David Athya

My research into David Athya began quite unexpectedly—one of those rabbit holes that you fall into with genealogy. I hadn’t set out to research David or his family, but the records I discovered drew me in. If you know, you know. I haven’t yet linked David to my husband’s family but have learned that when the surname Athya appears, it almost always leads back to our tree. So, although I didn’t plan this, I don’t feel it was a wasted effort.

David was born on May 22, 1811, in St. Bees, a village in Cumberland, England, to Isaac Athya and Mary Skelly. Isaac originally came from Glasgow, and in earlier English birth registers, the surname appears as “Athye.” David was christened in Kirklinton, Cumberland on November 7, 1814—three years after his birth.

By 1834, David was working as a grocer at 77 Park Lane in Lancashire. Seven years later, on October 21, 1841, he married Elizabeth Griffiths, the spinster daughter of Robert and Martha Griffiths, at St. Peter’s Church on Church Street in Liverpool. At the time, David lived in Rose Place and worked as a bookkeeper. His father was listed as an engine fitter, and Elizabeth’s father was a miller. The ceremony was conducted by Thomas MacGill, a curate (essentially an assistant clergyman), and the witnesses were Thomas Holding and Ann Hughes. 

Marriage record for David and Elizabeth

St Peter’s Church, Liverpool looking West along Church Street
towards Lord Street in 1800. Drawn by W. H. Watts, engraved by
W. Green. Reproduced in the book “Bygone Liverpool.”
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

David and Elizabeth had at least two children: Aaron, born in 1838 in Flintshire, Wales (Elizabeth’s hometown), and Robert, born in October 1842 in West Derby. Sadly, Robert died on November 16, 1843, at just 14 months old and was buried on November 20 at the Liverpool Necropolis, also known as Low Hill Cemetery, near Everton Road, close to the family’s residence on Beresford Street.

 

Robert recorded in the Liverpool Necropolis burial register

By 1843, city directories listed David as a tallow chandler, living at 9 Beresford Street in Everton. This trade—making and selling candles from animal fat—would become his lifelong profession. It was practical work, serving the lighting needs of working-class homes. He likely dealt in related items like soap and lamp oil, and his daily workspace would have carried the heavy smell of rendered suet.

I came across an entry in the 1849 city directory which listed David as a grocer rather than a tallow chandler. This could have been a time of transition for him, changing occupations from grocer to tallow chandler. In 19th-century Liverpool, many tradesmen sold a mix of goods, and candles were often found alongside soap, lamp oil, and dry items—all common stock in a grocer’s shop so the directory compiler may have simply went with the most visible or familiar label. The directory also showed that David had moved to 42 Islington and worked as a tallow chandler. Electoral records described the property as a “home and shop,” which suggests he ran the business from the ground floor and lived above it—a common arrangement in Liverpool at the time. Everyone needed candles, so it is safe to say business kept him busy.

A few years later, David moved to other addresses on the same street—48 Islington and then 24 Islington—before eventually settling at 33 Prescot Street in West Derby around 1859. At that point, he and Aaron were both working as tallow chandlers, and records show two shops in operation: one at Islington and one at Prescot. The Prescot location was sometimes described as a “warehouse,” possibly used for storing supplies. The 1851 census revealed that David had two employees in the shop, while Aaron, just 13, was listed as a scholar. By 1859, Aaron was actively involved in the business.

1851 England census

In the early 1860s, the records get a bit confusing. David and Aaron were each associated with both shop locations at different times (33 Prescot Street and 48 Islington), and it is unclear who operated which.

The 1861 census listed David at the Prescot home, living with his wife and son, and a niece named Anne Williams, age 23. Both men were still listed as chandlers, and Anne worked as an assistant.

1861 England census

On May 26, 1861, Aaron married Anne Williams, at St. Philip’s Church in Liverpool. Anne was the spinster daughter of Israel Williams and Margaret Griffiths. Her father worked as a mine agent. I feel it a strong possibility that this is the same young woman living with the Athya family but have not been able to confirm that yet. 

Marriage register for Aaron and Anne

Disaster struck the morning of January 9, 1866 when a fire started in the Clifford Street workshop of piano-forte maker Mr. W. Bond, reportedly due to an apprentice’s careless handling of shavings and a stove. What started as a small blaze quickly turned into a raging fire, stoked by strong winds and flammable materials.

