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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Lancashire => England => Lancashire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: mucklechris on Monday 21 October 19 12:38 BST (UK)
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I wonder if someone might be able to help me please?
I have uncovered a fascinating story involving my 4x Gt Uncle (Thomas Wetton 1814-1840) who was transported to NSW and eventually hanged as a result of his life as an Australian Bush Ranger.
I have manged to trace his parents Thomas Wetton and Alice Burrows.
I have located a record of their marriage on 7th February 1808 at St John's Deansgate and records of their children's baptisms (including my 3x Gt Grandfather, John Wetton 1816-1885).
The baptisms are recorded as taking pace at Cathedral Manchester.
Despite many hours of searching I can't find any further records for Thomas or Alice.
I am particularly keen to follow the Wetton family back further and would really appreciate assistance in finding out the names of Thomas' parents or where he was born.
Huge thanks in advance.
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Welcome to Rootschat,
Have you tried the Lancashire Online Parish Clerk website?
http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/ (http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/)
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Thank you!
I have, but I keep drawing a blank.
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Welcome to rootschat
Have you located any of Thomas & Alice's children on the 1841 census.
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Hi, thanks for getting in touch.
I have census records for my 3x GGF John Wetton in all but the 1841 census.
His brother Thomas was in Australia and was hanged in 1840 so he (obviously) won't appear.
I can't locate 1841 census results for the other brothers, William (b1809) or George (b1819).
?
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I cant find George 1819 either.
5 sons on Familysearch William 1809/Thomas 1811/Thomas 1814/John 1816/George 1819
The Baptisms of;
WILLIAM 25 May 1809
THOMAS 03 Dec 1811
Father Thomas was a Wheelwright
John Wettons 03 Apr 1838 Marriage in Lancs has his Father Thomas as a Coachmaker/Ann Smiths Father Charles a Joiner
A Maria** Wetton is a witness
(FreeREG)
Trish :)
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Thanks Trish,
That's what I found too. At least it's not just me who can't find them on the 1841 census.
Their father was definitely Thomas the Coach Maker. The second son called Thomas was a very naughty lad and was transported to NSW Australia at a young age. I have court records etc. for him which show his occupation as Wheelwright.
I've previously tried to pin down Maria Wetton in the hope she might lead to some clarity on Thomas snr but... no luck so far. He continues to elude me.
Chris
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Looks like Thomas has remarried??.
1841 Census
Manchester, Lancashire
Thomas Wotton 50 Wheelwright
Sarah Wotton 44
Peter Wotton 14 Apprentice
Eliza Wotton 11
Elizabeth Wotton 6
Sarah Wotton 3
All born in County
WETTON, SARAH mmn BOLSOVER**
GRO Reference: 1838 D Quarter in MANCHESTER Volume 20 Page 552
SARAH Wetton birth 9 Oct 1838 , bapt 2 June 1850, Father a Coachmaker
Burial;
31 Jan 1893, PETER Witton age 66, abode 46 Dale St, Hulme, occp Coachbuilder
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Have a look at this 1851 Census on Anc;
Familysearch has them as Wetton
Thomas Welton 49**
Sarah Welton 55 born Brington Derbyshire
Peter Welton 23
Thomas Welton 24
Elizabeth Welton 18
Sarah Welton
Henry Welton
F/S has Thomas as age 60**
Marriage;
Sarah Pidcock/Thomas Welton
Marriage Date: 14 Jan (no year given)
Marriage Place: Pentrich, Derbyshire
Both widowed*
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I was looking at that Thomas earlier as he was a wheelwright but could not find a death for Alice.
I think this could be the young Sarah showing on census
WETTON, SARAH mmn BOLSOVER
1838 Dec Quarter in MANCHESTER Volume 20 Page 552
Sorry Trish I see you posted this earlier
There are newspaper adverts for the sale of the blacksmith /wheelwright in the mid 1850's
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Brilliant idea!
I'd come across this Thomas earlier too but had set him aside because the other names didn't match up. You're right though, he may well have remarried. After all, Thomas and Sarah's children are born much later than Thomas and Alice's.
I do get nervous though when I see Derbyshire mentioned though. There are lots of other Wetton families in the Derbyshire area and I've never managed to make the link.
The occupations of Wheelwright and Coach-builder often come up in connection with Wettons living in the Manchester area - this seems to just confuse me more!
I just had another look on FS and there seem to be two results for the Wetton/Pidcock marriage and one of them is showing for same date but in 1917; although some of the details differ, do you think this could be the same marriage?
That said, I have also found Thomas and Sarah in the 1841 census recorded as Wotton! All the details match up with the later 1851 census except for Thomas' age. maybe he lied to appear more employable.
