Dave Joy - Author
  • Home
  • Book - My Family and Other Scousers
  • Book - Liverpool Cowkeepers
  • Talks/Events 2023-2024
  • The Joy Family History - Intro.
    • Daniel Joy (1825-1896)
    • Anthony Joy (1863-1937)
    • Anthony Eric Joy (1919-2007)
    • Hilda Mary Joy (1882-1915) - RMS Lusitania
  • Liverpool Cowkeepers Records - Intro.
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1841 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1851 census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1861 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1871 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1881 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1891 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1901 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1911 Census
    • Green & Co 1870 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1894 Directory of Liverpool
    • Gore's 1900 Directory of Liverpool
    • Gore's 1918 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1926 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1938 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1955 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1964 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1974 Directory of Liverpool
  • Liverpool Dairies by Map (1891 + 1974)
  • Cowkeeping Family Histories and Memoirs - Intro.
    • The Woof, Beck and Allen Families
    • Orchard Farm Dairy, Crosby
    • The Brothers Simon & Thomas Metcalfe
    • The Capstick Family of Sandy Lane Farm
    • The Capstick Family of Marlborough Road
    • Taylor - Keeping Cows in Aigburth
    • The Nelson, Harper, Thwaite, Sedgwick & Mason Dynasty
    • The Harper and Stockdale Families
    • Hoggs, Herds & Cows
    • Tomog (1906-1989) — Memoirs and Memories
    • Smith & Jones
    • Carisbrooke Dairy
    • Wolfenden — 'A Bit Akin'
    • Cowkeepers from Russia
    • Shinkfield - keeping cows in Broadgreen
    • Mudd, Mudd...
    • The John Lennon Connection
    • The Wilson Family
    • Tommy Handley — Son of a Cowkeeper
    • Matt Braithwaite — 'Many Happy Returns'
    • Thomas Sowerby & Sons
    • A Lancaster Perspective
    • City Cowkeepers from Wharfedale, Yorks.
  • A (Milk) House Through Time
  • Liverpool Cowkeepers' Association - Intro.
    • Inaugural Meeting - 1865
    • Association Rules (1919)
    • Annual Show of Cattle - Prizewinners
    • Newspaper Cuttings
  • The Royal Lancashire Show in Liverpool
  • Dave's Blog/Chat
  • Home
  • Book - My Family and Other Scousers
  • Book - Liverpool Cowkeepers
  • Talks/Events 2023-2024
  • The Joy Family History - Intro.
    • Daniel Joy (1825-1896)
    • Anthony Joy (1863-1937)
    • Anthony Eric Joy (1919-2007)
    • Hilda Mary Joy (1882-1915) - RMS Lusitania
  • Liverpool Cowkeepers Records - Intro.
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1841 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1851 census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1861 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1871 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1881 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1891 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1901 Census
    • Cowkeepers in Liverpool - 1911 Census
    • Green & Co 1870 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1894 Directory of Liverpool
    • Gore's 1900 Directory of Liverpool
    • Gore's 1918 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1926 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1938 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1955 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1964 Directory of Liverpool
    • Kelly's 1974 Directory of Liverpool
  • Liverpool Dairies by Map (1891 + 1974)
  • Cowkeeping Family Histories and Memoirs - Intro.
    • The Woof, Beck and Allen Families
    • Orchard Farm Dairy, Crosby
    • The Brothers Simon & Thomas Metcalfe
    • The Capstick Family of Sandy Lane Farm
    • The Capstick Family of Marlborough Road
    • Taylor - Keeping Cows in Aigburth
    • The Nelson, Harper, Thwaite, Sedgwick & Mason Dynasty
    • The Harper and Stockdale Families
    • Hoggs, Herds & Cows
    • Tomog (1906-1989) — Memoirs and Memories
    • Smith & Jones
    • Carisbrooke Dairy
    • Wolfenden — 'A Bit Akin'
    • Cowkeepers from Russia
    • Shinkfield - keeping cows in Broadgreen
    • Mudd, Mudd...
    • The John Lennon Connection
    • The Wilson Family
    • Tommy Handley — Son of a Cowkeeper
    • Matt Braithwaite — 'Many Happy Returns'
    • Thomas Sowerby & Sons
    • A Lancaster Perspective
    • City Cowkeepers from Wharfedale, Yorks.
  • A (Milk) House Through Time
  • Liverpool Cowkeepers' Association - Intro.
    • Inaugural Meeting - 1865
    • Association Rules (1919)
    • Annual Show of Cattle - Prizewinners
    • Newspaper Cuttings
  • The Royal Lancashire Show in Liverpool
  • Dave's Blog/Chat
  Dave Joy - Author

