Everton history question - help please!

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pip

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Hi,
Apologies for hijacking the forum, but I'm hoping someone on here might be able to help with a question about the founding of Everton.

My mum has just come across an old newspaper cutting which relates to a distant relative of ours who was apparently one of the founders of the club. I've searched as much as I can on the internet, but I can't find any reference to him... I've typed up the article below (I don't know when it is dated, but presumably from the Echo)... if anyone can throw any light on this I'd be really grateful. It's always been a bit of a family legend, but until now we didn't even have a name to go on!

"EVERTON F.C. FOUNDER DIES

The death occurred yesterday in hospital of Mr William Downey, aged 76, of Talton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, one of the founders of the Everton Football Club, and one of its oldest shareholders. Mr Downey was a sheet metal worker and had never missed a home match of the Everton first team. He leaves a widow, and would have celebrated the 48th anniversary of his wedding next month."

Thanks for your help,

Pip
 

pip said:
Hi,
Apologies for hijacking the forum, but I'm hoping someone on here might be able to help with a question about the founding of Everton.

My mum has just come across an old newspaper cutting which relates to a distant relative of ours who was apparently one of the founders of the club. I've searched as much as I can on the internet, but I can't find any reference to him... I've typed up the article below (I don't know when it is dated, but presumably from the Echo)... if anyone can throw any light on this I'd be really grateful. It's always been a bit of a family legend, but until now we didn't even have a name to go on!

"EVERTON F.C. FOUNDER DIES

The death occurred yesterday in hospital of Mr William Downey, aged 76, of Talton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, one of the founders of the Everton Football Club, and one of its oldest shareholders. Mr Downey was a sheet metal worker and had never missed a home match of the Everton first team. He leaves a widow, and would have celebrated the 48th anniversary of his wedding next month."

Thanks for your help,

Pip
Click to expand...


Here you go mate: Minute Book | The Everton Collection

One of the original subscribers to the club when it incorporated in 1892.
 
Hi Pip,

A few unknowns here ... firstly do you know the date of that cutting from the Liverpool Echo? If William Downey was a founder member of Everton FC, then he would have been present at the club in 1878.As thats the year of the clubs foundation.

Now the clip from the Echo mentions that he leaves a widow of 48 years behind...So assuming he also got married around that time I did some digging on the internet for marriage records between I searched on marriage records around the late 1800's in Liverpool with William Downey as a key-word, and I found this

Marriage: 18 Aug 1890 St Augustine, Everton, Lancashire, England
William Downey - 28 Tin Plate Worker Batchelor of 43 Boundary Place
Eliza Ann Brookfield - 27 Spinster of 52 Rupert Lane
Groom's Father: James Downey, Watchmaker (deceased)
Bride's Father: John Brookfield, Waiter
Witness: Joseph Francis Broadburn; Harriet Emily Kelly
Married by Banns by: William J Adams
Register: Marriage 1887 - 1896, Page 79, Entry 158
Source: LDS Film 1656014

I dont know if its the same William Downey but it maybe worth looking at
 
Mutzo Nutzo said:
Hi Pip,

A few unknowns here ... firstly do you know the date of that cutting from the Liverpool Echo? If William Downey was a founder member of Everton FC, then he would have been present at the club in 1878.As thats the year of the clubs foundation.

Now the clip from the Echo mentions that he leaves a widow of 48 years behind...So assuming he also got married around that time I did some digging on the internet for marriage records between I searched on marriage records around the late 1800's in Liverpool with William Downey as a key-word, and I found this

Marriage: 18 Aug 1890 St Augustine, Everton, Lancashire, England
William Downey - 28 Tin Plate Worker Batchelor of 43 Boundary Place
Eliza Ann Brookfield - 27 Spinster of 52 Rupert Lane
Groom's Father: James Downey, Watchmaker (deceased)
Bride's Father: John Brookfield, Waiter
Witness: Joseph Francis Broadburn; Harriet Emily Kelly
Married by Banns by: William J Adams
Register: Marriage 1887 - 1896, Page 79, Entry 158
Source: LDS Film 1656014

I dont know if its the same William Downey but it maybe worth looking at
Click to expand...

Mutzo Nutzo you are an absolute star! ... Brookfield was my Grandma's family name - and the addresses match with the ones in the Everton Collection minutes.. so that's definitely him.
Thanks so much - my mum will be delighted!

Pip
 

Mutzo Nutzo said:
Hi Pip,

A few unknowns here ... firstly do you know the date of that cutting from the Liverpool Echo? If William Downey was a founder member of Everton FC, then he would have been present at the club in 1878.As thats the year of the clubs foundation.

Now the clip from the Echo mentions that he leaves a widow of 48 years behind...So assuming he also got married around that time I did some digging on the internet for marriage records between I searched on marriage records around the late 1800's in Liverpool with William Downey as a key-word, and I found this

Marriage: 18 Aug 1890 St Augustine, Everton, Lancashire, England
William Downey - 28 Tin Plate Worker Batchelor of 43 Boundary Place
Eliza Ann Brookfield - 27 Spinster of 52 Rupert Lane
Groom's Father: James Downey, Watchmaker (deceased)
Bride's Father: John Brookfield, Waiter
Witness: Joseph Francis Broadburn; Harriet Emily Kelly
Married by Banns by: William J Adams
Register: Marriage 1887 - 1896, Page 79, Entry 158
Source: LDS Film 1656014

I dont know if its the same William Downey but it maybe worth looking at
Click to expand...

Good work Mutzo. Got a link to the marriage records site?
 
pip said:
Mutzo Nutzo you are an absolute star! ... Brookfield was my Grandma's family name - and the addresses match with the ones in the Everton Collection minutes.. so that's definitely him.
Thanks so much - my mum will be delighted!

Pip
Click to expand...

No worries....My pleasure...you can contact the Liverpool records office, and they should be able to help with any further investigations.

Liverpool Record Office - home page
 

Mutzo Nutzo said:
Hi Pip,

A few unknowns here ... firstly do you know the date of that cutting from the Liverpool Echo? If William Downey was a founder member of Everton FC, then he would have been present at the club in 1878.As thats the year of the clubs foundation.

Now the clip from the Echo mentions that he leaves a widow of 48 years behind...So assuming he also got married around that time I did some digging on the internet for marriage records between I searched on marriage records around the late 1800's in Liverpool with William Downey as a key-word, and I found this

Marriage: 18 Aug 1890 St Augustine, Everton, Lancashire, England
William Downey - 28 Tin Plate Worker Batchelor of 43 Boundary Place
Eliza Ann Brookfield - 27 Spinster of 52 Rupert Lane
Groom's Father: James Downey, Watchmaker (deceased)
Bride's Father: John Brookfield, Waiter
Witness: Joseph Francis Broadburn; Harriet Emily Kelly
Married by Banns by: William J Adams
Register: Marriage 1887 - 1896, Page 79, Entry 158
Source: LDS Film 1656014

I dont know if its the same William Downey but it maybe worth looking at
Click to expand...

Clever stuff Mutzo. You wouldnt be able to find my owl fella would yer? He went missin when I was a kid and aint been seen sinse :unsure:
 

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