Is this my John in 1851?

[GenesA]

I've decided to post this on the Cheshire board although it occasionally crosses over with Lancashire, I hope this is OK! 

John Davies was born about 1804 in Runcorn, Cheshire, the son of Edward Davies, a waterman. This is according to the 1861 census, the only census record I have for John so far. I have no baptism for John so cannot confirm this as absolute fact yet. He married Elizabeth Parry in Manchester Cathedral in 1845, by this time he was already a widower but I have no name for his first wife yet and I don't know if they had any children.

John and Elizabeth, however, had six children that I know of:

1. George Edward Davies, born 13 Sep 1847 in Hulme, Lancashire

2. Margaret Annie Davies, born 1849 in Hulme, Lancashire

3. John Davies, born 1853 in Lymm, Cheshire

4. Mary Davies, born 1855 in Kingsley, Cheshire

5. George Beck Davies, born 1859 in Dutton, Cheshire

6. Charlotte Davies, born 1862 in Dutton, Cheshire

I have tried to pay attention to the children's birthplaces, I suspect they moved around a lot because of John's work on the canals. The family are missing in the 1851 census but I do have them as living in Hulme in 1861.

I have found a possible entry for John Davies in the 1851 census that I would love to run by someone and see if it fits...

CANAL, Lymm, Cheshire

George Hargreaves, Captain, Unmarried, 25, Waterman
Richard Ball?, 14, Boat Boy
John Davies, Unmarried, 55, Waterman, born in Runcorn, Cheshire

The fact that this John is unmarried and slightly older than I would expect John to be is giving me a few misgivings but I'm trying to keep an open mind. "My" John did have a son born in Lymm in 1853 so it does sound plausible to me. But no wife and children in sight!

[CaroleW]

How do you know his father was Edward?

EDIT

From his 1845 marriage cert. 

[CaroleW]

1861 has surname as Davis - not Davies

Son George registered as Davis

1845 marriage was Davies

Have you checked 1851 under Davis?

[CaroleW]

I can't find him in 1851 either - the only apparent match is the one you mention above.

Did he die before 1871?  If so - what age was given

[GenesA]

I think he died in 1867 at Manchester Union Workhouse - buried at Newton Heath aged 63. His youngest children are in Runcorn Workhouse in 1871.

[GenesA]

His other two children - Margaret and John - are living in Newton Heath in 1871. Not sure where John’s widow is.

[trish1120]

There is also this Family but very confusing Census POB/Occp etc

1851 Census
Chapel Lane
Cheetham, Lancs
John Davies   46 Head Mar Porter Seedsman born Wales, Carnarvonshire
Eliza Davies   39 Wife born Yorkshire
William Davies   9 Son
Margret Davies   2 Daug***
Mary Anne Davies 1 Daug
Sarah Foster   51 Lodger Widow
Mary Williamson   26 Lodger Unm

All others born Manchester

Bapt;
Mary Ann Davies
Birth 30 Mar 1850
Baptism 12 May 1850, Manchester, St Mary, St Denys and St George
To JOHN/ELIZA
Father a Porter

As there is a gap in children 1861 Census some may have died.

Also that is the only Margaret with a Father John I could find.

[CaroleW]

John was a boatman b Runcorn on the 1861 census.  Elizabeth was b Garstang

[trish1120]

Thanks have seen the 1861 Census and M/C Carole.

As I said that 1851 is the only Census I can see with a Daug Margaret for a John/Eliza.

I may be well off there but thought it was worth noting.

Trish