Behind My Hindleys Phyl Sheppard traces her family ancestry back ...

WILLIAM THOMAS 1863 - 1944.
49
The most important event for our family
that year was the wedding of William
Thomas Hindley and Margaret Agnes
Heaps on 10th April at St. Catherine’s
Church, Higher Tranmere. Margaret
Agnes was the daughter of Thomas
Heaps, who was a provision dealer,
and the family, including his wife
Susannah, lived at No 15 Mill Street,
Tranmere.
James Thomas, the first child of William
Thomas and Margaret Agnes was born
St Catherine's Church on 29th January 1888 at 87 Greenway
Tranmere
Road, Higher Tranmere. He was
baptised on March 7th at Tranmere
Wesley Chapel. William Thomas was now working as a labourer for the
Mersey Dock Board. Two years later the second child Frank was born on
22nd December 1890 and baptised on 29th January 1891 in the same
Chapel. At this time the family were living at 8 Church Terrace, Tranmere
with Great Grandma (Sarah).
The Winter of 1895 was a very bitter one especially during the months of
January and February. Ice floes were piled up on the shore at Rock Ferry
and great hardship was caused by the extreme weather. Fires could not be
lit in case boilers (behind the fire-grates) might blow up, and gas meters
became frozen so the householders were without gas for heating and
cooking. The Corporation gave out extra water-cans in order to help those
who had to collect water in buckets. Soup kitchens were set up and
Alderman Gamlin arranged for 5,000 lbs of bread to be distributed by the
police to those in distress. During this time many who were not affected by
this weather enjoyed themselves skating and merry-making around and on
the frozen lakes in Birkenhead Park.