx. 8-9 miles)

Part 2: (29^th) from the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port, & along the scenic Shropshire Union Canal to the Chester City Wall and then to St. Olave’s Church on St. Olave Street - then we will be off to the hostelry across the road (also 8-9 miles).  Both the start and finish on both days will not be far from railway stations (about 10-15 minues walk) to get you back to either West Kirby or Ellesmere Port.  Ample (and free parking) is available at the Waterways Museum.

You can come on either or both days of the walk – and you don’t have to do the complete distance on either day.  We would like to stress that in common with the main walk in Norway, all walkers come at their own risk – we only provide a guide.  If you would like to come please could you let me know by replying to this email by Saturday 26th July 4pm so I can give the police an idea of numbers.  Please could you also read carefully the details on this websites:

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/-sczsteve/Olsok_Part1.htm

and

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/-sczsteve/Olsok_Part2.htm

Although the St. Olave’s church building is not currently used for Services (it is presently used as an Archive for the Cheshire Records Office) the annual walk is important as it helps to keep away the developers from this historic building.

This years walk coincides with the arrival of the Viking Ship Draken Harald Harfagre to West Float Wallasey (18^th July – 3^rd August): http://www.lvrc.co.uk/

All best wishes

Steve Harding

_________________________________________________________________________________

Stephen E. Harding, DSc RFOO (Norway)
www.nottingham.ac.uk/Biosciences/People/steve.harding

Ethel Waller (nee Faulkner)

A query from my cousin Nicki Ainscough and Uncle John (Ainscough) about my gran's sister Ethel Waller (nee Faulkner).
John inherited a family bible from his aunty Ethel Waller and it has her children listed inside it.
The following has been uncovered online by cousin Nicki and it reveals much about the Parkinson and Foxley family - enjoy reading!

Hi Barbara, Thought you'd be interested in what I've discovered so far... So basically, Uncle John has been given a bible from his Aunty Ethel Waller. The bible was originally presented to 'Harriett Parkinson on leaving Nantwich Christmas 1868'. Inside there's a list of names, which I originally thought was the list of previous owners, but following some research I've now discovered these are actually the names of Harriet's children: - William Henry Foxley (born 16 June 1869) - Mary Emma Foxley (born 29 September 1872) - Elsie Mary Foxley (born 14 December 1881) (NOTE: These names and dates are handwritten into the bible, so assuming they are accurate) My research into them has unearthed the following: - William Henry Foxley died aged 9 in Nantwich. In the 1871 census, William (age 1) is named as the son of Joseph (aged 24 and a Railway Platelayer) and Harriet Foxley (aged 25), living at 241 Wistaston Road, Willerton Heath. Also living with them at the time is John Foxley, aged 7, who appears to be their nephew, but who is listed as a brother later on (see below). - Mary E Foxley is named both in the 1881 and 1891 census' as the daughter of Joseph Meredith and Harriet Foxley. In 1881 they lived, together with Joseph's brother, John M. (aged 17 and an apprentice coach builder) at 32 Eastern Road, Willaston, Wybunbury, Nantwich. This property seems to still exist today (according to google maps). Joseph is listed as a 'Railway Labourman' whilst Mary E. is noted as a 'Scholar'. In 1891, Joseph (age 44), Harriet (age 45), Mary E (age 18) and Elsie (age 9) are now listed as living at 214 Eastern Road. With Joseph returning to the title of Railway Platelayer. - As noted below, Elsie Foxley is noted as the daughter of Joseph and Harriet Foxley in the 1891 census, where she is recorded as being age 9 and a 'scholar'. In the marriage index 1837-1915, Elsie is recorded as marrying James Faulkner in Nantwich in Apr-Jun 1906. As for dear Ethel, the only potential references I've found for her are an Ethel Faulkner. born in Nantwich Oct-Dec 1906 (which is possible, but cutting it fine with the marriage date) and potentially married in 1932 in Macclesfield. I can't find either Ethel, Freda, Elsie or James (Jim) in the 1911 census, which feels odd. So I've used what I've found (i.e. her general year of birth, name, parents name etc, to ask for her birth certificate), so hopefully that will finally solve the mystery. Hope this is of interest to you. Nikki

Sir Ayscoghe Boucherett

Hiya
My family have a copy of the original (as the original disintegrated) of Sir Ayscoghe Boucherett’s coat of arms. That’s the line that we descend from. 
I have lots of info from that line if you ever need to add to your line? Which line do you descend from? 
Kindest Regards
Helen Morcom

On 20 Feb 2014, at 19:36, dorothy bowes wrote:

Hello Helen

How kind of you to contact me and thanks for the family Coat of Arms.

I came across a connection to the Lancashire Aynscough family connection quite unexpectedly as I was researching several families in Lancashire. The earliest Aynscough ancestor I have is Robert who married Eleanor Longworth in 1607.They both appear to be of Bolton le Moors as that is where they married.
I think that Robert was born 26 Mar 1573 but unhelpfully his father's name is not given. I hate it when that happens!

