Chappell Tree

This part of the Chappell family is from Manchester, UK.

Chappell  Tree

Chappell Family

Chappell History

James Chappell was present when Sophia Salthouse died. Was he related to the Salthouse family?

(Pages under construction and will be amended)

James Chappell – who was he?

There is nothing quite like a good mystery just waiting to be solved so, who exactly was James Chappell, the neighbour who reported the death of Sophia Salthouse, my great-great-great grandmother, in 1859?

Sophia Salthouse - who was she?

Sophia Salthouse (my great-great-great grandmother) was the widow of Anthony Salthouse, a coachdriver, they had married in Manchester Cathedral in 1802 and their children were born in Didsbury between 1802 and 1818; the youngest child, John Salthouse, was still living in Nether Alderley at the time of Sophia’s death in 1859 at 32 Renshaw Street, Hulme, Manchester. Sophia was a nurse (possibly a midwife) and had looked after her daughter-in-law during a difficult confinement in 1854.

James Chappell's family in Bark Street

Two years after Sophia died, there was a John Chappell living at 23 Bark Street, presumably he was the same James Chappell who had lived at 15 Bark Street in 1859 when Sophia died.

1861 Census, 23 Bark Street, Hulme (St John’s Ward)

1861 As James Chappell, head, married, 33, photographer, born Heaton Mersey, living at 23 Bark Street, Hulme (1861 Census)

1861 As Sarah Chappell, wife, 28, born Ashton Under Lyne, living at 23 Bark Street, Hulme (1861 Census)

1861 As Sophia Anne Chappell, daughter, 6, born Hulme, living at living at 23 Bark Street, Hulme (1861 Census)

1861 As Maria Alice Chappell, daughter, 4, born Hulme, living at 23 Bark Street, Hulme (1861 Census)

1861 As Sarah Ellen Chappell, daughter, 2, born Hulme, living at 23 Bark Street, Hulme (1861 Census)

1861 As Emma Louisa Chappell, daughter, 1, born Hulme, living at 23 Bark Street, Hulme (1861 Census)

1861 As Catherine Wynne, lodger, 30, cook, born Ireland, living at 23 Bark Street, Hulme (1861 Census)

James Chappell was a photographer. His full name was James Chappell Light Salthouse and he was first married to Ann O'Donnell in 1851. James married Sarah Coe in 1854. By 1861 James and Sarah had four children living with them: Sophia Anne (6), Maria Alice (4), Sarah Ellen (2) and Emma Louisa (1).

These are some of the references:

Free BMD has also recorded “Chappell James Light Salthouse”

At 1837 Online, the original document says Chappell, James Light Salthouse.   

Lancashire BMD shows that the bride was Ann O’Donnell.

Was he widowed? An Ann Chappell died in Macclesfield in 1852 but I haven’t requested the certificate so her age isn’t known. Two years later, a James Chappell married Sarah Coe in Manchester in 1854. 

(Another James Chappell married a Sarah Bradley in Prestbury, Macclesfield (a Wildboarclough family); whilst there are some obvious connections (Sophia Salthouse was also a Bradley before she married), it seems not to be the James Chappell who looked after Sophia Salthouse).

Ancestry.com shows a marriage in 1854:

This marriage is not listed on the Lancashire BMD but the 1881 census (see below) suggests that this is the correct marriage; in 1881 James Chappell was the son-in-law of Hannah Coe. 

1881 Census, 1 Currier Lane, Ashton Under Lyne (St Michael’s Ward)

1881 As Hannah Coe, head, widow, 69, born Ashton Under Lyne, living at 1 Currier Lane, Ashton-Under-Lyne (1871 census)

1881 As James Chappell, son-in-law, married, 53, commission agent, born Heaton Mersey, living at 1 Currier Lane, Ashton-Under-Lyne (1871 census)  

Is there a connection?

It is now looking hopeful that this James Chappell, full name James Light Salthouse Chappell, tended to Sophia Salthouse because the families were related. How close was the relationship?

According to the IGI, James Light Chappel was born on 31 August 1827 and christened at St James, Didsbury, on 11 November 1827, the son of Moses Chappel and Sarah. (Anthony and Sophia Salthouse also lived in Didsbury and all their children were born there and christened at St James, Didsbury).

As James Light Salthouse Chappell was born in approx 1828 (from his age on the 1861 census), he seems to be the same James Chappell that lived at 23 Bark Street, Hulme.

