William Porter (1781 - bef. 1847)

Born 6 Feb 1781 in Whiston, Lancashire, England

Husband of Ellen (Platt) Porter — married 14 Mar 1802 in Rainford Chapel, Rainford, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Died before 21 Mar 1847 before age 66 in Whiston, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Biography

This profile is part of the St Helens, Lancashire One Place Study.

William Porter was born on 6 Feb 1781, and christened on 4 Mar 1781 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. He was the son of Thomas and Thomasin Porter. His father's occupation was recorded as watchhandmaker, and the family's address as Whiston.

William married Helen Platt on 14 Mar 1802 at Rainford Chapel of Ease in the parish of Prescot, Lancashire. Both were of the local parish; William was a watchmaker, Helen a spinster. The witnesses were John Heigh? and Peter Birchall.

Their daughter Alice was born on 3 Jul 1803, and christened on 1 Apr 1804 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. Her father's occupation was recorded as watchmaker, and the family's address as Birmingham.^[1]

Their son John was born on 12 Oct 1805, and christened on 6 Nov 1805 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. His father's occupation was recorded as watchmaker, and the family's address as Eccleston.^[2]

Their son William was born on 9 Mar 1808, and christened on 17 Apr 1808 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. His father's occupation was recorded as watchmaker, and the family's address as Eccleston.^[3]

Their daughter Ellen was born on 16 Feb 1810, and christened on 1 Apr 1810 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. Her father's occupation was recorded as watchmaker, and the family's address as Eccleston.^[4]

Their daughter Ann was christened on 18 Apr 1813 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. Her father's occupation was recorded as watchmaker, and the family's address as Eccleston.^[5]

By June 6th 1841, William and Ellen were living in Lane Ends, Eccleston. William was a journeyman watchmaker.

William died in 1847, and was buried on 21 Mar 1847 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. His age was recorded as 68, and his address as Whiston.

Research Notes

Beware possible confusion with William Porter born abt 1777 Budworth, Cheshire, who was a collier, married Margaret Prescot in 1802, and had children christened at St Helens Chapel with no mother's name recorded.

Birth

There is a small chance the baptism is the wrong one and William is instead the son of William and Jane Porter, born Nov 1784 & christened on 12 Dec 1784 at Prescot St Mary's. (There is a possible gravestone of William and Jane at Prescot St Mary's, but the 1797 date on it doesn't appear to match a burial record for any Porter - perhaps it was the date the plot was purchased, before it was needed?)

No deaths/burials found for either William (the 1781 baptism or the 1784 one) through 1841; no younger sibling in either family named William per LanOPC records; no match for the 1784 one in the censuses (in Prescot district in 1841, or elsewhere born Whiston/Prescot in later censuses).

Census

1841: Eccleston Lane Ends

  William Porter 60 Watch M J Y

  Ellen Porter 70 Y

Sources

1. ↑ Child's baptism: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Alice Porter. Register: Baptisms 1766 - 1809, Page 174, Entry 50. Source: LDS Film 1657583
2. ↑ Child's baptism: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - John Porter. Register: Baptisms 1766 - 1809, Page 182, Entry 7. Source: LDS Film 1657583
3. ↑ Child's baptism: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - William Porter. Register: Baptisms 1766 - 1809, Page 195, Entry 27. Source: LDS Film 1657583
4. ↑ Child's baptism: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Ellen Porter. Register: Baptisms 1810 - 1812, Page 2. Source: LDS Film 1657583
5. ↑ Child's baptism: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Ann Porter. Register: Baptisms 1813 - 1822, Page 10, Entry 80. Source: LDS Film 1657583

• Baptism: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Wm. Porter. Register: Baptisms 1766 - 1809, Page 62, Entry 6. Source: LDS Film 1657583

• Marriage: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - William Porter & Helen Platt. Register: Marriages 1793 - 1812, Page 71, Entry 123. Source: LDS Film 1657567

• Burial: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - William Porter. Register: Burials 1846 - 1855, Page 14, Entry 109. Source: LDS Film 1657597

• "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ2G-5G9 : 22 May 2019), William Porter, Prescot, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. Piece 516-06 folio 29 page 18