Eleanor Rigby - The Story beyond the Grave8/1/2018 28 Comments
The story of Eleanor was once again put into the public spotlight in 2008 when a document contain a signature E.Rigby dated 1911 was put up for auction and was sold for £115,000, the owner of the document stated that it came for Paul McCartney who had sent it to benefit the charity Sunbeams Music Trust. Eleanor Rigby has always been a woman of mystery, but for those interested in the story of the infamous Eleanor Rigby here is what we found! John RigbyThe first inscription on the head stone reads, 'In Loving Memory of My Dear Husband John Rigby, Who departed this life Oct 4th 1915, aged 72 years' 'AT REST'. Our research took us back to the 1891 census. The census showed John Rigby and his family living at No 8 Vale Road, Woolton. At the time John was listed as born in Woolton, aged 46 and a Stonemason. Also on that census is the rest of the family, Frances, his wife, William, his son, Mary and Frances, his daughters and also Annie and John Howard, John's niece and nephew. Census of Vale Road Woolton, 1891
The birth of Eleanor Rigby Marriage Lines of Arthur Whitfield and Eleanor's mother Mary Elizabeth Rigby, St Peter's Church, Woolton, Liverpool
Eleanor Rigby Whitfield aged 5 The next information we have relating to the young Eleanor is the 1901 census. The Rigby's are still living at 8 Vale Road, her father has since passed away and the widowed is Mary living with her parents, who had taken her and her daughter in.
Eleanor's Mother Re-marries With Eleanor having lost her own father at such a young age, and Mother and baby moving back home to 8 Vale Road, the only father figure Eleanor had known was her Grandfather John, up until the age of 15 when Mary met a new man Richard Heatley. Mary and Richard were married on 15th January 1911 at St Mary's Church, Wavertree, Liverpool. The marriage line show that Richard Heatley aged 42, married Mary Elizabeth Whitfield, Widow aged 36 years, the address listed was 94 Stevenson Street, although within a few months Mary and Richard changed their address. Marriage Lines of Richard Heatley and Mary Elizabeth Whitfield, St Mary's Church, Wavertree,Liverpool Eleanor Rigby Whitfield aged 15 Rather than being taken in by her step-father, according to the 1911 census Richard has moved into Vale Road with the rest of the family. The census also shows us that Eleanor rather than take the surname Heatley, wanted to remain as Eleanor Whitfield.
Growing up in Woolton Village Woolton in 1911 was a small village on the outskirts of Liverpool. Here are images of the junction of Menlove Avenue and Vale Road.
Eleanor Rigby - The Adult Years
Eleanor Rigby Woods died aged 44 on 10th October 1939 still listed as living at 8 Vale Road, Woolton.
28 Comments Julie Pearson 5/9/2017 11:33:20 pm I think you may have done Eleanor a disservice by suggesting she was a single mother. There is a marriage of Frederick Rigby and Elsie M Whitfield registered in the December quarter of 1923 in the West Derby registration district (which covers a lot of the Liverpool area) and they could well be the 'F&E Rigby' referred to on the headstone. Reply Paul 6/9/2017 08:40:17 am I agree with Julie. If I had the time I'd be looking for a family link between John Rigby, the grave owner and the Frederick Rigby who married Elsie Whitfield. My money would be on Frederick being a Grandson, Cousin or Nephew of John. Possible F & E couldn't afford a grave when John's family offered the plot. Reply Kevin Roach 28/1/2018 10:30:51 am Hi Julie we are waiting on birth and death certificates to arrive then we should be able to confirm that Doris was the daughter of Elsie and not Eleanor, and if so we will amend the article. Reply Anthony Williams 12/4/2021 03:58:45 am Why would a cousins child be buried in a close family plot such as this one? Father, Wife daughter, grandchild:????? Hmmmm Reply Paul Nicholsn 6/2/2023 04:15:21 pm Eleanor's father (Frances Whitfield) and her mother (Mary Rigby) were from different families until they got married. The original hypothesis could by correct, that the baby was born out of wedlock. Perhaps Doris 'W' was not a Rigby at all, but rather a Woods. Not Thomas, but his brother 'F'. This would explain why the baby was buried here, in the grave of a close family who all lived at 8 Vale street together for so long. Why veil thier names like this? What do you think? Reply Paulette W 6/9/2017 08:32:18 am There ia a birth of Doris W Rigby, mother's maiden name Whitfield, registered in Liverpool in the December quarter 1924. If Doris was born late September 1924, the birth registered in October (December quarter) that