Who were James Light Chapel’s parents? Moses Chappel and Sarah – who? The IGI records that Moses Chappell married Sarah Salthouse at Manchester Cathedral on 19th September 1925

Was Sarah Salthouse closely related to Anthony Salthouse, husband of Sophia? When was Sarah Salthouse born and who were Sarah Salthouse’s parents? According to the IGI, she might have been the daughter of James Salthouse and Ann and was christened at St Nicholas, Liverpool, in 1792, but this does not tie up with her age on the census returns, so either the IGI date is incorrect or there was another marriage which is not recorded on the internet.

Have I found the correct Sarah Salthouse?

Could these Salthouses have come from Liverpool to Didsbury and why? Family stories have always said that the family originated from Liverpool, the Didsbury/Nether Alderley connection was a surprise to us and we have never known how, when or why Anthony Salthouse appeared in Didsbury.

Does this information correlate with anything in the census returns and BMD?

Sarah Salthouse, born in 1792 of James and Ann Salthouse of Liverpool, would have been 70 when the 1861 census was taken. According to the 1871 census, Sarah Chappell, James Chappell’s mother and therefore born Sarah Salthouse, was 65 years old and keeping a lodging house in Blackpool when the eldest daughters went to stay with her and attend a local school. This would have dated Sarah Salthouse’s birth as 1806, a significant difference, and her marriage age as 19. Moses Chappell was born in 1806, so they would both have been 19 when they married. Either the date on the IGI is wrong or there was another Sarah Salthouse.

What is known about Sarah Salthouse?

We are still not sure where or when Sarah Salthouse was born or the names of her parents, but we do know that she married Moses Chappell at Manchester Cathedral on 18th September 1825; their son, James Light Salthouse Chappell was born two years later.

There is no mention of Sarah living with Moses in 1861 when Moses appears to be living on his own, with his housekeeper Letitia Banks, and there is no mention of Moses Chappell in 1871 when Sarah Chappell is a lodging house keeper in Blackpool, so perhaps they separated.

In 1861 Sarah Chappell is living at 146 York Street, Hulme, with her married daughter, Sophia Deane. Sarah's husband, Moses Chappell is a fustian finisher, living at 15 Abbott Street, Manchester with a housekeeper, Letitia Banks.

1861 Census, 146 York Street, Hulme

1861 As James Deane, head, married, 32, beerhouse keeper, born Manchester, living at 146 York Street, Hulme (1861)

1861 As Sophia Deane, wife, married, 29, beerhouse keeper, born Manchester, living at 146 York Street, Hulme (1861)

1861 As Geraldine Deane, daughter, 10, scholar, born Manchester, living at 146 York Street, Hulme (1861)

1861 As Sarah Chappell, mother-in-law, married, 55, born Didsbury, living at 146 York Street, Hulme (1861)  

1861 Census, 15 Abbott Street, St George’s Ward, Manchester

1861 As Moses Chappell, head, married, 55, fustian finisher, born Heaton Mersey, living at 15 Abbott Street, Manchester (1861 census)

1861 As Letitia Banks, housekeeper, widow, 49, housekeeper, born Chester, living at 15 Abbott Street, Manchester (1861 census)

Moses is still a fustian stiffener in 1871, living in Manchester at 271 Rochdale Road – a very poor part of town because all the cellars are inhabited by separate families. He has a servant, though: Leticia Price is his house keeper, and he has a niece, Sarah E Banks, living with them. There seems to be a story here somewhere, involving Letitia, Moses and Sarah, perhaps Letitia was Moses' widowed sister, or some other relative.

Meanwhile, Sarah, his wife, has moved to Blackpool where she has a lodging house. Some of Sarah's grandchildren are living with her and all of her relatives and visitors are described as scholars, so perhaps she supported herself by looking after the children who were sent to school in Blackpool, thereby avoiding the need for the families to lodge with children with people they did not know.

1871 Census, 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool

1871 As Sarah Chappell, head, married, 65, lodging house keeper, born Didsbury, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

1871 As Anne J Ashcroft, niece, unmarried, 16, scholar, born Didsbury, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

1871 As Sophia A Chappell, grand daughter, unmarried, 16, scholar, born Manchester, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

1871 As Maria A Chappell, grand daughter, unmarried, 14, scholar, born Manchester, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

1871 As Maud M Leach, visitor, 6, scholar, born Manchester, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

1871 As Anne H Leach, visitor, 5, scholar, born Manchester, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

Was Sarah Salthouse related to Sophia Salthouse of Hulme?

