In the shade of Maghull’s 13th century Unsworth Chapel, an unassuming gravestone can be found.
To the casual passer-by, it merely states that Edward Willday died in 1917, and that his wife Ursula survived him by seven years. But to their great-great-great granddaughter Kate Hurst, it’s just the last part of the story of a very colourful ancestor…
Accountant Edward Willday was born in Worcester in 1839, and his story is a tale of embezzlement, fishmongers, poor business decisions and bankruptcy. It took him from his home city to Wallasey, Walton-on-the-Hill, Melling and Aughton, before he finally reached his last address, Guest Farm, Maghull.
But that’s just one side of Edward.
Why was his name printed in the North Devon Journal in 1875? Why was his furniture sold at auction in the summer of 1878? And why was he living in Chester Castle on census night in 1881?
Several years ago, his descendant Kate decided to make a history talk out of his life, and she’ll be answering those questions in her presentation “The Trouble With Edward” via Zoom on the 6th May and repeated on the 8th May.
Her talk’s free and all are welcome to attend on any of the following dates: 8pm on Thursday 6th May, 12pm on Saturday 8th May, and 12pm on Tuesday 11th May; for more details, contact Kate via her website: https://katehurst.wixsite.com/kate-hurst-research
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