Birth | 1844 26 26 |
Birth of a sister | Eliza Worsley 1849 (Age 5 years) |
Birth of a sister | Hannah Worsley 1851 (Age 7 years) |
Census | 1851 (Age 7 years) Publication: H.O 107/2166 |
Birth of a brother | Richard Worsley 1853 (Age 9 years) |
Birth of a sister | Sarah A Worsley 1856 (Age 12 years) |
Birth of a brother | John Worsley 1859 (Age 15 years) |
Death of a father | John Worsley before 1861 (Age 17 years) |
Census | Mersey Flat 1861 (Age 17 years) |
Census | 1861 (Age 17 years) Publication: RG 9.2704 M144 |
Marriage | Mary Ann Walker — View this family December 24, 1866 (Age 22 years) Source: M.Cert Citation details: 1866 Dec Qtr W. Derby 8b/922 |
Birth of a son #1 | Charles Worsley 1867 (Age 23 years) |
Birth of a daughter #2 | Eliza Ann Worsley 1868 (Age 24 years) |
Birth of a daughter #3 | Sarah Jane Worsley 1870 (Age 26 years) |
Census | 27, head, Captain of Flat (barge) 1871 (Age 27 years)Publication: RG10/3798 M137 |
Birth of a son #4 | Edward Worsley 1872 (Age 28 years) Source: PRO Publication: Public Record Office Citation details: June Qtr, 1872, 8b 309 |
Birth of a son #5 | John (Jack) Worsley 1873 (Age 29 years) Publication: RG13 3432 41 25 140 |
Birth of a daughter #6 | Mary Ann Worsley 1875 (Age 31 years) |
Occupation | Master Waterman, Mersey |
Death | September 17, 1878 (Age 34 years) Cause of death: Drowning |
Birth of a daughter #7 | Margaret Worsley 1879 (3 months after death) |
Family with parents |
father |
John Worsley Birth: 1818 — Cheshire, Witton Death: before 1861 |
mother |
Ann Stelfox Birth: 1818 — Cheshire Wincham |
Marriage: December 10, 1837 — Cheshire, Great Budworth, Parish Church |
|
2 years elder sister |
Sarah Worsley Birth: 1839 21 21 — Cheshire Budworth |
3 years elder brother |
Charles Worsley Birth: 1841 23 23 — Cheshire Budworth Death: 1920 |
4 years himself |
|
6 years younger sister |
Eliza Worsley Birth: 1849 31 31 — Cheshire Over 68 Meadow Bank |
3 years younger sister |
Hannah Worsley Birth: 1851 33 33 — Cheshire Wincham |
3 years younger brother |
Richard Worsley Birth: 1853 35 35 — Cheshire Wincham |
4 years younger sister |
Sarah A Worsley Birth: 1856 38 38 — Lancs Toxteth Park |
4 years younger brother |
John Worsley Birth: 1859 41 41 — Lancs Toxteth Park |
Family with Mary Ann Walker |
himself |
|
wife |
Mary Ann Walker Birth: 1840 40 — Dover, Kent Death: May 15, 1912 — Lancs Liverpool 20 Foxhill Street |
Marriage: December 24, 1866 — Lancs West Everton Crescent Chapel |
|
1 year son |
Charles Worsley Birth: 1867 23 27 — Lancs Liverpool Death: July 26, 1900 — 394 Mill St., Toxteth |
2 years daughter |
Eliza Ann Worsley Birth: 1868 24 28 — Lancs Liverpool |
3 years daughter |
Sarah Jane Worsley Birth: 1870 26 30 — Lancs Liverpool |
3 years son |
|
2 years son |
John (Jack) Worsley Birth: 1873 29 33 — Lancs Liverpool |
3 years daughter |
Mary Ann Worsley Birth: 1875 31 35 — Lancs Liverpool |
5 years daughter |
Margaret Worsley Birth: 1879 35 39 — Lancs Liverpool Death: October 22, 1885 — Lancs Liverpool Toxteth Park 1 Toxteth Street |
Census | Census 1851 (...) 68 Meadow Bank, Over, Cheshire Publication: H.O 107/2166 |
Census | Census 1861 (7th April) Vessels, Mary Jane |
Census | Census 1861 (7th April) 29 Clive St, South Toxteth, Liverpool, Lancs Publication: RG 9.2704 M144 |
Marriage | M.Cert Citation details: 1866 Dec Qtr W. Derby 8b/922 |
Census | Census 1871 (2nd April) 122 Beaufort St. South Toxteth Liverpool Publication: RG10/3798 M137 |
Death | The certificate confrims that he was drowned in the River Mersey following an accident in which his barge was in collision with another. The Inquest on 28th Sep 1878. |
Note | Master Waterman on Mersey