would make her 2 years and 3 months at the time of death in December 1927. Her birth certificate would confirm whether she was the daughter of Frederick & Elsie. Reply Paulette W 6/9/2017 08:55:45 am The death of Doris W Rigby, age 2, was registered in Liverpool in the December quarter 1926, so the headstone is incorrect. Reply Paul Nicholson 6/2/2023 05:14:49 pm I guess the stonemason who added Doris' name to the headstone would have done so shortly after the funeral. If she was born in late 1924 and died at 2y3m on Dec 24, then she died in 1926 as you say. John Rigby was a stonemason and would have been rolling over in his grave that they got the date wrong, and also he had to make room for the baby. There are a few strange coincidences here. MY GUESS ABOUT TOMBSTONE DORIS She's Doris Woods, born September, 1925 to Eleanor Rigby Whitfield and F. Woods, brother of Thomas Woods. Died in 1927 age 2. Elsie Whitfield and Frederick Rigby were related to this family, lived in the area and ALSO had a baby called Doris. The Whitfields and the Rigbys met for family lunches and interbred with one another through multiple generations. This Doris was born in 1924 and died in 1926 age 2. Same same but different. ELEANOR RIGBY WINS! Sarah M 7/9/2017 07:40:23 am Eleanor R Whitfield's father, Arthur (b 1871) and Elsie Mary Whitfield's father, Amos (b 1866), were brothers, the children of Charles Whitfield and Margaret nee Ditchfield who married in 1855. Reply Mary 27/1/2018 09:45:05 pm What was contained in the document she signed in 1911? She would have only been 16 years old, if the date on the headstone is correct. Reply Kevin Roach 28/1/2018 10:37:15 am Hi Mary The document that was signed by Eleanor came to light in 2008, this made the BBC news at that time, you can read the full BBC report on the website, click on the link belowhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7723003.stm Reply f kilmore 1/4/2018 11:06:01 am Paul said that the song came from a shop called Rigsby and his co star in help, Eleanor Bron.....I think he never went through the churchyard often it is nowhere near his normal activity....I think a fan saw the name, wrote a song and sent it to paul and John....people sent them songs all the time and they would steal them...some songs are too good to be written by them and this is one...Nowhere Man is another... Reply CHARLES 16/8/2018 10:50:31 am Steal them? Reply Phillip Price 4/6/2019 08:46:51 pm Read the book Billy Shears,then you will find out the true answer about the grave Reply Dana Morrell 8/10/2020 12:58:03 am Still the saddest song ever written. I first heard it in a high school poetry class- still makes me cry every time. Reply Anthony Williams 12/4/2021 03:53:38 am Wait...I have much to say on this subject. And should you read this , please contact me with the provided email. E is for Eleanor and F is for Francis. I have a book Eleanor once owned. Why would a distant cousins child be buried in such a private family plot! yes, that is a statement. Is this task still liv?. I am from Texas, I am not English educated as many who will read this, however, I too have at lest half a brain of which to sonsider possibilities. Reply 27/6/2021 08:06:21 pm I am undertaking my family tree and are endeavouring to work out where Eleanour Rigby Whitfield belongs in my family tree. Reply Damian Rudegeair 7/12/2021 09:38:36 pm Some may find it mildly interesting that Eleanor died exactly one year before Lennon's first full day outside the womb. He was born October 9, 1940. She died October 10, 1939. Reply Tony 8/12/2021 12:04:43 am Eleanor Rigby Whitfield named to confuse Reply Raelene J Rigby 4/5/2022 03:33:46 am There are many things said @ this topic. Some truth others lies. It is crucial to define them as reputations can play a major role in life! When people don't know facts they tend to elobrate & twist things to make it more sensational than it really is! Researching your information throughly ensures that information is acual fact or fiction! Reply Local History of Woolton 24/5/2022 05:27:57 pm Interesting, thank you. Reply Barbara Ridding 24/7/2022 03:52:12 am Great read Reply 15/3/2023 10:09:34 am I have explained my theory about Doris in my latest musical. It's called 'Eleanor Rigby - The Musical'. This story inspired me. Read the script and watch the videos at EleanorRigbyMusical.com. Reply 27/3/2023 11:46:12 am
Reply 27/4/2023 06:24:26 am Paul Hayes, let the buyer know that Eleanor Rigby Whitfield now has a musical written about her life. Its called Eleanor Rigby - The Musical. Written in 2023. www.EleanorRigbyMusical.com Reply | CategoriesAll RSS Feed |
