William Eden was born in 1842 in Parr, St Helens. He was the son of Henry Eden and Mary (Morris) Eden. He was christened on Valentine's Day (February 14th) 1842 at St Mary's Church in St Helens, which had in past times been known as St Helen's Chapel, and is now known as St Helen's Church. His father's occupation was recorded as collier, and the family's address as Parr.
By March 30th 1851, they were living in Parr Stocks Street. Henry was working as a coal miner. John was still alive, and they had five more boys - William, Edward, Henry, Robert and Joseph, all born in Parr.
Joseph died in 1852, aged three.
By April 7th 1861, they were living in Broad Oak, Parr. Henry was working as a coal mine labourer, as were their five remaining sons John (aged 22), William (18), Edward (15), Henry (13) and Robert (11). There were also two daughters, both born in Parr - Elizabeth (7), who was in school, and Ellen (aged two).
By April 2nd 1871, Henry senior and Mary were living in Toll Bar, Haydock. Henry was working as a miner. Four of their children were still living with them - William (27), a miner; Robert (22), a miner; Elizabeth (17), a coal pit brow worker; and Ellen (13), not in paid work.
Two more children were married and left home. Robert was married in October 1871, and he and his wife were living near Old Toll Bar, Haydock by 1881. Elizabeth was married in 1876, and she and her husband set up house in Pemberton.
Mary died in the first quarter of 1880 in Warrington district, at the age of 60. She was buried on February 13th 1880 at St James's Churchyard in Haydock (Anglican). Her address was given in the burial record as Toll Bar Cottages, Blackbrook.
By April 3rd 1881, Wiliam was still unmarried but had moved in with his brother John and John's wife Mary Ann. They were living in Clipsley Lane, Clipsley Row, Haydock. John was still working as a collier, as was his son Peter, aged 17. His daughter Martha, now 15, was working as a paper reeler in a printing works. There were five younger children - Ellen (10), Mary Ann (7), Rachel (5), Ruth (3) and baby Harriett.
By April 5th 1891, William was probably boarding in Chancery Lane, Parr.
By March 31st 1901, the likeliest match for him in the census is listed as an inmate living in Warrington, a general labourer who had according to the record been born in Haydock. "Inmate" means he was in an institution - the poorhouse, a hospital or a prison. If this was him, then he probably died in 1903 in Warrington, and his age was recorded in the death registration as 61.
His age in the 1891 census is very inaccurate, probably reflecting the fact that he was boarding with people he wasn't related to, and one of them most likely answered the enumerator's questions and guessed on his age.
The civil registration index, and the England and Wales censuses, are Crown Copyright.
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
William is 24 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 24 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 26 degrees from Maggie Beer, 48 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 30 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 31 degrees from Michael Chow, 27 degrees from Ree Drummond, 22 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 24 degrees from Matty Matheson, 27 degrees from Martha Stewart, 36 degrees from Danny Trejo and 29 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.