James Welsche (1863-1937)

Family

Spouse 

• Eliza Malone 1876 – 1962

Children

• William b1901
• John b1903
• Margaret b1905-1991
• Jane b1909

James Welsche lived his life in and around Failsworth area.  Born around 1863, the family have proven difficult to trace, and his exact birth record remains elusive.

The early years

In the 1901 census, taken on 31 March, James was recorded living with Eliza at 4 Mill Houses, Failsworth.

James and Eliza Malone were married on Monday 19 April, 1897 in St. Maries Catholic Church, Failsworth. James signed the marriage record with ‘his mark’, suggesting he was likely illiterate. His father was listed John Welsh (deceased).

Their son, William, was born on 9 July, 1901 followed by John in 1903. The family had moved from 4 Mill Houses to 2 Mill Houses

Daughter Margaret was born in 1905 and Jane followed in 1910, by which time the family had moved to 47 Clough Street, Newton Heath.

The 1911 census was taken on 2 April, Eliza is recorded as living with the 4 children at 5 Clough Road, Newton Heath. Her mother and stepfather were also recorded at the address, suggesting they were visiting.

On the evening the census was recorded, James was a patient in Booth Hall General Hospital. The hospital was built in 1908 and primarily used to care for the sick from the Prestwich Poor Law Union. There is no indication as to how long James spent in hospital, or the reason.

The 1921 census provides more information than previous census and shows James was working for a company called ‘James Walton and Sons, Dyeing & Bleachers & Finishers’ in Clayton Bridge, Failsworth. He registers his age as 53, which makes his year of birth as 1868 – however – in 1897, when he married Eliza, he was 34 which makes his year of birth 1863. Such variations were fairly common in historical records – people often didn’t know their exact birth year or they altered their reported age for various reasons.

Eliza is 47, her birthplace is registered as Macclesfield and she was a ‘charwoman’. William was 19 years of age and working as a general labourer, John was 18 years old and a blacksmith, Margaret was 15 and a winder in a weaving shed and Jane was 11 and a scholar.

The family appear to be thriving, with 5 of the 6 individuals earning a living; the family were now living at 5 Coleridge Street, Failsworth, where they remained.

The later years

James was still living here in 1937 when he died at the age of 74 from cerebral thrombosis. Interestingly, his son in law Alfred Spencer, Grandad, lived at 9 Coleridge Street when he married Margaret Welsche, James’s daughter.

Eliza continued to live at 5 Coleridge St at least until 1939, with her youngest daughter, son in law and granddaughter

There is a family grave in Phillips Park Cemetery, Catholic section – Section C, grave 670.  There is a small marker over the grave, where James and Eliza rest.

Alf Spencer and Margaret married in 1928, when she was 23, so it is likely this picture was taken around 1928 and is highly likely to have been taken outside 5 Coleridge St

Middle row – James and Eliza Welsche with their daughter Margaret (in white dress)

Back row – in doorway is Alf Spencer Snr

Unfortunately nothing is know about the other individuals in the family group.