Family Tree Page
Home Page
James Eyes, 16?? - 1723
 
The first occurrence of the name 'Eyes' in Liverpool was in 1702 when John, son of James Eyes was baptized at St. Nicholas Church. It is not known where James Eyes hailed from, but it is possible that he was the same James Eyes who was born in Upholland in 1660.
 
James, a joiner by profession, was married to Mary and had at least two children,Anne and the aforementioned John.  When James died in 1723, he was living in Lord Street. All his property, according to his will, was left to his wife and his son. Anne Eyes, his daughter, had died in 1715.
Family
Tree
Photo
Page
John Eyes, 1702 - 1773
 
John Eyes, the son of James and Mary Eyes, was a cabinet maker by trade although by 1725 he had taken up the profession of a surveyor.
 
John Eyes produced many surveys and plans of Liverpool and the surrounding areas including, 'A Particular Allotment [of the Commons of Everton]' (1729), 'Plan of the Docks and Piers at Liverpool' (1742) and 'Survey of the Sankey Navigation' (1755).
 
He also seems to have been involved, in some way, with the building of St. Thomas' Church in Liverpool in 1750.  
 
Around the time his first plan was published, on 24th June 1725, John Eyes married Elizabeth Fabus in Halsall. They had at least three children - James, John junior and Emblin.
 
John Eyes died in April 1773, his wife three months later. Both were buried at St. Nicholas Church.
Other Families
Agnes Irene Mary Eyes, 1912 - 1993. Daughter of Edward Harrison Leonard Eyes & Eveline Elizabeth Mills. Wife of Otto John Murray.
 
John Eyes jun., 17?? - 1771
 
John Eyes junior, the son of John Eyes and Elizabeth Fabus was admitted as a Freeman of Liverpool on March 17th 1768. By profession, John Eyes junior was an attorney and in 1769, a sixteen year old William Roscoe (later to become one of Liverpool's great philanthropists and an important figure in the abolition of Liverpool's slave trade) was apprenticed to him. Eyes has been credited with discovering Roscoe's talents when he dicovered some verses written by his apprentice on Shenstone the poet and introduced him to the Academy of Arts. (John Eyes junior had been one of the founding members of the institution which became the Liverpool Academy of Arts.)
 
It would seem that John Eyes junior led a short and unhappy life. According to Roscoe, in letters he wrote to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Moss, John was a drunk and he feared that he would drink himself to death. Whether or not this was the case, John Eyes junior died before Roscoe could finish his apprenticeship. He was buried at St. Nicholas Church on November 3rd 1771.
James Eyes, 17?? - 1768
 
James Eyes, the son of John Eyes and Elizabeth Fabus, was a brewer. The Liverpool Directory for the year 1766 shows a James Eyes, brewer, living at Fleet Street. Shortly before his death, he seems to have changed profession as the directory for the year 1767 lists a James Eyes, surveyor of the roads, also living at Fleet Street.
 
James had at least six children:
 
Robert Eyes, b. 1753
Charles Eyes, b. 1754
Henry Goore Eyes, b. 1756
Goore Eyes, b. 1759
Robert Eyes, b. 1761
Richard Henry Eyes, b. 17??
 
It is thought that James Eyes' wife may have been called Nancy as there was a Nancy Eyes buried at St. Nicholas Church.
Leonard Eyes, son of edward harrison leonard eyes & eveline Elizabeth Mills. Died in South Africa.
Charles Eyes, 1754 - 1803
 
Charles Eyes, the son of James Eyes, was baptised at Benns Garden Chapel, Renshaw Street, Liverpool on January 24th 1754. Probably the most well-renowned of the family, Charles first appeared in the Liverpool Street Directory in 1774 where he is listed as an architect and surveyor of 43 Church Street. In subsequent directoris, his address is given as 60 Lord Street (1777), 17 Church Street (1781), 21 Church Street (1787), 1 Basnett Street (1790), Wavertree (1794) and 19 Bold Street (1800 & 1803).
 
