Ann Porter might - or might not be - my Great (x4) Grandmother. The daughter of George and Martha Porter, she was baptised in the parish church in Whitchurch on 23rd January 1773. Four siblings look to have been baptised: Thomas, Martha, Mary and George (with the two girls looking to have died, probably of the same illness, in 1779). I have not been able to locate a marriage for George Porter and Martha (1760s) and so do not know Martha's maiden name.
Critically, for this search, I cannot find anything more about this Ann Porter. Over the years of my researching I have begun to wonder if she is my ancestor.
The birth of James Porter, illegitimate son of an Ann Porter, was recorded in the parish register of St Bertoline's, Barthomley, Cheshire (17th September 1804). A note was appended to the record to say that she was from the parish of Audley, less than three miles away across the county border and in Staffordshire. No doubt this was to do with trying to avoid any sort of poor law responsibility.
I can find no further information about this Ann Porter, neither in records generally, nor in Barthomley and Audley records specifically. I have no difficulty thereafter with James Porter (1804-1847) and my links to him, but nothing further on his mother.
Whitchurch is just 20 miles from Audley, and a similar distance from The Potteries. There are Porters in the 1851 Census living in The Potteries and born in Whitchurch. That is why I think it possible that these two records of an Ann Porter could relate to the same person.
Does anyone know anything of Ann after her 1773 baptism? Can she be ruled out as the mother of James (1804, Barthomley)? Any help would be welcomed.