Another thorny problem

[lydiaann]

This concerns the family Walton - hold onto your hats, I'll give the details as finely as I possibly can.
This is actually an 'off-shoot' of my main family tree (my late cousin's husband's family), so I've added all the information I was given so I could work on it independently.

We started with Peter Walton, b. Leftwich, Cheshire on 28 Jan, 1857. Married Jessie Buckley, 16 Feb, 1878.  Peter and Jessie had 6 children, 2 of these are important for their second names. 
Hannah BROADHURST Walton, 1881-1882 and Frank BROADHURST Walton, 1892-? (This family appears to be complete at this point, so any extra info is of no matter just now).

Peter left for Canada sometime after 1911 and died there in 1939. His death certificate apparently gives his parents as William Walton and Elizabeth Lewton.  My rellie could find only a marriage certificate in the name of William Walton and Elizabeth Newton (Manchester 1848).  This is where the research unravels.

Because of 2 children of Peter having the middle name BROADHURST, my rellie had originally (i.e., before the discovery of the death registration) pegged Peter's parents as Thomas Walton and Elizabeth (Betty) Broadhurst, which would make sense.  However, William's marriage certificate shows his father as being William Walton (since then, Mary Lowe has been a possible for this Wm's wife), no mention of a Thomas.

I've dug around as many possibilities as possible, going sideways, upwards and downwards but can find no reference in Peter/Wm/Wm Sr's families with the name Broadhurst.  As we can find no records pertaining to Wm Sr or Thomas Walton (1786-1855) with regard to parents, etc., I wondered whether any Chatters might have, or be able to find, any more information.  I think my rellie's question is not so much going further back, but why BROADHURST in Peter's 2 children?  I have suggested that possible Thomas was Wm Sr's brother and his wife a favoured member of the family, but that would mean the Broadhurst name was 2 generations down, not one as would be usual. 

Any suggestions as to how to proceed would be most gratefully received.

I apologise if this is somewhat garbled but it's the best I can do, please berate me if I have missed important info that should have been included.

thanks in advance

lydiaann

[amondg]

GRO Index:
Peter Walton reg. March quarter 1857 Northwich mother's maiden name NEWTON

ADDED same mother's maiden name.
ANN 1849
Fanny 1854
John 1860

[GrahamSimons]

Broadhurst might be the surname of a godparent or other benefactor - not unusual. Another possibility is that Broadhurst was famous or important in some way - one of my great-uncles was named after Richard Cobden ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Cobden  ). Another possibility is that it's a name from a branch of the family that for some reason hadn't had children (that applied to my grandfather).
So now I've suggested a mass of rabbit-holes for you to go down!

[lydiaann]

Thank you, amondg, 3 other sibs are Thomas, Edward and Grove.
Graham, a godfather was not actually thought of.  We are still researching so your second suggestion may also come in there.  Thank you, I'll contact the rellie and see what he thinks.

What had puzzled us was the Broadhurst (Betty), wife of Thomas, whom we have not yet connected to the family, though it is obviously the best possibility.  As I told my rellie, new records are coming on line all the time so maybe we'll get an answer later.  It is so easy to assume probabilities - but so disheartening when they turn out not to be true.

Stay warm!

lydiaann