Charles Allen Du Val

Robert Pilling Percival 1834-1885

Robert Pilling Percival was born in 1834, the son of Robert Percival and his wife née Sarah Pilling otherwise Brown, and was baptised at Chorlton-on-Medlock in Manchester. His father was born in Manchester in 1811.

When the Census was taken in 1851 Robert Pilling Percival and his sister were living in Manchester at the Faulkner Street house of their grandfather Robert Anlezark Pilling 1789-1863, together with two female servants (1).

He married Sarah Ann Hawksworth on 13 June 1863 in Manchester Cathedral. They had the following children:

Sarah Hawksworth Percival. She was born in 1855 and died in 1885.

Mary Hawksworth Percival. She was born in 1858.

Robert Pilling Percival. He was born in about 1860 in Manchester.

Ellen Pilling Percival. She was born in 1864 at Northenden, then in Cheshire now in Manchester, and died in 1872.

Annie Elizabeth Pilling Percival. She was born in 1866 at Northenden.

Fred Pilling Percival 1867-1989. He was born in 1867 at Southport in Lancashire and baptised on 25 September 1867 at Northenden. He died in 1898 at Beechworth, Victoria in Australia (2).

Ada Pilling Percival. She was born in 1869 at Northenden.

Polly Percival 1870-1924. She was born in 1870 at Northenden.

When the Census was taken in 1871 the family were living at Church Street in Northenden with a staff of three housemaids.
Robert Pilling was then recorded as being a "House, property & land owner".

By 1881 the mother was dead and the father had married Mrs Elizabeth Taylor, a widow born at Astley, Leigh in Lancashire in 1815. The family were then living at 24 Westcliffe Road, Birkdale, Southport in Lancashire. With them were Ralph Y. Sidebottom (3), two visitors and a staff of four female servants, a cook and a gardener.
Robert Pilling was then recorded as being an annuitant aged 46 years.

He died at Birkdale on 8 December 1885. His Will was proved on 10 February 1886 (4).

(1) Although then 18 years old Robert Pilling Percival was recorded as being "At Home" and not evidently in any occupation.
(2) Beechworth is now a preserved historical town located in northeast Victoria, famous for its major growth during the gold rush of the mid-1850s.
(3) Recorded there as "Son in law" but actually Ralph Yardley Sidebottom was a nephew born in 1854 at Tintwistle in Cheshire
(4) "PERCIVAL Robert Pilling Esq. 10 February. The Will of Robert Pilling Percival late of Clevelands Westcliffe-road Birkdale Southport in the County of Lancaster who died 8 December 1885 at Clevelands was proved by Ralph Yardley Sidebottom of the Hollies Alderley Edge in the County of Chester Merchant Robert Pilling Percival of Clevelands Gentleman the Son and Samuel Percival of 2 Percival-street Newton Heath Manchester in the County of Lancaster Agent the Executors. Personal Estate £79,106 17s 3d." National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 (1886) page 249.