I believe that the Aynscough family were of some importance being in some cases Burgers; some branches settling in Blackrod, Bolton le Moors and Preston. I'd like very much to know more about them but can find little beyond the odd bits of information come across on the Internet.

I can find no earlier generations of Robert Aynscough so I guess you could say that I am stuck at this point.

Tell me what line you are following, I would interested. Did you also come across a family connection when you were least expecting it?

Regards

Dorothy Bowes

Barbara Ainscough writes: Feb 21st 14:25

Mrs Ayscoghe Boucherett REVIVALHERITAGE 1794 Thomas Lawrence Portrait of Mrs Ayscoghe Boucherett with her two Eldest children Emilia and Ayscoghe, and her half-sister Juliana Angerstein in a garden. Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) sketched and painted the Boucherett family regularly between 1793 and 1805 and would have been only 25 years old when this pastel picture was completed. Their country seat, Willingham House, Lincolnshire. Read more here

On 22 Mar 2021, at 21:52, Joe Longsworth wrote:

Dear Barbara,

I hope this finds you well, and that this email address is still active.

My name is Joe Longsworth and I am trying to learn about my family's history.

In my research, I came across an entry at Ainscough Family History-Mawdesley: February 2014 (ainscough-familyhistory.blogspot.com) from a Dorothy Bowes. She references Robert Aynscough who may have married a family member of one of my paternal ancestors:

"The earliest Aynscough ancestor I have is Robert who married Eleanor Longworth in 1607. They both appear to be of Bolton le Moors as that is where they married. I think that Robert was born 26 Mar 1573 but unhelpfully his father's name is not given. I hate it when that happens! "

I can trace my father's line back to a George Longworth, b. 1585 in Bolton. He married a woman named Catherine Stewart in 1608. Considering that their marriages are only a year apart, I think it is highly probable that George Longworth and Eleanor Longworth were siblings, or at the least 1st cousins.

I, too, have reached a dead end. My ability to follow my father's line stops in 1585 with George, at least for now. 

Any assistance would be appreciated,
Joe

1838 Marriage - Richard Speakman & Mary Ainscough

Hi Barbara,

1838 Marriage Cert. Richard Speakman & Mary Ainscough

1842 Death Cert. Richard Speakman aged 30

Attached are copies of the marriage certificate of Richard Speakman and Mary Ainscough, and the death certificate of Richard.  I hope they are clear enough; the marriage certificate in particular is fairly faint writing.

Just to add re the photo of Elizabeth Speakman already mentioned in an earlier Email. The photo gives her dates as 1840-1922 … however, I can confirm that she was born 6/7/1838 and was baptised at Wrightington Hall RC Chapel.  I do not yet have more exact dates for her death or burial.  Her younger brother James was born 31/1/1842, was also baptised at Wrightington Hall, and died 2/3/1843.  He is buried at St Peter & Paul, Mawdesley in the grave of his father Richard.

As your blog is concerned primarily with Ainscough family memorabilia, is it unlikely that photos of more recent Speakmans would be of real interest.  Except for that of Elizabeth, I have none from the 1800s as yet.

I need to do some work on the family tree details of the Speakmans from the 1800s which I have gathered, and will let you have them asap.

Best regards,

Christopher Alex Darbyshire

Elizabeth Speakman

Dear Barbara,

What a thrill it was to find the photo of Elizabeth Speakman in your Ainscough FLICKR gallery.  It is the oldest by far of a Speakman family member that I have managed to find so far.  A photo adds so much more to a name and date on a family tree, so you can guess that I would be equally thrilled to locate others.

I am 3 years or so into researching my mother Evelyn’s family line.  She came from Roby Mill, and married William Leslie Darbyshire from Bank Top in 1942 : sadly both are now deceased.  I waited too long to ask questions!

In the 3 years mentioned I have, with various others who are researching the Speakmans, Chisnalls and Bullens, put together a quite expansive Speakman family tree.  The 3 family names just indicated, all principally farming families of old, and yours, all have links to one-another.  Two Ainscough names appear : Susannah Ainscough, who married Joseph Speakman of Dalton, and Mary, who married Richard Speakman (a son of Joseph and Susannah).  I have a copy of the latter’s marriage certificate, on which Susannah and a Hugh Ainscough were witnesses.  I’m not sure which Hugh it is, or which Ainscough was Susannah’s father.

I don’t wish to burden you too much, but I would be appreciative of any information re. the locations of Joseph & Susannah’s Dalton farm and Richard & Mary’s Wrightington grocery shop, or anything else which you might have on them.  I do know that after Richard’s early death, Mary re-married to a William Jackson (at St John’s in Manchester?) in 1848, and that Elizabeth was with them in West Derby in 1861.  Elizabeth, however, was living with her uncle Richard & family at his Burscough premises by 1871.

I noticed also the Fairclough and Speakman “trees” in your FLICKR gallery, but the text was too small to read.  Even so, I did detect what appeared to be a couple of differences in them from those which I have assembled (the Faircloughs are another local family linked to those we are involved with).  I could send you my versions if it would be of interest to you.

                In anticipation,

                Many thanks,

                Christopher Alex Darbyshire.