Wolfenden — 'A Bit Akin'

'A Bit Akin' by Faith W Finegan

In my book, Liverpool Cowkeepers, I referred to and quoted from Faith Finegan’s wonderful ‘A Bit Akin - The Story of a North Craven Farming Family’. The name of the family referred to in the title is that of Wolfenden and the book is crammed with genealogical detail, family anecdotes and descriptions of what life was like in a bygone age. Of particular interest to me was that some members of the Wolfenden family became cowkeepers in Liverpool. As Faith’s research was so comprehensive, it did not occur to me that there would be anything else to discover about the Wolfenden family in Liverpool. But, then I was contacted by another Wolfenden descendant.

Meryl Auty attended my talk at the 2018 Grassington Festival and she very kindly brought with her a family heirloom. It was a trophy in the form of a silver goblet, which had been presented to Meryl’s great-grandfather, Henry Wolfenden, by the Ormskirk, Southport, and Bootle Agricultural Society, in 1885. Intrigued, I undertook to see what else might be discovered about Henry and his cowkeeping activities.

It was then I learned that Faith Finegan had passed away in 2017 – she had been 100 years old. It was clear from the obituaries that she was a much-loved individual and highly regarded in the local history/genealogy community. Strangely, this sad news provided extra incentive to see what I might be able to add the Wolfenden family story and how they fitted in with the cowkeeping scene in Liverpool.

A common feature of the cowkeeping way of life was the occurrence of interconnections, through marriage, between different cowkeeping families. It turns out that the Wolfendens were no different in this respect. Other cowkeeping names that feature in the Wolfenden family tree include: Alderson, Dobson, Sayer, Waterworth and, worthy of particular note, that of Mansergh.

The Wolfenden Family

Faith and Meryl have a common ancestor. Their 2nd great-grandfather was James Wolfenden (1784-1858), a farmer from Studfordgill, Tosside. The Wolfenden ancestry becomes slightly complicated at this point in that James married twice and had children from both successive marriages.

James’s first marriage
James’s first marriage was to Isabella Hall (1779-1815). The wedding took place in Giggleswick, in 1810. They had four children: Robert (1811-1875), William (1812-1864), John (1813-1883) and Isabella (1815-1882). Of these, it was William’s descendant who became a Liverpool Cowkeeper.

William Wolfenden (1812-1864) married Anne Harrison (1822-1898) and they had nine children, including Charles (1851-1901). Charles Wolfenden married Elizabeth Scott (1851-1911) in Settle, in 1876. They had ten children: Annie (b.1877), Scott (b.1879), Jenny/Janie (b.1881), William (b.1882), Mary (b.1885), Charles (b.1887), Elizabeth (b.1889), John (b.1891), Margaret/Maggie (b.1893) and May (b.1897). The place of birth for the first five children is given as Clapham. However, very soon after the birth of their fifth child, in 1885, the family was living and keeping cows at 1 BEECH STREET, Bootle, Liverpool – later that year, the Beech Street dairy is recorded as being the family’s business address when Charles’s won first prize for a cow in the heavyweight class (for Cows in calf or Milk best suited for dairy purposes) at the annual show of the Liverpool and District Cowkeepers’ Association.

Charles Wolfenden and Family c.1899

Indeed, Charles was a prolific and successful participant in these annual events over a number of years, as the following examples show:

1887 - a silver cup was awarded by the proprietors of the Hellifield Auction Mart to Mr C Wolfenden, for the best cow in classes 9, 10 and 11.
1888 - Mr C Wolfenden, of Bootle took the champion silver cup presented by the Cowkeepers’ Association for the best cow in the show, and also a silver cup presented by the proprietors of the Hellifeld Auction Mart for the best pair of dairy cows in the show.
1890 - Cows in calf or milk, most suitable for dairy purposes (open to all in the district). Class IX (heavyweights): 3rd Prize C Wolfenden. Class XIII, Cows in calf or milk most suitable for dairy purposes. (Open competition). 1st Prize C Wolfenden;
1894 - Cow, over 14 cwts: 3rd Prize. C Wolfenden. Cow in calf or milk, most suitable for dairy purposes, Middle- weights: 3rd Prize C Wolfenden. Silver cup, for best pair of dairy cows, any weight: C Wolfenden. The Association's Champion Cup, for the best cow in the show: C Wolfenden.
1896 - Fat Cow, not exceeding 11½ cwt: 1st Prize C Wolfenden, Bootle;
1897 – Fat Cow Not exceeding 14½ cwts: 1st Prize C Wolfenden, Beech Street, Bootle.

