RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: julie64 on Wednesday 31 January 07 08:54 GMT (UK)
-
Hi
I thought I'd have yet another attempt to break through one of my brick walls - any thoughts would be much appreciated!
My great great great grandmother was Tamar Littler, born circa 1834 in Ashton in Makerfield, who married George Billingham in 1854. There is no father listed on the marriage certificate for Tamar.
However, years of searching have failed to produce any birth/baptism records for Tamar Littler. She does appear on the 1851 census (incorrectly indexed as Thomas Littler) aged 18, servant in Ashton in Makerfield. As Tamar is an unusual name, I always assumed she wouldn't be too hard to trace, but there is no sign of her on the 1841 census.
This is where a bit of detective work, and a huge assumption, has led me to believe that Tamar may have been born a Lowe, not a Littler. The only Tamar of the correct age appearing in 1841 is Tamar Lowe, aged 7, with mother Ellen Lowe, 35, a nailmaker in Simms Lane End, Ashton in Makerfield. Tamar Lowe's birth can be seen in the parish records - born 10th Oct 1833/christened 3rd Nov 1833, 4th illegitimate child, second daughter of Ellen Lowe, nailmaker of Smock Alley.
I therefore checked the marriage entries, assuming that Ellen Lowe had married a Littler and changed Tamar's surname accordingly, but have not been able to find one. I did find a marriage between Ellen Lowe and William Limer in 1850, but checking subsequent census entries reveals that the surname was clearly Limer, not Littler.
So, because I have not been able to find a marriage, or any death or further appearances in the census of either Tamar or Ellen Lowe, I had to abandon my assumption that Tamar Lowe and Tamar Littler were one and the same. However, recently I have discovered that there are a couple of other Lowe children, born to Ellen Lowe, who share christian names with children who later died, named Littler.
Isaac Lowe:
born 29 March 1832 Gibbons Lane, mother Ellen Lowe, nailmaker
Esau Lowe:
born 14 Nov 1835, Ashton Cross, mother Ellen Lowe, nailmaker
in the death records:
Isaac Littler, infant, illegitimate son of Ellen Littler, Ashton Cross
Esau Littler, died 1840 aged 4, illegitimate son of Ellen Littler, Ashton Cross
This Esau Littler entry is what has renewed my suspicion that Ellen Lowe/Littler is the same person, as Esau is an unusual name, and the age fits perfectly.
So ... does anybody else have any opinions, or suggestions how I could go about proving a link? Unfortunately I have recently ended my long subscription with Ancestry so am no longer able to try and find Ellen or any other children in later censuses.
I would be extremely grateful for any ideas.
Kindest Regards, Julie
-
Hi Julie,
There's this entry for Ellen Lowe in Ashton in Makerfield. Her date of birth is wrong as she was born c1827.
They are living at 13 Swiss Lane End, Ashton in Makerfield. William is "living on own means".
What's interesting is that there's a Sarah E Littler, visitor.
Information removed due to copyright violation. See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/copyright.php for more details
RootsChat must deal with any breach of copyright by its members.
For some time the team of Copyright Editors has been removing breaches of copyright and sending detailed personal messages to the member that had posted the information. Due to the volume of posts and members this is now impractical. Messages in breach will simply be deleted and this notice posted. We apologise for any inconvenience caused but are sure you will appreciate the importance of this issue.
-
Thanks frenchdressing
As you say, she's obviously not my Ellen Lowe, but it is another hint that there may have been some connection between the Lowe and Littler families at some point.
Julie
-
I've just been checking the baptisms for St Thomas Parish Church Ashton.
Esau Lowe was the 4 illegitimate child and 3rd son of Ellen Lowe.
So, if Tamar Lowe was born in 1834 (before Esau) and was the 4 illegitimate child and 2nd daughter of Ellen Lowe she can't have been the sister of Esau.
There are loads of illegitimate children for Littlers and Lowes in Ashton.
Did you find Tamar's birth on the St Thomas's parish records? A lot of baptisms aren't on the online records. I know, as my family from Ashton aren't mentioned.
French
-
Hi French
where are St Thomas's parish records kept??
I have Littlers in my tree as well, all from the Ashton in Makerfield/ Ashton area
John Litler born cir 1740 is my 4th great grandfather (died cir 1807) I would like to start working on this part of the tree
cheers Robbo
-
Hello Robbo,
The parish records for Ashton are on the Lancashire Parish Online Clerk Project.
www.lan-opc.org.uk/Ashton-in-Makerfield/index.html
If you go onto the OPC home page it gives you a list of parishes in Lancashire that have had the records transcribed. For Ashton there are baptisms and burials. Only St Thomas parish church has been transcribed so if your ancestors were non-conformist you won't find them. The records are only from 1828 to 1842 otherwise it's a visit to Wigan History Centre.
Good luck.
French
-
Hi French
thanks for the link, found a few names that match up with what i know
looks like it a day out to Wigan ( will i need my passport ;) ;D )
-
The people in Wigan Records Office are really kind and helpful. I made my first visit to a records office when I was in England a couple of weeks ago and the people there made me feel very welcome (even though I didn't find what I was looking for). The next visit will be for my ancestors from Ashton in Makerfield.
Take your passport just in case ...
-
Hi Julie
don't know if this is one of yours found a wedding of a Peter CRANK & Rachel LOWE 16 Aug 1826
I think Peter is my 2rd great Granddad
I see you are looking for Birchalls, you don't have a Randall BIRCHALL born abt 1723 married a Sarah Hill 1743
-
Hi I've got a Littler I can't trace. He is Robert Littler born in1849 and married a Mary Thompson nee Jamieson in Warton Lancaster. I think he might be from the Ashton district as there is also a suggestion his stepson Henry Jamieson Thompson may have gone there in 1891. I may be barking up the wrong tree but I can't find him in Warton either before or after his marriage to Mary in 1884. Only 2 children he fathered Ellen and Robert who both died within the first year of their birth.
-
Hi robbo46
I haven't been able to trace my Burchall line beyond William, born circa 1804 in Ashton in Makerfield, who married Esther (possibly Baron, not confirmed yet). If you think we may possibly share a link then I'd love to share information.
Regards, Julie
-
Sorry Julie
haven't done any work on the family tree in a long time don't know if you are still posting on here?