Alice Davies. born 1906     -  died 1996

 Parents  William Watkin Davies b1873  &  Elizabeth Ellen Hall-Lee b1880 (ellie) Was an adopted child.

  

   
Alice Davies was born on the 21st June 1906. Her baptism was held at Albert Memorial Church, Collyhurst, Manchester, on the 5th of July 1906. Alice was born at 26 Steele Street, Miles Platting, Manchester. Steele street is no longer present  and was built over in the 1960 to create Tollard Avenue off Sedgeford Road and Queens road Miles Platting.  There are no good  pictures of Steele Street in the Manchester photo archive but there are plenty of the connecting roads which just capture Steele street. This is a road I pass on a daily basis as I travel to work to Newton Heath.




in the 1911 census we have Alice living with her parents as follows:
1911 Census; 26  Steele St, off Queens Road. 466/3/27
William Watkin Davies age 41. Married  4 child (no deceased Children recorded)   Occ; Furniture Carter,  Cabinet Maker born, Manchester. 
Nellie Davies age 31. married. 9 years married.  Born, Manchester.
Ethel Davies age 8. Daug,  Born, Manchester
Willie Davies age 6. Son,    Born, Manchester
Alice Davies age 4. Daugh,   Born, Manchester
Harold Davies age 2. Son.    Born, Manchester
Elizabeth Davies age 28. Sister, in Service  born Manchester.
Mary Lee  age 59. Mother in law, Widow, Washing,  born Salford.

William Watkin Davies & Elizabeth Ellen Hall Lee; marriage event 1901 Vol: 8d page 297.  Manchester.  Held at Albert Methodist church. 

The street names mentioned being Sutherland Street cant be found in the image library or on the present day map but they are by present day Queens Road, Miles Platting.
It was know in my immediate family by his daughter Alice being my -the authors Nanna that William held a share in a funiture business just facing Oxford road trian Station and his share was bought out unscrupulously by the the partners family.

William Watkin Davies. Died on the 18th August 1943 age 73 and Eliz' Ellen Davies died on the 3rd April 1948 age 68. The grave is in Southern Cemetary. Ethal their daughter is also in the burial plot along with Ethals husband and son Peter Jones who died in the 2nd WW.



William Watkin Davies grew up in the Miles Plattiing district of Manchester we can follow the family through the census returns as below. His father Watkin was born c1834 in Manchester he Married Ellen Greenwood.    Ellen died in June 1871.

In the 1901 census; 12 Sutherland street, Harpurhey, Manchester.  RG13/3753 page
Watkin Davies, Head, Widow, age 60 Occ  No Occupation.  Born Manchester. Watkin's given age is 60 so possibly some confusion as he would be 70 years old.
William Watkin, Son, age 28. single General Carter. Born Manchester.
Emily Davies, Daug, age 15, single. Machine Stocking Knitter. Born Manchester.
Ellen Davies, Daugh, age 16. Born Manchester.
Emily & Ellen are not feature in the previous census? this doesn't add up, did Watkin father these two girl and they end up living with him? As his wife Ellen died in1871 and the first girl wasn't born until 1885 but they don't shown up in the 1891 census as single girls. need to check and verify.

In the 1891 census; 12 Sutherland street, Harpurhey, Manchester.  RG12/3245 page13
Watkin Davies, Head, Widow, age 60 Occ  Cabinet French Polisher.  Born Manchester. 
Sophia Davies, Daug, age 23. single, Occ Spice Pickle Packer. Born Manchester.    
William Watkin, Son, age 20. single Carter. Born Manchester.
In the 1881 census: 17 Brass Street, St Michaels ward, Manchester. RG11/4007 page43
Watkin Davies, Head, Widow, age 45 Occ Cabinet French Polisher.  Born Manchester.
Sophia Davies, Daug, age 13. Scholar. Born Manchester.
William Watkin, Son, age 11. Scholar. Born Manchester.

In the 1871 census: 12 Sand Street Street, St Michaels ward, Manchester. RG10/4054 page3
Watkin Davies, Head, married, age 37. Occ French Polisher.  Born Manchester.
Ellen Davies, Wife, age 37.  same occupation  French Polisher. Born Manchester.
Sophia Davies, Daug, age 3.  Born Manchester.
William Watkin, Son, age 1. Born Manchester.
Ellen dies 2 months after this census was taken in April.