 We really don't know. James' mother, Sarah Salthouse, can't be traced at the moment prior to her marriage to Moses Chappell. Sophia Salthouse, who died in 1859, was the widow of Anthony Salthouse, who she had married in 1802. Could Sarah Salthouse have been one of their children as, according to the census returns, she was probably born in 1806. James Chappell would have been a grandson, but this is not recorded on Sophia's death certificate, so perhaps Sarah Salthouse was one of Sophia's nieces? More research required.

  The Chappell family

Although I have noticed that my ancestors moved around the country much more than I had imagined, the Chappell family moved more than any of them; not only did the family move but the children and the grandparents are rarely in the same family groups from census to census. They may have been at school, they may have separated from their partners, they may have been out visiting relatives on census night; it all makes for an interesting story, but a story which is difficult to tell in chronological terms as so many households seem to be involved at once.

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James' connection with our Salthouse family is in 1859 when he lived at 15 Bark Street, Hulme, and was the informant of the death of Sophia Salthouse of 32 Renshaw St, Hulme. Two years later, in the 1861 census, James is living at 23 Bark Street, Hulme, with his wife and children, and he was self employed as a photographer. By 1871, however, the photographic business must have been paying well and perhaps James saw better opportunities in Liverpool as he had moved to 13 Bright Street, Everton, and in 1875 he is listed as a photographer with a studio at 5 Kilshaw Street, Liverpool. In 1881 James seems to be living with his mother-in-law, Hannah Coe, at 1 Currier Lane, Ashton-Under-Lyne, and has changed his occupation to that of commission agent, but by 1891 he is again a photographic artist and living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool. Finally, in 1901, the census returns show James as a widower, age 73, still working as a photographer but living with his daughter and son-in-law at 6 East Street, Fleetwood.

James Chappell is mentioned as a photographer on the Isle of Man Notebook site.

In 1875 he had a studio at 5 Kilshaw Street, Liverpool, but apparently not in 1878,

T –  They lived at 13 Bright Street, Everton, but there doesn’t seem to be the right number of children! Where are Sophia Anne who should have been 16 and Maria Alice who should have been 14? Sarah Ellen is there, age 12, but not Emma Louisa who should have been 11. James and Sarah did not leave Liverpool until after Charles was born in c1863; the next child, Ellen G was born in the Isle of Man c1868 whilst Geraldine A, a baby of 9 months, was born in Liverpool.

1871 Census, 13 Bright Street, Everton

1871 As James Chappell, head, married, 43, photographer, born Heaton Mersey, living at 13 Bright Street, Everton (1871 census

1871 As Sarah Chappell, wife married, 38, born Ashton Under Lyme, living at 13 Bright Street, Everton (1871 census

1871 As Sarah E Chappell, daughter, 12, born Manchester, living at 13 Bright Street, Everton (1871 census

1871 As Charles Chappell, son, 8, born Manchester, living at 13 Bright Street, Everton (1871 census

1871 As Ellen G Chappell, daughter, 3, born Isle of Man, living at 13 Bright Street, Everton (1871 census

1871 As Geraldine A Chappell, daughter, 9 months, born Liverpool, living at 13 Bright Street, Everton (1871 census

1871 Census, 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool

1871 As Sarah Chappell, head, married, 65, lodging house keeper, born Didsbury, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

1871 As Anne J Ashcroft, niece, unmarried, 16, scholar, born Didsbury, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

1871 As Sophia A Chappell, grand daughter, unmarried, 16, scholar, born Manchester, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

1871 As Maria A Chappell, grand daughter, unmarried, 14, scholar, born Manchester, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

1871 As Maud M Leach, visitor, 6, scholar, born Manchester, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

1871 As Anne H Leach, visitor, 5, scholar, born Manchester, living at 7 Victoria Street, Blackpool (1871 census)

It is difficult to trace the family in the 1881 census as Sarah and her second daughter, Maria Alice, were visiting the McEachran family at 18 Canova Street, West Derby. James McEachran was 44, from Scotland,  and a commercial clerk in the chemical business, his wife, Jessie, was also from Scotland. Where was James? There is no James Chappell – photographer – listed in the index for the 1881 census, but there is a James Chappell living at 1 Currier Street in Ashton-Under-Lyne,  in the home of Hannah Coe, widowed mother-in-law and, presumably, mother of Sarah Coe. To add to the mystery, this James Chappell was not a photographer but a commission agent.

