The family history of Nathan Christopher (age 9years)

as published in Past Forward.,the Wigan Heritage Service Newsletter Winter 1994, Wigan ,Lancashire England .

Nathan Christopher.

Christopher Brothers (tea merchants) Dorning street ,Wigan, Lancashire, England 1913.

The entrepreneurial Christopher brothers of Ireland and Wigan

Dear Mr. Hudson,

The photograph in Past Forward 8 at the bottom of page 20 (Who, Where and When) is a picture of my great grandfather Gerald Christopher and was taken outside of his father's shop on Dorning Street, Wigan in 1913. The shop site was taken over in 1922 for conversion into The Grand Hotel which it still remains today. Christopher Brothers had branches in Blackburn, Wigan ,Bury, Preston, Oldham and Liverpool. They were principally Tea Merchants and specialised in clocks of German manufacture. Before they set up a new branch of business it was necessary to obtain samples of the drinking water from the districts to be served by that branch in order to produce a blend of teas that would make a quality 'cuppa' from the different water types. Consequently the teas sold at the Blackburn branch would not be the same blends sold at Wigan.

The Christopher Brothers were Gerald, James and Thomas who came from Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland in 1878 and opened their first branch in Blackburn. James Christopher had a son named Gerald who was born in Blackburn in 1898. Shortly after this photograph was taken Gerald Christopher was in France with the Royal Irish Regiment in the midst of World War 1 where he was seriously injured and returned home to Wigan and convalescence in Wigan Infirmary. Gerald lived with his father James, sister Kathleen and mother Mary Amelia ( nee Swift) at 4 Park Road , Wigan and was educated at the catholic College of Mount St. Mary's Spinkhill , Sheffield , England

His mother Mary was the daughter of Thomas Swift a Wigan born man who ran a successful business in Blackburn , Lancashire, England producing beer engines and other products for the brewery industry. He also patented one of the early water closets (Flush loo) and was responsible for the installation in hotels and railway stations in England of those magnificent and elaborate Victorian Ladies and Gentleman's conveniences.

His sister Kathleen married Joseph Baron, a well known butcher of Leigh Lancashire England.

James Christopher was a vigorous and vocal campaigner for Home Rule in Ireland and was presented with an inscribed silver pocket watch by the Sarsfield Branch of the Irish National League in Blackburn in 1894 for his campaigning . (General Patrick Sarsfield was prominent at the Battle of the Boyne ).

Nathan Christopher (Aged 9) Wigan, Lancashire , England .

Many Thanks, Nathan, for your excellent contribution. Ed.

GERALD CHRISTOPHER  (1)
of Blackburn Lancashire England

Gerald Christopher and wife Blackburn Lancashire England 1936

Gerald Christopher's Children -: William Christopher & girlfriend Winifred Southworth (Front row far left)

photograph taken by their brother James Morrissey Christopher Blackburn Lancashire England 1910

Thomas Christopher with his wife Annie and children Bury Lancashire England 1911

Wilfred CHAMBERLAIN & family of WIGAN LANCASHIRE ENGLAND

Wilfred Chamberlain with wife Ellen (Swift) and daughter Christine

Wilfred was a music teacher and owner of Chamerlains Music Store Standishgate Wigan Lancashire.

Christine Chamberlaine 1920

Summer 1925 Ellen Chamberlain in rear seat of car . In the front seats close friends Mr& Mrs Mitchenson (of Mitchensons Florists Wigan)

photograph taken by Christine Chamberlain.

SEXIEST NAMES

There have been several surveys designed to reveal the sex appeal rating of different first names. In 1975 a British survey discovered that young men favoured Susan. Samantha, Carol, Linda, Jennifer, Catherine, Amanda, Kerry, Claire and Natalie.

Girls would have willingly gone on a blind date with a Christopher, David, Stephen, Paul, Mark, Adam, Robert, Richard, Michael, or Philip. Some ten years later a survey of Daily Mirror readers put Samantha as the sexiest girl's name, followed by a host of names with a French flavour Gabrielle, Dondnique, Cerise, Nadine, Genevieve, Simone, Leonie.

Christopher was voted sexiest male name, followed by Michael , James, Stephen, David and Clint. A reader who was able to sign herself Miss I. A. M. Bliss rightly claimed that her name must rank highly in sex appeal. In the early 1980s a survey in the US asked young men to rate girls'names by sexiness. Christine emerged as the clear winner, followed by Cheryl, Melanie, Dawn, Heather, Jennifer, Marilyri, Michelle and Susan .