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HOW OLD WAS THE VICTORIAN CENTENARIAN OF EDGE LANE?

October 3, 2015 By Steven Horton

Every day thousands of cars travel down Edge Lane on their way in and out of Liverpool, the drivers and passengers no doubt unaware that one of the few remaining houses was the home of a woman whose death brought about a contested will and identity theft.

On 20th December 1863 a spinster Mary Billinge died at 4 Edge Lane, having had her age recorded as 112. Mary’s death notice in the Examiner recorded that she ‘had retained her faculties in a very remarkable degree till the last’ and that ‘she was never known to be confined to her bed for a single day until the week preceding her disease’

4 Edge Lane

The Registrar was somewhat sceptical that somebody could have lived such a long life and made further enquiries before formally registering the death. This would not be easy as the registration of births was not cMary Billinge 112 yr old grave toxteth (2)ompulsory until 1837, but he did establish that as was claimed by the person recording the death Mary had indeed been born in Eccleston on 17th May 1751. She was the daughter of a farmer named William Billinge and had been christened at Prescot Parish Church on 5th June, leading to entries being made in the parish baptismal register. This led to an entry being recorded in the register of deaths that was forwarded to the medical officer which read ‘I am satisfied that the age of Mary Billinge of 4 Edge Lane is correct – viz 112 last birthday.’

Mary left a well furnished house and her solicitor Mr McClelland arranged an auction of her belongings on 12th January 1864. The Daily Post advertised that it would take place at ‘eleven o’clock precisely’ and that the effects were ‘substantial and well made.’ They included twelve mahogany chairs, an oak framed couch, a four poster bed, wardrobes, paintings, a gold watch, other jewellery and kitchen utensils. After the auction had taken place, an advert was placed in the Liverpool Mercury stating  that ‘If any cousins of the late Mary Billinge of 4 Edge Lane will call on Mr Llewellyn of 90 London Road they will learn of something to their advantage.’

Many people called Rose came forward stating that they were cousins, but  they were related to a MarMary Billinge 112 yr old grave toxtethy Billinge who had been baptised in Prescot in 1782 and Mr Llewellyn rejected their claims. This led to a Chancery Court ruling that adverts must be placed for others claiming to be the relatives to come forward before any money could be paid to the Roses. Nobody did, and census records were then checked, establishing that the Mary Billinge who lived at 4 Edge Lane in 1851 gave her age as 70, giving clear credence to the Roses claims.

Mary’s well appointed memorial in Toxteth Park Cemetery in Smithdown Road gives her age as 112, but which Mary Billinge is buried there? The census returns would indicate that it is the one born in 1782, so in the time leading to her death was the person who died taken advantage of by a cruel identity theft opportunist?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: People, Uncategorized Tagged With: Edge Hill, Edge Lane, Prescot, Toxteth Park Cemetery

About Steven Horton

I am a local history author and tour guide based the Liverpool region, specialising in bespoke tours tailor made to suit the individual or group. Whether it be football, Victorian murders or Liverpool sites connected to the US Civil War, I can arrange something that will suit the customers needs, not go where I want to take people.
I have published seventeen books, all of which are available via the shop page. As well as writing for the Liverpool Echo and Times, I have made guest appearances on local radio and TV. Local history is a real passion of mine, if you enjoy my site please feel free to share through facebook, twitter etc and maybe leave a comment.

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Steven Horton has been a freelance writer for 20+ years. He is the author of 7 books has written for the Times, Liverpool Echo, numerous fanzines and websites, and also appeared on Radio Merseyside/City Talk, ITV News and Sky Sports News. ..read more

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