Hi everyone, after unsuccessfully trying to find info about my great-grandparents, James Reid and Elizabeth Smith who married in 1870 Liverpool, I'm beginning to believe that they might both have been born in Ireland.

I came to this conclusion because the 1881 census shows that only their son Christopher Reid (my grandfather) is registered as living in Liverpool but he's with his uncle and aunt, Charles and Mary Lucas who were both born in Ireland. Now I assume that James Reid, the father, is away at sea but can't, for the life of me, find anything on Elizabeth either before or after the wedding, though there are a few possiblities under the name of Elizabeth Reid (Reed) in 1881 but, why would she not be living with her son???? Even checking death registers lead me knowhere because I don't know her age as she was down as 'minor' on the wedding certificate.

Also, a lot of the neighbours appear to be Irish too, although the area they lived in is known as 'Scotland' Liverpool. This, of course, is because the main street was Scotland Road and there were 'ghettos' if you like leading off in different directions.

Even my own Dad's birth certificate has him down as having been born in Scotland, Liverpool and for years we thought he was born up there himself until we did some digging around.

And his own dad, Christopher Reid b. 1872 Liverpool (above) his birth certificate says he was born in 'sub Scotland district' Liverpool, Lancs.

Is it any wonder we're all confused by these old documents?

Anyway, what I wonder is this - does anybody else, from the above info, think that maybe my Smiths and Reids were of Irish origins or am I on the wrong track?

My dad always maintained that his family were part Irish, part Scottish but the only scottish connection we can find is that his father and brothers (seafarers) were connected to the Glasgow Merchant Marine Office.

Maureen

Hi Maureen!

Is it possible that Elizabeth was 'in service' and so resident at her place of work? This often caused people to leave their children with relatives. Equally could she have been in hospital? May be she was visiting family or friends?

Hope this helps, Gillian

Hi Maureen and Gillian,

Maureen - oops - you can't get into the new Liverpool Board at the moment can you! because it's temporarily locked, and your Smith and Reid Liverpool interests Topics are in there. We should be unlocking it later Maureen.

I think I posted a while back an index list of Irish Smiths in Liverpool - -
I think for 1891 Census - so will check. If so, that should now be on the new board.

Will chat again soon.

Carole

PS: just remembered Maureen - thank you very much for your nice comments in the Smith Project Guestbook the other day, ooh & I know what you mean about wishing you had more time to do everything!! :ck-hrrmm: