Hello Carole- it is very tenuous research- and I will close the post if you think it unachievable.
I have the 1841/51/61 Census for Thomas Johnson -born 1791/2 Utkinton and his wife a year younger born at Kelsal. I believe this to be possibly the baptism record for Thomas, held on the Tarporley register but clearly showing he was born in Utkinton:
Thomas Johnson, son of Samuel and Mary of Utkinton, baptised 3/7/1791 at Tarporley. – on IGI records.
I can see a possible marriage for Thomas and Ann in 1815 17th April at St Oswald's Chester - Thomas Johnson, Labourer to Anne Harrison- both of this Parish. However one of the witnesses is a Samuel Johnson. This could feasibly be Thomas's father.
St Oswalds Chester originally serviced the parish of Great Boughton
Baptism records for the first two of their children show as follows:
Henry Johnson baptised 21 April 1816 at Tarvin – son of Thomas Johnson and Ann- IGI
Samuel Johnson baptised in 1818 at Tarvin - son of Thomas Johnson and Ann of Kelsall - Thomas was a Farmer.- IGI
Tarvin St Andrew was the parish church for Kelsall
Later children were baptised as follows:
Thomas Johnson baptised 1st Oct 1820 at Tarporley- son of Thomas Johnson and Ann
Mary Johnson baptised 25th December 1825 at Delamere and also at Burton by Tarvin
Esther Johnson baptised 23rd August 1830 at Delamere- daughter of Thomas Johnson and Ann
John Johnson baptised 12th June 1836 at Tarvin- son of Thomas Johnson and Ann
These dates and children order coincides with the 1841 census- where there is also listed a George Harrison aged 12- born Cheshire and listed between the children of the family and the servants. I started to wonder if this George Harrison was related to Ann (nee Harrison) who married Thomas Johnson in 1815.
I have traced George Harrison through the censuses and find that he too was born in Kelsal as was Ann Harrison. Based on the following:
George Harrison- born c 1828 Kelsal
1841- Living with Thomas and Ann Johnson aged 13- possibly Ann’s nephew.
Records show that George’s father was Samuel.
The 1861 shows him married and living in Liverpool with wife Mary
Possible marriage to Mary Vernon at St Peter Liverpool 1854 - details are on FS including fathers names – Samuel Harrison and William Vernon
1881 Census – living at The Square, Christleton, Chester
George Harrison Head Age 53 General Labourer B 1828 Kelsal
Mary Harrison Wife Age 50 B 1830 Stapleford Chesh
George Harrison Son Age 24(s) Railway porter B1857 Liverpool
William Harrison Son Age 22 Ag Lab B 1859 Liverpool
Joseph Harrison Son Age 17 Apprentice Stone Mason B 1864 Christleton
Arthur Harrison Son Age 13 B 1868 Christleton
Emily Harrison Daugh Age 10 B Christleton
So this has led me to consider if Ann Harrison had a sibling Samuel Harrison (stated as being George's father at the time of his wedding)- as it would certainly seem that we have two generations of Johnsons coming from Kelsall.
Hence my request. It is quite hard to define the wedding between Thomas Johnson and his wife Ann, because Ann is such a common name, and there were lots of little villages which fed into larger parish churches in the area but the link with the surname Harrison in both the wedding of 1815 and the later 1841 census in which we also find a young George Harrison from kelsall living with Ann and Thomas- set me thinking that it might just prove I have the correct spouse for Thomas Johnson.
Let me know if you think I am chasing a red herring- would value your views and opinions.
Caroline