Patrick Joseph Holland and Mary Brady
My Great Grandfather Patrick Joseph Holland married Mary Brady in 1899. Patrick's mother Jane Holland died at the end of 1899 and his father William Holland died in 1909. Patrick and Mary's first child Jane Holland was born on 13th May 1900 at Margaret Brady's house 53 Regent Street off Great Howard Street. Their second child my Grandfather Thomas Holland was born nearby in court 5 house 2 in Regent Street the following year. Many Irish migrants settled in the streets and courts off Great Howard Street. Half the residents living in Regent Street in 1901 were Irish-born*. Pete McGovern who wrote the folk song "In My Liverpool Home" was from Regent Street. The first line of this song refers to him living near the docks in Regent Street:- "I was born in Liverpool down by the docks". The Hollands lived in various houses off Great Howard Street before eventually settling down at 7 Princes Walk. Confusingly the area was sometimes called 'Scotland' after Scotland Road. Mary sadly died in 1928 aged 46 years old. Patrick moved to Lad Lane in the late 1930s, nearer to where he grew up and lodged with the Collier family for many years. Patrick died in 1955 aged 75 years old at St Joseph's Home, Belmont Road, Anfield, Liverpool.
Roman Catholics and Church of England marriages
The Holland and Brady families came from an Irish Catholic background but they often got married in the Church of England which is called the "established church" on marriage records. There was no legal requirement preventing Roman Catholic marriages at this time it was just more convenient for many Catholics to get married in the Church of England. St. Nicholas church, or "Our Lady and St. Nicholas With St. Anne" as it is sometimes called, was always a popular choice of church for marriages in Liverpool regardless of the religious background of the people getting married. It was in a central location near the Pier Head and it was familiar to dock workers and seamen. It was convenient for the Hollands, Bradys and Reids who lived only a short distance away.
Patrick Joseph Holland married Mary Brady at St. Nicholas church Liverpool on 15th October 1899
Jane Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 19th May 1900
Thomas Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 31st December 1901
Elizabeth Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 12th September 1903
Patrick Holland at 32a Regent Street in 1903-04
Pete McGovern's father Thomas McGovern was living at 22 Regent Street
William John Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 17th February 1905
Patrick Holland at 4 Clay Street in 1905-06 previously in Whitley Street
Ellen Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 20th March 1907
Patrick Holland at 16 Sand Street in 1907-08
Mary Theresa Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 30th December 1908
Margaret Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 19th August 1910
Patrick at 18 Dublin Street c1910
Dublin Street c1910
Patrick & Mary Holland with their children at 9 Sand Street Liverpool on the 1911 Census
Patrick Joseph Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 17th January 1912
Peter Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 6th November 1913
Patrick Holland at House 7 in Court 1 Stone Street in 1913-14
Patrick Holland at 7 Princes Walk in 1914-15
In 1915 Patrick Holland was a Winchman on SS Manchester a Belfast ship engaged in home trade only
James Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 12th June 1916
Rose Ann Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 22nd July 1918
Kathleen Holland was baptised at St. Augustine's RC church Liverpool on 25th September 1920
Patrick & Mary Holland with their children at 7 Princes Walk Liverpool on the 1921 Census
Map showing Great Howard Street area in the early 1900s
St. Augustine's RC church in Great Howard Street Liverpool
Holland, Middleton & Bennett at Princes Walk in 1925
Map showing 7 Princes Walk in 1890
Holland, Brady & Middleton at Princes Walk in 1934-35
Last record for Patrick Holland at 7 Princes Walk 1935-36
One of the courts in Princes Walk
Residents celebrating Father McEvoy's Silver Jubilee in 1936
Great Howard Street c1938
In this c1950 photograph Princes Walk is in the top right hand corner in front of the white roofed building
In 1938 the Minister of Health announced plans to demolish all the residential properties around Great Howard Street but people were still living in the area many years later
Jim Fitzsimons of Upper William Street wrote a history of the area see the link below for more details http://echoesofliverpool.com
Patrick Holland at 11 Lad Lane Liverpool 3 in 1939-40
Map showing 11 Lad Lane Liverpool 3 after World War 2
The corner of 9 Virginia Street adjoining what remains of 11 Lad Lane as it appeared in the 1960s
*A survey of Regent Street Liverpool 1901
Using the 1901 Census and other genealogical records the following statistics give an insight into the residents of Regent Street and the community of people living around Great Howard Street at that time:-
Total number of residents: 554
Residents from an Irish background: 95.12%
Residents born in Ireland: 52.70%
Residents who were Roman Catholic: 89.89%
The percentage of people from an Irish background is about the same percentage as the figure given in Jim Fitzsimons’ “St Augustine’s: A Brief History” proving that this very high figure is an accurate assessment of the area. Although the area was overwhelmingly Irish when it came to religion about 10 percent of residents were not Roman Catholic. About 5 percent of residents were Irish Protestants or from an Irish Protestant background. We can compare the statistics showing the Irish born people of Regent Street to the overall figures for Liverpool. In 1901 Irish born people made up just 6.7% of the population of Liverpool. Regent Street in contrast had 52.70% Irish born. Over half the street was Irish born. One in two people living in Regent Street might be talking with an Irish accent.
Total number of residents: 554
Residents from an Irish background: 95.12%
Residents born in Ireland: 52.70%
Residents who were Roman Catholic: 89.89%
The percentage of people from an Irish background is about the same percentage as the figure given in Jim Fitzsimons’ “St Augustine’s: A Brief History” proving that this very high figure is an accurate assessment of the area. Although the area was overwhelmingly Irish when it came to religion about 10 percent of residents were not Roman Catholic. About 5 percent of residents were Irish Protestants or from an Irish Protestant background. We can compare the statistics showing the Irish born people of Regent Street to the overall figures for Liverpool. In 1901 Irish born people made up just 6.7% of the population of Liverpool. Regent Street in contrast had 52.70% Irish born. Over half the street was Irish born. One in two people living in Regent Street might be talking with an Irish accent.
Map showing Regent Street in 1890
Court 5 was behind 53 Regent Street (where Margaret Brady lived), the court house behind 53 and to the left is house 2 (where the Hollands lived)
All census information for England on this website is Crown Copyright from National Archives
