Genealogy Forum UK

Mary Patricia Burns is listed as Nurse Child with a Russell family in the 1911 census. Born in Manchester, and living in Manchester.

I am trying to find out about her parents, and I have the information from the birth certificate for her. And it just sent me into another brick wall.

Below is info from birth cert.

Mary Patricia Burns
Date of Birth: 2nd of March 1909
Place of Birth: 294 Oxford Road, South Manchester
Father: John William Burns (Post office clerk)
Mother: Sarah Burns formerly Gamble
Informant: Sarah Burns, 294 Oxford Road, South Manchester
Registered 24th of March 1909

I cannot find their marriage, or any listing of them prior or after the birth of Mary Patricia. I've searched different spellings and everything I can think of. If anyone could come up with anything, or give me some advice where to look, it would be appreciated.

PS: I've done most of my searches through Ancestry.co.uk

poss might be a second marriage for sarah so you wont find a burns/ gamble marriage

might of died in child birth or just after thats why a nurse child


poss death ?

Deaths Sep 1910
Burns Sarah 27 Manchester 8d 110

I've looked at her before. But I have a hard time tracing her back in time to see if it's the right Sarah.

anyone find who at this address in 1911 census please ?

294 Oxford Road, South Manchester

1911 Census transcription details for: 294 Oxford Road Chorlton upon Medlock

National Archive Reference: RG14PN23851 RG78PN1379 RD464 SD3 ED23 SN10
Reg. District: Chorlton
Sub District: Chorlton upon Medlock
Parish: South Manchester
Enum. District: 23
Address: 294 Oxford Road Chorlton upon Medlock
County: Lancashire
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
ASHWORTH, Alfred Giles Head Married M 52 1859 Dentist Ardwick Manchester Lancashire
ASHWORTH, Amelia Wife Married 25 years F 46 1865 Greenheys Manchester Lancashire
ASHWORTH, Elizabeth Vivian Daughter Single F 24 1887 Ardwick Manchester Lancashire
ASHWORTH, Frederick Giles Son Single M 23 1888 Artificial Tooth Maker Dental Mechanic Ardwick Manchester Lancashire
ASHWORTH, Alfred Herbert Son Single M 17 1894 Artificial Tooth Maker Dental Mechanic Southport Lancashire

Nobody listed at that address in 1901. House either side is occupied.....

Civil Registration event: Marriage

Name: BURNS, John William
Registration district: Toxteth Park
County: Lancashire
Year of registration: 1897
Quarter of registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Spouse's last name: Not available before 1912
Volume no: 8B
Page no: 370

MarriageFinder: John William Burns married one of the following people:

SINNETT, Sarah Ann

WILBERFORCE, Grace

KEENE, James

Civil Registration event: Marriage

Name: BURNS, John William
Registration district: Easington
County: Durham
Year of registration: 1898
Quarter of registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Spouse's last name: Not available before 1912
Volume no: 10A
Page no: 577

MarriageFinder: John William Burns married one of the following people:

EGGLESTON, Sarah Ann

HARRISON, Elizabeth

MOYLE, Matthew

I've also been looking at The Russells, to see how they ended up with little Mary P.
They lived at 9 Maskell Street, chorlton on medlock, manchester (Lancashire > South Manchester > Chorlton upon Medlock > 05 > 380 )
I can't find this address today, but I suspect from what I have been looking at that they didn't live very far from 294 Oxford Road. (might be wrong)
Also this trail is pretty dead. Nothing solid to go on anywhere.

Found Sarah Ann Burns, formerly Eggleston, living with her brother John Eggleston.
Can pretty much rule her out, as she's born Eggleston.

1897
BURNS John W WILBERFORCE Grace Toxteth Park, Register Office or Registrar Attended Liverpool REG_TP/22/61

Nurse Child, A child being looked after by another family for payment.

From,
http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/

There is this one surname different but area is good
2nd marriage?

1893
BURNS John POSEY Sarah Chorlton-on-Medlock Register Office or Registar Attended Manchester CHO_RM/103/104

1885
ASHWORTH Alfred G WALKER Amelia Southport Holy Trinity North Sefton C14/3/198

Can anyone see Father: John William Burns (Post office clerk) or similar occupation in 1911 census anywhere.

Jimmy wrote:Nurse Child, A child being looked after by another family for payment.

From,
http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/

From the little I know about Mary Patricia Burns, it was said she never knew who her parents were, and it's said she was adopted.
And there's this. "Prior to 1927 - there were no formal adoption procedures - just private arrangements between friends/family etc" so it wouldn't say she was adopted. She never went back to live with any biological parents though.

I had already checked the 1911 census and looked at every one of them and nothing remotely close to Post Office Clerk. Would he have had to provide a proof of age as that is civil service position?