The Middleton Family

24/9/2022

0 Comments

 
The new talks season got off to a great start in Kettlesing this week. After the talk, I was asked if I had any information about the Middleton family who had cowkeeping ancestors in Liverpool. Here's what I was able to put together over the weekend.

John Middleton (1806-1843) married Alice Bentham (1807-1885) on 16th June 1828, in Dent. They had nine children: Nanny (b. 1829), Elizabeth (b. 1831), John (b. 1832), Eleanor (b. 1833), Thomas (b. 1836), Jane (b. 1838), James (b. 1840), Edward (b. 1841) and Margaret (b. 1843). It would be Elizabeth, John, Thomas and Margaret who would go on to have an involvement in cowkeeping in Liverpool:
 
Elizabeth Middleton (1831-1868) married John Dixon (1826-1891) on 1st July 1850, in Dent. They had eleven children. They farmed in Dent but had moved to Liverpool by the time their 8th child, Agnes, was born in 1863. They had four more children in Liverpool before Elizabeth died in 1868 (possibly in child birth). On Elizabeth’s burial record (Anfield Cemetery) her address is given as 32 Epworth Street. This address was a well-established cowkeeping dairy and it is very likely that John Dixon was a Cowkeeper there. After Elizabeth died, John emigrated to Canada.
 
John Middleton (1832-1908) married Margaret Armer (1829-1903) on 15th May 1852, in Dent. Margaret was the daughter of Anthony Armer, a Cowkeeper at 20 Everton Village. They had eight children: John (b. 1852), Alice (b. 1855), Mary (b. 1858), Anthony (b. 1861), Thomas (b. 1864), Richard (b. 1866), Armer (b. 1869) and Jane Ann (b. 1872). The 1861 census has the family living at a ‘Milkhouse’ in Coleridge Street, Liverpool, and John’s occupation is given as Cowkeeper. When their son, Thomas, was baptised on 29th May 1864, at St Chrysostom Church, Everton, the family’s abode is given as Reynolds Street, Everton, and John is still a Cowkeeper. They lived in Liverpool from at least 1855 when their second child, Alice, was born, up until 1866 when heir sixth child, Richard, was born, by which time they had returned to Dent.
Their oldest child was John Middleton (1852-1883). Although born in Dent, John spent his early years in Liverpool before the family then returned to Dent. On 19th October 1878, John married Ann Greenwood (1848-1918), in Dent. They had three children: Margaret (b. 1879), John (b. 1880) and Janet (b. 1881). The 1881 census has the family at 119 Red Rock Street. In 1883, John died at the age of 31, and Ann returned to Dent. Her son, John, died there in 1899, age 18.
 
Thomas Middleton (1836-1916) married Ann Armer (1839-1915) on 5th November 1857, at St Nicholas Church, Liverpool. Ann and Margaret were sisters, both daughters of Anthony Armer, a Cowkeeper at 20 Everton Village. They had six children, all born in Liverpool. The 1861 census has the couple living with Ann’s family at the Everton Village dairy; Thomas’s occupation is given as Cowkeeper. When Ann’s parents died, Thomas took on the running of the business and is recorded there in the 1871 census. However, by 1881, they had moved to 163 Mill Road and Thomas was a Labourer. Thomas died in 1916 and was buried at West Derby Cemetery.
 
