Robert Melling

I'm trying to find info about Robert Melling, father of Elizabeth Melling who married James Wilson Berry in 1916:-

Marriage: 7 Aug 1916 St Matthew, Highfield, Pemberton, Lancashire, England
James Wilson Berry - 22 yrs., Collier, Bachelor, 42 Chadwick St., Poolstock
Elizabeth Melling - 25 yrs., Weaver, Spinster, 130 Enfield Street, Pemberton
Groom's Father: James Wilson, Collier
Bride's Father: Robert Melling, Deceased, Colliery
Witness: Peter Ashurst; Ann Brimelow
Married by Banns by: John Woods Vicar
Notes: [Bride's Father's first name originally recorded as 'James' but deleted & amended]
Register: Marriages 1912 - 1927, Page 90, Entry 180
Source: Original register at Wigan Archives

the only possible record i've found so far is a Robert Melling died in 1912 in Oldham. Census records provide too many possibilities due to common names and sparcity of info available. Any help appreciated. Malcolm

could this be him?From LOPC

Burial: 4 Feb 1905 St. John the Divine, Pemberton, Lancs
Robert Melling
Age: 57 years
Abode 130 Enfield Street, Pemberton
Buried by: D T Gabriel
Register: Burials 1902 - 1909, page 123, Entry 979
Source: Original Register at Wigan Archives

Thanks Jazzy. It could well be. The address is same as Liz's. Don't know how i missed that record. Although i had it in my head he was still alive in 1911. Don't know why. Obviously he wasn't.

Whilst checking Jazzy's info i found the follwing:-

Marriage: 21 Apr 1906 St James, Wigan, Lancashire, England
Robert Melling - 19, Collier, Bachelor, 130 Enfield St Pemberton
Eliza Oddie - 20, Weaver, Spinster, 58 Pool St
Groom's Father: Robert Melling, Collier
Bride's Father: George Oddie, Warper
Witness: George Melling; Charlotte Alice Catterall
Married by Banns by: James Thompson Curate
Register: Marriages 1902 - 1914, Page 79, Entry 158
Source: Original register at Wigan Archives

Baptism: 16 Oct 1907 St James, Poolstock, Wigan, Lancashire, England
Robert Melling - [Child] of Robert Melling & Eliza
Abode: 58 Pool St.
Occupation: Collier
Baptised by: J. Thompson
Register: Baptisms 1902 - 1919, Page 82, Entry 652

Source: Original register at Wigan Archives

Burial: 4 Aug 1908 St John the Divine, Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Robert Melling -
Age: 10 months
Abode: 154 Scot Lane Newtown
Buried by: E. F. Forrest
Register: Burials 1902 - 1909, Page 263, Entry 2098
Source: Original register at Wigan Archives

groom's father is not listed as deceased, maybe oversight. I wonder if witness George is brother,uncle or cousin?

Is the burial related to baptism? Dates suggest a probable link.

Are these relevant?
Baptism: 7 Aug 1891 Christ Church, Ince, Lancashire, England
Elizabeth Melling - [Child] of Robert Melling & Elizabeth
Born: 27 Jul 1891
Abode: 15 Farmer St
Occupation: Collier
Notes: P
Baptised by: H. R Krugen Curate
Register: Baptisms 1885 - 1889, Page 182, Entry 1450
Source: Original Register at Wigan Archives

1901 census address was 130 Enfield Street. Robert was born in Upholland

Robert Melling 54
Elizabeth Melling 47
George Melling 18
Charlotte A Melling16
Robert Melling 14
Elizabeth Melling 9
Mary A Tiptroe 23
Matthew Hart 16

The last 2 are boarders.

..and in 1911 census, his widow is still living in Enfield Street

Name: Elizabeth Melling
Age in 1911: 57
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Pemberton
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address: 130 Enfield St Pemberton
Marital Status: Widowed
Registration district: Wigan
Registration District Number: 458
Sub-registration district: Pemberton
ED, institution, or vessel: 16
Piece: 23072
Household Members:
Name Age
Elizabeth Melling 57
Elizabeth Melling 19
Alice Lucas 68

Alice Lucas is a boarder and is widowed.

If Robert Melling died in 1905, he would have been born in 1848. i couldnt find a Robert Melling, but interestingly (given the amendment to the grooms fathers name at Elizabeths wedding) found a James Melling

Name: James Melling
Event Type: Birth Registration
Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration Year: 1848
Registration District: Wigan
County: Lancashire
Event Place: Wigan, Lancashire, England
Volume: 21
Page: 780
Line Number: 3

1891 census - they are in Farmer St.

