Elizabeth (French) Okell (bef. 1814 - bef. 1888)

Born before 25 Sep 1814 in Bold, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of James Okell — married 4 Mar 1850 in St Helens, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died before 29 Apr 1888 at about age 73 in st helens, lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Biography

This profile is part of the St Helens, Lancashire One Place Study.

Betty (or Elizabeth) French (or Francis, or France) was christened on 25 Sep 1814 at St Michael and All Angels Church in Burtonwood, Lancashire. She was the daughter of Thomas French and Ellen (Pownal) French. The family's address was recorded as Bold, and the father's occupation as husbandman.

By June 6th 1841, Betty was still single and living with her father in Pinnington's Lane, Parr. She was a female servant; her father was employed as a labourer. Her brother George (15-19) wasn't in paid employment. Her sister Ellen was 13, her brother William 11 and her youngest sister Phoebe was 8.

Betty's illegitimate son Thomas was born in about 1842 in Parr, Lancashire. His father was later named as James Billinge. Thomas was christened on 22 May 1842 at St Helens Chapel. His mother's address was given as Parr.

Betty's illegitimate son Samuel was born in 1849 in Parr. His birth was registered in the second quarter of 1849, in Prescot district, as Samuel Francis. He may have been the son of James Okell, who Betty married the next year.

Betty married James Okell or Okill on 4 Mar 1850 at St Helens Chapel. Both were above age (21 or more) and living in Parr; neither had been married before. James was a labourer. Their fathers were named as Samuel Okill (labourer) and Thomas French (labourer). The witnesses were Robert Hunt and Alice Hunt.

James and Betty's son James was born in 1850 in Parr; his birth was registered in the third quarter of 1850 in Prescot district, as James Okill (with mother's maiden name Francis).

By March 30th 1851, James and Betty were living in Parr Stocks. They had two children - Samuel (2) and James (8 months old). Betty's oldest son, Thomas, was with her father.

James and Betty's son William was born in 1853 in Parr; his birth was registered in the third quarter of 1853 in Prescot district, as William Okill (with mother's maiden name Francis). Little William died before his first birthday; his death was registered in the first quarter of 1854 in Prescot district, as William Okell.

Their twins Sabina and John were born in 1856; their births were registered in the second quarter of 1856 in Prescot district, as Sabina and John Okell (with mother's maiden name French). Both died before their first birthday; both deaths were registered in the first quarter of 1857 in Prescot district, with surname Okill.

James died in about 1858 in St Helens, aged 42. His death was registered in the first quarter of 1858 in Prescot district (as James Okill).

By April 7th 1861, Elizabeth was still living in Parr Stocks with sons Samuel (12) and James (9). Samuel was working as a postboy at Sankey B Colliery; James was still in school. Elizabeth was working as an agricultural labourer.

By April 2nd 1871, Elizabeth was still in Parr, with her son James Okel and her brother William Francis. She was working as a washerwoman; James was a wheelwright; and William was a collier.

Elizabeth's son James married Catherine ("Kate") McDonough in 1878,^[1] in a registrar-attended ceremony in Prescot district.

By April 3rd 1881, Elizabeth was living with James and Kate in Chancery Lane, Parr. Her brother William French (aka Francis) was also living with them. There were two grandchildren - Samuel (2) and baby Margaret. James was still a wheelwright; Elizabeth had a job cleaning the school; and uncle William was a coal pit labourer.

Elizabeth died in 1888, aged 74. She was buried on 29 Apr 1888 in St Helens Cemetery, in a family grave.

Research Notes

Buried together in grave STHELCEM / 4 / 674:

  William French 20/02/1883 aged 55

  Elizabeth Okell 29/04/1888 aged 74

  Mary Fyles 13/02/1898 aged 84

  Lilian French 14/08/1907 aged 0

Mary Fyles is the mother-in-law of Elizabeth's son Thomas

Sources

• Baptism listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk

• Marriage listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk

• Death registration https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=4bprd3HQ5OpPq6J46Wx1%2Bw&scan=1

• "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ2P-9WP : 22 May 2019), Thomas French in household of Ellen French, Prescot, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. Piece 516-09 folio 25 page 1.

• "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG1D-RCN : 12 September 2019), Samuel Okell in household of James Okell, Parr, Lancashire, England; citing Parr, Lancashire, England, p. 11, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey. Piece 2195 folio 435b schedule 36.

• "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59ef9661f4040b5596835d78 : viewed 9 Sep 2020), James O KEL in household of Elizabeth O KEL, Parr Stocks, St Helens, Lancashire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/2753, Folio 9, Page 11, Schedule 55, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KD6X-DMK : 24 April 2019), James Okel in entry for Elizh Okel, 1871.

• "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27L-YJQ7 : 13 December 2017), James Okel, Parr, Lancashire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 11, Piece/Folio 3738/94, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,077.

Footnotes

1. ↑ http://www.ukbmdcertificateordering.co.uk/certapp.php?type=marriages&data=OKELL%7CJames%7CMCDONOUGH%7CCatherine%7CPrescot+Register+Office+or+Registrar+Attended%7CPrescot%7C1878%7C1878%7C%7CPT%3AR%2F28%2F151%7CO%7C22039%7Clancashire%7CPT&lang=