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I wonder if anyone can advise me how to go about tracing my husbands great grandfather, William Mottershead. In 1908 he appears as the father of Arthur (aged 28) who is marrying Gertrude Bostock in Harpurhey, Manchester. His given profession is drayman. Other than that I can discover nothing. When/where born/died and who/when he married. Without any of this info I am finding it virtually impossible to trace. 1901 census doesnt 'bring anything up as I thought Arthur would be living with him then before his marriage. Don't know how many siblings Arthur had so cannot go via them, so what do I do? I already have 350 people in my tree, so do have an idea of what to do, but for William Mottershead, I am completely stumped! Suggestions gratefully received. Thanks in anticipation. J

Hello Judith, welcome to the boards.

Was there any indication of an address on the marriage certificate? Who were the witnesses? (If family members, it might help)

A little confusion on the 1911 as to Arthur's age and when he married:

MOTTERSHEAD, Arthur Head Married M 25 1886 Dealer Lancashire Manchester
MOTTERSHEAD, Gertrude Wife Married 7 years F 34 1877 Lancs Guide Bridge
MOTTERSHEAD, Arthur Son M 5 1906 School Lancashire Manchester
MOTTERSHEAD, John Henry Son M 3 1908 Lancashire Manchester
MOTTERSHEAD, Edith Daughter F 2 1909 Lancashire Manchester

RG number: RG14 Piece: 23892
Reference: RG14PN23892 RG78PN1380A RD464 SD4 ED27 SN271
Registration District: Chorlton
Sub District: Hulme
Enumeration District: 27
Parish: South Manchester

Address: 35 Carlisle Street Hulme Manchester County: Lancashire

On the original his age looks more like 35?

4 children born, 1 died.

First you need to trace Arthur though the censuses.

Maybe this is him in 1891...



Name: Arthur Mottershead
Age: 12
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1879
Relation: Son
Father's Name: William Mottershead
Mother's name: Larcenia Mottershead
Gender: Male
Where born: Sutton, Cheshire, England

Civil parish: Macclesfield
Ecclesiastical parish: St Peter
Town: Macclesfield
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England
Registration district: Macclesfield

William Mottershead 52 - farmer - born Gawsworth, Cheshire
Larcenia Mottershead 44 - Bosley, Cheshire
Thomas Mottershead 15
Arthur Mottershead 12 - Sutton, Cheshire - <<<<<<
Lavinia Mottershead 4

NOT 1908 !!

There was 1 match for this search!

Marriage: 11 May 1903 St Stephen, Harpurhey, Lancashire, England
Arthur Mottershead - 28, Coal Merchant, Single, 216 Viaduct St., St. Silas, Ardwick
Gertrude Bostock - 25, Mill Hand, Single, 26 New Burgess St.
Groom's Father: William Mottershead, Drayman
Bride's Father: James Bostock, Joiner
Witness: John Mottershead; Jennie Ogden
Married by Banns by: W. S. Bromley
Register: Marriages 1901 - 1905, Page 13, Entry 26
Source: LDS Film 2113187

There was 1 match for this search!

Dea Xxx

1911
William is a general labpurer

William Mottershead 71
Lavinia Mottershead 61
Thomas Henry Mottershead 34
Rachael Aron Mottershead 34

Manchester, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915 about Arthur Mottershead
Name: Arthur Mottershead
Birth Date: 3 Apr
Baptism Date: 2 May 1875
Parish: Ancoats, St Andrew
Parish as it Appears: Manchester, St Andrew
Father's Name: William Mottershead
Mother's name: Ann Mottershead
Reference Number: GB127.M45/1/10/5

1891 England Census about Arthur Mottershead
Name: Arthur Mottershead
Age: 16
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1875
Relation: Son
Mother's name: Ann Mottershead
Gender: Male
Where born: Manchester, Lancashire, England
Civil parish: Ardwick
Ecclesiastical parish: St Silas
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: Chorlton
Sub-registration district: Ardwick
ED, institution, or vessel: 23
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3168
Folio: 88
Page Number: 30
Household Members:
Name Age
Ann Mottershead 46
James Mottershead 18
Arthur Mottershead 16
John Henry Mottershead 13
Tom Mottershead 11
Abraham Mottershead 9
Matthew Worthington 72

Lavinia is now Louisa but probably same person

1881

Name Age
William Mottershead 38
Louisa Mottershead 35 - Bosley, Cheshire
Alfred Mottershead 9
Sarah E. Mottershead 8
Thomas H. Mottershead 5
Arthur Mottershead - 7 months

I'm not too sure about those census posted with William and Larcenia/Louisa/Lavinia. Given that Arthur was born mid 1870s per marriage and 1911 I thought this might be his baptism:

Manchester, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915
Name: Arthur Mottershead
Birth Date: 3 Apr
Baptism Date: 2 May 1875
Parish: Ancoats, St Andrew
Parish as it Appears: Manchester, St Andrew
Father's Name: William Mottershead - Publican
Mother's name: Ann Mottershead
Reference Number: GB127.M45/1/10/5

Lived what looks like 3 Chancry Lane.

Publican is closer to drayman than farmer, plus Arthur was born Manchester, not Sutton.

1901 England Census about Ann Mottershead
Name: Ann Mottershead
Age: 56
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Ardwick, Lancashire, England
Civil parish: South Manchester
Ecclesiastical parish: Ardwick St Silas
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: Chorlton
Sub-registration district: Ardwick
ED, institution, or vessel: 25
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 169
Piece: 3677
Folio: 80
Page Number: 26
Household Members:
Name Age
Ann Mottershead 56
Arthur Mottershead 25
Tom Mottershead 21
Abraham Mottershead 18

Brother Tom was witness at the marriage.

1881 England Census about William Mothenhead
Name: William Mothenhead
Age: 46
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1835
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Ann Mothenhead
Gender: Male
Where born: Gawsworth, Cheshire, England
Civil parish: Ardwick
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street Address: 12 Heaton St
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View image
Occupation: Brewers Carter
Registration district: Chorlton
Sub-registration district: Ardwick
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3898
Folio: 62
Page Number: 10
Household Members:
Name Age
William Mothenhead 46
Ann Mothenhead 36
Wm. Whittaker Mothenhead 11
James Mothenhead 8
Arthur Mothenhead 6
John Henry Mothenhead 3
Tom Mothenhead 1