By 1777, Charles Eyes held the position of Town Surveyor. His work included a 1784 plan of the township of Liverpool and a 1799 plan entitled "Mr. Wm. Lolley's buildings in John Street, formerly the Liverpool Library and Academy for Paintings, &c."
Charles Eyes played an important role in other aspects of Liverpool life. With his uncle, John Eyes jun., he was one of the founders of the Liverpool Academy of Arts. He was one of the original subscribers of the dispensary in Church Street and he designed the Music Hall in Bold Street in 1786.
 
On December 22nd 1794, Charles Eyes married Martha Pennington at St. Mary's Church, Walton-on-the-Hill. They had eleven children:
 
Edward, b. January 31st 1784
Charles, b. March 6th 1786
Henry, b. June 10th 1788
Mary, b. April 7th 1790
Martha, b. August 16th1792
James, b. September 17th 1794
Jane, b. September 19th 1796
Ann, b. October 8th 1797
William, b. July 19th 1799
Sarah, b. August 2nd 1800
Elizabeth, b.September 14th 1801
This is thought to be an engraving of Charles Eyes (1754 - 1803).
Of the children of Charles and Martha Eyes, more will be written about Edward and Charles later. Mary Eyes married John Maurice Conway on May 31st 1809 at St. Peter C of E Church, Liverpool and had at least four children:
 
James Conway, b. about 1815 in Mold, Flintshire
Margaret Conway, b. 1817 in Northop, Flintshire
Susanna Conway, b. March 28th 1825 in Liverpool
Jacob Conway, b. 1831 in Liverpool
 
Martha Eyes married George Morland on May 29th 1834 at St. George C of E Church, Everton. Jane Eyes married a Mr. Harris. Ann Eyes married William Davidson on May 19th 1823 at St. George C of E Church, Everton. Sarah Eyes married Henry Wilson on June 26th 1834 at St. George C of E Church, Everton. They had two sons:
 
Henry Talbot Wilson, b. 1837 in Liverpool
John Johnson Wilson, b. 1838 in Liverpool
 
Charles Eyes died in Liverpool on September 3rd 1803. He was buried at Holy Trinity C of E Church, Wavertree. His wife, Martha, died on September 27th 1817. She, too, was buried at Holy Trinity.
 
Edward Eyes, 1784 - 1856
 
Edward, the son of Charles Eyes and Martha Pennington, succeeded his father in the family business. In 1799, Edward started an apprenticeship with his father which he completed with Edward Blackstock. Edward was finally granted his freedom in October 1812.
 
Edward continued in the family business for several years. A piece of work entitled, "Littoral Survey of the Strand of the Mersey" was undertaken in 1828 for the Duchy of Lancaster.
 
Edward Eyes married Mary Green on April 20, 1811, at St. Peter C of E Church, Liverpool. They had three children:
 
Mary Ann, b. May 9, 1812
Edward, b. 1814
Sarah, b. 1816
Edward Eyes, 1784 - 1856, son of Charles Eyes and Martha Pennington.
Mary Ann died in January 1813 and was buried in the family grave at Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree. Sarah married Richard Withers and had two sons. (More can be read about this family by clicking on this link.)
Mary Eyes (nee Green) died in May 1818 and was buried at Holy Trinity, Wavertree. More can be read about Edward Eyes (b. 1814) further down the page.
 
Some time around 1851, Edward Eyes went to live in Hough House, Hough. It was at his residence where he died on August 12, 1856. His body was brought back to Holy Trinity, Wavertree to be buried with the rest of his family.
A memorial card for Edward Eyes, Esq.
Charles Eyes, 1786 - 1833
 
Charles Eyes, son of Charles Eyes and Martha Pennington was born on March 6, 1786. Unlike his brother Edward, he did not enter into the family business, choosing instead to become a merchant. He was sworn in as a freeman on April 14, 1808.
 
Charles married Lucinda Ann Robinson on December 26, 1815 at St. Peter C of E Church, Liverpool. They had six children:
 
Lucinda Ann Eyes, b. February 15, 1817, m. Nicholas Duckworth. More can be found out about this family by clicking here.
Charles James Eyes, b. July 16, 1819. He died, unmarried, in 1875 in Victoria, Australia.
 