In 1899 the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show was held in Liverpool. Charles took 2nd Prize (£3) in the Cowkeepers’ Turnout competition with ‘Donald’. He is recorded as Chas Wolfenden, living at 1 Beech Street, Bootle.

Their eldest child, Annie, married Frederick Bowden (of 19 Beech Street) in 1898 and moved out of the family home. Charles died in 1901 and was buried at St Mary's Church, Bootle. The census for that year records Elizabeth Wolfenden, living at 1 BEECH STREET, as a widow along with her remaining nine children. Her occupation is given as Cowkeeper. Indeed, assisted by her children, Elizabeth continued to make a success of the dairy at Beech Street. When her son, Scott, married Elizabeth Rhodes, in 1903, he gave his profession as Cowkeeper.

The 1911 census gives the occupants of 1 BEECH STREET as follows: Elizabeth (60) - Cowkeeper, Charles (24), Lizzie (22), John (20), Maggie (18) and May (15); plus Elizabeth’s sister-in-law, Jane Scott (53). Also in 1911, Scott Wolfenden is a boarder at 12 Beech Street, occupation Cowkeeper, and William Wolfenden is living at 238 STRAND ROAD, Bootle, occupation Dairy Manager. Later in 1911, Elizabeth passed away at the age of 60. She was buried on 6th July at St Mary’s Church, Bootle. The 1918 directory lists John Wolfenden as a Dairyman at 1 BEECH STREET.

Awarded to Henry Wolfenden for Best Dairy Cow - July 1885. © Meryl Auty 2018

James’s second marriage
Now let’s return to Faith and Meryl’s common ancestor, James Wolfenden. His first wife, Isabella Hall, died in 1815 and he remarried in 1822. His second wife was Betty Hartley (1801-1865). Together they had nine children: James (b.1823), Joseph (b.1825), Thomas (b.1827), Henry (b.1829), George (b.1831), Pickles (b.1833), Richard (b.1836), Elizabeth (b. 1839) and Mary (b.1841). Of these, Henry, Mary, Thomas and James all went on to have an involvement in cowkeeping in Liverpool, either directly or via their children.

Henry Wolfenden (1829-1894) [Meryl’s great-grandfather] married Ellen Procter (1827-1916) in Settle, in 1849. They had twelve children between 1849 and 1871, and during that time farmed at Rathmell, Colne, Kildwick and Keighley before moving to Liverpool. The 1881 census records the family living at 36 CHAPEL STREET: Henry (52), Dairyman; Ellen (54) Thomas (24), Farm Labourer; Mary Ann (20), Dairymaid; and Henry (12). In 1883 Henry won 3rd prize (fat cows, not exceeding 44 scores) at the annual show of the Liverpool and District Cowkeepers’ Association – his address is confirmed as being 36 CHAPEL STREET.

In 1885 Henry entered a number of classes at the 29th annual show of the Ormskirk, Southport and Bootle Agricultural Society, held at Marsh Lane, Bootle. It was at this show that he was presented with the silver goblet, now in the possession of Meryl Alty. The trophy has been intricately engraved and carries four separate inscriptions as follows: Ormskirk, Southport and Bootle Agricultural Society / Awarded to Mr Henry Wolfenden of Waterloo / For the Best Dairy Cow in Premiums Nos 20 & 21 – Robert Mawdsley, Secretary and Treasurer / Show held at Bootle Wednesday 29th July 1885. The following day the Liverpool Mercury reported on the show and listed Henry amongst the prize-winners:

Special Prize for best dairy cow in milk or calf, the bona fide property of a dairyman in the district – H Wolfenden, Waterloo.
Special Prize – Silver Cup, for best Tenant Farmer’s Bull – H Wolfenden, Waterloo.

By the time of the 1891 census, Henry had left the city and had relocated to Keighley, where he died in 1894.

