REDO: William Shepherd and Mary Jones

When William Shepherd was born in 1846 in Manchester, Lancashire, England, his father, William Shepherd Sr., was 32 and his mother, Catherine (nee Ince), was 31.

William married Mary Jones on November 22, 1868, at St. John The Evangelist, Miles Platting (in Manchester). The church no longer exists but was on Oldham Road. At the time of the marriage, William's occupation was a Turner (a lathe worker) living at 34 Frazer Street. and Mary Jones was a Weaver living at 13 Wainright Street. As the addresses do not specify the area of Manchester, and there are multiple streets with the same name in the locality, I'm unable to find the specific addresses on GoogleMaps.

When Mary Jones was born in 1847 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, her father, Thomas Jones, was 27. Given the common last name and the lack of adequate records at the time, I've been unable to trace her mother thus far. There has been some suggestion that the family may have been Welsh, but I haven't been able to confirm it. It would be interesting though to note that my mother's family also traces back to a Welsh Jones family. Maybe I'm related to myself.

Marriage Register, Miles Platting, St. John the Evangelist (image via Ancestry.com)

William and Mary had nine children in 20 years:

• Thomas Henry Shepherd (1870-1874), buried at Phillips Park Cemetery in Manchester
• Richard Shepherd (1872-1917)
• Catherine Shepherd (1874-) married Joseph Stirrup
• William Shepherd (1879-1931)
• Harry (Henry?) Shepherd (1881-1881), buried at Phillips Park Cemetery in Manchester
• Louie Shepherd (1882-1962)
• Amelia Shepherd (1884-1954)
• George Shepherd (1884-?)
• May Shepherd (1891-1928) 

Thomas Henry was baptized on June 26, 1870 at St. Philip's church on Chester Street in Hulme, Manchester, Lancashire, England (the church closed in 1973). The family is living on Robertson Street. William's occupation is a Turner.

Baptismal Register, St. Philip Manchester (image via Ancestry.com)

In 1871 we find the family at 61 Robertson Street in Ancoats, Lancashire, England (I haven't been able to locate this street on a modern map). William's occupation is "iron turner, engine works" and Mary is a silk weaver. Thomas Henry is nine months old. At the time, Ancoats would have been a thriving industrial district and likely William didn't have far to go to get to work.

1871 England Census (image via Ancestry.com)

There are no further baptismal records for the other children of William and Mary located at any Manchester parish. Richard is born next in 1872. Thomas Henry dies the same month his sister Catherine is born in 1874. Catherine is followed by William in 1879 and Harry in 1881.

By this time the family is living at 21 Mellor Street in Chorlton. William is a Cotton Waste Mill Mechanic. Mary is no longer working. Harry is only three months old.

1881 England Census (image via Ancestry.com)

21 Mellor Street, Chorlton (image via Google Maps)

In 1882, Louie Shepherd is born, followed by sister Amelia and brother George both in 1884 (unknown whether they're twins or Irish twins).

In 1891, the family is found on the census living at 105 Taylor Street in Prestwich. We find all of the living children, Richard, Catherine, William, Louie, George and Amelia at home. William's job is a "Fitter (Mechanic)."

1891 England Census (image via Ancestry.com)

105 Taylor Street, Prestwich (image via GoogleMaps)

A final daughter, May is born after the 1891 census.

Catherine was married in 1897 (still at Taylor Street).

William died at the early age of 53 and was buried on June 19, 1899 at Philips Park Cemetery.

We find his widow in Bradford, Manchester, England (the address is unclear and I haven't been able to match it to a modern map) living with the remaining children: Richard, William, Louie, George, Amelia and May.

1901 England Census (image via Ancestry.com)

Richard died in November 1901 and is buried in Philips Park Cemetery.

Mary died on June 10, 1909, in Manchester, Lancashire, England, at the age of 62, and is buried at Philips Park Cemetery in Miles Plating with her husband and son Richard.

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