Thomas Ainley Hanmer: Great Grandfather (1856-1922)
Thomas Ainley Hanmer was the sixth child of his parents Thomas Hanmer and Sarah Leach Williams, and their second eldest son. He was born in Rock Ferry, Cheshire, on 22 September 1856. I'm guessing here, but it seems very likely that the middle name, Ainley, was a tribute to the man whom his father had succeeded as Manager of the Liverpool Sailors' Home, Captain Richard Ainley.
On 13 December 1881, aged 25, Thomas Ainley married the 22 year old Elizabeth Ellen Hassal, daughter of John Satterfield Hassal, a Liverpool bank manager. The marriage, by certificate, took place at Great George Street, Liverpool at a ceremony conducted by the Rev Samuel Pearson.
On his marriage certificate Thomas Ainley's profession is described as an Estate Agent, though earlier in the year, for the 1881 census, his profession had been stated as Accountant. Perhaps he was still trying to make up his mind which career path to follow. He evidently settled on accountancy and went on to start his own firm, T A Hanmer and Son.
Thomas Ainley (who himself had 8 brothers and sisters) and Elizabeth Ellen went on to have 10 children, all of whom survived to adulthood. The eldest, Bryce Meredith, was born in 1883; the youngest, Nancye Darling, was born 21 years later in 1904. My grandfather, Hassal, was their fourth child. His two elder brothers, Bryce Meredith and Thomas Leslie, both became accountants. Hassal had three younger brothers and four sisters. Of the four sisters only one, Doris, ever married.....more about Thomas and Elizabeth's 10 children and their families.
Thomas Ainley died aged 66 on 24 November 1922 at home at "Milnethorpe", Raven Meols Lane, Formby. The cause of death was two-fold: arterio sclerosis; and cerebral thrombosis. His death was registered by Hassal who at that time was working as a Minister in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This suggests that Thomas Ainley fell ill shortly before he died, allowing enough time for Hassal to get to his bedside before he passed away. I hope that's the case, as it would seem that Thomas was a dear man who loved his family and was in turn loved by them. It's a pity he died before my father was born. In fact none of Hassal's four children ever knew their grand-father on the Hanmer side (or for that matter their grandfather on the Murray side).
The following biographical notes are taken from "Liverpool and Birkenhead in the Twentieth Century: Contemporary Biographies", edited by W T Pike and published in 1911. The entry is in the section headed "Accountants, Architects, Engineers etc". At that time Thomas Ainley was living at "Genista", Hamilton Road, New Brighton. He is described as "the second son of the late Thomas Hanmer, Secretary to the Sailors' Home, Liverpool. He was born at Liverpool on 22 September 1856 and educated at Tettenham College and with Professor Veitch, Faulkener Square, Liverpool. A Chartered Accountant, he was a senior partner in the firm of T A Hanmer and Son. He began practice in 1879, aged 23, in Orange Court, Castle Street, Liverpool. He then transferred to Harrington Street and in 1904 he moved to his own offices at 9 Cook Street, Liverpool. He was an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants; a Member of the Liverpool Society of Chartered Accountants; Honorary Secretary of the Liverpool and District Congregational Chapel Building Society; and a Member of the Executive Committee of the Congregational Church Council, Liverpool and District. In 1881 he married Elizabeth Ellen, the eldest daughter of John Satterfield Hassal
of Balderstone, Lorne Road, Oxton, Cheshire".There is more information in an obituary in the Formby Times on 2 December 1922, shortly after Thomas's death, aged 66, on 24 (or 22?) November 1922. From it we learn that Thomas was living in Raven Meols Lane, Formby at the time of his death, and that his funeral was held at St Peter's Church, Formby, following a service at the Congregational Church. The Rev Stanley Rogers officiated at the funeral, assisted by the Rev Caren Richardson. The article goes on to say: "Mr Hanmer had resided at Formby, where he was held in high esteem, for a considerable number of years. He did good work as a member of the Higher Education Committee, and was a zealous worker in connection with the Formby Poultry Society. He belonged to Formby Congregational Church, in the work of which he and members of his family took a prominent part. He was a member of Holy Trinity Men's Bible Class."
In his address the Rev Rogers said "His life was one of singular charm and beauty. I have always thought that one of the highest ministries a Christian can achieve on earth is the ministry of mirth. My friend Mr Hanmer was a master in the art of clean, honest mirth. He did not believe in a religion that knew nothing of fun and laughter. He was never happier than when amusing child-life, especially those of his own household...He believed in the refreshment of social converse, joys of home-life, in laughter-moving mirth, and all that goes to make life bright and brotherly...His life outside the church has been one of unceasing activity and usefulness. As a man of business he has made himself known to all as upright, honest and kind - a Christ-like witness to the truth...His wife is robbed of a dearly beloved husband, children of a parent whose delight it was to watch their growing influence and power in the world. This church has lost one of its most cheery, happy and devoted servants."
Apparently Thomas Ainley's parents (Thomas and Sarah) had been members of Great George Street Chapel, and he himself was for many years secretary of the Pleasant Monday Evenings. One of the finest services he rendered to the congregational denomination was the work he did as Secretary of the Liverpool Chapel Building Society. He was also secretary for the building of Oxton Road Congregational Church Hall and Liscard Congregational Church Sunday School and Mission.
Elizabeth Ellen Hassal: Great Grandmother: 1858-1929
Elizabeth was born in Wirral on 11 January 1858. She married Thomas Ainley on 13 December 1881. Her parents were John Satterfield Hassal (born 25 March 1833; died 26 February 1913) and Elizabeth Stewart Thomson (born 22 November 1833; died 13 March 1910) who married on 8 January 1857. Elizabeth Ellen was the oldest of 7 children. As both the Hassal and the Hanmer families were associated with the Great George Street Chapel, it may be through this link that Thomas Ainley and Elizabeth Ellen met.
Elizabeth died in West Derby on 15 June 1929 aged 71. Both she and Thomas are buried in Formby in St Peter's Church graveyard.
Click here for census data about Thomas Ainley Hanmer.