Watkin Davies abt1835 shows up as the only Waking Davies in England and in the 1851 census, I cant find a Watkin Davies in the area, such are all in Wales.
 Furance Street, Dukinfield, Cheshire 1841 census; Ho107/109/3
Edward Davies age 70  occupation Tailor. Not born of this county.
Jane Davies age 60    Not born of this county.
Watkin age 15  occupation looks like Upholster.  Born in Cheshire.
  Elizabeth Ellen Hall 'Lee, adoptive name' born on the 13th April 1879 and baptized on the 20th May 1879 at the Utd Methodist Free Church, Market St, Blackley.  
Eliz' Ellen Hall was adopted by the Lee family probably within the first 6 months of her birth.  We can trace Eliz Ellen Hall through the census of  1891 and 1901 with the Lee family and once we come to the 1881 census she isn't featured with either her with her biological parents Alice and William Lahh or her adoptive family the Lee's.
The 1881 census return specifies her parents and an older brother Albert born in 1877 as follows:

1881 census;  RG11; piece;4031. 29 .page 8.   Lion Street, Blackley. Grant st, Lion st then  Peel Bank.
William Hall Head 27  Labourer at Chemical Works. .  Born Blackley.
Alice Hall Wife 27     Cotton Weaver. Droylsden.
Albert Hall. Son age 4.    Blackley.

This omission suggests they had given up their daughter for adpotion before the census was taken in April 1881. I cant find an entry for her in the 1881 census and she doesnt feature with the Lee family in the 1881 census so either the Lees have her already but didnt record such in the censu or  Elizabeth is being looked after elsewhere.

As to why Alice & William gave up Elizabeth for adoption such wasnt passed down to us,  possibly  her daughter Alice Shelmerdine nee Davies being my nanna [authors] may have known or my mother Freda Marchington nee Shelmerdine both lost to time before the question was riased by us.  Jemmy Shelmerdine nee Allman being the last surviving Allman granddaughter search for an adoption entry but such didnt exist, so its possible such was arranged trough the local methodist chapel .


Elle as Elizaberth was known, was born on the 13th April 1879 in Blackley. She is firstly baptised on the 20th May 1879 at the United Methodist Free Church on Market Street Blackly event number 97. The given address is Lion Street and William and Alice are named as the parents.   On the 2nd June 1879 her birth is offically registed by Alice in the birth index as Elizabeth Ellen Hall to the parents of William Hall and his wife Alice Hall nee Dunkerley. Their given address again is  Lion Street, Blackley. William Hall is stated as a blacksmith, and the birth seems to have been registered by Alice again as she left her mark X being unable to write and possibly unable to read too. 


Church entry.


Birth index entry.


Between  June 1879 and April 1881. Elle was adopted by Joshua & Mary Wittaker.

The Lee family

On the 23rd Sept 1861 Joshua marries Lavina Weedall as show in the event below. Lavina must have died after the 1871 census as Joshua is stated as married but his wife isnt present at that given address. Joshua goes on to marry again.
On the 5th December 1881 Joshua marries Mary Whittaker  its states Joshua was a Widower.  his occupation matches that given in the 1871 census, also given the married in December 1881 the census return for April 1881 stated they were married, so they must have been living together or
It could be that they couldn't have children of their own as none show up through the census returns.




1901 Census; 3 Sutherland Street, Harperhey, Manchester. RG13 / 3753 page9
Joshua Lee. Head, Married age 58.  General Caster???-monger, Own Account. Born Cheadle, Cheshire.
Mary Lee. Wife. Married. age 49.  Born Manchester.
Elizabeth E Hall, Adopted Daug, Single. age 21. Born Withington.


1891 Census; 21 Steele Street, Harperhey, Manchester. RG12 / 3246 page34
Joshua Lee. Head, Married age 48.  Labourer in Coal Yard. Born Cheadle, Cheshire.
Mary Lee. Wife. Married. age 39.  Born Manchester.
Elizabeth E Hall, Adopted Daug, Single. age 11. Born Manchester.

