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Looking into John and Hannah Pearson, Lancashire, I found a puzzle in their daughter, Elizabeth's, marriage.
They had 6 children
Alice, born abt 1823, George, abt 1825, Charlotte, abt 1826, Elizabeth, abt 1833, Thomas, abt 1836 and Hannah, abt 1838. First 4 born Worsley, last 2 Bolton.
Losing track of John and Hannah I looked for children. Charlotte had married Robert Abbotson so when I found the eldest daughter Alice, unmarried, with her 2 nieces Annie and Mary Abbotson on 1881 census I knew this was correct. Also on the return was Elizabeth Butterworth, sister, married and under occupation it had 'wife of Thomas Butterworth'. Though this was unusual I was glad of the extra info. However, I can't find a marriage between an Elizabeth Pearson and Thomas Butterworth although I can find a marriage between what looks like the youngest, Hannah, and a Thomas Butterworth in 1858. I have found a few likely deaths for a Hannah Butterworth before this census. Elizabeth and Thomas may have just been living together but I would welcome other sugestions.
Sorry this was so longwinded but thank you for reading it.

Hello Alan - welcome to the boards!

Where have you been searching for marriage records?

1881 For ref:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability
Alice PEARSON Head U Female 58 Worsley, Lancashire, England Grocer & Provision Dealer
Annie ABBOTSON Neice U Female 28 Bolton, Lancashire, England School Mistress
Mary ABBOTSON Neice U Female 23 Bolton, Lancashire, England Dressmaker
Elizabeth BUTTERWORTH Sister M Female 48 Worsley, Lancashire, England Wife Of Thomas Butterworth, Oldham
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Dwelling 11 Osborne
Census Place Great Lever, Lancashire, England
Family History Library Film 1341920
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 3848 / 64
Page Number 15

.. and the 1841 for reference:

PEARSON, John M 40 1801 < Flour Dealer
PEARSON, Hannah F 35 1806 Lancashire
PEARSON, Alice F 15 1826 Lancashire
PEARSON, George M 15 1826 Lancashire
PEARSON, Charlotta F 15 1826 Lancashire
PEARSON, Elizabeth F 8 1833 Lancashire
PEARSON, Thomas M 6 1835 Lancashire
PEARSON, Hannah F 3 1838 Lancashire

Registration District: Bolton
Sub District: Bolton Eastern, Great
Civil Parish: Bolton
Municipal Borough: Bolton

Address: Bradshaw Gate, Bolton, Bolton, Great County: Lancashire

Given the ages it could be that Elizabeth had been previously married so would not marry Thomas as a Pearson?

I dont have full access to census, but Elizabeth is listed as Betty Butterworth, in Oldham on 1891 - maybe somebody could display the full record. Given that I found this possible marriage:

Marriages Sep 1864 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Butterworth Thomas Oldham 8d 902
Taylor Betty Oldham 8d 902

Thanks to all.
I have searched for mariage records on Freebmd, here and FindMyPast. Didn' t think of looking for a previous mariage for Elizabeth. What puzzled me was that Elizabeth gave this information on the census. The line 'The lady doth protest too much' sprang to mind.
Back to the records.

Thanks Vanessa,
You had replied while I was writting the last message. First time I have used the message boards and I really appreciate everyone's help

As this is Lancashire, have you googled the Lancs OPC?

It has a wealth of knowledge and may even have something you need?


T x :-D

Lancs bmd seem to have a marriage not listed on Freebmd:

Lancashire Marriage indexes for the years: 1863
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
PEARSON Elizabeth BUTTERWORTH Thomas Eccles Parish St Mary's Salford C1/19/286

The register from the church would have this entry which would list the fathers name!

Likewise for the Taylor/Butterworth previously posted:

Lancashire Marriage indexes for the years: 1864
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
TAYLOR Betty BUTTERWORTH Thomas Christ Church, Glodwick Oldham CEA1/199

Got this?

