William Ashton was born in Stalybridge, Cheshire, England.
William was born in the fourth quarter of 1852 (in either July, August, or September)[1] and on 3 Oct 1852 he was christened at St Paul, Staleybridge, Cheshire, England as son of James Ashton and Lydia Pontefract. [2]
In 1861 [3] William is 9 living with his siblings and widowed father James Ashton (36) who is a beerseller. They live in the Sportsman Inn, Stayleybridge. William's siblings are Mary Ann Ashton (13), Lucy Ashton (11), and Sarah Jane Ashton (5). His father's sister-in-law Ann Smith (47) and Robert Smith (15) are also in the home.
In 1871, William Ashton (18) working as a cotton piecer and his sister Sarah Jane Ashton (15) working as a cotton weaver, are both found in the home of their father and step-mother Jane (Davies) Ashton living on Whitelands Road, Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire, England. The Sub-District is Ashton Town. [4]
William married Martha Jane Higginson 29 June 1874 in Ashton-under-Lyne, St Peter, Lancashire, England. [5][6]
By 1881 William and Martha are both 28 and have 3 children: James W Ashton 6, Thomas Ashton 2, and George Harry Ashton 5 months. William works as a cotton self actor minder and they live at 48 Birch Lane, Dukinfield, Parlimentary Borough of Stalybridge. [7]
Martha Jane (Higginson) Ashton passed away in April, May or June of 1883.[8]
The 1891 Census[10] indicates that William (38), gained 4 step-children when he married Sarah who is now 42: Charles Taylor 19, Hannah Taylor 17, Frances Mary Taylor 15, and Clara Taylor 12. William's sons Thomas Ashton (12) and George Harry Ashton (10) are also in the home at 5 Astley St, Dukinfield, Parlimentary Borough of Stalybridge. His eldest son, James who would be 16, is not listed. Also, William and Sarah now have a 2 year old son Fred Ashton.
By the 1901 England Census, all the children have left the home, except for his step-daughter Clara, 22. There is a new baby, Charlie Taylor 4 months old, in the home at 146 Astley St, Dukinfield, Parlimentary Borough of Stalybridge. He is listed as a stepson, however, it is more likely that he is a step-grandson, possibly Clara's. [11] Young Fred Ashton passed away in 1892.
In 1911 William 58 and Sarah 62, having been married for 23 years, are now living childless at 146 Astley St, Dukinfield, Lancashire. His occupation is listed as fireman. [12]
William passed away after the 1911 Census was taken. There are multiple possible Death Index sources, but at this time his death and burial dates and places are unknown.
Research Notes
Death in 1927 at age of 75, is the best 'fit' in age and year however this source is linked to another family on Family Search: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVHZ-85PN : 2 November 2021), William Ashton, 1927.
Death in 1925, at 72 years old, this William Ashton calculates out to an 1853 birth year. "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVH7-YNGT : 3 November 2021), William Ashton, 1925.
Burial 1918 in Dukinfield with an Unknown birth and age is the best location fit, found on "Find A Grave Index," [13]
None of the above sources have enough 'teeth' to definitively say they are this man, THIS William Ashton.
Williams-101129 11:36, 3 April 2022 (UTC)
Sources
↑ England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Birth (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed [15 March 2022), database entry for ASHTON, WILLIAM (Mother's maiden surname: PONTEFRACT). GRO Reference: 1852 S Quarter in ASHTONUNDERLYNE Volume 08D Page 449
↑ 1852 England Birth "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3VD-4HD : 7 December 2017), William Ashton, 03 Oct 1852, Christening; citing item 5 p 139, St Paul, Staleybridge, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1,656,490.
↑ 1861 England Census "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7V3-WZL : 12 September 2020), James Ashton, Stubley (sic), Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
↑ Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 4070; Folio: 82; Page: 1; GSU roll: 846350 Search: Lancashire> Ashton Under Lyne> Ashton Town> 12. Accessed on ancestry.com, March 2022.
↑ "England, Manchester, Parish Registers, 1603-1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMTH-N63 : 9 March 2021), William Ashton and Martha Jane Higginson, 29 Jun 1874, Marriage; citing St Peter, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, Manchester Central Library, England; FHL microfilm 2,355,755.
↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27P-5G99 : 13 December 2017), William Ashton, Dukinfield (Cheshire), Lancashire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 36, Piece/Folio 4053/21, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,150.
↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DYQ-S88 : 13 December 2014), Sarah Taylor, 1885; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1885, quarter 1, vol. 8D, p. 591, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
↑ "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7M88-B3Z : 23 February 2021), William Ashton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Lancashire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9GM-HCL : 21 May 2019), William Ashton, Dukinfield, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Stayleybridge subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW15-VZZ : 3 May 2019), William Ashton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169026987/william-ashton: accessed 06 August 2023), memorial page for William Ashton (unknown–6 Oct 1918), Find A Grave: Memorial #169026987, citing Dukinfield Cemetery and Crematorium, Dukinfield, Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England; Maintained by Lost Ancestors (contributor 48778889).