When I was attending my Continuous Education Course at Liverpool University the other week, on Researching Liverpool’s Historic Newspapers, I met a lady who wanted to research a relative of hers, called Thomas Rhodes, who owned a shop, with his wife in the Seaforth area of the city… the problem she was facing, was she simply didn’t know where to start, and how to progress… So I offered my help, in order to locate information on Thomas… this is the research progression to meet a hopefully successful outcome… The first stop for information, was Liverpool’s Central Library on the 3rd floor… the Central Archives.
Liverpool’s / Central Library
We were looking for the burial records of Thomas Rhodes (Ann & I). After some time, it soon became apparent that the burial records, for the Seaforth area of Liverpool, were not held in the Central Archives. We asked the curator, where the records might be located, and we were informed the Crosby Library would be the place to find the records.
We booked an appointment with the Crosby Library records officer for the weekend, and duly made our appointment on the Saturday morning. However, disappointment soon set in when we were told, the library did not hold the records, the burial records were held at the ‘Thornton Garden of Rest’ in Crosby… It was time to take a different course of action… I asked if I could see ‘Kellys Directory of Businesses’ for the Liverpool Region, as the family had told me Thomas died circa 1925, so I settled for the 1922 edition of Kelly’s…
We found an entry for Thomas, owning and working in a general and bicycle shop located at Crosby Road South in Seaforth.
We then looked at the Directory of Waterloo 1915, to discover where Thomas was living at this time, this showed he was living above the shop with his wife Kate, and there 2 daughters. By looking at another volume published in 1925, it showed that Kate was now the sole proprietor of the shop, proving that Thomas had died by this time…
Once we had this information, that Thomas had indeed died at this time, a quick search of Ancestry.com, highlighted a Thomas Rhodes with a death date of around July/August 1924. Ann & I, then requested the Library’s Microfiche records of the Waterloo & Crosby Herald of around August 1924… In the Saturday, August 30th edition, we came across the burial report for Thomas Rhodes… below is my Find a Grave entry for Thomas with a little more personal information about him and Kate…
Waterloo & Crosby Herald (burial report)
Mr Thomas Rhodes, Seaforth
By the death, after a sharp and painful illness, on the 21st inst,. at his residence, 223, Crosby Road, Seaforth. The Marsh Lane Wesleyan P.S.A. has lost a staunch supporter as has also the Orange Order a true and loyal member. Mr Rhodes, who was 59 years of age, was born and educated in Liverpool, but came to reside in Litherland about 36 years ago, entering the employ of the late Mr Alderson (furniture remover), with whom he was foreman for a number of years. For the last 20 years and until death intervened, he carried on business as a general dealer at 223, Crosby Road, Seaforth. One of the first members of the Cyprus Road bible class, he aslo carried on loyally with the P.S.A. which was inaugurated later, and altogether spent 30 years of his life in these association. An ardent, loyal and conscientious worker, he was loved by all who came in contact with him. His interest did not end in this direction, as for many years he also associated himself with the Orange Order, being the late W.M. of the Royal Black Procoptory 354, and also of LOL 787. He was also a member of the Seaforth Conservative Social Club. He was a devoted father and husband and was loved by all who knew him.
The cortege left his residence on Tuesday afternoon accompanied by the representatives of the Orange Orders and were preceded by the Bootle Concertina Band and the Bootle Juvenile Band. A service was conducted in Marsh Lane Wesleyan Church, the Rev. Henry C. Veale. officiating and testifying further to the noble life of the departed Brother. From the church the cortege proceeded to Bootle New Cemetery were the remains were laid to rest in the family grave, many hundreds of people being present. Brother and Sir Knight Keighley, PGM, conducted the Black Sir Knight’s and Orange Ceremony, at the graveside, assisted by Brother J H Anderson, HDGM. The bearers were Bros. Chaddwick, Siddall, Allan, Conalty, Totty and Whitby.
