The difference in the spelling of the surname (Bramhill, Bramhall, Bramel, Bramal) could be due to the fact that the Bramhills would probably have been illiterate at this time, and the Liverpool pronunciation -"Bram-mhull" - it should also serve as a warning to family history researchers everywhere!
He was born in 1855 and died in 1919. He seems to have spent his entire working life as a docker or waterboatman on the River Mersey, working on his own account, or for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. He was nicknamed "Tiny" on account of the fact that he was tall.
William James was a lifeboatman on Liverpool No 2 lifeboat which capsized on the night of July 19 1892. A storm led the full-rigged sailing ship Maxwell to call for help in the Mersey Estuary. The Liverpool No 2 boat was among the vessels that went to her aid, and her crew were Coxswain Nicholas HINCHLEY, boatmen Emmanuel RODRIGUEZ, William RUFFLER, Daniel MORGAN, the one-legged John (Leggy) GANNON, John GAVIN, Albert MARTIN, Charles NORTON, John HUGHES, William ELLISON, David THOMAS , Henry BEAVER, and William BRAMHALL. The lifeboat capsized with crew members holding on to the upturned vessel for five hours, before being washed up at Leasowe, on the Wirral. William James injured both his hands, but three of his crewmates - Rodriguez, Ruggler and Morgan - lost their lives. For more information on the Liverpool Lifeboat Disaster, read the book by Jim Sullivan.
In the 1881 Census, William James is listed as an unmarried boatman, aged 26, living with his brother John, a 32-year-old carter, his wife Catherine, also 32, and their children John aged 9, Peter aged 3, and Elizabeth aged 1 at 1 in 6 Court, Denison Street, between numbers 30-32.
William James appears to have moved out when he married Sarah KING, but to date, no marriage certificate can be found. We are currently checking the marriage of a James BRAMMALL to a Sarah JONES in Sept 1882 (8b 189) The birth of their eldest son, William John BRAMELL, is registered at 60 St Martin's Cottages, Ashfield Street, in Feb 1883. St Martin's Cottages were purpose-built flats, and Europe's first major council housing development. (For Jack and Alexander's line, follow the 'William John' link.)
By 1891, the census says William James is aged 36 and is married, with wife Sarah having been born in 1863. The family surname on this census is given as BRAMEL or BRAMAL, and they had four children and were living at No1 house 6 Court, Denison Street. The children were William, Alfred, Sarah and George.
William James and Sarah had at least ten children: :: William John b Mar 26, 1883 d 1922 (Will Bramhill's grandfather) Family living in Ashfield Street, 60, St Martin's Cottages at time of birth. (on 1891 Census and 1901 Census), baptised as William John Brammell at St Matthias on April 15, 1883. Fr's occ Boatman. :: Alfred b Aug 31, 1884 probably died 1923 (on 1891 Census, not on 1901 Census) No known issue; bapt as Alfred Bramill at St Matthias on Nov 6, 1884. Family living in Ashfield Street, 60, St Martin's Cottages at time of birth. Fr's occ Boatman. :: Alice b 1885 (not on 1891 census - where was she? on 1901 census) No known issue :: Sarah Ann b Sept 26, 1886 died at time of First World War (on 1891 and 1901 Census) No known issue; bapt Sarah Ann Bramell, at St Matthias on Oct 27, 1886. Family living in 59, St Martin's Cottages at time of birth. Fr's occ Boatman. :: George b Feb 14, 1889 date of death unknown; (on 1891 Census, not on 1901 Census) No known issue' bapt George Bramell at St Matthias onMar 6 1889. Family living in Denison St at time of birth. Fr's occ Boatman. :: Thomas b 1891 date of death unknown (on 1901 census) No known issue :: Elizabeth b Aug 28, 1893 Family living at 6 Ct 1 Denison St.Fr's occ Boatman. "Lizzie" d 1969 in Croydon, Surrey. Son - Jim Heys, sons or stepsons - Derick (Derek) and Sidney Blanchard, London/Sussex; bapt Elizabeth Bramhill at St Matthias on Sept 23, 1893. :: Laura b 1895 date of death unknown (on 1901 Census) No known issue :: Catharine b Jan 27, 1899. Family living at 5/4 Denison St. Fr's occ Boatman. Bapt at St Matthias onJan 30 1899. :: Michael, b and d 1901. No issue
Note that Elizabeth's birth is recorded as being August 28, 1893, in Denison Street and the birth certificate shows her mother as Sarah Bramhill nee King. Elizabeth is known to have lived in Edenbridge, Sussex, and to have died in Croydon in 1969. Three children - Jim Heys and Derek and Sydney Blanchard - and we know of one line of descent. There is a picture of Elizabeth and her first husband Walter Heys, and a picture of their son Jim Heys, on this page. Jim was the boyhood pal of William Frank Bramhill.
It would appear there were complications with Michael's birth - he and Sarah died within days of each other.
There are various inconsistencies between censuses, with children missing in 1891 but there in 1901 or vice versa. Alice b 1885, Sarah b 1887, Thomas b1891, and Laura b1895 are all on the 1901 Census. It is thought there were at least three other siblings. My father's memoirs mention an Uncle Alf, and Elizabeth - but not Alice or Laura. A two-year-old, George, is recorded on the 1891 Census only.
The middle name "James" appears on William John's and Marie Prossor's 1911 marriage certificate, and also on the birth certificate of his eldest son, William John. The middle name "James" does not appear on his daughter Elizabeth's birth certificate in 1893 - by which time the name has become BRAMHILL. On the 1911 marriage certificate, his profession is given as Docks Board Boatman (retired) .
If you are researching William, it is important to avoid confusion with William James Bramhall, born roughly 1855, who was a policeman in central Liverpool. That William's family believe they come from the Manchester area, but they are quite likely related (Their WJB may be the son of Thomas b1830 and Ellen Unknown, and the son of Thomas b1770)