In 1878, Henry's son, James Wolfenden (1851-1934), married Margaret Cooper Chester (1856-1895) in Skipton. The 1881 census has James and Margaret, together with their daughters, Beatrice (b.1879) and Ada (b.1880), living at COTTAGE 12, BOND'S LANE, Great Crosby. James's occupation is given as Cowkeeper. By the time of the 1891 census, they had taken over the dairy, at 36 CHAPEL STREET, that had previously been run by James's father, Henry.
The prize list for the 1890 annual show organised by the Liverpool Cowkeepers’ Association makes extensive reference to J Wolfenden:
Class IX Cows in calf or milk (heavyweights): 1st and 2nd Prizes to J Wolfenden;
Class X Cows in calf or milk (middleweights): 1st Prize to J Wolfenden;
Class XI Cows in calf or milk (lightweights): 5th Prize to. J Wolfenden.
Silver cup (presented by the proprietors of the Hellifield Auction Mart) for the best pair of dairy cows: J Wolfenden.
A champion silver cup (presented by the Liverpool Cowkeepers' Association) for the best cow in the show: J Wolfenden.
In 1899 the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show was held in Liverpool and James entered a number of classes including that for Cowkeepers’ Turnout. (Class 93 – Cowkeepers’ Milk Turnout, over 14 hands to be regularly used for delivering milk for not less than 1 month after the last day of the show.) James took 1st Prize (£5) with ‘Yorkshire Canute’. James's address is given as 36 CHAPEL STREET. However, by 1901 (census), James - now widowed - had changed profession to that of Publican and was running a public house at 29 Bath Street.

1878 was also the year in which Henry's daughter, Jane Wolfenden (1853-1931), married John Ward (1844-1924) at Kildwick. They had two children: Sarah was born in 1880 in Keighley whereas Charles Edgar was born in 1882 in Waterloo, Liverpool. That they moved to Liverpool in 1881 is confirmed by the census record, which has the family keeping cows at 23 EAST STREET, Great Crosby. John’s occupation is given as ‘Cowkeeper’, as is that of his brother-in-law, John Wolfenden (22), who was staying with them at the time. They had returned to Keighley by the time of the 1891 census.

Mary Wolfenden (1841-1897) married Edmund Alderson (1841-1912) in 1875, in Blackburn. Mary was Edmund’s second wife. He’d had four children with his first wife and went on to have four more with Mary – the latter, all born in Bootle between 1876 and 1883. Edmund had previously been a Railway Porter, but following his marriage to Mary he turned his hand to cowkeeping and became quite successful at it. They are first recorded living at 19 BROWNE STREET, Bootle in the census of 1881 and were still there for the 1891 census. Edmund’s occupation is given as Cowkeeper on both occasions and his prowess as such is evidenced by his success in the annual shows held by the Liverpool Cowkeepers’ Association:

1882 – Dairy Cows, Light Weight. 3rd Prize to E Alderson, Bootle.
1888 – Fat Cows in calf or milk. 2nd Prize to E Alderson.
1890 – Cows in calf or milk. 2nd Prize to E Alderson.
1892 – Fat Cows (14 cwt. and upwards). 1st Prize to E Alderson. The Mr. B. Sykes Special Prize for Best Cow in calf or milk awarded to E Alderson.
1894 - Fat Cows (14 cwt. and upwards). 2nd Prize to E Alderson. Dairy Cows, Middle Weights. 2nd Prize to E Alderson.
1895 – Fat Cow (not exceeding 14 cwt.). 2nd Prize to E Alderson, 19 Browne Street. Cow in calf or milk. 3rd Prize to E Alderson.

Edmund retired from cowkeeping following Mary’s death in 1897. At the time of the 1901 census he was living on his own means as a boarder with his widowed sister-in-law at 4 Arcacia Grove, Liverpool.

Thomas Wolfenden (1827-1901)

Thomas Wolfenden (1827-1901) married Jane Hitchen (1838-1904) in 1863, in Clitheroe. They had eight children: Valerie (b.1863), Fred Lee Roy (b.1865), Bertie (b.1867), Lilian Hare (b.1869), Perlie Ellen (b.1872), William George K (b1875), Captain Tom Long (b.1876) and Maple May (b.1880). After a period of time in America, Thomas returned to farm at Studford Gill, Gisburn Forest. However, by the beginning of 1901, he had made the move to Liverpool and was keeping cows at 19 BROWNE STREET; presumably he had taken over this business from his brother-in-law, Edmund Alderson, who had recently retired. Sadly, Thomas died in the February of that year – his burial record confirms he was living at the Browne Street dairy at the time of his death. Consequently, the 1901 census identifies Jane as the now-widowed head of household, being assisted in continuing the business by a number of her children: Fred L R (35), Cowkeeper; Lilian H (32), Cowkeeper; William G H (26), Cowkeeper; and Maple M (20). (Jane continued to operate the business as Thomas Wolfenden & Son - 1905 directory). Also, taking place that year was the marriage of their eldest daughter, Valerie (1863-1929) to George Dobson (1864-1937) of Slaidburn. They were married on 24th April at St Mary’s Church, Walton-on-the-Hill. George was already a Cowkeeper & Dairyman, living at 1 SHALLOT STREET. They were still living at Shallot Street in 1907, when their second son, John, was born, but had returned to farm at Rathmell, Settle, by the time of the 1911 census.

