Events
Date of Birth: about 1830.
Place of Birth: Southport, Lancashire, England.
The 1841, 1851, 1861, and 1871 censuses give his age as 11, 21, 30, and 41 respectively. His place of birth is consistently given as Southport.
Date of Baptism: 21 March 1830.
Place of Baptism: Southport, Lancashire (Christ Church).
The baptism is given in the register for Christ Church..
Date of Death: 2 February 1878.
Place of Death: Southport, Lancashire.
The date and place are given in the National Probate Calendar.
Relationships
Father: James Molineux (1802 - 1860).
Mother: Jane Ball (born 1803).
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Elizabeth Eccleston (about 1830 - 1885). Married 6 October 1858 in Liverpool, Lancashire.
The date and place are given in the marriage certificate. False information about her surname and father are given on the certificate (discussed in the Commentary section on Elizabeth’s page.)
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Ada Jane Molineux (baptized 13 March 1859 in Southport, Christ Church - died 1902) married Alfred George Standish 2 November 1879 in Liverpool (St Michael).
Thomas Henry Molineux (baptized 13 January 1861 in Southport, Christ Church - died 25 July 1897) married Martha Holt 22 June 1880 in Southport .
Annie Eola Molineux (baptized 10 August 1863 in Southport, Christ Church - died 21 January 1867).
Alfred Edwin Molineux (born 13 December 1868 in Southport, Christ Church - died 1911) married (1) Alice Ann Rimmer in 1888; married (2) Harriet Hinde 12 September 1896 in Southport, Lancashire.
Annie Louisa Molineux (baptized 7 August 1872 in Southport, Christ Church) married Richard Street in 1894.
Evidence
Baptisms (Southport, Christ Church, in the parish of North Meols):
When Baptized: 1830. March 21
Child’s Christian Name: William
Parents Names: James & Jane Molyneux
Abode: Southport
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Painter
By whom the Ceremony was performed: Thos. Garratt off: Minister
When Baptized: 1859. March 13th
Child’s Christian Name: Ada Jane
Parents Names: William & Elizabeth Molineux
Abode: Southport
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Painter
By whom the Ceremony was performed: J S Clarke Incumbent
When Baptized: 1861. Jan'ry 13th
Child’s Christian Name: Thomas Henry
Parents Names: William & Elizabeth Molyneux
Abode: Southport
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Painter
By whom the Ceremony was performed: J S Clarke Incumbent
When Baptized: 1863. Aug: 10th
Child’s Christian Name: Annie Eola[?]
Parents Names: William & Elizabeth Molyneux
Abode: Southport
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Painter
By whom the Ceremony was performed: T. G. Sandles Curate
When Baptized: 1869. Feb 7.
Child’s Christian Name: Alfred Edwin
Parents Names: William & Elizabeth Molineux
Abode: Southport
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Painter
By whom the Ceremony was performed: Fras Cooper Curate
When Baptized: 1872. August 7th
Child’s Christian Name: Annie Louisa
Parents Names: William & Elizabeth Molineux
Abode: 9 Hoghton St Southport
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Painter
By whom the Ceremony was performed: John Lindsay
Marriage to Elizabeth Molineux (sic) (GRO)
Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
When Married: 6th October 1858
Name and Surname: William Molineux
Age: full
Condition: bachelor
Rank or profession: Painter
Residence at the time of marriage: Christian St.
Father’s name and surname: James Molineux
Rank or profession of father: Painter
Name and Surname: Elizabeth Molineux
Age: full
Condition: Spinster
Rank or profession: ---------
Residence at the time of marriage: Christian St.
Father’s name and surname: John Molineux
Rank or profession of father: Engineer
Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church by __________ or after Banns by me, J W Welsh Curate.
This marriage was solemnized between us William Molineux Elizabeth Molineux in the presence of Joseph Nicholls Mary Ann Heaton
1841 census (North Meols)
Hoghton Street
James Molineux, 35, Painter, Y [ “Y” means born in Lancashire]
Jane [Molineux], 35, Y
James [Molineux], 17, Y
Richard [Molineux], 14, Y
William [Molineux], 11, Y
Thomas [Molineux], 9, Y
George [Molineux], 6, Y
1851 census (Southport)
East Bank Street no 19
James Molineux, Head, Mar., 48, Painter Employing 8 Men, [born] Lancashire, Wigan
Jane [Molineux], Wife, Mar., 48, [born Lancashire] Southport
James [Molineux], Son, U, 26, Painter, [born Lancashire Southport]
William [Molineux], Son, U, 21, [Painter], [born Lancashire Southport]
Thomas [Molineux], Son, U, 19, [Painter], [born Lancashire Southport]
George [Molineux], Son, U, 15, [Painter], [born Lancashire Southport]
1861 census (Southport)
East Bank St:
William Molineux, Head, Mar, 30, Painter, [born Lancashire Southport]
Elizabeth Molineux, Wife, 30, [born Lancashire] St Hellens, Lancashire
Emma Molineux, Daur, 8, Scholar, [born Lancashire] Southport
Ada Jane Molineux, Daur, 2, Scholar, [born Lancashire Southport]
Thomas Henry Molineux, Son, 4 mo, [born Lancashire Southport]
1871 census (Southport)
9 Hoghton St
William Molineux, Head, Mar, 41, Painter &c, [born] Lancashire, Southport
Elizabeth Molineux, Wife, Mar, 40, [born Lancashire, Southport]
Emma Molineux, Daur, Unm, 18, [born Lancashire, Southport]
Ada J. Molineux, Daur, Unm, 12, Scholar, [born Lancashire, Southport]
Thomas H. Molineux, Son, Unm, 10, Scholar, [born Lancashire, Southport]
Alfred E. Molineux, Son, Unm, 2, [born Lancashire, Southport]
National Probate Calendar entry for William Molineux
Molineux, William
Personal Estate under £ 100.
30 April. Administration of the Personal Estate of William Molineux late of Southport in the County of Lancaster Painter and Decorator who died 2 February 1878 at Southport was granted at Liverpool to Elizabeth Molineux of 9 Hoghton-street Southport Widow the Relict.
A gravestone in Duke Street Cemetery, Southport:
In Affectionate Remembrance
of
Annie Eola, daughter of
William and Elizabeth Molineux.
who fell asleep in Jesus, January
21st 1867 Aged 5 Years and 7 Months.
William Molineux died February
2nd 1878 Aged 47 Years.
Also of Elizabeth, Wife of the above
William Molineux,
who died January 15th 1885,
Aged 53 Years.
Also of Alice, the beloved wife of Alfred, E, Molineux, their son,
who passed away January 16th 1895,
Aged 27 Years.
Her end was peace.
Commentary
William’s parentage:
William’s marriage record identifies his father as James Molineux, painter.
The censuses give this information about William’s date and place of birth:
1841 (taken 6 June): age 11, born in Lancashire.
1851 (taken 30 March): age 21, born Lancashire, Southport.
1861 (taken 7 April): age 30, born Lancashire Southport
1871 (taken 2 April): age 41, born Lancashire Southport
The informant in the 1841 and 1851 census was probably William’s father James. James’s wife is identified as Jane. In 1861 and 1871 the informant was probably William himself.
William’s gravestone states that he died 2 February 1878 aged 47.
The consistency of the above information makes it straightforward to identify William’s baptism record (21 March 1830 in Southport, Christ Church). The record states that his parents were James and Jane Molineux. Jane’s marriage record and the will of her father show that her maiden name was Ball. Ball is also recorded as the maiden name of the mother of William’s brother Edwin on his birth registration.
There is also DNA evidence that William is the son of James Molineux and Jane Ball. I am a paper-trail descendant of William, and I share DNA with a paper-trail descendant of William’s brother Richard (18 cM over 2 segments). I also share DNA with paper-trail descendants of some of James’s siblings.
The evidence for William’s parentage is sufficient.
References
“AncestryDNA ThruLines for James Molineux database report”, AncestryDNA. Accessed 25 February 2025.
William Molyneux baptism, baptism registration No. 204, Southport, Lancashire (Christ Church) register, births and baptisms 1813 - 1911, page 26; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 1 April 2014) citing Lancashire Anglican Parish Registers. Preston, England: Lancashire Archives.
William Molineux - Elizabeth Molineux entry of marriage (certified copy). General Register Office. England and Wales. Civil Registration Certificates. (London, United Kingdom: General Register Office).
James Molineux household, 1841 census of England. Lancashire, Ormskirk, North Meols, HO107, piece 514, book 3, folio 19, page 31, in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 1 April 2014).
James Molineux household, 1851 census of England. Lancashire, Ormskirk, Bickerstaffe, North Meols, ED 1b, piece 2196, folio 422, page 9, in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1851; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 1 April 2014).
William Molineux household, 1861 census of England. Lancashire, Ormskirk, North Meols, ED 12, piece 2762, folio 31, page 5, in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 1 April 2014).
William Molineux household, 1871 census of England. Lancashire, Ormskirk, North Meols, ED 23, piece 3876, folio 98, page 32, in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 1 April 2014).
Molineux, William, entry in the National Probate Calendar; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 1 April 2014) citing Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England.