Margaret Middleton (1843-1889) married Richard Turner (1843-1899) on 17th December 1864, in Dent. They had two children. Their first child, Mary, was born in Liverpool, in 1865. Her baptism record shows that the family were living in Reynolds Street, where Richard was a Cowkeeper. It is likely that they were living with Margaret’s brother, John, and his family at Reynolds Street. However, when their second child, James, was born in 1870, they were back farming in Dent. The couple subsequently returned to Liverpool, and the 1881 census has them living at 51 Baker Street, but Richard’s profession is given as Butcher. Margaret died in 1889 and was buried at West Derby Cemetery.

0 Comments

Charles laight — from worcestershire to liverpool

3/7/2022

0 Comments

 
Catherine Hough contacted me for any information about her great-great-grandfather, Charles Laight, a Worcestershire farmer who became a Liverpool cowkeeper. Here's what I was able to offer:

1873 — Charles Laight (1853-1924) married Maria Reynolds in Worcestershire. Their children were: Percy Charles (1874-1928) and Evelyn Maria (1877-1945). 
1881 Census — Charles was farming at Bradley Green, Worcestershire. 
1890-91 Electoral Register — Charles was living at 65 Clifton Road East, Liverpool. The property is described as House and Shippon, so he was keeping cows there. 
1891 Census — Charles was a Farmer and Cowkeeper living at Eaton House, Eaton Road, Liverpool. 
1894 Directory — Maria is listed as Cowkeeper at 141 Lower Breck Road. 
1895-96 Electoral Register — Maria is recorded at 141 Lower Breck Road 
1901 Census — Charles and Maria are now at 507 Cherry Lane. This was in a rural setting, though Charles’s occupation is given as Commercial Traveller. 
1901 Census — Their son, Percy Charles, is living with his family at 64 Windsor Road. His occupation is given as Milkman. 
1911 Census — Charles and Maria are still at 507 Cherry Lane, but he is now a Farmer. 1901-1913 Electoral Register — their address is given as Cherry Lane 
1913-1923 Electoral Register — abode is given as 135 Townsend Lane, but with an interest in land at Cherry Lane. The two addresses are close to each other. It is likely that they were living at the Townsend Lane property but were farming at Cherry Lane. 
1923 — Maria Laight died in Liverpool. 
1923-24 Electoral Register — Charles now at 13 Bellairs Road, which was where his son, Percy, lived. 
Probate Register — Charles died on 11 January 1924. He was living at 13 Bellairs Road. His estate was administered by his daughter, Evelyn Maria, who had married Ralph Hampson.  
1928 — Percy died aboard ship on his way to America. 

0 Comments

Joseph Hyland, Dairyman, Hoylake.

25/6/2022

0 Comments

 
Many thanks to Barbara Forbes (nee Hyland) for sending me these lovely old images of her grandfather, Joseph Hyland, who ran a dairy at 43 Walker Street in Hoylake, during the 1920s-1930s. 
0 Comments

The steel family

4/6/2021

5 Comments

 
Thanks to Jane for a potted history of her cowkeeping ancestors, the Steel family. Below is the information Jane has so far. If anyone can add to this, all contributions will be gratefully received.

George Steel (senior) seemed to begin the family dairy business at 1 Northcote Road, Walton on the Hill ( 1881 census). He  had 3 sons: Thomas, George (junior) and Lancelot. By 1901 he was living on his own means, back home in Kirkby Stephen

Thomas Steel: by 1884 Thomas is married and working as a cowkeeper at 14 Morpeth Street. In the 1891 Census he is at 12 Stuart Road, Walton on the Hill, with a milk shop and sweet shop as well. By 1901, he is living on his own means in Windermere.

George Steel (junior): in the 1891 Census he is at 1 Newcombe Street and by 1901 is back in Kirkby Stephen as a retired cowkeeper.

Lancelot Steel: the 1891 Census and 1911 censuses show Lancelot at 31 Westcott Road, Anfield, where there was also a shop for provisions. In 1901 he is at 22 Rugby Road, Netherton, as a cowkeeper. His daughter Clara managed a dairy at 131 Buck Road. His son, Thomas Wharton Steel, worked with Clara at Buck Road in 1901 and by 1911 was back at the Westcott Road dairy.
5 Comments

41 Aberdeen Street

17/5/2021

1 Comment

 
Celia contacted me about her ancestor John Johnson, who had a dairy at 41 Aberdeen Street. She was trying to get an idea of the size of the cowkeeping business. Here's what I had to offer:

One way of gauging the scale of operations is via the census records, as some enumerators included details such as the number of cows. Unfortunately, that's not happened in John's case. Another way is to look at the size of the premises. Although 41 Aberdeen Street no longer exists, you can see from the attached image of an old map that it was one of the larger properties on the street. Even though it was not at the end of the terrace, there is access to the rear of the property via a back entry. 