1881 Census; 32 Grosvenor Street, Newton Heath, Manchester. RG11 / 4011 page47
Joshua Lee. Head, Married age 38.  Labourer. Born Cheadle, Staffs.
Mary Lee. Wife. Married. age 29.  Born Manchester.

There is no Alice as registed in the census return so her whereabouts is unknow as yet.  Jenny Allam her granddaughter has check adoption records but couldnt find any offical record. Therefore it may have been a private affair between the two families possible a church connection ?  What is intresting is Alice later calls her daugther Alice maybe after her birth mother? The names of her children and grandchildren pick up Lee family names Jeminma.


1871 Census; 126 Martha Street, Salford. RG10 / 4025 page 24
George Lee. Head. Married. age 80  no occ  Born Cheadle, Cheshire.
Jeminma Lee. Wife. Married. age70.   Born Handford, Cheshire.
Harriot Lee. Daug. age 25   Cotton Weaver.  Born Stockport.  CHECK MARRIAGE to a HALL in Stockport c1877
Joshua Lee. Son, age 28. states married. occupation Hoister & Drawer. Born Cheadle, Cheshire. occupation title may be a lift operator in a coal mine.



Map of Martha street
Martha street, Orsall area Salford.

William & Alice Hall Page



Jenny Shelmerdine
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Alice Davis b1906 - Miles Platting - d1996 
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Elizabeth Ellen Hall 'Lee'- b1879 Blackley - d 
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Alice Dunkerley b1854 -Droylsden - d
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Ellen nee Dunkerley b? Chapel en le frith- d





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Data which isnt relative as yet

1881 CENSUS 46 Peel Bank, Blackley, rg11/4031 PAGE11
William Hall. Head Married. age 71 Occ Cotton Dyer.   Born Blackley, Lancs
Alice Hall. Wife. Married. Age 74 Born Blackley Lancs.  (Died 6th June 1883, Moston age 76)



1871 Census : Peel Bank, Blackley, Lancs. RG10 /4066/ page 30
William Hall. Head. age 61  Cotton Dyer   Born Blackley, Lancs
Alice Hall. Wife. age 64              Born Blackley, Lancs

1861 Census: Hunt Green, Blackley, Lancs. RG 9/2975 page 4
William Hall. Head. age 51  Cotton Dyer   Born Blackley, Lancs
Elizabeth Hall. Wife. age 53              Born Blackley, Lancs  Note although Elizabeth is named the children's birth entry states Alice so probably she is Eliz' Alice.
Sarah Hall  Daug. Unattached age 30   Cotton Weaver  Born Blackley, Lans. Married on the 19th May 1861 to William Collinge at St Peters, Blackley. Ellen her sister is a witness. None can read or write.
Ann Hall Daug. Unattached age 21   Cotton Weaver  Born Blackley, Lans. May have married in 1865 to a Chadwick in Northumbria, father is started as a William.
Ellen Daug. Unattached age 18   Cotton Weaver  Born Blackley, Lans. NOTE: Ellen marries a Butterworth and in the 1891 census, Ellen's father William is living with them age 81.

1851 Census: Bonie Row, Blackley, Lancs.
William Hall. Head. age 41  ?? Dyer   Born Blackley, Lancs
Alice Hall. Wife. age 44              Born Blackley, Lancs 
Sarah Hall  Daug. Unattached age 20   Cotton Weaver  Born Blackley, Lans.
Alice Hall Daug Unattached  age 16 Weaver Cotton Born Blackley, Lans. Baptized 2nd Nov 1834 confirmed. Married 20th Feb 1853 to James Thomlinson. Alice her mark X
Ann Hall Daug. Unattached age 13   Weaver Cotton  Born Blackley, Lans.
Ellen Daug. Unattached age 8   Scholor Born Blackley, Lans.




1881 Census 10 Wellington Street, Chorley Lancashire BG 11 / 4218     page 28
James Hall 38 & Ellen Hall 32.  Eliz' feature in the 1891 census.


1881 Census Waterloo, Crosby. age 1 RG11  /3695 page13
Parents; William and Sarah both age 25. but she features in the 1891 census along with her parents and ironicly marries a WIlliam Davies.



Alice Dunkerley


William Hall.
     

 
         
         
         
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