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Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 3:49 pm
by BOBHAMO
Welcome James
there is the census 1881 1891 1901 1911
which might help think we did some info
for Hyvon who was going to visit bootle he emailed me
but i could not meet him a interesting family tree
apart from later directories up to 1968
only the early records might give you more info
bobhamo

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 3:28 pm
by HvonBlumenthal
Hi James, this is what I have, father to son:

John Ascroft, b. circa 1572 m. Margaret Browne 1578-1654
James Ascroft 1604-1639 m. Margaret Parr 1605-26
James Ascroft b. 1625 m. Elizabeth Seyeau b. 1629
John Ascroft . 1642 m. Margret Lawrence
William Ascroft, wheelwright, 1666-1717 m. Mary Pennington. Her great great great uncle was Isaac Pennington, Lord Mayor of London and Regicide
Thomas Ascroft, 1708-67, Stonemason, m. Mary Blinkhorn
Peter Ascroft 1743-88 m. Elizabeth Wadson 1740-90
James Ascroft 1785-1843 m. Lois Hodson 1791-1838
Thomas Ascroft 1818-86 m. Margaret Taylor
Peter Ascroft 1847-1917 (Mayor of Bootle 1900-1) m. Sarah Ann Smith 1850-1933
Peter's Children: Amy, 1871-1961; Ellen Sarah (died in infancy); William Alfred (died in infancy); Thomas Henry ("Harry") 1876-1932; Jessie Elizabeth Woods 1877-1938; William Alfred 1879-1957 m. Marian Hocknell 1886-1971; Bert 1881-1956 (is that your great grandfather Perter Herbert? He had a son called Harold); James Arthur 1883-1951; Edith May Woods 1886-1981 (my grandmother. Her husband and Jess's were bothers); Mabel Sarah Taylor b 1891; Gladys Evelyn 1894-70; Amy (died in infancy).

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 4:35 pm
by HvonBlumenthal
lily8 wrote:Finding Constance was quite a challenge as there are no BMD's online I found a grave reference for Ellen/Nellie Ascroft Prime (nee Foley) she had a long life exceeding 90 years. Of Constance no trace until I found a border crossing for Ellen and her husband and both listed a David (couldn't attempt a try at surname as too badly written) as a son in law. This led me to thinking that Constance was dead (early 1940's) so I tried for a grave in Calgary and finally came up with a Constance Drinnan died 1936. Following that I found a family tree on Ancestry showing a David Drinnan but with wife and children listed as Private. I know that David Drinnan married a second time so the hildren and there are a lot of them may or may not belong to Constance. I have no evidence to back any of this up other than the crossing record, so with your permission I would send a message to the tree holder to see if they can confirm??????
Hello again, I looked more closely into it using your research (thank you) and I found David M. Drinnan married Constance Ascroft in 1931.

OK. So I then found David MacDonald Drinnan (1902-96) buried with his wife Mary O'Hara (1906-81). On looking into it I found they had 3 children, the eldest born December 1936. But there is a problem. He married Mary O'Hara in 1930. So: either there were two David M. Drinnan's in Calgary, or he was a bigamist who treated Constance much as my great uncle treated her mother; or he married Mary, divorced her within a year, married Constance but went back to Mary the year Constance died (1936)

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Thu May 03, 2018 1:02 am
by lily8
Hello again Henry I am sad to say I received no replies to my enquiries via the Ancestry link, there were indeed 2 Davids' at least as I pointed out earlier which made the tracing quite hard. I do however feel that it unlikely that which ever one she married would have been listed as NOK on her parents entry visa to the US if he had mistreated her but who knows?. A David M Drinnan marriage to Constance was 1931 and Constance died 1936, a further marriage David M Drinnan in 1938. Without having the actual certs we are working blind I am afraid, however I have contacted the Archives in Alberta and fingers crossed the may be able to help will let you know. Regards Lilian

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Thu May 03, 2018 5:17 am
by lily8
Just a quick update I had another look at the border crossing record and can now confirm after checking a border crossing record for David Drinnan that the 2 addresses are the same 202 8th avenue Calgary. David Drinnans BC records show him as David McDonald Drinnan born 2/11/1897 Glasgow (died 11/1/1983), he may have married Mary (possible surname Mc Nulty) I suspect 1938 and appears a possible two children with her. Hopefully the Archivist may shed further light.

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 12:01 pm
by HvonBlumenthal
Thanks!

Bizarrely, I found a photo on billiongraves.com of a gravestone headed DRINNAN and showing David M 1902-1996 and Mary A. 1906-1981, located at St Mary's Cemetery, 3032-3120 Erlton St. Southwest, Calgary, Division 6, Alberta.