John's given profession of Cowkeeper indicates he was producing milk on site, rather than just acting as a retailer. The size of the property, plus the duration of John's occupation, suggest it was a reasonably large business, utilising a flying herd of about 20+ cows at any one time. This was the typical size for a profitable cowkeeping business - the same size as the Joy family's Wellington Dairy.

Another indication that 41 Aberdeen Street accommodated a good-sized business is that a number of cowkeepers used the premises after John had sold up:

1891 - Ann Lewis (Milk Dealer)
1894 - Jas Parkinson (Dairyman)
1900 - William Owens (Cowkeeper)
1901 - Humphrey Owens (Cowkeeper)
1918 - Mary Thomas (Dairyman)
1926 - Mary Thomas (Dairyman)
1938 - Arthur Haygarth (Dairyman)

Picture
1 Comment

Johnson's dairy, 22-24 Toxteth Grove, Dingle

8/5/2021

0 Comments

 
Kate contacted me for any information I might have about a dairy in Dingle that her great-grandfather was said to have worked at. Her family knew it only as 'Johnson's Dairy'.

Her great-grandfather was William Taylor Johnson (b. 1872) who was a Carter in the Dingle area. It did not surprise me to hear that a Carter had found employment with a local dairy. When I scoured my records I found a dairy at 22-24 Toxteth Grove, that fitted the description provided by Kate. In the 1900 directory it is listed as being run by cowkeeper John Johnson. 

Kate is now looking further into her family history to discover whether this John Johnson may have been related to her great-grandfather.
0 Comments

45 Chapel Avenue

8/5/2021

0 Comments

 
Clare Flynn asked me about a dairy she could remember in Chapel Avenue. She recalls being able to see a cow shed out of the back window of her auntie's house in Renwick Road. Checking on Google Maps I can see that the original shippon building is still standing (just!) and is located adjacent to 45 Chapel Avenue.

There is a fairly long list of registered cowkeepers who worked out of this property, no doubt using the adjacent yard and shippon for the keeping of their herd of cows:

1900 (directory) John Capstick, Cowkeeper.
1911 (census) John Capstick, Cowkeeper.
1918 (directory) John Capstick, Dairyman.
1926 (directory) John Joseph Shepherd, Dairyman.
1938 (directory) John Rushton, Dairyman.

After 1900, the directories stopped distinguishing between cowkeepers and non-cowkeeping milk sellers and lumped them all together under the heading of Dairymen. So, without knowing the family history, it is difficult to say exactly when the decision was made to stop keeping cows on site and to buy-in bottled milk. If anyone can throw any light on this, please drop me a line. Thanks, Dave.
0 Comments

23 Onslow Road

8/5/2021

0 Comments

 
Fred Wall from Canada contacted me, asking about a dairy he could recall from his childhood, based at 23 Onslow Road, Liverpool. The property has a long history as a cowkeeping dairy, spanning a period of at least 100 years:

1871 (census) - Ann Hales
1881 (census) - Ann Hales
1891 (census) - Elizabeth Hales
1894 (directory) - Elizabeth Hales
1900 (directory) - Elizabeth & Annie Hales
1901 (census) - William Banks
1911 (census) - William Banks
1918 (directory) - Thomas Metcalfe
1926 (directory) - Matthew Whitfield
1938 (directory) - William Whitfield
1955 (directory) - Thomas John Bradbury
1964 (directory) - Thomas John Bradbury
​1974 (directory) - Thomas John Bradbury


0 Comments

The holmes family

10/1/2021

2 Comments

 
At the end of 2020, I was contacted by John Holmes, asking if I could add to the information he already had about his grandfather, Samuel Alfred Holmes, who moved from Derbyshire to keep cows in Liverpool at Abyssinia Street. Here's what I was able to offer:

​1875 18th July. Baptism of Samuel Alfred Holmes. Parents: John and Ellen. Occupation of Father: farmer. Abode: Congreave in Rowsley (Derbyshire).
 
