Help with my great great grandfather's birth.

[SkyeSpotter]

Hi all,

My 2x great grandfather was Thomas Wilkinson who was born in 1852. He was a boot & clog maker living in Barton Upon Irwell, Lancashire. The part I need help/advice with is finding his birth location. I first find him as an apprentice to Cordwainer, James Allen, in Worsley, Lancashire in 1871, however his birth location is "not known". Thomas is on 3 more censuses (1881, 1891, and 1901) before his death in 1907. His birth year is consistant of 1852, however the only birth location he says is "England" on the 1901 census.

He married Elizabeth Watkins in 1873, in Barton Upon Irwell. The address for him on the marriage certificate matches the address where he was an apprentice with the Allen family. However there is a line through "name of father".

I understand this is hard due to the common name but any help/advice, I would be very grateful for. 

Thank you,
SkyeSpotter

[bevj]

The line through 'name of father' could suggest that he was illegitimate.  The only record that fits from Lancs OPC is

Baptism: 14 Mar 1852 St Peter, Bolton, Lancashire
Thomas Wilkinson - Son of Ann Wilkinson, Spinster
    Abode: Great Bolton
    Baptised By: R. Harries Jones Curate

I'm not an expert on the geography of the region but I think Bolton would be about 10 miles from Barton.

Bev

[Cas (stallc)]

Welcome to Rootschat 

Difficult dilemma with only having England as a place of birth. Civil registration did not become compulsory until early to mid 1870s so possibly he may never have been registered.

With the evidence from marriage and census it looks likely that he did not know where he was born in England or who fathered him.

Just a suggestion have you considered DNA testing?

Cas

[Spelk]

If the born in 1852 comes from his age in censuses then he was more likely born in 1851.

For example.

If he was age 1 on early April 1871 say the he was born not in 1870 but between March 1869 and March 1870. Also add six weeks for delay in registrying the birth

[SkyeSpotter]

The line through 'name of father' could suggest that he was illegitimate.  The only record that fits from Lancs OPC is

Baptism: 14 Mar 1852 St Peter, Bolton, Lancashire
Thomas Wilkinson - Son of Ann Wilkinson, Spinster
    Abode: Great Bolton
    Baptised By: R. Harries Jones Curate

I'm not an expert on the geography of the region but I think Bolton would be about 10 miles from Barton.

Bev

Hi Bev,

Thank you for your comment! I will look into this. 

Thanks again,
SkyeSpotter

[SkyeSpotter]

Welcome to Rootschat 

Difficult dilemma with only having England as a place of birth. Civil registration did not become compulsory until early to mid 1870s so possibly he may never have been registered.

With the evidence from marriage and census it looks likely that he did not know where he was born in England or who fathered him.

Just a suggestion have you considered DNA testing?

Cas

Hi Cas,

Thank you for the warm welcome to Rootchat forum! I only came across this website yesterday and thought it will be great to chat with other folk who are interested in family history.

I didn't realise that civil registration did not become compulsory until 1870s, so thank you for highlighting this!

I am starting to think you are right, that the only possible way to find out more maybe with DNA testing.

Thanks again,
SkyeSpotter

[SkyeSpotter]

If the born in 1852 comes from his age in censuses then he was more likely born in 1851.

For example.

If he was age 1 on early April 1871 say the he was born not in 1870 but between March 1869 and March 1870. Also add six weeks for delay in registrying the birth

Hi Spelk,

Thank you for your comment, this is something to definitely consider with furture researching!

SkyeSpotter