Before proceeding, and in an attempt to avoid confusion, it is probably worth pointing out that this line of the Wolfenden family tree has three generations in which the eldest son was christened James. So, we have Faith and Meryl’s 2nd great-grandfather James Wolfenden (1784-1858), whose son was James Wolfenden (1823-1890), whose son was James Wolfenden (1850-1930).

James Wolfenden (1823-1890) married Alice Charnley (1828-1905) in 1849, at Giggleswick. James and Alice farmed at Phynis and at Woodhouse Gate, Slaidburn. They had six children: James (b.1850), Robert (b.1851) [referred to by Faith Finegan as ‘Cousin Robert’], Betsy (b.1853), Isabella (b.1856), Thomas (b.1858) and Annie (b.1860). The first four children (James, Robert, Betsy and Isabella) all had connections with cowkeeping in Liverpool.

James Wolfenden (1850-1930) married Isabella Tommas (b.1854) in 1869 and they had ten children, all born in Slaidburn between 1870 and 1900. The 1891 census has James farming at Phynis Farm, Slaidburn. Their move to Liverpool must have taken place some time between the birth of their youngest child, George Pickles Wolfenden, in 1900, and the 1901 census. For, by 1901, James has taken over the dairy at 36 CHAPEL STREET formerly run by his cousin, also James (son of Henry), who had become a publican.

So, the 1901 census has James (1850-1930) and Isabella at 36 CHAPEL STREET. His occupation is given as Dairyman and those of his sons, Charles and Henry, as Assistant Dairyman. But, by 1911 they had moved to 31 HYDE ROAD, Waterloo and James’s occupation is given as Cowkeeper & Dairyman.

In the July of 1911, James’s daughter, Beatrice (b. 1890), married Benjamin Sayer (1879-1952) at St John’s, Waterloo. At the time, Benjamin was farming at Barnard Castle, but following the marriage he relocated to Liverpool and became a cowkeeper. They had seven children. Benjamin is listed in the 1938 directory of Liverpool as a Dairyman living at 6 TOWNSEND LANE. Although Benjamin died in 1952, Beatrice continued the business and she is listed as a Dairyman in the 1955 directory (Mrs Beatrice Sayer), still living at 6 Townsend Lane.

James was still at 31 HYDE ROAD when he passed away in August 1928. Probate passed to his sons, Henry and James, who are described as Cowkeepers & Dairymen.

Robert Wolfenden (1851-1935) married Jane Elizabeth Mansergh (1854-1903) in 1875, at Settle. Between 1877 and 1886 they had ten children. The places of birth of their children give some idea of the family’s movements (or, at least of Jane’s movements) during that time:

Lena – b.1877, Slaidburn
Betsy – b.1878, Liverpool
Maggie – b.1880, Hellifield
Edgar – b.1882, Swinden Moor
Thomas Howard – b.1883, Bootle
Claude – b.1884, Bootle
Clare – b.1886, Bootle
Victor – b.1888, Bootle
Sydney – b.1891, Bootle
Ethel – b.1894, Bootle

The 1881 census has the family farming at Swinden Moor Head, Settle. But, by the time of the 1891 census they were living at 8 SALISBURY ROAD, Bootle; Robert’s occupation is given as Cowkeeper. This timescale fits with Faith’s description of Robert moving to Liverpool circa 1877, returning to farming at Swinden Moor (due to ill health) and then returning to the city once more to keep cows. The 1894 directory still has the family living at 4-8 Salisbury Road, but the 1900 directory has them living at 1 HORNBY BOULEVARD.

According to Faith’s account, Robert then had built a brand new, modern, spacious, state-of-the-art milkhouse at Knowsley Road – large enough for a herd of 20 cows. Although they retained the property at Hornby Boulevard, the 1901 census has the family keeping cows at 235 KNOWSLEY ROAD: Robert (49), Cowkeeper; Jane E (47); Lena (24); Betsy (23); Maggie (20); Clare (15); Victor (13); Sydney (9); Ethel (7); also, nephew William T Wolfenden (23).