The names and location fit, but the dates are different.

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 9:29 pm
by lily8
yes Henry a different Drinnan altogether

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 6:15 pm
by HvonBlumenthal
BOBHAMO wrote:His son William Alf had a estate office 155 stanley road by trinity road
not sure if you have all family history his peters faher Thomas was born in wigan
peter was born down marsh lane
the photo is in derby park garden party 1900 only peter and wife mentioned
the photo can be purchased
bobhamo
Hello again,

I was thinking that it can't be the 1900 Garden Party as Peter Ascroft was only elected mayor in November that year. So the photo must have been summer of 1901, as he's wearing his chain of office.

However, searching the British Newspaper Archive I can't find any reference to a 1901 Bootle Garden Party (though the 1900 one gets quite a long article, and as you say P Ascroft and his wife were at the 1900 party as guests of the Mayor.

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 3:19 pm
by BOBHAMO
Image
nov 10 1900
bobhamo

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2019 10:32 am
by HvonBlumenthal
Thanks Bob. Yes, so the article confirms Ascroft was elected Mayor in November 1900, too late to hold a garden party that year. Therefore the photo of him as Mayor at the Garden Party must have been taken the following summer, say July 1901, when his mayoralty would have still had about 4 months to run.

I did find a newspaper report of the garden party the previous year (1900) but so far nothing about 1901. Maybe Ascroft forgot to invite the Press!

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 11:08 pm
by lindy2703
Jumping in here Henry and lily8 just to confirm that Peter Ascroft’s son William Alfred ( known as Alf) was my grandfather. In the census it doesn’t mention his wife Marian ( nee Hocknell) because they were separated at the time. They had 3 children Bill ( William Ernest ) Peter ( Peter Alfred, my father) and Ruth ( who also had her mother’s name Marian either as a first or middle name but was known as Ruth) so Alf lived there with his 3 grown up children. They separated when Ruth ( the youngest) was 16. They were separated for about 25 years I think until Alf retired and bought 3 farms up in Euxton near Chorley Lancashire. He then asked his wife if she would like to go and live there as his housekeeper which she did. So as a child I visited every other weekend and just saw my grandparents together as in any family ( although they did have separate bedrooms !) Alf ( Pop to us) loved farming and had lived at Mill Farm, Aintree, where my father was born, early on in his marriage and although my father was a solicitor with a practice in London and Brighton after the war he decided to chuck it all in and go back north to be a farmer with his Dad. I was born there and we lived there until 1952 when my mother informed him she’d married a solicitor not a farmer and she was going back to Liverpool! Hence Dad went back to being a solicitor in Liverpool and Bootle and we lived at 161 Stanley Road until 1958. Ruth did indeed marry Cecil Pritchard who was killed in the war and her son David, (Cecil William David) was born August 1944. She later remarried and had 2 more sons and lived in Lytham St. Anne’s. As far as I know my grandfather ran the estate agency in Bootle (possibly with Great uncle Bert) and yes, there were a lot of properties all rentals but bit by bit they sold them off to the tenants or otherwise. Also correctly many were destroyed during the bombings. My uncle Bill used to do the rent collecting and took over the estate agency when Alf retired. Alf and both boys were special constables at the beginning of the war but the boys soon joined the army. I will post a photo of my parent’s wedding ( January 1942) where you can see the whole family when I have a minute to upload it. They married at Christ Church Bootle. My grandfather and family lived at The Old Hall at the top left of Merton Road near the church after they moved from Aintree and my father and his brother had to take it in turns to check on their grandmother Sarah every evening up at Lurlei Breeze Hill as she was widowed then. Any questions just ask and thanks to all of you for all the fascinating information :D

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 3:29 pm
by HvonBlumenthal
Hello Lindy and thanks for the information about the Ascrofts. Looking forward to seeing the 1942 wedding photo. Do you have any Ascroft pictures that are older than that?

