The Ferry Inn in Penketh
Isaac Gandy had nine brothers and sisters. The story has it that when he died in 1904, his sisters back in England shipped over a marble headstone for his grave in Garrison, Utah. One of these sisters was Martha Gandy, 1819 – 1913, who married John Johnson in Penketh in 1854.
Martha and John had five children: Mary Ann Polly, Elizabeth, Lucy and Ann and Samuel Frederick (1860 – 1907). Other dates unknown. Information supplied by David Smith, gggrandson of Martha and John. Eldest daughter Mary Ann Polly was David’s paternal grandmother.
On the family photograph David’s grandmother Dorothy sits at John’s left, great aunt Edith (at John’s feet) and great aunt Mollie (to her left). Four daughters Mary Ann Polly, Elizabeth, Lucy and Ann in white blouses, son Samuel Frederick standing centre with moustache and cap.
John Johnson, who worked as a cabinet maker, was also well known as an accomplished bowls maker and painter. Many of the bowls he carved were used at the Inn and his paintings were also displayed there. Below is his visiting card:
For many years Martha and John were the licensees of the Ferry Inn in Penketh. When husband John died in 1909, Martha took over the licence until her death in 1913.
The Ferry Inn was located close to the River Mersey, and often suffered from flooding.
Read more about the history of the Ferry Inn (now Ferry Tavern) here:
Here you can see a photograph of the marble headstone mentioned above: http://www.gandyfamily.se/isaac-dies-in-gandy/