Does this help?
Immigration records show:
Amelia 40 yrs wife
James 10 yrs
Mary 8 yrs
Alice 7 yrs
Walter 6 yrs
Herbert 4 yrs
Amelia is born abt 1840 in this record
Her death record shows birth abt 1837
1861 census shows abt 1839
If the couple separated, she might refer to herself as a widow - or her family did.
There is a separate entry on the same ship for Amelia 21 yrs with 5yr old Alfred.
This Amelia marries in 1887
There are records for the others.
I can’t see an immigration record for Edward. 
Thanks. I have now found all the births. In 1911 father said he had had 9 children. He could not count!
ASHCROFT, AMELIA SIBILLA
GRO Ref: 1857 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C
ASHCROFT, EDWARD JOHN
GRO Ref: 1859 J Q in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST
ASHCROFT, WILLIAM JAMES
GRO Ref: 1861 M Quarter in GREENWICH
ASHCROFT, ESTHER ALICE
GRO Reference: 1863 J Quarter in STEPNEY
ASHCROFT, ALFRED CHARLES GRO Ref: 1867 J Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN
Henry Ashcroft born 2 9 1869 in St Botolph, London twin to James
ASHCROFT, ALICE ELIZABETH
GRO Ref: 1871 D Quarter in BURTON UPON TRENT Volume 06B
ASHCROFT, WALTER ERNEST GRO Ref: 1873 D Quarter in BURTON UPON TRENT
ASHCROFT, HERBERT GRO Ref: 1876 M Quarter in BURTON UPON TRENT
ASHCROFT, WALTER ERNEST GRO Ref 1873 D Quarter in BURTON UPON TRENT
ASHCROFT, LEONARD
GRO Reference: 1879 S Quarter in BURTON UPON TRENT Volume 06B
This roughly ties up with the shipping manifest for Amelia. Who was Mary though?
What I thought was a 2nd marr for Edward was for his son, Edward John, in 1881
I also found Amelia the wife in the workhouse in 1859 with Edward and Amelia, her children. No sign of hubby, yet they were together by 1861. Maybe he went in search of work, as proved by the census and by the birthplaces of their children.
The 1929 death in NY is definitely the daug Amelia as this time her parents are correct, unlike the death record for her mother Amelia.
In 1925 Amelia was living in the same building as her brother Walter, so I think we can safely say that she and all her children emigrated permanently.
So timeline for Edward: born in Shadwell abt 1837
1841 with Elizabeth Philips...possibly an aunt
1851 in Tower Hamlets with his parents, father a cooper
1856 married to Amelia Gray in Bethnal Green. He was a Cooper
1859 wife discharged from workhouse with eldest two children. Edward had a possible acquittal for larceny.
1885 Edward, belonging to Bethnal Green, was discharged from Islington workhouse, having been admitted Dec 1884, if it is him as he had a different occup. However the Bethnal Green mention makes it seem likely that it is him. In 1884 he was in and out of the Workhouse.
Now found the Edward a block cutter who was in the workhouse, in 1881. He said he was born in Scotland, so not my one as I have now found this one in Scotland with his parents.
In 1901 Herodius Howard had two other lodgers living with her in Brook Street
No trace of him from 1871 until 1908 when he was the informant of the Howard death and was living with the mother of Charles Howard in Brook Street.
1911 he was an out of work cooper still living in Brook Street. Mrs Howard had by now moved to New Scarboro, Yeadon, Wharfedale to live with one of her sons.
Until we view the 1921 census we won't know Edward's address, or I could buy his death cert. As he is not my family I won't be bothering.
1930 died aged 96 in Burton as Edward P. Ashcroft which matches other docs., buried 22 Oct 1930 in Burton.
Now found school records for Charles. He attended 14 Oct 1889 - 6 Nov 1889 and was born 27 May 1883. He also attended a primary school shortly before this, so not well educated!
Thank you so much for all your help