The story repeated by John and Barbara Worsley (his grand children) of his death is the Ramming Incident. When the large ships unloaded at Liverpool, they anchored in the roads, and barges ferried the freight from ship to inner basin, through a sea lock. Edward was in charge of such a barge. At the close of day when the tide had turned, it was the last locking that could be had for that tide. Edward was the last barge in the lock which was full. Another tried to enter the lock (it would otherwise have had to remain outside until the next tide), and rammed the stern of Edward's barge. This second barge was driven by a man with a known antagonism towards Edward. The rudder was pushed over forcing the tiller to swing violently. This took Edward into the lock. It is said that his body was found by the Isle of Man Steamship packet, and that his back had been broken. His funeral was stopped so that an inquest could be held. On the hearse, each corner was decorated with a black feather. As it passed the home of the man with attitude, the feathers fell - showing some divine indication of guilt. The second man is reported to have committed suicide because of the tragedy. In a rather macabre twist, it is said that his body would not fit into the coffin, and that his wife went to the funeral parlour, and after removing her hat and gloves, bent his limbs round and about to fit him in.
How we ever prove this colourful story is problematical. We have certainly found the date and cause of death, having traced the death certificate. Unfortunately, the inquest records were destroyed in the bombing of Liverpool during WWII. We’ll look in the local papers to see if they can fill any of the details.
However, the story related above gives his wife as Maltese. There is a mystery here, and we need to be much more rigorous in linking Mary Ann Worsley, widow with a son of the correct age with Edward our grandfather.
However, Jean, daughter of Cissie, daughter of Edward recalls hearing that the wife was French, and that "The only French thing about my mum was her temper" (Edward talking to Cissie)
December 2005
The basic details of his death have been verified by the death certificate, i.e. he was drowned following a collision with another Flat.
And there is more news. I looked at the census of 1861, when Edward would have been 18. I found him twice, which is not only unusual but also probably a bit naughty. He is listed at his mother's home, and as the mate of the Flat "Mary Jane".
The Liverpool Telegraph and Daily Shipping and Commercial Gazette.
Monday, September 30th 1878.
Coroners' Court.
Saturday.
(Before Mr. Clarke Aspinall, Borough Coroner)
The fatal collision in the river. - An inquest was held on the body of Edward Worsley, 36 years of age, master of the flat Alpha, of Liverpool. On the 17th instant the deceased was knocked overboard through his flat colliding with the Lady Sale in the river. He was carried down the river by a strong ebb tide and drowned. His body was picked up in the river on Thursday afternoon by Richard Atkin, engineer of the steam tug Spenddrift. A verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. Atkin, it transpired, had received 25s for recovering the body, and had handed the amount to the widow of the deceased.
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Brian, my husband, a retired Dock Master, said the currents are treacherous approaching and in all locks and your poor relative would not have stood a chance.
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Thanks to Mrs Pat Simpson |
Census | M144 |
Census | M137 |
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Media object | flat.jpg Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 1,476 × 1,464 pixels File size: 529 KB |