Message received from Carol Coates

I have been trying to establish whether Thomas Hampson of Southport, a founder of the Vulcan Motor & Engineering Company of Southport and Crossens who became mayor of Southport in 1917, was my great grandfather. According to the Vulcan section of Ken Baker's website on British Motor Manufacturers, this Thomas was the son of Joseph Hampson of Wigan, cabinet maker. Thomas's brothers were William, Joseph and Joshua. A historian in Southport recently sent me a copy of a 1917 report in the Southport Visiter of the mayor making ceremony. This showed that the mayor's wife and mayoress, possibly Margaret Alice, was the daughter of James Liptrot of Wigan, not my great grandmother's name. Their daughters were Miss Hampson, possibly Florence, and Miss D Hampson, possibly Doris. Thomas probably lived at Halliwell Road in Bolton in 1901, where he was a manual instructor in wood, moving to 29 Knowsley Road Southport at one point and in 1917 to 87 Promenade, Southport. I still feel there may be a connection with my Hampsons as the names, dates, occupations and places tie in so closely. My great grandfather was Thomas Hampson born c 1869, wife Margaret Ellen Barnes and their children were Elizabeth Ann b 1895, John William b 1896, Thomas Oakes b 1899 and Edith Margaret b 1907. They lived in Wigan in the early 1900s. Thomas, joiner and later coachbuilder, was one of four sons of Joseph Hampson b 1840, cabinet maker of Wigan. His brothers were Walter William known as William b 1870 painter and signwriter, Joseph b 1873 joiner and Joshua b 1885, clerk. Their sisters were Hannah b1876, Martha b1877 who married a Wild and Jane b 1882. In retirement Joseph senior lived at Mawdesley

If anyone is related to either of these Hampson families, I should like to hear from them.

Regarding Doris Hampson. This was I believe my Grandmother. She married Vivian Bellamy in 1918. They moved to the Isle of Man. They had 4 children.

Margaret, Vivian, Patricia and Jill(twins). Margaret and Jill never married and live in Hampshire. Pat married John Whitehead and also lives in Hampshire.Vivian(my Father) married Louis Burns circa 1941 and had 3 sons. Christopher(me), Roderick, and Charles. I live in Somerset. Roderick in Cornwall, Charles in France.

If this is the same Doris Hampson, I knew her quite well as a boy. As a family we regularly visited her Hampshire home where she moved after the death of her husband. Well not quite that directly. She and two of her daughters, Margaret and Jill, lived in Southport for a few years before moving to Hampshire. I lived with them for about a year in 1946. We lived first in Cambridge Road and then to a very nice flat on the corner of the Promenade. I believe the actual house belonged to part of the family although I cannot remember who. I do remember it as a beautiful building though, even though I was only about 5-6.

Hope this might be of interest.

Kind regards
Chris Bellamy