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The Common Room / john william whittaker -what are the chances?
« on: Monday 18 March 24 06:29 GMT (UK) »In 2013 I spoke to the Warder of Holy Trinity Church in Tunstead, Rossendale, Lancashire whilst on holiday. I know my Whittaker ancestors worshipped at HT (possibly because of work connections). They were definitely there between 1844-1848 as 2 sons are baptised there in those years - John Munn and James.
I have long been interested in John's middle name. The warder told me the Munns were a very prominent family in the area and well respected. He then went on to tell me that the Munn's raised one of the Whittaker's sons. He felt that with the Munns being respected Mill owners John's middle name was a nod to that or maybe they were somehow closer connected.
John William Whittaker had been born to Edmund and Margaret Whittaker (whilst Edmund was stationed with the army) on 14 October 1836 in Templemore, Co Tipperary, and baptised Church of Ireland on the 6 November 1836.
By 1841 the family returned to England and settled in Stacksteads and Bacup. I have not found a death for John and there is no mention of him in the 1841 England Census or any later documents pertaining to the family. Could it be that John was taken in or adopted by the Munns and that is why I can't trace him?
Thoughts please.
Tilly Ann