Thanks for all your help Jean. I can't believe how great everyone has been on this forum :)
I agree with you that if she was Lily at birth then why would she write down Eleanor on the birth certificate unless she wanted to lie. Unfortunately though there is no other Eleanor Crowe who was born in Isle of Man and would have been around 16 in 1905. Its also odd there is a Thomas Shield (note, not Sheilds ie with an s) living near her in 1901. Although could just be another coincidence.
I got in touch with one member of Minnie Websters family a while ago, although I don't think it was the people you mentioned, so I will try and get in touch with them if thats possible on the site you mentioned?
The gentleman I got in touch with even gave me a photo of Minnie outside her house, but he had no knowledge of Eleanor. I've cut and paste what he told me below:
Hi Lisa
Yes, It's been a while since I made the original posting - but we are talking about the same family of William WEBSTER and his wife Minnie Ellen WILSON from 13 Back Sea View, Hoylake. About the original posting, I still haven't tracked down the death of Edward's wife Maria (née LINDENBERG), whether she re-married or if they had children.
I'm not sure I know that much about the circumstances in your posting but this is what we know about Minnie thus far :-
She was born on 24th Feb. 1878 and her brother Edward James WILSON born in 1880. Their parents were Edward James WILSON b. abt 1839 (possibly Formby, Lancs) and Frances Jane JAMES born 22/12/1839, Liverpool. They married on 14th June 1873, Walton on the Hill, Liverpool.
Below are the details of the 1881 Census :
Household
//QUOTE//
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Edward WILSON Head M Male 42 Formby, Lancashire, England Manager Public House
Frances WILSON Wife M Female 42 LPool, Lancashire, England
Minnie E. WILSON Daur U Female 3 LPool, Lancashire, England Infant
Edward James WILSON Son U Male 1 LPool, Lancashire, England Infant
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Dwelling 61 Soho St
Census Place Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Family History Library Film 1341870
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 3633 / 39
Page Number 9
//UNQUOTE//
Frances died on 25th January 1888 whilst living at 88,Hunter Street, Islington, Liverpool.
By the time of the 1891 Census, both Minnie and Edward at 'inmates' of the Mount St.Pleasant Orphanage in Liverpool.
I have not managed to track down the death of the father Edward - it is quite difficult to pinpoint the right person due to the no. of identically named people.
I'm also not too sure what happened to Edward James, the son. Perhaps you might be able to help ???
You will probably know that William WEBSTER and Minnie Ellen WILSON married on 22/08/1900 at the West DerbyRegister Office. They had nine children. In the 1911 Census four had been born, (my grandmother being the eldest), two had died, and the remaining three children hadn't been born yet...but who knows, there might have been more ?
It is possible, because of the taboo of pregnancies of unmarried girls, that your grandmother could have been possibly an acquaintance of Minnie whilst she was at the Orphanage, but I doubt that...
It is difficult to firmly tie your information down without any ages or DoB, but I would be keen to learn more.