Ashton in Makerfield or Ashton under Lyne?

[stewpot72]

John Barton, born circa 1820, appears in 1851 and 1861 censuses as born in Ashton, Lancashire. There appear to be two Ashtons in Lancs, plus 1 in Cheshire, and nailing down the right one would hopefully help me find a definitive birth record.
In 1851 he is 28 and living in Emma Ann Street, Liverpool; in 1861 he is is 39 and living in Old Hall Street. Is it possible to determine which Ashton is being referred to?

[heywood]

Is he the one married to Henrietta Stewart in 1847?

The marriage record gives his  father as Peter Crank 
St Silas’ September 1847.

[Gadget]

The only baptisnm  that I can find for a John Barton born circa 1820 is in Ashton in Makerfield

Bpt 7 July 1822 , John Barton,  2nd child and 1st son. Mother - Alice Barton, spinster of Ashton

[heywood]

That’s the one I just found and there is a marriage for Peter Crank and Alice Barton 
Sorry - 1823, St Oswald’ Winwick
https://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Search/indexp.html

[Gadget]

Looks good, heywood 

A probable first child  and daughter to Alice:
Bpt Ashton in Makerfied
15 Oct 1815  -Ellen Barton

Gadget

[heywood]

Yes, I would think it very likely.

I wonder if this then happens;
Burial Feb 1825 Ashton in Makerfield
Alice Crank, 29 yrs - Typhus Fever
Wife of Peter Crank, Husbandman
Abode Pemberton

Marriage
16 July 1826
Peter Crank and Rachel Lowe

1841 has Peter and Rachel Crank but there is a son John Crank, 15 yrs.

There are baptisms for the Crank children younger than John but no John Crank.

[Gadget]

1841 has Peter and Rachel Crank but there is a son John Crank, 15 yrs.

Is this John Barton: If he was the one baptised 1822, he might well have been entered as 15 on the 1841.

I've not checked the 1851 and 1861.

[heywood]

Yes I thought so.
I can’t see a likely John Crank in later censuses or a death.

[stewpot72]

Many thanks for all the comments, very much appreciated. Having looked at a map (why didn't I do this earlier?), Makerfield seems the more obvious location as Ashton under Lyne is to the east of Manchester, much further away from where he eventually lived. So the record of Alice Barton being his mother seems likely correct, as is her subsequent marriage to Peter Crank. It appears, though, that John Barton was not formerly adopted by Peter Crank as he retains his original surname throughout his life.