Whattons - yet again

[samhuzz]

I'm having no end of trouble with the Whattons. Firstly they started off in Bilston Staffs, then Willenhall, then moved to Flintshire, Wales, then I have found them in Barton upon Irwell, Lancashire with the much appreciated help of Finbar. I can find a death record for the mother, Caroline Whatton in 1878 in Barton upon Irwell but that is it, I can't find William Whatton, Martha or Clara who are listed together at 14 Pym Street, Barton upon Irwell in the 1881 census. I've looked for death records for all three and marriage records for the two daughters, but nothing.

Can anyone advise where to go from here?

Thanks

Sam

[samhuzz]

Hello Finbar

William was born around 1817 in Bilston, he is 64 on the 1881 census. Martha was 18 on the 1881 census so was born around 1863. Clara was 14 so was born around 1866. The two daughters were born in Willenhall. William was a blacksmith. Martha and Clara's maiden name was Whatton.

Thanks

Sam

[samhuzz]

Thanks very much Finbar, you are very helpful.

[Raffaele]

Births Mar 1860
WHATTON Martha Dudley 6c 103
Births Jun 1863
WHATTON Martha Dudley 6c 107
Births Jun 1866
Whatton Clara Wolverhampton 6b 543

Deaths Mar 1861
Whatton Martha Dudley 6c 55
Deaths Mar 1869
Whatton Martha 5 Dudley 6c 44

Wolverhampton does cover Willenhall and Dudley is very close.

Interestingly both Martha's (probably the same family) died as children

[Raffaele]

Your Martha

Births Sep 1862
WHATTON Mar_ha Wolverhampton 6b 467

[Raffaele]

From the IGI

WILLIAM WATTON
Christening: 09 FEB 1817 Bilston, Stafford, England
Father: WILLIAM WATTON
Mother: ELIZABETH
Batch C010562

[Raffaele]

Now we are into the presumptive but.
The Martha Whatton deaths I found in Dudley suggests more Whattons in the area, presumably William's family. So if they returned to the Birmingham area

Deaths Mar 1883
WATTON William 63 King's N. 6c 291

Marriages Sep 1890
Watton Martha Wolverhampton 6b 879

Marriages Mar 1888
WATTON Clara Birmingham 6d 176

Note the IGI record for William showed a Watton surname
Sounds the same spelt different and very common

[samhuzz]

Don't know where to go from here. I wonder if the family stayed in Lancashire or William died shortly after the 1881 census. I suppose this is likely as he was 64. But why no death record? Unless as Raffaele suggests the name was mistranscribed on the death record. Thanks both for your help, much appreciated.

[Raffaele]

Because the last census you can find has William and his two daughters in Lancs. Given that his wife had died it is a good assumption that he may have returned to his family in the Birmingham/Wolverhampton area.

To prove this you need to check one of the marriages. I would suggest Clara as the only Clara Whatton marriage between 1881 and 1891 is in Birmingham Jun 1881 which is a bit young for her and very soon after the 1881 census.

The only Clara Watton marriage between 1881 and 1891 is at Birmingham as I listed previously in March 1888. This could prove where they are and then make further investigations into Martha's marriage and William's death easier.

If an FHA has details of this could someone post it please, if not I fear it is certificate buying time.

[jdsbryan]

Did you ever solve this problem as I've come across this now too?