The earliest record of the Nicholson family was William married to Elizabeth Hasledean 4th September 1746. They had a son William born 8th October 1752 and he had children Thomas born 3rd July 1796, James born in 1792,and John born in 1794 all in Upholland. Thomas was married to Jane Tickle born 10th February 1796 to Robert Tickle and Jane. Thomas and Jane had six children as far as I can ascertain - Hannah born in 1816, Thomas born 1826, John in 1830, Eliza 1831, Francis in 1834 and Edwin born 9th April 1838 (I have his Birth Certificate). I have since found Edwin on the 1881 census and also Francis, they both were living in the Liverpool area.

John Nicholson is my ancestor and he married Mary Ann Birchall on the 3rd October 1859 at the Methodist Chapel, Standishgate, Wigan. John who was 29 when he married and was living near Winstanley Hall at the time and Mary aged 20 was Near Bispham Hall at Billinge Higher End. John was a Farm Servant at the time and his father Thomas was a Book Keeper. John and Mary had three children. Elizabeth born 5th February 1861 at Moorditch, Orrell and her father signed the Birth Certificate. James my grandfather was born 20th January 1867 in Upholland and the Birth Certificate was signed by his mother Mary. Mary Ann was born on the 20th May 1872 at Tontine Upholland and no father was given only Mary Nicholson who signed with a cross. In the 1881 census it gave the family living together but no father. It is still a mistery which I am hoping to solve. My grandfather married Esther Chadwick on the 30th June 1888 at St.Thomas Parish Church, Wigan. Mary Ann was buried in Cornwall about 1929 and I have seen the cottage in Carn Brea where she lived. She was a great Salvationist and had musical talents but the Salvation Army do not have any records to show her married name. I still need to find Elizabeth and Mary Ann's marriages.

I would also like to find descendants of Edwin and Francis who were both in the Liverpool area in 1881. Edwin married Margaret and they lived at 17 William Henry Street, Bootle cum linacre and they had eight children in 1881. Edwin's occupation was given as Shipwright. Their children were Thomas aged 16, William 14, Jane 12, Elizabeth 10, Margaret 8, Walter 5, Francis 3 and Hannah 1. All born in Bootle.

Francis was married to Elizabeth and his occupation was given as Shipping Clerk. They lived at Beacon Street, Liverpool which is near the docks and Beacon Street is still there today. They had two daughters Jane aged 19 in the 1881 census and Elizabeth aged 14. Jane was born in Bootle and Elizabeth in Liverpool. Francis like Edwin was born in Winstanley and Elizabeth his wife in Orrell.

William of Billinge was born in 1752 and married to Elizabeth Hasledean had a younger brother Thomas born 1765 who was married to Margaret Culshaw, they had at least one son whose children appear in the 1841 census.

Through the Internet I have found a relative living in Australia. Her connection is through James Nicholson born 1792 who was a brother of Thomas born 1796 (married to Jane Tickle) my ancestor. I have had a lot of help from Sue in Australia and would like to thank her.

James Nicholson and Esther Chadwick my grandparents had eight children. I have yet to find the birth dates and marriage dates of my father's brothers and sisters. Jane (Jinnie) was married to WilliamGorner and had two sons Frank and Leonard. (There is a Gorner Association if anyone is interested) Minnie was married to William Allsopp and they had two children Eva and Arthur. John (Jack ) married Annie from Newton-le-Willows and they didn't have any children. James was born in 1900 and died about 17 years later from diabetes. Ernest my father was born on the 20th February 1902 and died in 1981. He married Doris Lowe from Downall Green on the 8th June 1929. They were married at Holy TRinity Church Downall Green. I was an only child born 24th April 1930. Hettie married James Thompson and had one son Roy. James Frank died of meningitis when he was young and Arthur was the youngest. He married Stella Mitchell from the Brecon area of South Wales. They had one child Janet. Arthur was a great musician and has passed his talents on to his daughter who teaches several instruments and voice lessons. Lots of the people in the Bryn area remember Arthur Nicholson when he taught the piano to lots of youngster. Many are now very talented musicians themselves.

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