Witters of Halsall

[Witters of Halsall]

My name is Dennis and I live in Australia. A few years ago I came into possession of documents and photos pertaining to Richard Cheetham Witter (1870), his wife Jessie Wallace (1871) , their daughter Helen Cheetham Burton (1894, nee Witter) and her son Herbert Eric Burton (1919). Richard was the brother of James William Cheetham Witter (1880), Titanic crewman and survivor. Since then I have traced family tree to Halsall and Eccleston, Lancashire. I have conflicting dates for parents of ancestor John Witter (1789 or 1770), his father James (1745) for whom I can find no marriage. Are you able to help resolve thee two questions?

[Maiden Stone]

Hello and welcome.
Was that Eccleston near Chorley or Eccleston near St. Helens? There are also small settlements called Eccleston in the north of Lancashire. (Eccleston means a settlement with a church.)

[solidrock]

Maybe....

James Whitter. baptised  28 JUL 1745, Eccleston by Chorley.

James Whitter m Agnes Hesketh. (b1747), 30 JUL 1767  Ormskirk,Lancashire.

Eleven children including John  baptised 22 MAR 1789, Halsall, Lancashire.

Source FamilySearch.

[garstonite]

Maybe....

James Whitter. baptised  28 JUL 1745, Eccleston by Chorley.

James Whitter m Agnes Hesketh. (b1747), 30 JUL 1767  Ormskirk,Lancashire.

Eleven children including John  baptised 22 MAR 1789, Halsall, Lancashire.

Source FamilySearch.

St Pauls ,Ormskirk
Baptism: 11 Jun 1747 St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk, Lancashire, England
 Agnes Hesketh - Daughter of Hugh Hesketh & Alice
     Abode: Scarisbrick
     Register: Baptisms 1743 - 1770, Page 14, Entry 32
     Source: LDS Film 1849663
possible parents - the good thing is the abode - Scarsbrick - only a little village but has its own website - you might find this interesting
http://www.scarisbrick.org.uk/
enjoy
ADDED
7 miles from Scarsbrick is a village named Aughton with a very old church - presumably built before St Pauls in Ormskirk
this is a Hesketh record  over 100 years before the start of the English Civil War 1642 - so is an old record
Marriage: 9 Jul 1541 St Michael, Aughton, Lancashire, England
 Gabriel Hesketh, gen. -
 Jane Halsall -
     Register: Marriages 1541 - 1753, Page 1, Entry 3
     Source: LDS Film 1657556

don't be surprised if they are not somehow related if Solidrock find is correct ( which I believe is a very good chance of being correct )
but how ironic if it is - Janes name is HALSALL ....bit of fate mate 

[solidrock]

With regard to the post by garstonite and the  Aughton connectionI think that maybe right. Following back from Hugh Hesketh 1684 Croston,Lancashire.

Thomas Hesketh 1649 Croston,Lancashire.
Hugh Hesketh 1616 Croston,Lancashire.
William Hesketh  b  c1589 North Meols, Lancashire,  baptised 1595 Ormskirk, Lancashire.
Richard Hesketh 1566 Aughton, Lancashire.

There seems to be quite a few Gabriel Hesketh's in Aughton so the connection maybe there.

[Witters of Halsall]

Thank you so much for your assistance folks. I had identified Agnes Hesketh as a potential spouse but could find no supporting evidence. Are you able to list the children and birth years or point me to a link?

A Geni.com record for John Witter (1789) show his father “James Witter 1745” and mother as “Margaret”. It also showed he had a sister Aggy and that he married Margaret Hartley in 1809. The latter, "married Margaret Hartley in 1809" is definitely correct but Margaret threw me off track.

[solidrock]

Children of James Whitter and Agnes Hesketh .

James Whitter. baptised 11 OCT 1767. Ormskirk,Lancashire.
Mary Whitter. baptised 27 Aug 1769. Ormskirk,Lancashire.
Joseph Witter. 1772.
Hugh Witter.  baptised 29 May 1774. Halsall, Lancashire.
Alice Witter. 1776.
Ellen Whitter. baptised  07 MAR 1779. Wigan,Lancashire.
Ann Witter. b 1781. Halsall, Lancashire.
Agnes Witter. b 11 August 1786. Halsall, Lancashire.
John Witter. baptised 22 MAR 1789. Halsall, Lancashire.

These are all from FamilySearch tree  LZXZ-XZW ​ so treat with caution.

[Witters of Halsall]

Bingo! Thank you very much for your assistance. I have traced this family tree and much of the extended family. The key players are:
•   Thomas Witter (1720) married Mary Halliwell (Dec, 1724) 1st August, 1743 at Eccleston.
•   Their son, James Witter (28th July, 1745, Eccleston) – Agnes Hesketh THANK YOU!
•   Their son, John Witter (22nd March, 1789) married Margaret Hartley (1785. Altham) 11th December, 1809 at Melling by Maghull.
•   Their son, James Witter (14th January, 1815) married Elizabeth Cheetham at St. Andrews, Maghull on 15th June, 1840.
•   Their son, James Witter (1840) married Ann (1841)
•   Their sons Richard (1870) and James (1880) are the subject of later chapters in a book I am writing about Richard's grandson.
The Ann (1841) I thought was Ann Dutton but seems not to be. That's my next challenge. Thanks again. Dennis

[solidrock]

Why do you think it's not Ann Dutton?  Marriage Q June 1867.