George Armitage Eyes, b. September 14, 1820. He died, unmarried, on January 18, 1900 in Southport.
 
William Henry Eyes, b. October 23, 1821. More can be read about him and his descendants by clicking on this link.
Alexander Miller Eyes, b. April 18, 1823. He died, unmarried, on July 19, 1844 in Calcutta.
 
Frederick Robinson Eyes, b. March 20, 1825. More can be read about him and his descendants by clicking on this link.
Edward Eyes jun, 1814 - 1859
 
Edward, the son of Edward Eyes and Mary Green, was born in Liverpool in 1814 and was baptized on June 24 of that year at St. Peter C of E Church, Liverpool.
 
He followed his father into the family business and was sworn in as a Freeman on July 29, 1835. After his father's death, Edward Eyes jun. retired to Hough where he died in November 1859. He was buried at St. Chad's Churchyard, Wybunbury.
 
Edward married Sarah Sharratt (b. abt. 1818, Lichfield, Staffordshire) and had one son, Edward William.
Amy Elizabeth Eyes, 1915 - 1989. Daughter of Edward Harrison Leonard Eyes & Eveline Elizabeth Mills. Wife of Joseph William Johnson.
Sarah Eyes (nee Sharratt) went to live in London and then Sussex - on the 1881 Census she was living at Broadwater, Sussex. She died on July 13, 1883 and was buried at St. Mary's Churchyard, Hook.
Two photographs of Sarah Eyes (nee Sharratt). The date and location of the first photograph is unknown, but the second was taken at the studios of Wyatt & Phillips, Fareham and dates from c.1881.
A memorial card for Sarah Eyes (nee Sharratt).
Edward William Eyes, 1855 - 19??
 
Edward William, the son of Edward Eyes and Sarah Sharratt, was born in Hough, Cheshire on September 14, 1855. Little is known about his early life other than that in 1869 he was awarded a French prayer book bearing a French inscription translated as, 'A well deserved reward. Awarded to Edward Eyes, June 1869.' It is not known where Edward William was educated.
 
There is no further evidence concerning Edward William Eyes until April 15, 1877 when he married Mary Jane Smith at St. Augustine C of E Church, Everton. Edward's occupation was given as 'Gentleman.' The marriage appeared to start well, as later in 1877, Mary Jane gave birth to a son, Edward H. Eyes. However, the baby died on June 5, 1878 and was buried at the Necropolis Cemetery, Liverpool.
 
Edward William seemed to have found it difficult to find permanent employment. He served as steward on board one ship in a voyage to and from Bombay, and on board another in a voyage to and from Montreal. He returned to England in the autumn of 1878, and joined his wife in Liverpool. After a short stay, he went to London in search of employment, his wife joining him after a few months. At Christmas of 1878 they went to Worthing on a visit to his mother and two months later, Mary Jane gave birth to another son, Edward Harrison Leonard Eyes, born on February 22, 1879 at 15 Charles Street, Pancras.
A month after their son was born, Mary Jane disappeared from home. Her husband did not know her whereabouts until June 1883 when he met her at Central Station, Liverpool and handed over to her their son - he had been living with his grandmother Sarah Eyes (nee Sharratt) in Sussex. Mary Jane promised her husband that she would take her son to the home of Sarah Eyes, a promise she did not fulfil.
 
In July 1883, Edward William found that his wife was at a Liverpool hospital and that she had been living at a rented house where she had been visited daily by a James Lusberry Sharpnell.
 
In 1885, Edward William and Mary Jane divorced. Her adultery was cited as the reason for the divorce although she made a counter claim that he, too, had committed adultery.
 
In the same year as his divorce, Edward William remarried, to Margaret Hancock, on December 29, 1885, at St. Michael C of E Church, Liverpool (St. Michael in the Hamlet). In 1887, they had a daughter, Ethel, born in Lincoln. By 1891, Edward William was back in Liverpool having found employment as a Licensed Victualler.
 
Edward William Eyes, 1855 - 19??. This photograph was taken c. 1878 in Worthing.
Mary Jane Eyes (nee Smith), c.1856 - 1931. The photograph was taken in Liverpool.
Created with ClickArt Web Site Workshop.