Baptisms: 15 Aug 1824 Ellenbrook Chapel, Worsley, Lancashire, England
George Pearson - Child of John Pearson & Hannah
Abode: Worsley
Occupation: labourer

Baptisms: 11 May 1828 Ellenbrook Chapel, Worsley, Lancashire, England
Lucy Pearson - Child of John Pearson & Hannah
Abode: Worsley
Occupation: labourer

Baptisms: 9 Jun 1833 Ellenbrook Chapel, Worsley, Lancashire, England
Elizabeth Pearson - Child of John Pearson & Hannah
Abode: Worsley
Occupation: labourer

Baptisms: 7 Jun 1835 Ellenbrook Chapel, Worsley, Lancashire, England
Thomas Pearson - Child of John Pearson & Hannah
Abode: Worsley
Occupation: labourer

Baptisms: 7 Jan 1838 Ellenbrook Chapel, Worsley, Lancashire, England
Hannah or Florence? Pearson - Child of John Pearson & Hannah
Abode: Bolton <<----- note the abode!
Occupation: labourer

Tracey xx

A Pearson/Abbotson marriage?

Marriage: 2 Feb 1848 St Peter, Bolton, Lancashire, England
Robert Abbotson - full Groom Bachelor of Great Bolton
Charlotte Pearson - full Spinster of Great Bolton
Groom's Father: Charles Abbotson, Farmer
Bride's Father: John Pearson, Shop Keeper
Witness: John Thompson; James Liptrot
Married by Banns by: John Edwd. Cross Curate
Register: Marriages 1847 - 1848, Page 228, Entry 456
Source: Microfilm of register at Manchester Library

....another Pearson marriage.

Marriage: 3 Feb 1849 St Peter, Bolton, Lancashire, England
Thomas Wright - Full Ironmonger Bachelor of Bolton
Harriet Pearson - Full Spinster of Haulgh
Groom's Father: Charles Wright, Ironmonger
Bride's Father: John Pearson, Maker
Witness: William Yeats; Charlotte Booth
Married by Licence by: J. Slade, Vicar
Register: Marriages 1848 - 1849, Page 188, Entry 376
Source: Microfilm of register at Manchester Library

...and again

Marriage: 25 Apr 1853 St Peter, Bolton, Lancashire, England
Thomas Dunn - full Tin Plate Worker Bachelor of Great Bolton
Mary Pearson - (X), minor Spinster of Great Bolton
Groom's Father: Michael Dunn, Tailor
Bride's Father: John Pearson, Basket Maker
Witness: Charles Ashall; James Liptrot
Married by Banns by: R. Harries Jones Curate
Register: Marriages 1852 - 1853, Page 102, Entry 203
Source: Microfilm of the register at Manchester Library

This would be the Hannah/Thomas marriage:

Lancashire Marriage indexes for the years: 1858
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
PEARSON Hannah BUTTERWORTH Thomas Manchester Cathedral (formerly Manchester Collegiate Church) Manchester CATH/121/431

Marriage: 18 Jan 1854 St Peter, Bolton, Lancashire, England
Jonathan Heaton - full Porter Bachelor of Little Bolton
Mary Pearson - (X), full Spinster of Little Bolton
Groom's Father: Thomas Heaton, Turner
Bride's Father: John Pearson, Weaver
Witness: Mr. Charles Halls; Hannah Pearson
Married by Banns by: William Booker Curate
Register: Marriages 1853 - 1854, Page 49, Entry 98
Source: Microfilm of register at Manchester Library

Marriage: 16 Sep 1855 St Peter, Bolton, Lancashire, England
William Pearson - (X), full Butcher Bachelor of Great Bolton
Eliza Cheetham - (X), full Spinster of Great Bolton
Groom's Father: John Pearson, Basket Maker
Bride's Father: Joseph Cheetham, Spinner
Witness: John Blackley; Robert Scholick, (X)
Married by Banns by: W. H. Coates Curate
Register: Marriages 1854 - 1856, Page 139, Entry 277
Source: Microfilm of register at Manchester Library

Thanks to all again. You have given me a brillia start. However, I have been doing this instead of getting petrol so will have to leave.

You might find some of them relevant or not!

But at least you have them for reference :-)


T x