The "Goore" Balshaws

The christian name Goore is very unusual but I keep coming across it in connection with the Balshaws. Barbara McMillan  is interested in this subject.  Richard Balshaw and (Roderick) John Balshaw are also descended from this line.

From the IGI

John Balshaw married Mary Goore, 8th October 1769 in Altcar

William Balshaw married Ann Goore 23rd November 1777 (sister of Mary Goore?)

William Balshaw had a son Goore christened 3rd February 1788

Goore Balshaw married Isabella Neal 10th February 1812

Richard Goore Balshaw had a son John christened in Altcar 14th July 1805 in Altcar.

Births registered in the St Catherine's House records

3rd quarter of 1842, Gore Balshaw, Ormskirk.

4th quarter 1861, Richard Gore Balshaw, Ormskirk

1st quarter of 1864, Goore Balshaw, Ormskirk.

2nd quarter of 1869, Goore Balshaw, Ormskirk.

4th quarter 1875 Richard Goore Balshaw, Ormskirk

(The parents of Goore born 1869 and Richard Goore born 1875 were Robert Balshaw (1827-1894), farmer of Altcar, and Margaret (1837-1921).  Source 1881 census.)

Deaths registered in the St Catherine's House records

4th quarter 1851, Goore Balshaw, Ormskirk

1st quarter 1854, Richard Goore Balshaw, Ormskirk

4th quarter 1861, Richard Goore Balshaw, Ormskirk

Marriages registered in the St Catherine's House records

3rd quarter 1838, Richard Goore Balshaw, Ormskirk, (see below).

Wills proved at Chester and available through the Cheshire Record Office

Goore Balshaw Altcar Yeoman Proved April 1852

Richard Goore Balshaw Altcar Yeoman Proved July 1854

1881 census

The is only one family on the 1881 census with members called Goore.  The family lived in Altcar, Lancashire, and all members were born there.

Robert , age 54, Head,  Farmer of 55+ [acres?]
Margaret, 44, Wife, Farmer's wife
Goore, 14, Son, Scholar
Richard Goore, 5, Son, Scholar
William, 16, Farmer's son
Alice, 2, Daur
Isabella ,7 ,Daur, Scholar
Jane, 14, Farmer's Daughter

Gore House Farm, Lydiate

Lydiate is the village next to Altcar.  Gore House Farm is a brick built house with low mullioned windows and a plaque stating that it was built in 1596.  Pevsner says that the roof is all new and the whole house fails to form a picture.  Is this the same farm?  And is there any connection with the Balshaws?

There is also a group of houses called "Gore Houses" in Lydiate.

Goldrush?

From the Liverpool Family Historian, March 1998, Vol.20, No.1., Goldrush Emigrants to Victoria, Australia, who were born (pre 1825) or married in [or near?] Liverpool, include:

Richard Goore Balshaw, born 1817, married 1838.

[According to the GRO marriage index, he was married in Ormskirk in the September quarter of 1838.].

Australian connection

John Balshaw's ancestors were Richard Goore Balshaw and Anne Watkinson, who left Liverpool to come to Australia, in 1856; he is decended from their son, Thomas Watkinson Balshaw and his son John Thomas Balshaw who married Katherine Harriet Leslie [his grandparents].