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« on: Tuesday 17 September 19 07:22 BST (UK) »
Folks
I need your assistance with a dilemma.
Jane Witter, daughter of James Witter and Mary, was baptised at Halsall on 7th August, 1831. James, Jane’s father, was recorded as a “bricksetter”. Census and baptism records for children of James and Mary Witter of Burscough Street, Ormskirk do not establish the identity or existence of another James and Mary Witter couple in the area.
James and Mary of Burscough Street, Ormskirk had a daughter, Jane Witter, who was born 13th July, 1822 and baptised 28th July, 1822 at St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk. Jane, who remained single, was buried on 13th April, 1898 at St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk at the age of 75 (1822/3). Call census entries for Jane were consistent with regard to this birth year. Jane’s brother, Thomas, was born in 1830 and baptised at St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk on 2nd January, 1831. If Thomas was born mid to late 1830, there would have been enough time for a child born then baptised August, 1831. Some questions arise:
• Why would James and Mary name a second child Jane, when Jane (1822) was still alive?
• Why would the child be baptised in Halsall while all their other children were baptised in Ormskirk?
• Where is the census evidence of Jane from 1831?
• This means John and Mary of Ormskirk were not this Janes Parents, so who were the James and Mary Witter of Halsall?