I'm trying to find some detailed information on the family of
Rev. John Lever, son of Sir Darcy Lever of Akrington Hall, near Manchester by his wife Dorothy Ashton. John was also the younger brother of Sir Ashton Lever, the naturalist collector. However it is proving difficult to piece together especially when unable to access archive resources.
The details I know are that he was born at Alkrington Hall 1 September and baptised at St Leonard's church, Middleton, co. Lancs. 18 September 1733, and died February 1807 aged 75. He was Rector of Buxton, co. Derby (20 June 1768), Perpetual Curate at Buxton (10 Oct. 1768-22 May 1772) and Curate at St Peter and St Nicholas, Liverpool and St Thomas, Liverpool (1 Feb. 1772-21 Nov. 1777).
I think John married (by lic. Collegiate and parish church of Christ, Manchester 7 July 1758), a Mary Shaw, daughter of Isaac Shaw, esq., “of Altringham, parish of Bowden, diocese of Chester” (by Alice Birch), bur not entirely sure.
However I am sketchy about his family. What I have is:
1. dau. Dorothy Lever, born Altringham, bap. Bowdon, Cheshire 17 September 1760 ??
2. son Darcy Lever, esq., of Alkrington Hall, born 23 September 1761 (M.I. Canongate, Edinburgh)
3. dau. another Dorothy Lever, possibly bap. Barnard Castle, co. Durham 13 March 1767 as her death under Dorothy (wife of Peter Ramsbotham of Birch House) at Manchester, co. Lancs. 12 June (bur. St Mary, Prestwich, co. Lancs. 16 June) 1827, states she was born about 1767 ?
4. son John Leaver / Lever, esq., “of Alkrington Hall”, born Altringham, bap. Bowdon, Cheshire 22 October 1771 ??, bur. St Mary, Prestwich, co. Lancs. 11 September 1834, aged sixty-two. I'm not sure the baptism at Bowden is him??; John married an Ann (surname unknown), bur. St Mary, Prestwich, co. Lancs. 9 May 1806 - I have no marriage details.
They had a son Ashton, bur. an infant at St Leonard, Middleton, Lancs. 24 December 1804; possibly daughters Dorothy and Mary
5. Possibly another son James Lever, “of Amiens Street, North Strand, Dublin”, an architect and contract builder who worked on the Custom House and Marynooth College, of Talbot Street, Dublin, and went to Dublin from Manchester. He was father of 1) Rev. John Lever, Curate of St Catherine’s, Tullamore, co. Meath and 2) Charles James Lever, the novelist.
Sources online state he was a son of rev. John Lever but not entirely sure.
If anyone can confirm and add to any of this information I'd be very grateful.
I have also posted this query on the Rootschat Lancashire site.