Name: Robert Melling
Age: 44
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Melling
Gender: Male
Where born: Upholland, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Ince in Makerfield
Ecclesiastical parish: Christchurch
Town: Ince in Makerfield
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration district: Wigan
ED, institution, or vessel: 27
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3061
Folio: 74
Page Number: 26
Household Members:
Name Age
Robert Melling 44
Elizabeth Melling 36
William H Melling 16
James Melling 13
George Melling 8
Charlotte A Melling 6
Robert Melling 4

Thanks Carol, census is definite. Has brother George and sister Charlotte A both witnesses to Robert's(son)wedding.

I found 1911 census for Elizabeth mother and daughter;-

Elizabeth Melling 57
Elizabeth Melling 19
Alice Lucas 68 Boarder

at 130 Enfield.

Baptism is a probable, their were several EM births registered around that time according to 'Ancestry' website.

I'm amazed at what i've discovered as a result of Jazzy's initial reply. I was totally stumped before. Many thanks to you all.

Baptism: 14 Feb 1875 St Matthew, Highfield, Pemberton, Lancashire, England
William Henry Melling - [Child] of Robert Melling & Elizabeth
Abode: Little Lane, Pemberton
Occupation: Collier
Baptised by: Thomas Evans
Register: Baptisms 1873 - 1889, Page 12, Entry 90
Source: Original register at Wigan Archives

Possible marriage?
Marriage: 4 Oct 1874 St John the Divine, Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Robert Melling - (X), 23, Collier, Bachelor, Goose Green, Pemberton
Elizabeth Cunliffe - (X), 20, Spinster, Goose Green, Pemberton
Groom's Father: John Melling, Laborer
Bride's Father: Joseph Cunliffe, Laborer
Witness: Michael Keef, (X); Elizabeth Hewitt, (X)
Married by Banns by: John Leach, Vicar
Register: Marriages 1870 - 1878, Page 149, Entry 297
Source: LDS Film 1885637.

The grooms age isn't as we've seen before, but this is not unusual as the bride and groom are illiterate.

Name: Robert Melling
gender:
Male
Wife: Elizabeth
Son: George Melling
Other information in the record of George Melling
from England Births and Christenings
Name: George Melling
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 14 Sep 1884
Christening Place: Wigan, Lancashire, England
Birth Date: 07 Mar 1882
Father's Name: Robert Melling
Mother's Name: Elizabeth
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C00771-7 , System Origin: England-ODM , GS Film number: 1885686

Robert Melling
mentioned in the record of Charlotte Alice Melling
Name: Robert Melling
gender:
Male
Wife: Elizabeth
Daughter: Charlotte Alice Melling
Other information in the record of Charlotte Alice Melling
from England Births and Christenings
Name: Charlotte Alice Melling
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 14 Sep 1884
Christening Place: Wigan, Lancashire, England
Birth Date: 27 Aug 1884
Father's Name: Robert Melling
Mother's Name: Elizabeth
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C00771-7 , System Origin: England-EASy , GS Film number: 1885686 , Reference ID: yr 1882-1885 p 26

Thanks Carol and Jazzy, I can't keep up. You're posting four whilst i'm composing one and trying to digest everything. But at least now "I know where I'm going" to quote a certain song.

Mac, glad to help, I love a puzzle.

Found a Robert Melling in LOPC for Upholland but no James for 1843-53

Baptism: 14 Mar 1847 St Thomas the Martyr, Upholland, Lancashire, England
Robert Melling - [Child] of John Melling & Alice
Born: 3 Jun 1846
Abode: UpHolland
Occupation: Nailer

Not sure if this is Roberts marriage?
Robert Melling
England and Wales Marriage Registration Index
Name: Robert Melling
Event Type: Marriage
Registration Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec
Registration Year: 1874
Registration District: Wigan
County: Lancashire
Event Place: Wigan, Lancashire, England
Volume: 8C
Page: 31
Line Number: 181

Robert Melling probably married one of the following people
Name: Elizabeth Cunliffe
Name: Mary Middlehurst
Name: Gerrard Pendlebury

Checking birth of William Henry Melling on Lanc BMD gives mother's maiden name as Cunliffe. So i think you've both found relevent info regards marriage. To quote "I love it when it all comes together." or something like that.

