Walter Wetherell Nicholson

     (For a brief history and context on the Nicholson family see this page)

NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.


Walter Wetherell Nicholson was born on 2 September 1838 at 26 Stafford Street, Islington, Liverpool.^3,1,4 He was the son of Donald Nicholson and Jane Wetherell.¹

He was recorded as living with his parents, a servant and siblings Margaret, Eliza, Jessie, Donald and Parker in the 1841 census at Walton-on-the-Hill, Liverpool. He was recorded as being 3 years old.⁵ He presumably lived with his parents at Castle Street, in Liverpool, in December 1843.⁶

He was recorded as living with his parents and siblings Eliza, Donald and Parker in the 1851 census at Prescot Road, West Derby, Liverpool. He was recorded as being 12 years old.¹ His occupation was recorded as being an office boy in the census.¹

He may have attended the wedding of his brother in the marriage of Donald Nicholson and Elizabeth Ann Medhurst in a Church of England ceremony at St. Philip's on Wednesday, 6 August 1856 at Liverpool. Elizabeth and Donald went on to have at least five children together.^7,4,8 He lived with his parents at 9 Chapman Street, Manchester, in July 1858.⁹ Walter Wetherell Nicholson was a commercial clerk in July 1858.⁹

He married Mary Goodfellow, daughter of an umbrella manufacturer, daughter of Thomas Goodfellow, in a Church of England ceremony at St. John's on Thursday, 29 July 1858 at Manchester. He was 19 and his wife Mary was 20. The wedding certificate was also signed by Eliza Goodfellow.^9,10,11

He was recorded as head of household in the 1861 census with Mary Goodfellow as his spouse at 112 Stocks Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester. He was 22 years old. Also living in the house was their two year old son Joseph.¹² His occupation was recorded as being a shopman in the census.¹² Walter Wetherell Nicholson was an umbrella manufacturer in 1869 at 8 Exchange Street, Manchester, the same address that his father-in-law Thomas made umbrellas previously.^13,14

His mother died 8 December 1870 at the age of 68. Walter was aged 32 when this happened.

He was recorded as head of household in the 1871 census with Mary Goodfellow as his spouse at Hereford Street, Sale, Cheshire. He was 32 years old. Also living in the house were six of their children aged from one to eleven, a servant and a nurse.¹⁵ His occupation was recorded as being an umbrella manufacturer employing seven persons in the census.¹⁵

His father died 11 February 1874 at the age of 69. Walter was aged 35 when this happened.¹⁶

In May 1878 he declared bankruptcy.¹³

He was recorded as head of household in the 1881 census with Mary Goodfellow as his spouse at Brighton Grove, Rusholme, Manchester. He was 42 years old. Also in the house were eight of their children aged 19 to 4, a four-year-old visitor and two servants.¹⁷ His occupation was recorded as being an umbrella manufacturer employing a man and three women in the census.¹⁷

Walter and his wife Mary emigrated from England circa 1885. Walter and his wife Mary arrived at Canada circa 1885.


Walter Wetherell Nicholson's wife was recorded as living with their children in the 1891 census at Hochelaga, Quebec. She was recorded as being married, but Walter wasn't there.¹³

Walter died before 1901 at Quebec.^4,18