You have no doubt already clicked on the ‘Everton‘ tab on the home page, as it explains my own personal role within the cemetery. This page relates to one of my favourite grave stories for the cemetery.
Ann Bray
Ann Bray is a very special lady, in the history of Everton Cemetery.
Ann was the first person to be buried at the cemetery, when it opened way back in 1880. She was buried on 21st July 1880, and is the first entry on the ‘order’ books and #001 in the Everton Burial Registers. Burial records of the time, show her living at 31 Abram St. Everton and Aged 52 years, at the time of her death.
In the England census of 1861, it shows Ann Bray (age 33), living in Everton at 157 Carson Street with her husband Frederick (age 45 whose occupation is listed as – Coach Driver) both Frederick & Ann were originally from Northhampshire (Alice from Stowe, Frederick from Ecton). Also living in the house with them, were their children Louisa (9), Elizabeth (7), Lucy (5) and Frederick (1), however, by the time of her death in 1880, it shows in Ann’s burial records, that Ann (and presumably Frederick) was now living at 31 Abram Street Everton.
NOTE
I have located a baptismal record for the Parish of Bevington, Liverpool, of 1861, which shows 2 children (Annie & Caroline born 08/11/61) whose parents are listed as Ann & Frederick Bray, of Carson St. Liverpool, it also list Frederick as a Coachman, so these must be members of the same family. The 1871 Census record needs researching… to find more information.
The 1881 Census, shows Frederick (65) living at 92 Creswell Street and head of the house listing his occupation now, as ‘Porter’. Ann of course is not longer listed, as her death was in 1880, but the children now listed at the house are, Frederick John (painter age 21), Mary (12 at school) and Sarah (15 & a Home-keeper)
In the Census of 1891, it shows Frederick’s son… Frederick J Bray (occupation – House Painter) living with his wife Alice Maria (whom he married on 10th October 1887… nee Clewer) living at 93 Blandford Street, Liverpool. Alice is registered as 25 years of age, born in Worcestershire, in the census record, and this is the same age listed on the headstone, for her own internment into the grave. The 1891 entry, does not list any children at the address. However, in another record of Marriages, it shows Frederick J Bray, remarrying on 23 August 1896, a Miss Elizabeth Braddock, in Kensington at Christ Church. The 1901 Census, shows Frederick living with his second wife Elizabeth, at 54 Boaler Street, Liverpool.
A 1911 Trade Directory (presumably ‘Gores’) shows Frederick J Bray, living at this time at 54 Boaler Street (East), Liverpool. In a final Liverpool Directory, it Shows Frederick’s death in the March of 1926, at the age of 66.
Although many memorials and Headstones at Everton, show earlier dates, these Headstones were removed from existing graveyards, like the Necropolis on Everton’s Low Hill, which when full, the headstones were dropped over the graves, turfed over, and made into a public park named ‘Grant Gardens’ (see page for Thomas Welch) after the Liverpool Alderman who opened it.
There are many more dropped Headstones in Everton, from road and dock sites, in which Civic Works, cut into existing graveyards of the day (around the 1890-1910 era)…
Full Headstone Inscription:
To the memory of
Ann Bray
Died July 16th 1880
Aged 52 years
An affectionate wife and
Loving Mother is at rest
Also of
Frederick Bray
Husband of the above
who died 21st of November 1898 aged 82 years
“Thy will be done”
Also of
Alice the beloved wife of Frederick J Bray
and daughter-in-law of the above
who died ?? January 1895 aged 25 years
” unreadable prose”
At the base of the Headstone… and extremely hard to read… even when enhanced in Photoshop…
Erected by the
Everton Burial Board
This being the first Internment
In Everton Cemetery