Knowsley Dairy. (Courtesy of Leroy Beasley).

Robert was as prolific as the rest of the Wolfenden family when it came to entering the annual shows organised by the Liverpool Cowkeepers’ Association:

1885 - Class 9. Heavy weights: 2nd Prize £4 to R. Wolfenden, Salisbury Road, Bootle. Class 10. Light weights: 2nd Prize £4 to R. Wolfenden, Salisbury Road, Bootle.
1887 - Class 2. Fat Cows not exceeding 15 cwts. 1st Prize to R Wolfenden, Bootle. Class 6. Fat Cow not exceeding 15 cwts. 1st Prize to R Wolfneden. Class 9. Fat Cow in calf or milk. 3rd Prize to R Wolfenden. Class 10. Middle weights. 1st Prize to R Wolfenden. Class 12. 3rd Prize to R Wolfenden.
1888 - Fat Cows upwards of 14½ cwts: 3rd Prize to R Wolfenden. Light Weights. 1st Prize to R Wolfenden.
1890 - Class V: 3rd Prize to R Wolfenden. Class X (middleweights): 3rd Prize to R. Wolfenden. Class XIII, Cows in calf or milk. 3rd Prize to R Wolfenden.
1892 - Light Weights: 2nd Prize to R Wolfenden.
1894 - Light-weights: 5th Prize to R Wolfenden.
1895 - Fat Cow, 14½ cwts. and upwards: 3rd Prize to Robert Wolfenden, Salisbury Road, Bootle. Cows in Calf or Milk, Class 9: 1st Prize to R Wolfenden, Bootle. Class 10: 4th and 5th Prizes to R Wolfenden. A silver cup by the Skipton Auction Mart Company for the best pair of dairy cows in calf, any weight was awarded to R Wolfenden.
1897 - Cows in calf or milk, Heavy-weights: 4th Prize to R Wolfenden. Cow for dairy purposes (open): 1st Prize to R Wolfenden.

Robert Wolfenden. 235 Knowsley Road. Photo Wizardry by Keith Jones (@LiverpoolThenAndNow)

When Jane Elizabeth passed away in July 1903, she was 49 years old. She was buried at St Mary’s, Bootle and her abode is given as 1 HORNBY BOULEVARD, Bootle. This is confirmed as the family's new address in the 1911 census: Robert (59), Cowkeeper; Lena (34), Teacher; Betsy (33), Housekeeper; Maggie (30), Teacher; Clara (25), Typist; Victor (23), Glass decorator and Sign Writer; Sydney (19), Cowman & Dairy Worker; Ethel (17), Student; also, Luther Carr (31) of Austwick, Cowman & Dairy Worker. The various occupations of the children recorded on the census sheet suggest that it was only Sydney who was committed to continuing in the family's dairy business. The 1926 directory lists Robert as a Dairyman, operating out of both the Hornby Boulevard and the Knowsley Road premises. However, when Robert died, in 1935, he was living at 27 Well Brow Road, Walton. He was buried at St Mary’s, Bootle.

Faith refers to Sydney eventually taking over the ‘Knowsley Dairy’ from his father. On 28th November 1931 Sydney married Ellen Smith (1900-1999) at St Leonard's Church, Bootle. By the time the war was over, he had ceased keeping cows but continued in business as a milk retailer. Indeed, the 1964 directory lists S. Wolfenden as a Dairyman at 235 KNOWSLEY ROAD. Sydney died in 1978.

According to A Bit Akin, both Betsy Wolfenden (b.1853) and Isabella Wolfenden (b.1856) were briefly involved in keeping cows in Liverpool. The sisters married two brothers who became cowkeepers. Isabella married Robert Waterworth, who died at a relatively young age. Betsy married James Waterworth and they had two children: Maggie (b.1875, Slaidburn) and Tom Wolfenden Waterworth (b.1877, Bootle). Betsy died soon after giving birth to Tom – she was aged just 24 – and James returned with his two young children to farm at Slaidburn. However, by 1901 their son, Tom, was back in the city working for cowkeeper James Hanson at 3 CHURCH ROAD, St Michael’s. In 1903 he married Agnes Parry and by 1911 he and Agnes were living at 142a PICTON ROAD, Wavertree. Tom’s occupation is given as Milk Dealer. Following Agnes’s death, in 1917, Tom married Beatrice Hampton, in 1920. At the time he was a Cowkeeper living at 26 MAPLE GROVE.

