Cannot find Peter Watkinson on the census after 1891

[Fazak8474]

Peter Watkinson is a gardener age 30 in 1891 in Latchford Warrington. He is with his wife Catherine and 2 children Elizabeth and William. In 1901 Catherine is a widow with 2 more children Margaret and Peter (my grandfather). First two children sadly died. My problem is I cannot find Peter on any census prior to 1891 although I can find his wife Catherine Simcock in 1851,1861,1871 and 1881. Peter and Catherine were married on July 22nd 1884 in Warrington. Peter's birthplace on 1891 census is St Helens. Can anyone help please? I am very appreciative of the help thank you.

[MaryA]

Can you please give the full details from the marriage certificate, fathers names, addresses, occupations etc. and also witnesses.

[MaryA]

Do you have this baptism
Baptism: 6 Jul 1862 St Thomas, Eccleston, Lancashire, England
Peter Watkinson - [Child] of William Watkinson & Margaret
Born: 16 Apr 1862
Abode: Eccleston
Occupation: Mechanic
Baptised by: Alfr. Walne
Register: Baptisms 1856 - 1862, Page 197, Entry 1570
Source: LDS Film 1849656

So he wouldn't have been on the 1861 census. There are quite a number of other children on the Lancs OPC site, William's occupation is either a Mechanic or a Millwright.

1861 census - 23 Liverpool Street, St Helens, Eccleston
RG 9; Piece: 2751; Folio: 27; Page: 49; GSU roll: 543023
All born Prescot
William Watkinson Head M 35 Millwright
Margaret Wife M 32
Ellen daur 12 Scholar
William son 4
John son 9 months
John Burrows Lodger Mar 48 Glass Maker

1871 35 Boundary Road, Windle
RG10; Piece: 3863; Folio: 3; Page: 1; GSU roll: 841935
William Watkinson Head M 45 Millwright Windle
Margaret Wife M 42 Windle
Ellen daur Unm 22 Eccleston
William son 14 Millwright's Apprentice Eccleston
John T son 10 Scholar "
Peter son 8 " "
Margaret daur 3 " "
Rachael Aunt to Head W 68 Sexton's Wife Parr

1881 Heard Lane, Windle
RG11; Piece: 3731; Folio: 8; Page: 10; GSU roll: 1341893
Margaret Watkinson Head W 53 Windle
John T son 20 Iron Moulder "
Peter son 18 Gardener (Unemployed) "
Margaret R daur 13 "

[dickiesam]

Death?

WATKINSON, Peter
Registration district: Warrington, Lancashire
Year of registration: 1897; Dec qtr
Age at death: 36
Volume no: 8C; Page no: 137

[Fazak8474]

Thanks that is great and very helpful, on the marriage cert, Peter is 29 and Catherine 34. Peter's father is a millwright, called William Watkinson. Witnesses are P Robinson (don't know who this is possibly a friend) other witnesses are Joseph Albert Simcock and Lilly Simcock - these are bride's siblings.
Peter's address on cert is 118 Bridge St Warrington - this is where Simcock family live in 1871 and 1881. Catherine's address on cert is 20 Church St Warrington.
Baptism, census details and death certainly look correct, only slight concern is birth in 1862 would mean he was 22 at marriage in 1884 but his age is 29 on cert, that is quite a big discrepancy. What do people think? Catherine was 34 so possibly trying to make the age gap look less?
Other confusing thing is Lilly as a witness - she would only have been 16 (age 3 in 1871 and not at home in 1881 possibly a servant elsewhere?)

[dickiesam]

Re:

Peter Watkinson is a gardener age 30 in 1891 in Latchford Warrington.

The death in 1897 fits with the info you posted above and fits with this birth, the only one in Lancashire between 1860 and 1863. Prescot was the Registration District for St Helens.

Birth: WATKINSON, Peter
Registration district: Prescot
Year of registration: 1862; Jun qtr
Volume no: 8B; Page no: 555

Did Peter indeed fib on his marriage cert? Wouldn't be the first time there was a pork pie at the wedding breakfast.

[dickiesam]

Re:

My problem is I cannot find Peter on any census prior to 1891

Census 1871...
RG10 Piece: 3863 Folio: 3 Page: 1
Address: Boundary Road, Windle, St Helens, Lancashire
WATKINSON, William Head 45 1826 Millwright - Lancashire
WATKINSON, Margaret Wife 42 1829 - Lancashire
WATKINSON, Ellen Dtr 22 1849 - Lancashire
WATKINSON, William Son 14 1857 Millwright apprentice - Lancashire
WATKINSON, John T Son 10 1861 - Lancashire
WATKINSON, Peter Son 8 1863 - Lancashire
WATKINSON, Margaret Dtr 3 1868 - Lancashire
WATKINSON, Rachael Aunt to head 68 1803 Sexton's wife - Lancashire

Census 1881...
RG11 Piece: 3731 Folio: 8 Page: 10
Address: Hard Lane, Windle, Lancashire
WATKINSON, Margaret Head Widow 53 1828 - Windle, Lancashire
WATKINSON, John T Son U/m 20 1861 Iron Moulder - Windle, Lancashire
WATKINSON, Peter Son U/m 18 1863 Gardener, unemployed - Windle, Lancashire
WATKINSON, Margaret R Dtr 13 1868 - Windle, Lancashire

[MaryA]

Great minds think alike, we both found the same family - and yes I was going by the age given for the 1891 census, so all fits to my mind.

[dickiesam]

Great minds think alike, we both found the same family - and yes I was going by the age given for the 1891 census, so all fits to my mind.

And we both have considerable experience of ancestors who were a little less than truthful!

[MaryA]

And we both have considerable experience of ancestors who were a little less than truthful!

Oh we know them so well!!

[Fazak8474]

Thanks so much, that is really great. The Watkinson line is really important to me.