On ancestry the marriage of 1874 appears as a scan of the church register.From the image it looks as if the ink had faded and some overwriting was done so the groom's age is not clear.
The scan of the baptism of Robert son of John and Alice Melling on 1847 March 14th has' Born June 3rd 1846' written in the margin

The baptism found by Macwil is most probably correct as the censuses have him down as coming from Upholland

found two Charlotte Alice Melling with mother as Cunliffe in Lancs BMD one died age 3:_
Birth Indexes
Surname Forename(s) Mother's Maiden Name Year Sub-District Region Registers At Reference

MELLING Charlotte Alice CUNLIFFE 1880 Hindley Lancashire Wigan & Leigh HNDL/68/392

MELLING Charlotte Alice CUNLIFFE 1884 Hindley Lancashire Wigan & Leigh HNDL/82/89

Death Indexes
Surname Forename(s) Age at Death Year Sub-District Region Registers At Reference

MELLING Charlotte Alice 3 1883 Hindley Lancashire Wigan & Leigh HNDL/46/443

Can't find family in censuses before 1891.

1851
Name: Robert Melling
Age: 4
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Son (Child)
Father's name: John Melling
Mother's name: Alice Melling
Gender: Male
Where born: Upholland, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Upholland
Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Maps:
View related Ecclesiastical Parish
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability:

View image
Registration district: Wigan
Sub-registration district: Upholland
ED, institution, or vessel: 2e
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 44
Piece: 2201
Folio: 102
Page Number: 13
Household Members:
Name Age
John Melling 46
Alice Melling 46
James Melling 26
Elizabeth Melling 22
John Melling 8
William Melling 6
Robert Melling 4
William Melling 3
Address Newfold

1861

Name: Robert Melling
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: 1850
Relation: Son (Child)
Father's name: John Melling
Mother's name: Alice Melling
Gender: Male
Where born: Upholland, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Upholland
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

View image
Registration district: Wigan
Sub-registration district: Upholland
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 102
Piece: 2784
Folio: 74
Page Number: 22
Household Members:
Name Age
John Melling 56
Alice Melling 56
John Melling 18
William Melling 17
Robert Melling 11 transcribed incorrectly 14 is the age on the census view
Address New Fold Cottage

thanks mygriffiths. I should have been more specific, I meant robert and Elizabeth's family in '81. It would include:-

Robert Melling 34
Elizabeth Melling 26
William H Melling 6
James Melling 3

Does anyone know what happened to Elizabeth Berry, daughter of Robert Melling, after her husband James Wilson Berry was killed by fall of roof at Sovereign Pit, Westleigh. on 20 Sept 1921? (Day before his 28th birthday!) She was residing at 10 William St, Wood St, Wigan at that time.

Mistakes in the census do not help,using the son I found this.

1881
Name: William H. Melling
Age: 6
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1875
Relationship to Head: Son (Child)
Father: William Melling
Mother: Elizabeth Melling
Gender: Male
Where born: Pemberton, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Hindley
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address: 1 Bridge St Coopers Yard
Education:

Employment status:

View image
Occupation: Scholar
Registration district: Wigan
Sub registration district: Hindley
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3772
Folio: 95
Page Number: 28
Household Members:
Name Age
William Melling 34
Elizabeth Melling 27
William H. Melling 6
James Melling 3
Charlotte Melling 1
Alfred Gough 38
Rachael Sharples 24
(not transcribed)

Thanks mygriffiths. I had spotted this but dismissed it as father was William and i'd found a '71 census with a William & Elizabeth and a Wm Hy but looking back i can see they're not the same family. so the one you've found is probably the correct one. It's the first time i've come across such an error, normally it's transcript errors due to the attrocious handwriting and spelling of surnames.

I remember looking for a Martha for ages and found her as Arthur so mis-hearing is another source of error.

When I started researching my g'dad's tree i discovered his elder brother James Wilson Berry and mentioned him to an aunt, "Oh yes" she said, "He was a pilot that was killed." I spent ages tracking war records & civilian pilot deaths to no avail. Then chanced upon Lancs BMD entered his name on the off chance, I'd had no luck with national BMD, lo and behold his name popped up. got death cert and found he been killed in mining accident. reported to family at get together where aunt promptly said "Oh it was another cousin that was the pilot." Aaargh! Still don't know who!

UPDATE
Elizabeth returned to 130 Enfield St. and continued to live there with son James until their deaths in Dec & Nov 1971.

I found the pilot.
Thomas Nelson BERRY, killed in Spitfire crash on IoM 22 Mar 1947.