lindy2703 wrote:Jumping in here Henry and lily8 just to confirm that Peter Ascroft’s son William Alfred ( known as Alf) was my grandfather. In the census it doesn’t mention his wife Marian ( nee Hocknell) because they were separated at the time. They had 3 children Bill ( William Ernest ) Peter ( Peter Alfred, my father) and Ruth ( who also had her mother’s name Marian either as a first or middle name but was known as Ruth) so Alf lived there with his 3 grown up children. They separated when Ruth ( the youngest) was 16. They were separated for about 25 years I think until Alf retired and bought 3 farms up in Euxton near Chorley Lancashire. He then asked his wife if she would like to go and live there as his housekeeper which she did. So as a child I visited every other weekend and just saw my grandparents together as in any family ( although they did have separate bedrooms !) Alf ( Pop to us) loved farming and had lived at Mill Farm, Aintree, where my father was born, early on in his marriage and although my father was a solicitor with a practice in London and Brighton after the war he decided to chuck it all in and go back north to be a farmer with his Dad. I was born there and we lived there until 1952 when my mother informed him she’d married a solicitor not a farmer and she was going back to Liverpool! Hence Dad went back to being a solicitor in Liverpool and Bootle and we lived at 161 Stanley Road until 1958. Ruth did indeed marry Cecil Pritchard who was killed in the war and her son David, (Cecil William David) was born August 1944. She later remarried and had 2 more sons and lived in Lytham St. Anne’s. As far as I know my grandfather ran the estate agency in Bootle (possibly with Great uncle Bert) and yes, there were a lot of properties all rentals but bit by bit they sold them off to the tenants or otherwise. Also correctly many were destroyed during the bombings. My uncle Bill used to do the rent collecting and took over the estate agency when Alf retired. Alf and both boys were special constables at the beginning of the war but the boys soon joined the army. I will post a photo of my parent’s wedding ( January 1942) where you can see the whole family when I have a minute to upload it. They married at Christ Church Bootle. My grandfather and family lived at The Old Hall at the top left of Merton Road near the church after they moved from Aintree and my father and his brother had to take it in turns to check on their grandmother Sarah every evening up at Lurlei Breeze Hill as she was widowed then. Any questions just ask and thanks to all of you for all the fascinating information :D

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2019 11:31 am
by Paul McCabe
Recently I had the pleasure of visiting the Bootle Fire & Rescue Centre on Bridle Road (L30 4YD), for a most interesting tour of the history of Bootle Fire Service.


The two retired "Old Sweats" who give the history backed up by various snap-shots & take you around some incredible artefacts are hilarious. Great banter.


ANYWAY...……….I spotted this plaque from April 1904 & noticed 'Peter Ashcroft' named (3rd one down on 'The Committee')…………...apologies for the poor quality picture...…..(maybe a Boffin can improve it …!!??)


MEANWHILE.....I not sure how to book a tour there but their phone # is 0151 296 4000...……...and as my Mother drilled into me; "If you don't ask...….You don't get"


Image

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2019 10:13 pm
by Brook
lily8 wrote:Sorry Henry I can't answer those questions except to say that in war time papers may have been lost due to bombing etc, they were married for sure.

A little further on Marian/Ruth above she sadly lost her husband in the war

Commonwealth War Graves gives the following

Cecil Pritchard
Given Initials:
C
Rank:
Lieutenant
Death Date:
26 Jun 1944
Number:
311622
Birth Place:
Cheshire
Residence:
Bootle
Branch at Enlistment:
Royal Armoured Corps
Theatre of War:
Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45
Regiment at Death:
Royal Armoured Corps
Branch at Death:
Royal Armoured Corps

Also from probate records

Pritchard Cecil, the Caravan Twist Farm Green Lane Ford Nr Liverpool, died 28/6/1944 on war service to Marian Ruth Pritchard effects 380 plus pounds.
Cecil Pritchard was my mothers brother, my uncle, he was killed before I was born. Ruth was a witness a my parents wedding and signed the wedding certificate Marian Ruth Pritchard. Before he joined the Army, Cecil was a Policeman in Bootle with the rank of Detective Constable. He is named on the memorial in the foyer of New Strand Police Station. During the 1980's I did a lot of research re. Cecil and the circumstances of his death. At this time I spoke to Ruth a few times, she was a lovely Lady and helped me tremendously. I have attached a photo of Cecil and Ruth together, I don't know where or when it was taken.

Image

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2019 6:48 pm
by BOBHAMO
Image
welcome Brook :D :D :D
i was trying to get the memorial plague to post but up to now i cant find it
have you got it????
a great address caravan twist farm which was at the bottom of green lane
the twist family where farmers and carters
a great bit of history
bobhamo

Re: Peter Ascroft, Mayor of Bootle 1900

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 6:17 pm
by Brook
Thank you for the welcome Bob, sorry, I don't have a photo of the memorial plaque. I saw it some years ago, it used to be in Marsh Lane Police Station until it closed, it was then transferred to New Strand. I can recall my mother telling me Cecil and Ruth had been living in a caravan, but I didn't know where it was until I read the post on this forum. Cecil was a policeman in Bootle all through the blitz and was never injured. He was however killed in Normandy in the very first action involving his regiment. I read elsewhere on this forum that Ruth's brothers were special constables, I wonder if Cecil and Ruth met through her brothers?