Myers of Drigg

[Jillianiris]

Can anyone give me information about the Myers family of Mite House,Drigg or Ravenglass? Rebecca, born 1864 ,was my great-grandmother. She had brothers John, David and Christopher. Her father was John and at the time of the 1881 census had married Ann Nicholson, who had a daughter Frances living with them.
I think Rebecca's mother may have been Elizabeth Shepherd but would like confirmation of which one...there are a few possibilities.
I would also like to know of any Jewish connection to the family.
Jill

[Trish]

Jill,

Have you looked at the 1861 census? Rebecca's father and household are there:

Mite-House, Drigg and Carleton, Cumberland
John MYERS Head 34 Farmer of 68 Acres Employing 1 Labourer born Westmoreland, ?Levens
Ann MYERS Wife 34 born Cumberland, Drigg
Ann Eleanor MYERS Daughter 4 born Cumberland, Drigg
John MYERS Son 2 born Cumberland, Drigg
David MYERS Son 3 mo. born Cumberland, Drigg
Elizabeth ?MEESICKS House Servant 26 born Cumberland, ?Waberthwaite
Reference: RG9/3954 Folio 10

The only Elizabeth in the household is Elizabeth MEESICKS or MASICKS, a servant. Does this help or complicate matters for you?

Trish

[Trish]

The 1871 census shows the same family with a few more children, including your great grandmother:

Mite House, Carleton and Drigg, Cumberland
John MYERS Head 44 Farmer of 70 acres employing 1 lab. born Westmoreland
Ann MYERS Wife 44 Farmer's Wife born Cumberland Drigg
Ann E. MYERS Daughter 14 Scholar born Cumberland Drigg
John MYERS Son 12 Scholar born Cumberland Drigg
David MYERS Son 10 Scholar born Cumberland Drigg
Rebecca MYERS Daughter 8 Scholar born Cumberland Drigg
Christopher W. MYERS Son 4 born Cumberland Drigg
John BOWES Farm Servant 18 born Cumberland Corney

Reference: RG10/5265 Folio 17

HTH,
Trish

[Jillianiris]

Thanks for that, Trish. You seem to be doing a lot of my research for me. Do you have a Lewis/Myers/Rawlinson connection?
It looks as if I'm wrong about John's first wife being Elizabeth. I think I'd searched for all the marriages of John Myers at likely times and places...but it was a while ago so I'll have to re-trace my steps. I seem to remember finding a second marriage to Ann Nicholson, widow. Is there another explanation for Frances Nicholson being recorded as step-daughter in 1881?
Thanks again. Very useful to have the earlier census returns.
Jill

[Trish]

Thanks for that, Trish. You seem to be doing a lot of my research for me. Do you have a Lewis/Myers/Rawlinson connection? You're welcome, Jill. No, I don't have a connection. I just do look ups here and there when I have a few minutes because I've been helped out so much myself by others with access to information I don't have. They've helped me break down some big brick walls!

It looks as if I'm wrong about John's first wife being Elizabeth... Is there another explanation for Frances Nicholson being recorded as step-daughter in 1881?? I'm sure there must be -- "step daughter" might have had another meaning back then -- maybe the wise ones on this list can weigh in with their knowledge and opinions on the meaning of "step daughter" in the 19th century.

I looked for Frances NICHOLSON in the 1871 census and found her with her parents -- as follows [enumerator's handwriting is quite hard to read]:

Address: ?Davenmould Ct., Egremont, Cumberland
Henry NICHOLSON Head 56 Iron ?Miner born Ravenglass, Cumberland
Ann NICHOLSON Wife 40 born Whitehaven, Cumberland
George NICHOLSON Son 20 House ? born Whitehaven, Cumberland
David NICHOLSON Son 16 Leather ?Currier born Egremont, Cumberland
Jane E. NICHOLSON Daughter 12 Scholar born Egremont, Cumberland
=It looks as if I'm wrong about John's first wife being Elizabeth... Is there another explanation for Frances Nicholson being recorded as step-daughter in 1881??[/QUOTE] I'm sure there must be -- "step daughter" might have had another meaning back then -- maybe the wise ones on this list can weigh in with their knowledge and opinions on the meaning of "step daughter" in the 19th century.</P>
I looked for Frances NICHOLSON in the 1871 census and found her with her parents -- as follows [enumerator's handwriting is quite hard to read]:

Address: ?Davenmould Ct., Egremont, Cumberland
Henry NICHOLSON Head 56 Iron ?Miner born Ravenglass, Cumberland
Ann NICHOLSON Wife 40 born Whitehaven, Cumberland
George NICHOLSON Son 20 House ? born Whitehaven, Cumberland
David NICHOLSON Son 16 Leather ?Currier born Egremont, Cumberland
Jane E. NICHOLSON Daughter 12 Scholar born Egremont, Cumberland
Frances E. NICHOLSON Daughter 2 born Egremont, Cumberland

Reference: RG10/5262 Folio 88

There's another Frances NICHOLSON born about 1870 in Egremont in the 1871 census. She is with her parents Robert, 46, and Mary A., 42, and siblings John P., 13, Edward, 6, and Nathaniel, 4. All were born in Egremont or Whitehaven. Possibly the two NICHOLSON families are related - and maybe to your MYERS family as well?

Reference: RG10/5262 Folio 95

HTH,
Trish

[Trish]

Sorry about the repetitive text in my previous message. Gremlins.

I looked for Frances NICHOLSON's family in 1861. No clues there as to the relationship between them and your MYERS family, I'm afraid. Parents, Henry and Ann are there along with children George, Ann [age 8], David and Jane Eleanor. Their address is Main Street, Egremont. [Reference RG9/3952 Folio 30]

There's no sign of Henry or Ann NICHOLSON [or NICKLESON, NICOLSON, etc.] in the 1881 census so something must've happened to them in the years between the '71 and '81 censuses which caused Frances to be shipped off to the MYERS household.

Trish

[AudreyM]

Hello Jill,

You should have recieved by now the image for the 1861 Census.
Please let me know if it has arrived or otherwise.

I posted the Census below over on the Westmorland Forum in answer to
your query there.

However as the threads seem to be here on the Cumberland Forum I have reposted.

Good Luck
Regards
AudreyM.


1861 Census
Name Estimated Birth Year Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County

John Myers 1827 Levens, Westmorland, England Head Drigg and Carleton Cumberland

Ann Myers 1827 Drigg, Cumberland, England Wife Drigg and Carleton Cumberland

Ann Eleanor Myers 1857 Drigg, Cumberland, England Daughter Drigg and Carleton Cumberland

John Myers 1859 Drigg, Cumberland, England Son Drigg and Carleton Cumberland

David Myers 1861 Drigg, Cumberland, England Son Drigg and Carleton Cumberland

Elizabeth Masicks 1835 Waberthwaite, Cumberland, England Servant Drigg and Carleton Cumberland

[Jillianiris]

Yes, Audrey.Thanks. I have received and replied to yours, with observation about Nicholson. Did you get it?
Edward Myers married Hannah Nicholson 30/12/1812, Nether Wasdale. This Edward had a son John but I don't know if it's the right one.
I'd be grateful for some clarification about where the boundaries of Westmorland used to be. Any idea? Thanks again.
Jill

[Jillianiris]

Hello Audrey,
I notice that on the information you sent me, John Myers' birth place was given i more detail, as Levens, Westmorland. I've found it on the map, and it's way over near Kendal, so the Edward I'd identified as his father may be the wrong one.
I'll keep looking.
Jill

[Jillianiris]

A follow-up to your previous mesages. I thought I'd hit the jackpot when I found someone had posted the family tree of Hannah Nicholson and Edward Myers (who had a son John) in the LDS IGI. I've followed Hannah's back to about 1700. On checking, though, I found that John Myers didn't marry Ann Thompson until 1866, which means it's the wrong one, if they were married before the 1861 census. An earlier female had married a Nicholson so it looked very promising..but I'll have tok keep looking. I can't seem to find the right John and Ann at all.
Jill