The Mansergh Family

The Manserghs are related to the Wolfendens through the marriage of Robert Wolfenden (1851-1935) and Jane Elizabeth Mansergh (1854-1903); the wedding took place at Salidburn in October 1875.

Jane Elizabeth was one of ten children of Joshua Mansergh (1816-1899) and Isabella Read (b.1818) [who were married in 1846 and farmed at Town End, Crosthwaite, Westmoreland]: Joshua (b.1848), Ann Mary (b.1850), Isabella (b.1851), Thomas Read (b.1852), Jane Elizabeth (b.1854), Margaret Agnes (b.1856), Sarah Ellen (b.1857), Rachael Emma (b.1859), John (b.1860) and Richard Edward (b.1864). Two of their sons, Thomas Read and Richard Edward, became cowkeepers in Liverpool.

Thomas Read Mansergh (1852-1930) was keeping cows in Liverpool at the time of the 1881 census. He was a single 28-year-old, living at 16 CLYDE STREET and being assisted in the running of the business by two of his sisters: Ann Mary (30) and Rachael Emma (22). In 1889 Thomas married Emma Holgate (1861-1944) at All Saints, Elton, Lancaster – his occupation is given as ‘Dairy Farmer’ and his abode as ‘Bootle’. By 1891, Thomas and Emma were keeping cows at 57 QUEENS ROAD but listings in the 1894 and 1900 directories give an additional business address of 32-36 WADHAM ROAD – located just around the corner from the Queens Road premises. The 1901 census has them still at Queens Road along with their five children, who had all been born in Bootle. However, by the time of the 1911 census, Thomas was a ‘Retired Dairy Farmer’, running a dairy at 19 BREEZE HILL, Bootle, with his wife and four grown-up children.

Richard Edward Mansergh (1864-1909) was keeping cows at 27 BEACON LANE, Everton, at the time of the 1891 census. He was being assisted by two of his sisters, Rachael (32) and Sarah (34), his father, Joshua (75, Retired Farmer) and two cowmen. In 1894 he married Mary Alice Grace (b.1866) at St George’s, Everton. The 1901 census records the couple still living at Beacon Lane – Richard’s occupation is given as ‘Milk Dealer’. Richard died in 1909. The Probate record gives his occupation as ‘Cowkeeper’, living at 27 Beacon Lane.

Like the Wolfendens, the Mansergh brothers were also active participants in the annual shows organised by the Liverpool Cowkeepers’ Association:

1887 - Class 11. Light weights. 2nd Prize to T Mansergh.
1888 - Fat Cow not exceeding 14½ cwts: 1st Prize to T Mansergh. Fat Cows not exceeding 11½ cwts: 2nd Prize to R Mansergh.
1890 - Class I. Upwards of 14½ cwts: - 1st Prize T Mansergh; Class VIII: 2nd Prize R Mansergh. Silver cup (presented by Benjamin Sykes) for the best fat cow in the show: Thomas Mansergh.
1892 - Special Prizes. Messrs Elam and Jackson presented to R E Mansergh.
1894 - Fat Cow, 14 cwts. and upwards: 3rd Prize to Thomas Mansergh, Bootle; Cow, not exceeding 13 cwts: 4the Prize to R E Mansergh.
1895 - Class 6: 1st Prize to T Mansergh, Wadham Road, Bootle. Class 8: 1st Prize to R Mansergh.
1897 - Light-weights: 2nd Prize to R E Mansergh, Beacon Lane, Everton.

Finally, William Mansergh (1820-1892) was the brother of Joshua Mansergh (1816-1899). He married his second wife, Ann Goss (1837-1915) in 1867, at Lancaster. By the time of the 1871 census he had relocated to Liverpool and was farming 22 acres at 78 LODGE LANE. William’s son, Joseph Mansergh (1852-1931), married Joanne Laura Hamilton Blackburn (1852-1929) in 1879 at Tunstall. At the time he was an Agricultural Labourer in Barrow. However, the 1894 directory of Liverpool lists Joseph as a Cowkeeper living at 14 NORFOLK STREET, Bootle. Joseph and Joanne were still keeping cows at this address in 1900 (directory) and in 1911 (census). The Mansergh’s cowkeeping tradition was resurrected a few generations down the line by one of William’s great-grandsons, William Grieg Mansergh (1909-1990). William Grieg is recorded as a Dairyman at 127 PARK HILL ROAD in the city directories of 1938, 1955 and 1964.

'A bit akin' - the wolfenden and mansergh families