Born Birkenhead, Cheshire about 1859.
Note: FreeBMD only indexed from 1861 for Birkenhead, and no GRO record index for Richard - very strange !

Ann Hale (nee Brereton) recorded Richards birthday as 11 June 1858

Aged 52 on 1911 census

Deaths Mar 1920   (32%)
BRERETON  Richard  (age 51 or 61)  Birkenhead  8a 585

Richard must have still been alive when his mother Esther wrote her Will in 1917, leaving him one quarter of the residual estate.

Died before 1925, and Mum (Joan Dittmer) never met her grandparents.  A search of the records between 1918 and 1925 finds only one Richard Brearton who died in Birkenhead.  The index is difficult to read, and his age looks more like 51 than 61, but this is him.

Richard Brereton, Beer Retailer, died 9 Feb 1920 at 7 Tunnel Road (Birkenhead), aged 61 years.  The cause of death was Cirrhosis of the liver and Exhaustion.  R. T. Brereton, Son was in attendance.

My mother remembered that Richard was "a heavy drinker". Cirrhosis of the liver is often caused by long-term alcohol misuse (or hepatitis C infection). Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and stops it from working properly.

The cemeteries office at Landican have confirmed he was buried on 12-Feb-1920 in the same grave as his wife Lidia, who was interned two years earlier.  The grave is in CoE Section 2, Grave No. 789.  See references and picture.

Probate:
Brereton Richard of the Red Lion Inn 7 Tunnel Road Birkenhead died 9 February 1920 Probate 6 March to Richard Timmis Brereton ships plater and Elsie Dittmer (wife of Harry Dittmer). Effects £1218 10s 4d.

Born: Birkenhead, Cheshire about 1864 according to 1891 census. 

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1863
TIMMIS    Lydia         Neston, Wirral    NES/9/74

All family recorded as from Birkenhead in 1891, but 1901 census shows Lydia is from Neston (and all others from Birkenhead), so this is more likely to be correct.

Ann Hale (nee Brereton) recorded Lydia's birthday as 14 Jun 1863.

Aged 47 on 1911 census (born Neston, Cheshire)

TIMMIS, LYDIA        WOODWARD 
GRO Reference: 1863  S Quarter in WIRRAL 
Volume 08A  Page 369

Name:    Lydia Timmis
Gender:    Female
Baptism Date:    17 Jul 1863
Baptism Place:    Neston, Cheshire, England
Father:    Richard Timmis
Mother:    Lydia Timmis
FHL Film Number:    2105093

Probably died before 1925, and mum (Joan Dittmer) never met her grandparents.

The funeral took place on Saturday at Flaybrick Hill Cemetery, of Mrs Lydia Brereton who died on the 6th inst., in her 55th year at the Red Lion, Tunnel-road. The Rev H Leigh Mallory officiated. 

Deaths Mar 1918   (16%)
Brereton  Lydia  54  Birkenhead  8a 601

The cemeteries office at Landican have confirmed Lydia was buried on 9-Mar-1918.  She was the first in a 4-person grave.  In the same grave was interned Richard, two years later.  The grave is in CoE Section 2, Grave No. 789.

Aged 2 on 1891 census
Aged 23 on 1911 census

BRERETON Ellen Jane
Birkenhead Wirral
BIR/154/65

BRERETON, ELLEN  JANE      TIMMIS 
GRO Reference: 1888  S Quarter in BIRKENHEAD 
Volume 08A  Page 484

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1888
BRERETON Ellen Jane Birkenhead Wirral   BIR/154/65


Name:    Ellen Jane Brereton
Gender:    Female
Baptism Date:    9 Sep 1888
Baptism Place:    St Mary, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Father:     Richard Brereton
Mother:     Lydia
FHL Film Number:    2104175

Was alive in 1975 for her diamond wedding anniversary, aged 86.

TURNER – April 5 1978, peacefully in hospital of 16 Parkstone Road, Prenton, ELLEN JANE TURNER, the dearly loved wife of the late Thomas G Turner and dear mother of Richard (deceased).  Service at Grange Baptist Church, Wheatstone Lane, Monday April 10 at 10:45am, followed by cremation at Landican Crematorium at 11:30am.  No flowers by request, but donations if so desired to B.M.S., care of the Reverend Hammond.

Aged 1 on 1891 census
Aged 21 on 1911 census
Aged 74 on Dec 1964 when died


BRERETON, RICHARD  TIMMIS      TIMMIS 
GRO Reference: 1890  J Quarter in BIRKENHEAD 
Volume 08A  Page 490

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1890
BRERETON Richard Timmis Birkenhead Wirral   BIR/161/28 

Probate:
BRERETON Richard Timmis of 21 Parkstone Road Prenton Birkenhead died 1 November 1964 at St. Catherines Hospital Annexe Birkenhead.
Probate liverpool 4 December to Margaret Jane Brereton Widow £5,072

BRERETON, ETHEL        TIMMIS 
GRO Reference: 1892  J Quarter in BIRKENHEAD
Volume 08A  Page 529

Forenames: Ethel
Surname: Brereton
Sex: Female
Christening Year:1892
Christening Date:15 May 1892
Date of Birth: 22 Apr 1892
Father: Richard Brereton
Mother's Forename: Lydia
Parish:St. Mary
City or Town: Birkenhead, Cheshire
Record source:Diocese of Chester parish registers of baptisms 1538-1910



Headstone records Ethel as:
ETHEL. the beloved daughter of
Richard and Lydia Brereton,
who departed this life April 28th 1893,
Aged 1 year a 6 Days.

