Need help finding John Ayres before 1857

[baileyscusa]

Hi Everyone,
I'm hoping that maybe someone can help me find details of my 2nd Great Grandfather, John Ayres, prior to his marriage on 19 Jan 1857. Here's all the info I have currently.

19 Jan 1857 - John Ayres, 22, marriage to Sarah Ann Crewe, 21, at Holy Trinity, Sneyd, Staffordshire
Father: Thomas Ayres, Fireman

1861 Census - Burslem, Staffs.
John Ayres 26 Coal Miner born Bilston, Staffs.
Sarah Ann Ayres 25 born Cobridge, Staffs.
+ children Ellen L.

1871 Census - Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.
John Ayres 36 Coal Miner (unemployed) born Broseley, Salop
Sarah A Ayres 35 born Cobridge, Staffs.
+ children Ellen L., Amelia, James Hy., Frederick

1881 Census - Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.
John Ayres 46 Coal Miner Lamp Man born Bilston, Staffs.
Sarah A Ayres 45 born Cobridge, Staffs.
+ children Amelia, James H., Frederick, John, Thomas

1891 Census - Ince-in-Makerfield, Lancs.
John Ayres 56 Herb Beer Maker born Broseley, Shropshire
Sarah A Ayres 56 born Burslem, Staffs.
+ children John, Thomas

Died 6 Nov 1900 age 66 at 496 Warrington Road, Abram, Wigan, Lancs.

I have had no luck at all finding him in the 1851 and 1841 Censuses. I have seen the surname spelled in many different ways (Ayres, Ayers, Aires, Eyers, Eyres) but despite trying all these variants (and more) I have not been able to find him. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Kloumann]

This could be him in 1851. Transcribed as John Hare.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGLY-ZNZ

This could be his birth as John Hares, father, Thomas & mother, Sarah.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NR6B-MX2

[MonicaL]

The only family I have found connected to Bilston is this one, headed up by parents Thomas and Matilda - as transcribed:

Thos Eyre 35 Brass founder
Matilda Eafre 30
John Eyre 10
Maria Eafre 8
Jane Eafre
Thos Eafre
Francis Eyre

A likely christening entry for this John www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3T-KMMH

Your John was fairly consistent with his birth year being c. 1835 though.

Monica

Added: This was from 1841!

[MonicaL]

19 Jan 1857 - John Ayres, 22, marriage to Sarah Ann Crewe, 21, at Holy Trinity, Sneyd, Staffordshire
Father: Thomas Ayres, Fireman

Thomas Snr from the 1841 census entry above is showing as a Brass Dresser in 1871. So doesn't seem to connect to an occupation of fireman that you have on the marriage reg for John.

Monica

[Kloumann]

Childrens births

Emily, 1857, Sarah Ann, 1861, Amelia, 1863, James Henry, 1865 plus others

Thomas Hares married a Sarah Rhodes, 1829, Wolstanton

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLQD-DMJ1

[Kloumann]

Could be John in 1841 with father, Thomas, mother Sarah, sisters, Harriet & Mary Ann. Names were transcribed mixed up.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQRY-PHB

[Kloumann]

Could Fireman have been transcribed wrongly. This Thomas was a Forgeman.

[Neale1961]

Kloumann,  I am not sure where you see “forgeman”, but I have found the occupation “fireman” a very broad term for anyone working with keeping a fire burning – as in a forge, or more often, the running of a steam engine.

Thomas Hares married a Sarah Rhodes, 1829, Wolstanton
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLQD-DMJ1

I think that marriage relates to this family (maybe not correct family?):
Thomas HARES (transcribed as KEARS) in 1851 census living in Bignall End is an “Engine man”.
He is born Audley about 1811.
He is with his family (wife Sarah, and daughters Mary Ann, Hannah and Elizabeth) and his father, also Thomas HARES and engine man, born abt 1781 Madley Shropshire

Thomas HARES junior died in 1857 (age 47) buried 17 Jan, Audley, St James
Thomas HARES senior died 1857 (age 85) buried 4 Aug, Audley, St James
Sarah HARES died 1852 (age 43) buried 18 April, Audley, St James

BUT THERE IS NO SON NAMED JOHN WITH THIS FAMILY IN 1841 CENSUS

[baileyscusa]

Thanks Everyone for the replies,
I hadn't thought about the possibility of Ayres / Hares and will follow up on the leads you mentioned. However I don't see anything that really fits - although with so few clues I appreciate it's not going to be easy. I really wish there was more information to go on.
The only Thomas Ayres (father of John Ayres) I found, was Thomas Richard Ayers and his wife Elizabeth. However their son John was born Jun-Sep 1840 (in Stoke-on-Trent), and was baptized on 21 Aug 1840 in Longton, which also does not fit.
I found it slightly strange that the Birthplace on the Censuses varied back and forth between Bilston, Staffs and Broseley, Shropshire - not sure what you guys with more experience think.
Thanks again for the help!