The Chief Mourners were; Mrs Rhodes (widow), Mr. S. Rhodes (brother), Mrs. Dodson (Lena) and Rhoda (daughters), T. Dodson (grandson), Mrs. Evans (Sister), Miss Rhodes (sister), Mr. R. Rhodes (brother), Mrs. R Rhodes (sister in law), Mr. R. Rhodes (nephew), Mrs. Evans (niece). Mr. Dodson (son in law), Mr. & Mrs. W J Connalty (sister and brother in law), Mr & Mrs. W H Connalty (nephew and niece), Mrs Goldsmith (niece), Mr. A Walker (friend), Mr & Mrs Ellis (friends), Mr A Hudson (friend), Mr. J Ralph (friend).
A very large representative gathering of the Orange Order were present including; Bro. Kieghtly PGM; Bro J A Anderson, HDGM; Bros. J Owen DM, F A Owen, WS. F Harrison, J Tottey, Chadwick, Campbell, representing LOL 787: Bros. G Jones, WM, Dutton, WS and Chapman representing LOL 770; Bros. Allan, W. Allen, Banks and Ibbertson representing LOL 597; Bros. T Slater, Owen, Allan and Robertson representing LOL 06; Bro. Ramsay LOL 237; Bro. Waine LOL 682; Bro. Platt LOL 724; Bro. Miller LOL 108; Bro. Jones LOL 59; Also representatives of LOL 760, Sisters Gregory, Hulme, Webb, Foxcroft; representing FLOL 42, Sisters E Lee W.M., Siddall, Tottey, Newgent, Morris, Dean, Clarke, Cuff, Brown, Miller, French, Green, Miller, Evans, and Green; Representing FLOL 47 Sisters Williams, Walters, and Pealt; Represented FLOL 57; Sister Kiethley, WM, FLOL 63; Sisters Ambrose, Baithe represented FLOL 121; Sisters Loughlin, Skidmore, Grey, Ellis, Rimmer, Turner, Ellis, and Russell representing FLOL 137; Sisters E Lee, W.M., French, Nelson, Milligan, Ovington, Wildman, Ball, Scriven, Alexander, Wildeman, Royal, Prudence, Simms, Wildeman, Campbell, Follan, Bennett, Campbell, Harrison, Elm, McKierney, Willcox, Ditchfield, Hughes, Allan and Jones, representing JLOL 107; Bros. Chadwick, Evans, Fittern, Chadwick, Meredith, Lee, Gwyne, Chadwick, and Carter, representing JLOL 37. Also many other friends attended the ceremony at the graveside.
Beautiful floral tributes were sent by the widow and family, Sam and Lizzie, Sarah and Ted, Eddie, Peter and Polly, Martha and Dick, Ada and Will, Gerty and Walter. Mr and Mrs Walker RBP 354, LOL 787, LOL 760, LOL 644, FLOL 47, JLOL 107, Seaforth Conservative Social Club, Neighbours of Granville Road, Fanny and Tom Routledge, Bros. Walter and Ester, Mr and Mrs Francy, Marsh Lane PSA, Mr and Mrs Bridge, Mrs Morris, Sis and Arthur, Mr and Mrs Jones, Mr and Mrs Newton, Mr Appleyard, Mr and Mrs Roberts, Geogina and Maggie, Mrs Pardue, Mrs Coveney, and floral tributes from numerous friends.
The Funeral arrangements were carried out by Messers Thompson’s Ltd. 253 Stanley Road, Bootle, and at Walton, Orrel, and Waterloo.
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All that was left was to locate, Thomas’s Burial place. The Family had been to ‘Thornton Garden of Rest’ and had been given the Section map, including the plots for the part of Bootle Cemetery, where Thomas was laid to rest, but the family had not discovered the plot. The information they were given was Section NC2 / plot 73, so with my own maps in hand Ann & I went to find the plot.
Bootle Cemetery – Section – Non-Conformist (NC) 02.
Plot no. 073. (unmarked)
I have given the family more information on Thomas and his wife Kate, and it is up to them now to take over the researching of family members…