1881 Census, 18 Canova Street, West Derby

1881 As Sarah Chappell, visitor, married, 48, wife of a book keeper, born Aston Under Lyme, visiting 18 Canova Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As Maria A Chappell, visitor, unmarried, 22, no occupation, born Manchester, visiting 18 Canova Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As James McEachran, head, married, 44, commercial clerk (chemical business), born Scotland, living at 18 Canova Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As Jessie C McEachran, wife, married, 42, born Scotland, living at 18 Canova Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As James E McEachran, son, 6, scholar, born Liverpool, living at 18 Canova Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As Alexander McEachran, son, married, 4, born Liverpool, living at 18 Canova Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As John McEachran, son, 1, born Liverpool, living at 18 Canova Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 Census, 1 Currier Lane, Ashton Under Lyne (St Michael’s Ward)

1881 As Hannah Coe, head, widow, 69, born Ashton Under Lyne, living at 1 Currier Lane, Ashton-Under-Lyne (1871 census)

1881 As Ottiwell W Coe, son, unmarried, 30, commission agent, born Glossop, living at 1 Currier Lane, Ashton-Under-Lyne (1871 census)

1881 As Annie E Coe, daughter, unmarried, 27, governess, born Manchester, living at 1 Currier Lane, Ashton-Under-Lyne (1871 census)

1881 As James Chappell, son-in-law, married, 53, commission agent, born Heaton Mersey, living at 1 Currier Lane, Ashton-Under-Lyne (1871 census)

1881 As Annie E Halliwell, boarder, unmarried, 27, dressmaker, born Wigan, living at 1 Currier Lane, Ashton-Under-Lyne (1871 census)  

1881 Census, 46 Penton Street, West Derby, (Liverpool)

1881 As Arthur Lawrence, head, married, 53, cow keeper (dairy), living at 46 Penton Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As Eleanor Lawrence, wife, married, 31, born Lincoln, living at 46 Penton Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As John Lawrence, son, 4, scholar, born Liverpool, living at 46 Penton Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As Agnes Lawrence, daughter, 2, born Liverpool, living at 46 Penton Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As Susannah Lawrence, daughter, 1, born Liverpool, living at 46 Penton Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As Mary E Clarke, sister-in-law, unmarried, 16, born Liverpool, living at 46 Penton Street, West Derby (1881 census)

1881 As Charles H Chapphell, servant, unmarried, 18, servant milk carrier, born Manchester, living at 46 Penton Street, West Derby (1881 census)  

1881 Census, 66 School Road, Wharton, Cheshire

1881 As Thomas Thompson, head, married, 41, secretary salt works, born Macclesfield, living at 66 School Road, Wharton (1881 census)

1881 As Ann Thompson, wife, married, 41, born Manchester, living at 66 School Road, Wharton (1881 census)

1881 As Earnest Dryton Thompson, son, 15, scholar, born Manchester, living at 66 School Road, Wharton (1881 census)

1881 As Sophia Annie Chappel, niece,  unmarried, 24, born Manchester, living at 66 School Road, Wharton (1881 census)

1881 As Sarah Ellen Chappel, niece, unmarried, 26, born Manchester, living at 66 School Road, Wharton (1881 census)

 1891 saw the family together again on the census, James Chappell was now a photographic artist living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool. The second daughter, Maria, is still single at 34 but she works as a tobacconist’s assistant whilst their son, Charles, is employed in the family business as a photographic assistant. Charles, however, has married Mary and they, with their baby Annie, live with James, Sarah and sister Maria. Hopefully 14 Charles Street was a substantial property as they also had two lodgers, Robert Shepherd and James Carter, paper hangers and plasterers.