1901 Census — 2 Pengwern Street – Joseph Bretherton b. 1864, Whitewell, Yorks. Milk Dealer. Brother: William (29). Sister: Elizabeth(22), Slaidburn, Yorks. Servant: Alfred Holmes (24), Stanton, Derbyshire. 
 
1902 4th June. Alfred Holmes married Elizabeth Bretherton at St Saviour Church, in parish of St Philemon, Toxteth. Alfred was a ‘Milkman’ at 1 Shallot Street. Father: John Holmes, Farmer. Elizabeth was living at 148 Grove Street. 
 
1905 25th December. Baptism of Walter Holmes, born at 4 Abyssinia Street. Father’s Occupation: Cowkeeper. 
 
1910  22nd December. Burial at Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree. Samuel A Holmes. Age: 35. 4 Abyssinia Street.
 
1911 Census — Elizabeth Holmes was a 'widow' and 'Cowkeeper' living at 4 Abyssinia Street. Born in Yorks. Sons: Alfred Holmes, b. 1903, Liverpool, and Walter Holmes, b. 1905, Liverpool. 
 
Number 4 was at the railway end of Abyssinia Street, where there was an open space (see attached map. c. 1905) suitable for the keeping of cows.

Picture
2 Comments

Charles blackburn & sons

5/8/2020

0 Comments

 
Following a request for information about Charles Blackburn & Sons, in Liverpool. Here's what I managed to put together from the census and directory records:

​1871 (census) — 138 Friar Street: Chs. Blackburn (born 1843, London), Milk Dealer. M Emma Blackburn (wife, born 1844). Sons: G J Blackburn (born 1868) and Chs. Blackburn (born 1869). Daughter: Amelia Blackburn (born 1870).
 
1881 (census) — 64 Warwick Street: Charles Blackburn (born 1843, London, Middlesex). Mary E Blackburn (wife). Sons: Charles (born 1869, Liverpool), Thomas (born 1874, Liverpool) and James (born 1876, Liverpool)
 
1891 (census) — 62-64 Warwick Street: Charles Blackburn (born 1843, London, Middlesex), Dairyman and Milk Utensil Maker. Mary Emma (wife). Children: Frances Brown (born 1873), Thomas (born 1874) and James (born 1876).
 
1894 (directory) — Charles Blackburn, Dairyman, 5-7 Oldham Street and Platform 7
 
1900 (directory) — Charles Blackburn & Sons, Dairyman, 5-7 Oldham Street
 
1901 (census) — 5 Oldham Street: Charles Blackburn (born 1843, London), Milk Dealer. Mary E (wife). Children: Frances B (born 1873), James (born 1876) and Joseph (born 1879).
1901 (census) — 160 Northbrook Street: Charles Blackburn (born 1869, Liverpool), Dairyman and Dairy Utensil Manufacturer. Wife: Margaret A Blackburn. Son: Charles W (born 1894).
 
1911 (census) — 140 Selborne Street: Charles Blackburn (born 1869, Liverpool), Wholesale Milk Dealer. Margaret Ann (wife).
 
1918 (directory) — Charles Blackburn, Dairyman, 31 Handover Street
1918 (directory) — Mrs Emily Blackburn, Dairyman, 169 Lodge Lane
 
1926 (directory) — Charles Blackburn & Sons, Dairymen, 26a Head Street, 169 Lodge Lane and 45 St James Place
 
1939 (register) — 21 Parkfield Road: Charles Blackburn (born 23rd March 1869), Traveller (Preserves), married. Margaret A Blackburn (born 20th April 1869), Unpaid Domestic, married. Charles W Blackburn (born 2nd April 1893), Government Clerical Assistant, married. Jessie Blackburn (born 14th May 1893), Unpaid Domestic, married.

0 Comments
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly