Garth, Kershaw, and Whitaker ancestors - Rochdale

[lmfamilyresearch]

Hello,

I am researching my Garth, Kershaw and Whit(t)aker ancestors who lived in Rochdale in the 1700s and 1800s.  The earliest ancestor I am able to trace back is John Garth (d. 1842) of Brotheroyd.  He married Mary Kershaw of Toad Lane (or Toadlane) in 1797 and they had six children: George (b. 1799), Ellen (b. c1816, d. 1841, married Peter Cooper and had 5 children), Julia (d. 1841, married John Maugs Gall), Mary, Reuben, and Nancy.  John was a shopkeeper on Toad Lane (or Toadlane) and was there until at least Mary's death in 1838.  George married Sarah Whit(t)aker in 1820 (apparently her father lived on Drake St. at one point) and they moved to Canada with their son Charles (1822-1905) in 1826.  I am not searching the Garth family in Canada as I already have that information.  I do know that as of 1905 there were still some of my extended Garth ancestors living in Rochdale as in the memorial book of Charles Garth there are some condolence messages sent by the Rochdale Garth cousins.  I do not know the names of Sarah Whit(t)aker's parents or her siblings.

I am hoping that someone may be able to help me trace the Garth and Kershaw families backward from John Garth and Mary Kershaw, as well trace Sarah Whit(t)aker's family back.

Thank you.

Liisa

[*Sandra*]

Have you checked the Surname Interests Table to see if there are any RootsChatters researching the same names - you can also enter your own names -  go to the bottom of any RootsChat page and in the brown area you will see Surname Interests - click on that and you can do a quick search for surnames or add your own.

A little more back ground info here -

https://www.ancestry.com/boards/localities.britisles.england.lan.general/52226/mb.ashx

Sandra

[*Sandra*]

Looks like the witnesses to the marriage of John Garth and Mary Kershaw at St Chads in 1797 were Luke Hislot and John Kershaw

Sandra

[heywood]

I think that is Luke Nield. 

[*Sandra*]

I think that is Luke Nield. 

Could well be - there was a Luke Nield born Rochdale  Lancashire Served in 7th Dragoons -  Discharged aged 40

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C8692206

possible connection to this family -

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/boards/surnames.nield/58/mb.ashx

Luke Nield could also have been the Parish Clerk 

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=762307.9

http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Rochdale/Rochdale/stchad/marriages_1799-1801.html

Sandra

[lmfamilyresearch]

Hi Sandra,

The witnesses to John Garth and Mary Kershaw's marriage are also the witnesses to the next entry which is Mary Kershaw of Sladen to Thomas Eddens of Sladen (they married the same day as John and Mary).  At first I thought maybe John Kershaw was a clue I could follow for my family, but then I noticed the second entry for Mary Kershaw so now I'm not sure what to do with the John Kershaw.

Re the ancestry board message:  that is mine (I forgot about it).

Re Luke Nield being the Parish Clerk, I guess that's what the P.C. could stand for.  I had wondered.