1891 Census, 14 Charles Street, Blackpool

1891 As James Chappell, head, married, 63, photographic artist, born Heaton Mersey, living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool(1891 census)

1891 As Sarah Chappell, wife, married, 58, born Ashton-Under-Lyne, living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool(1891 census)

1891 As Maria A Chappell, daughter, single, 34, tobacconist’s assistant, born Manchester, living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool(1891 census)

1891 As Charles Chappell, son, married, 28, photographic assistant, born Manchester, living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool(1891 census)

1891 As Mary Chappell, daughter-in-law, 24, born Liverpool, living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool(1891 census)

1891 As Annie Chappell, grand daughter, 8 months, born Blackpool, living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool(1891 census)

1891 As Robert Shepherd, boarder, wife, 48?, paper hanger, born Horton Yorkshire, living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool(1891 census)

1891 As James Carter, boarder, married, 45?, paper hanger and plasterer, born Preston, living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool(1891 census)

1891 Census, 191 Higher Hillgate, Stockport

1891 As Leonard Elliott, head, married, 29, hairdresser, born Patricroft, living at 191 Higher Hillgate, Stockport (1891 census)

1891 As Sarah E Elliott, wife, married, ??, born Manchester, living at 191 Higher Hillgate, Stockport (1891 census)

1891 As Geraldine, daughter, 5, born Buxton, Derbyshire, living at 191 Higher Hillgate, Stockport (1891 census)  

1891 Census, 22 Duke Street, Blackpool

1891 As Solomon Cross, head, married, 30, blacksmith, born Blackpool, living at 22 Duke Street Blackpool (1891 census)

1891 As Sophia A Cross, wife, married, 36, born Manchester, living at 22 Duke Street Blackpool (1891 census)

I was hoping that Maria, the second daughter who was 34 in 1891, might have found a husband and started a family by 1901, certainly, as a tobacconist’s assistant she was sure to meet many suitable young men, but the census has a surprising twist: the third daughter, Sarah Ellen, has married a tobacconist, Leonard Elliott, of Patricroft. I wonder if it was the same tobacconist for whom Maria had worked? Living with Sarah and Leonard Elliott (tobacconist and hairdresser) at 6 East Street, Fleetwood, were their daughter, Geraldine (now 15 born Buxton, Derby), their son Bertram L Elliott, who was 9 years old and born in Stockport, and Sarah’s father, James Chappell, who was still working on his own account as a photographer despite being 73 years old. Obviously, Sarah and Leonard, married between 1881 and 1891. (They married in 1884 in West Derby).

1901 Census, 6 East Street, Fleetwood

1901 As Leonard Elliott, head, married, 39, tobacconist hairdresser, on own accountant, born Patricroft, living at 6 East Street, Fleetwood (1901 census)

1901 As Sarah Ellen Elliott, wife, married, 41, born Manchester, , living at 6 East Street, Fleetwood (1901 census)

1901 As Geraldine Elliott, daughter, single, 15, born Buxton Derby, , living at 6 East Street, Fleetwood (1901 census)

1901 As Bertram L Elliott, son, 9, born Stockport, , living at 6 East Street, Fleetwood (1901 census)

1901 As James Chappell, father-in-law, widower, 73, photographer, Heaton Mersey, , living at 6 East Street, Fleetwood (1901 census)

1901 Census, 14 Charles Street, Blackpool

1901 As Maria Alice Chappell, married? 34? Company house keeper (lodging house), on own account, at home, born Manchester, living at 14 Charles Street, Blackpool (1901 census)

1901 Census, 117 Handsworth Road, Blackpool

1901 As Charles H M Chappell, head, married, 38, masons labourer, born Manchester, living at 117 Handsworth Road, Blackpool (1901 census)

1901 As Mary Chappell, wife, married, 34, born Liverpool, living at 117 Handsworth Road, Blackpool (1901 census)

1901 As Annie Chappell, daughter, 10, at school, born Blackpool, living at 117 Handsworth Road, Blackpool (1901 census)

1901 As Charles B Chappell, son, 9, at school, born Blackpool, living at 117 Handsworth Road, Blackpool (1901 census)

1901 As James A Chappell, son, 7, at school, born Blackpool, living at 117 Handsworth Road, Blackpool (1901 census)

1901 As Florence Chappell, daughter, 2, born Blackpool, living at 117 Handsworth Road, Blackpool (1901 census)  

1901 Census, Newton, Poulton-le-Fylde

1901 As Solomon Cross, head, married, 40, blacksmith, born Blackpool, living at Newton, Poulton-le-Fylde (1901 census)

1901 As Annie Cross, wife, married, 43, born Manchester, living at Newton, Poulton-le-Fylde (1901 census)

1901 As Mabel A Cross, daughter, 7, born Blackpool, living at Newton, Poulton-le-Fylde (1901 census)

1901 As Jane Victoria Cross, daughter, 4, born Blackpool, living at Newton, Poulton-le-Fylde (1901 census)