Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi!
I am trying to prove that my Henry Appleton, born c 1798 who died in January 1885 in South Australia is the Henry Appleton born to Samuel Appleton and his first wife, Ellen Fitch, of Warrington.
Most researchers have his parents as Peter Appleton and Sarah of Shinfield, Berkshire. I believe this is incorrect and based upon it being in a family book that was written in the 1970's, as I can find no proof to substantiate.
Listed below are the circumstantial reasons I think Henry belongs to Samuel and Ellen. If anyone has any way of telling me how I could definitively prove this, I would be most grateful.
* His marriage in December 1821 was at St. Elphins Church, Warrington, to Ann Margaret Harrison. Both are listed as 'of this parish" on the transcript. A witness to the marriage is Matthew Harrison, brother to Ann, who was a daughter of Robert and Ann Harrison.
* The Henry born in Shinfield was born July 1799. My Henry died in January 1885 and at the time was aged 86 years. This would put his birth in 1798.
*There was a child born in Hollinfare to a Henry and Ann Appleton c 1822, named Samuel. I believe this child was their first and that he died young. I think he was named after Henry's father. The name Samuel is used elsewhere in the family. There is no use of either Peter or Sarah. Henry of Warrington has a full brother, named Samuel. He died in Warrington in 1862. Then there was numerous half siblings from his father's second marriage to Ellen Sefton (Sephon)
* Samuel Appleton Sr married both his wives in St. Elphins at Warrington.
* When my Henry Appleton emigrated to South Australia aboard the Lady Lilford in 1839 his UK address was "Clegg Street Hulme" and his occupation was a Porter. Living nearby in Hulme at the time is James Appleton, who is a son of Samuel and Ellen Sefton Appleton.
*A number of Appleton's I believe to be related to my Henry all married in St Elphins.
*The two children of Ann and Henry whom I can find birth records for - Rhoda and Artemus - were baptised in Manchester. (In South Australia, Henry and Ann were Primitive Methodists, and these children are listed on the Non Conformist register)
*I can find no link at all to Berkshire for my Henry.
Henry and Ann had nine children that I am sure of - Andrew, Priscilla, Reuben, Artemus, Emma, Naomi, Henry, Rhoda and Louisa. Also I think the Samuel mentioned above is likely theirs.
If anyone has any ideas on how I could prove any of the above I would be most appreciative.
Thanks so much,
Narelle

Hi Narelle
A warm welcome to our Forum.
All the best with queries.
Cheers

Thank you Tina!

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I've asked somebody from the Warrington Group to read your post and see if she can make any suggestions. Hope to hear from her soon.

Do you have Henry Appleton's death certificate in Australia? The reason I ask is that the ones I have seen have the person's place of birth on them and the names of their parents if known.

That information starts after 1900 and he died in 1885. It only has the informant on it. Thanks for your reply!

I've had a message back from Madelaine from the Warrington Group, apologies that she's had problems logging in so has asked me to post the following on her behalf.

Anyway if you could pass it on. Henry Appleton was christened in Burtonwood 25 Nov 1798 to Samuel and Ellen. There were several other children born to a Samuel and Ellen ( some of them I presume from his second wife also named Ellen). All christened in Burtonwood. I can find no sign of a Henry Appleton born to Peter and Sarah. Besides Henry there were 6 others none named John may have died as there is another John born the following year.
It is entirely feasible that Henry and his wife Ann lived in Hollinfare as that is just up the road from me, maybe 5 miles from Burtonwood.
The only other thing that Narelle may have got wrong is Ellen's (number one wife) maiden name is not Fitch but Fitchett they married 11 January 1797 St Elphins
Information gathered from Lancs OPC and IGI. Ancestry shows only one Henry A born in 1798 and it matches everything except it is Burtonwood not Warrington .

Hope all this helps. Madelaine

Thank you Madalaine
for your research, well done lass.
Keep it up we need you!!

Hi Madelaine,
Many thanks for that. I thought I had posted a thank you earlier, but I cannot seem to find it! I truly appreciate your work there for me. Still on the search for the elusive bit of proof that he is my Henry, but believe I am on the right track.
Thanks so much!!
Narelle