The 1851 census says that there is a younger Thomas living with them but although I can't make the name out I'm fairy certain that it says the relationship to the head of the household is Wife of Son. There's also a child called Henry and although the age is obscured, I think it says he's a Grandson.
So much more to take in and explore, thank you both so much.
(Thomas's parents still elude me which is rather frustrating).
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Hi, I'm following this with interest, Thomas is my 4 x great grandfather and I'd long suspected we're from a second family with Sarah as their marriage names him as a widower.
I'd not been able to find any of them in 1851 but now I have, thanks for that. Wooton, Whetton, Witton and now Welton..
I can clear the mystery of 'Thomas, sons wife ' on this census. She's actually Maria (nee Mattheson or Matthewson) wife of Peter and mother of Henry, my 2 x great grandfather, also named on this census who starts my branch of Wettons in Carlisle (coach building). Maria and Peter married 14 Aug 1849, Manchester, Henry born May 1850.
I pick up where OP leaves off and had no links to Derbyshire before reading this thread so I can't offer help with Thomas' first family with Alice just now. I've got a bit more to explore too it seems, that's really opened things up for me. Thanks.
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Well, that makes us cousins then as Thomas is also my 4xGGF!
I'm trying to unravel all the fabulous information that's been shared here. I'm so pleased I posted my query.
I'd love to be able to find out who Thomas' parents were but I've never managed to get back any further.
I often wonder if a link might emerge one day that'll connect him to the Wetton families in Derbyshire as there seems to be some strong information about them on-line. Maybe one day.
One of Thomas and Alice's sons (also called Thomas) went on to transported to NSW Australia where he lived as a Bushranger (an Outlaw of sorts). He was involved in a great many violent acts and was eventually hanged in 1840. His name became misspelled as Whitton but it's definitely him. There's quite a lot of information available regarding his exploits and crimes on-line.
I was in contact with an historian in Australia about him a little while ago who'd located some old newspaper articles - suggest that Thomas Snr may not have been squeaky clean either.
I'd be happy to share anything that might be of interest to you.
Regards,
Chris
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Hello Cousin, I'm glad you posted too!
I've been digging around on Ances**y since I saw your original query and found William b 1809, your John b 1816 and another brother James b 1813 in the 1841 census. All involved in coach making in Salford,Greengate and Salford, Deansgate. You might have already found these but John is named as Walton, the other two are Wetton. Nothing for George though and, well, Thomas is another story altogether.
William's wife is Maria (she of the witness to the wedding you mentioned perhaps?), I've found her as a widow in the 1851 in Deansgate on the page following Thomas Snr. in the 1851 which you might have already. She and the children are mis-transcribed as Smith including a son named Dorothia (Joseph b 1837) if that helps you seek it out
I've not made a firm connection between Thomas Snr's family one and family two other than Thomas himself and his widowed state at marriage number 2. And the constant proximity on census records. I have however seen him in another tree on that site with parents and many more siblings named. Family #1 isn't acknowledged only family#2 with Sarah Boulsover. I'm still checking it out.
There is a baptism for Thos Wetton in Ashbourne in 1788 to William and Mary if you like the look of it, I'd be interested in what you can make of father's occupation (I see coach but with this family I've been blinded by 'coach' anything) ;D
That's more information and not many answers but it might be a mutual breakthrough.
Best wishes,Nelly.
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The 2nd marriage referred to, to a Sarah Pidcock with no actual year is not the right one.
As birth of youngest child Sarah shows mmn as Bolsover this must be Thomas' second marriage:
Thomas Welton, widower, married Sarah Boulsover, spinster, 15/6/1824 Manchester. Thomas' actual signature looks like Wetten.
I think the birthplace of Sarah on 1851 census - which is so unclear - is supposed to be Eckington, Derbyshire and that her baptism must be either Sarah Bolsover bp.5/11/1797 Eckington, dau. of John and Elizabeth or Sarah Bolsover bp.7/1/1798 Eckington, dau. Thomas and Mary.
Thomas Wetton, shown to be born in Ashbourne, must be the one baptised 16/1/1788 Ashbourne, son of William and Mary (as has been mentioned).
He was buried, aged 68, 3/12/1854 Chorlton upon Medlock and transcribed as Thomas Welton but looking at original record is probably Wetton.
Annette
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Oh my word! Thank you both so much.
This is fabulous information. I'm looking forward to piecing it all together.
I've been trying to track down Thomas' parents for ages... I really can't thank you both enough.
And a link to the Derbyshire Wettons too. Hopefully this may lead to some further information.
I'm off to explore the records you've mentioned straight away.
;D
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Well done Annette in finding all that info :)
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Big thank you for taking the time Annette! Much appreciated.