Frances.

Research at Liverpool RO raised more questions than were answered!

He died on Sunday 12 January 1879 and was buried at Anfield Cemetery 3 days later.

I have a copy of the obituary from the Porcupine and it makes interesting reading. He is reported to have been a member of the Wesleyan body in his early life and received theological training intended to equip him for work as a missionary. A vocation he did not in the event pursue.

Later he formed a strong attachment to the Church of England.

His radical journalism involved him in a number of legal clashes for libel. One that he lost Fernie v. Shimmin 1870 must have involved criminal libel as Shimmin was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. I have not yet read the papers on this case but it may have been one of the cases about the scuttling of ships.

In the June quarter of 1842 he married Jane Hodgson of Haverthwaite, Lancashire (today Cumbria in the Lake District National Park. The village is about 2 or 3 miles from Newby Bridge). So far nothing to show where he met her but he did write a number of things about the Lake District. They had no children.

There were a number of other obituaries that I have still to follow up. The Liberal Review of 18 January 1870 and the Liverpool Mercury are two.

This may not be of direct interest to this BB. If you agree but would like more please email me at petersfcp@aol.com