The De Wolf Family

The Commanding Officer at the T.A. Barracks at Chetwynd , Oxton, Birkenhead asked me to investigate the History of their site. The most notable feature is the Victorian mansion in the centre of the base. Today this houses the Officers Mess and Cadets Training School. This large detached mansion  “Chetwynd” was lived in byone of the Laird family for a decade or so and then by the De Wolf family for a similar time at the end of the 19th century . The De Wolf family were shipowners of French Canadian extraction . They originated in  Liverpool, Nova  Scotia which is on the estuary of the River Mersey !   I would like to find out if  this family have any links with the  Wolf family of Harland and Wolf  Shipbuilders .

I tried E Mailing  Belfast History Society in Northern Ireland but they did reply but were not able to help at all. I have got  pages and pages of info from  the Internet on the exploits of the De  Wolfs in the Pacific . I have searched for the origins of the Belfast shipyard but there is no mention of   origins  of  the names of the company founders. Have been prompted to try you by the recent question on the L.H.S.  site  about Nova Scotia in OUR Liverpool . I worked at Mann Island  myself for a  few years in the Merchant Navy Establishment Office that  was 1966/1967 .

Any suggestions from yourself or Rob or anyone else please ?

Regards

Roy Dennett
Birkenhead History Society