The fire spread to David’s Islington Street shop, David Athya & Company, located in the rear of the building. Fueled by his soap and candle stock, it was quickly engulfed. Working against thick clouds of smoke, neighbors rushed in to help salvage his stock as the fire threatened the entire block.

Fire brigades from Islington, Norton Street, and St. Anne Street managed to control and subdue the fire, yet the damage was done. Bond’s shop and home were gutted and David’s property and stock partially destroyed. 

Records show that not long after the fire, David relocated to 42 Seymour Street in Liverpool, a move which may have been spurred by the fire.

Tragedy struck the Athya family in the spring of 1869 and again in 1870. David’s daughter-in-law Anne passed away and was buried on March 17, 1869. Just weeks later, his son Aaron also passed away and was laid to rest on April 12. Both were still young and left behind four children: Edward, Elizabeth, Margaret Ellen, and baby David Israel—whose ages ranged from seven years to just one month. Their deaths, occurring so close together, were likely caused by illness. Aaron and Anne were buried in the same grave—section 8, grave 383—at Anfield Cemetery in Merseyside.

Aaron’s loss would have deeply disrupted David’s business. Aaron had been running one of the family’s two shops, and now David and Elizabeth found themselves not only mourning their son and daughter-in-law, but also responsible for raising their grandchildren.

Heartbreak returned the following summer. David Israel—the youngest of Aaron’s children—passed away and was buried on July 26, 1870 at just 17 months old. David was buried with his parents at Anfield Cemetery.

The 1871 England census records reflects Aaron’s three surviving children living with David and Elizabeth in West Derby. Over the next few years, David moved to Stafford Street and finally to 25 Seymour Street, where he lived out his remaining days. It appears he maintained his Prescot Street shop, although I am not sure for how long.

David passed away at home on October 6, 1878, at the age of 67. The Liverpool Mercury printed his death notice two days later, and his funeral was held at Anfield Cemetery on October 10, where he rests in section 8, grave 346, near his family.

Anfield Cemetery burial register

Anfield Cemetery certificate for David’s grave

His will was proven in Liverpool on November 7, 1878 by his wife Elizabeth. He left a personal estate under £5,000, which would have been a considerable amount in those days—roughly equivalent to £760,000 today, or about $24,300 U.S. dollars in 1878.

David would probably have been proud to know his grandson Edward carried on the Athya family legacy as a tallow chandler. Unfortunately, Edward’s life was cut short at age 25 in 1886.

References

• Aaron Athya, England and Wales, Death Registration Index 1837-2007, FamilySearch; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JN8-7HG, 1869. 
• Aaron Athya, Liverpool, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754–1935.
• Alarming Fire in Islington, Liverpool Mercury, Liverpool (Merseyside), England, January 10, 1866.
• Alarming Fire in Liverpool, The Ormskirk Advertiser, West Lancashire, England, January 11, 1866.
• Alarming Fire This Morning, Liverpool Mercury (2nd edition), Liverpool (Merseyside), England, January 9, 1866.
• Anfield Cemetery, Court Orders, 1878, image 1045, FamilySearch.
• David Athya, England and Scotland, Select Cemetery Registers, 1800–2024.
• David Athya, England and Scotland, Select Cemetery Registers, 1800–2016.
• David Athya, England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995.
• David Athya, England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973.
• David Athya, Lancashire. Directories 1851, 1853, 1849; Liverpool. Directories 1851, 1853, 1849, image 30, FamilySearch.
• David Athya, Liverpool, England, Electoral Registers, 1832–1970.
• David Athya, U.K., City and County Directories, 1600s–1900s.
• David Athya, UK, City and County Directories, 1766–1946.
• David Athye, England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538–1975.
• David Atkyns, Lancashire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754–1936.
• Deaths, Athya, Liverpool Mercury, October 8, 1878.
• Israel Williams, England and Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567–1936.
• Liverpool, England Parish Records 1878–1884, Burial Registers 1878–1884, Anfield, England Parish Records 1878–1884, Burial Registers 1878–1884, Walton on the Hill, England Parish Records 1878–1884, Burial Registers 1878–1884, image 26, FamilySearch.
• Liverpool, Lancashire, England census, 1851.
• Robert Athya, England and Scotland, Select Cemetery Registers, 1800–2024.
• Robert Athya, England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837–1915.
• Robert Athya, England and Wales, Death Registration Index 1837–2007.
• West Derby, Lancashire, England census, 1861, 1871.