Nicholas Morris (abt. 1863 - bef. 1895)

Born about 1863 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Died before 2 Sep 1895 before about age 32 in St Helens, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Biography

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

Nicholas Morris was born in about 1863 in Liverpool. He was the son of Anthony Morris and Catherine Morris; his mother's maiden name may possibly have been O'Neill (see Notes below).

Nicholas was reported in the 1891 census to be what the Victorians called an "imbecile". His mother would have been about 38 when he was born, so possibly he might have had Downs syndrome.

By April 2nd 1871, Nicholas' family were living in Parr, St Helens, Lancashire. His father was employed as a "Labourer Brick Field Master". Nicholas was the youngest of at least five children, and two of his older brothers were still living at home - John (14) and Thomas (11). John was a coal mine labourer.

By April 3rd 1881, the family were living in Stone Street, Parr. John was no longer in the household. Thomas, Nicholas and their father were all working as labourers.

Nicholas' father died in 1883, aged 66; he was buried on 6 Dec 1883 in St Helens Cemetery, in an unpurchased grave.

By April 5th 1891, Nicholas and his brother Thomas and their mother were living at 24 Bolton Street, Parr. Thomas was employed as a coal miner; Nicholas wasn't working.

Nicholas died in 1895, aged 33. He was buried on 2 Sep 1895 in St Helens Cemetery, in an unpurchased grave.

Research Notes

If his birth was registered, it was in the third quarter of 1862 in Liverpool district, with mother's maiden name O'Neill. Probably this is him, since there aren't other matches for him in the censuses of 1871 and 1881, and since there are no deaths for a Nicholas Morris the right age in England/Wales between 1861 and 1871. However there aren't birth registrations for his older siblings matching this mother's name, so there's a chance it may be the wrong Nicholas Morris and the other Nicholas' name was mangled in the 1871 census or the family left the country after he was born.

Sources

• Burial St Helens Cemetery & Crematorium Online Records http://crem.oltps.sthelens.gov.uk/

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KD6S-GJX : 24 April 2019), Anthony Morris, 1871.

• "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27L-Y6DR : 13 December 2017), Anthony Morris, Parr, Lancashire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 66, Piece/Folio 3737/143, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,076. and second page "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27L-Y6N6 : 13 December 2017), Nicholas Morris, Parr, Lancashire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 66, Piece/Folio 3737/143, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,076.

• "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:77ZH-G3Z : 6 May 2019), Nicholas Norris in household of Cath Norris, Parr, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Lancashire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

Footnotes