Deaths Jun 1893   (>99%)
Brereton  Ethel  1  Birkenhead  8a 331

Ethel and William are buried in the same grave as their grandparents Richard and Esther.  Presumably, Richard purchased the grave for Ester's younger brother Mathew who died in July 1877, and following that, three of their grand children were also buried there, saving the last two places for themselves.

ETHEL. the beloved daughter of
Richard and Lydia Brereton,
who departed this life April 28th 1893,
Aged 1 year a 6 Days.

Born in Birkenhead, Cheshire

BRERETON, ELSIE        TIMMIS 
GRO Reference: 1894  J Quarter in BIRKENHEAD
Volume 08A  Page 486

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1894
BRERETON Elsie Birkenhead Wirral   BIR/178/75

Aged 17 in 1911

Name: Elsie Dittmer
Birth Date: 15 Mar 1894
Death Registration Month/Year: Nov 1987
Age at death (estimated): 93 
Registration district: Birkenhead 
Inferred County: Cheshire 
Volume: 37 
Page: 775 

Name:    Elsie Brereton
Gender:    Female
Baptism Date:    4 Apr 1894
Baptism Place:    Holy Trinity, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Father:     Richard Brereton
Mother:     Lydia Brereton
FHL Film Number:    2104037

Died 12-Nov at 93 years old.

Elsie (my Grandmother) had breast cancer which was removed.  She suffered from regular heart attacks or black-outs and also osteoporosis.  She broke a rib once while bending over.  She broke her hip in a nursing home and was moved to Arrow Park Hospital to have a pin put in.  She died several weeks (in November) from complications (heart problems?) after the operation.


DITTMER – Elsie, November 12 1987, peacefully, in hospital, aged 93 years, devoted wife of the late Harry, beloved mother of Harry (deceased), Joan and Cliff, and a loved and loving grandmother and great-grandmother.  (Her nature was loving and giving, her heart was made of gold, and to all that truly loved her, her memory will never grow old.  Her wish has been granted.)  Service at St. Mary’s Church Upton on Wednesday November 18th at 1:15pm followed by cremation at Landican Crematorium.  Family flowers only please, but donations if desired to Cancer Research Trust.

PROBATE:
DITTMER Elsie or 37 Devonshire Road Upton Wirral Mersey died 12 November 1987. Probate Liverpool 21 December.
Not exceeding £70,000

Elsie Dittmer Born 15 Mar 1894
Died Nov 1987 93  Birkenhead  

Born: September 1897 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, Merseyside. 

Birth recorded in Civil Register 8a, p490 as "Lydia Timmis Brereton"

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1897
BRERETON Lydia Timmis Birkenhead Wirral   BIR/192/67

Aged 14 in 1911


BRERETON, LYDIA  TIMMIS      TIMMIS 
GRO Reference: 1897  S Quarter in BIRKENHEAD 
Volume 08A  Page 490


Name:    Lydia Timmis Brereton
Gender:    Female
Baptism Date:    7 Jul 1897
Baptism Place:    Holy Trinity, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Father:     Richard Brereton
Mother:     Lydia Brereton
FHL Film Number:    2104037

1939 register shows DOB as 15 June 1898 (not 1897)

Probate:
ROBINSON Lydia Timmis of 36 Storeton Road Oxton Birkenhead widow died 7 November 1963 at St. Catherine's Hospital Church Road Tranmere Birkenhead. Probate Liverpool 7 February to Nicholas Pearson wages clerk. £808

BRERETON, WILLIAM        TIMMIS 
GRO Reference: 1900  M Quarter in BIRKENHEAD 
Volume 08A  Page 472


Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1899
BRERETON, William         Birkenhead    BIR/203/49    

William was 8 weeks old when he died in Feb 1900, so must have been born in Dec 1899

Name:    William Brereton
Gender:    Male
Baptism Date:    29 Jan 1900
Baptism Place:    Holy Trinity, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Father:     Richard Brereton
Mother:     Lydia
FHL Film Number:    2104038

Deaths Mar 1900   (>99%)
Brereton  William  0  Birkenhead  8a 403


Ethel and William are buried in the same grave as their grandparents Richard and Esther.  Presumably, Richard purchased the grave for Ester's younger brother Mathew who died in July 1877, and following that, three of their grand children were also buried there, saving the last two places for themselves.

Births Jun 1903   (>99%)
Brereton  Frank Eddowes     Birkenhead  8a 510

BRERCTON, FRANK  EDDOWES      TIMMIS 
GRO Reference: 1903  J Quarter in BIRKENHEAD 
Volume 08A  Page 510

Aged 8 in 1911

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1903
BRERETON, Frank Eddowes    TIMMIS    Birkenhead    BIR/217/55

Name:    Frank Eddowes Brereton
Gender:    Male
Birth Date:    22 Apr 1903
Baptism Date:    3 Jun 1903
Baptism Place:    St Mary, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Abode:        17 Tunnel Rd
Father:     Richard Brereton
Mother:     Lydia
FHL Film Number:    2104175

Name: Frank Eddowes Brereton
Birth Date: 22 Apr 1903
Death Registration Month/Year: 1972
Registration district: Birkenhead
Inferred County: Cheshire
Volume: 10a
Page: 87