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I have rather an unusual case that I am in the middle of trying to solve.
My great grandfather was so I thought William Houghton born in Whiston Lancashire 1850c.
However it appears he was known as William Swift in all the census's up untill 1891 when he changed back to Houghton again.

He had I think in total 9 children.My family were aware of the last 6 from Elizabeth born 1878 in Prescot but not the first 3.

I am trying to find out if they survived.
They were according to the 1881 census:-
Faith Swift b1873
William Swift b 1874
John Edward Swift b 1876
all born in Prescott.
If anyone has time to look these up for me I would be very gratefull

Many thanks

ELizabeth

Hi Gary

The William in question was born 1874c and was still alive and kicking according to 1881 census when he was a scholar aged 7

Elizabeth

Hi Sophie
I found that 1881 census but just wondering what happened to the first 3 children as in 1891 census they are all Houghton but the children only start with Elizabeth and Clara.
Faith William and John are not on there

They could have been married as faith would have been 18
Elizabeth

Thankyou West country lass
Perhaps the other 2 might be under Houghton?

Does anyone know would there have had to be a document back then making the change of name official?

Elizabeth

A death registration

John Edward Houghton
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1876
Year of Registration: 1881 Q2
Age at Death: 5
District: Prescot
County: Lancashire
Volume: 8b
Page: 443

Gail.

Hi Gail and Sophie

I think that answers that question

Perhaps William ans John died at the same time.What a disaster for the family.
Many thanks for looking

Elizabeth

That death must have been correct then Sophie

Now I need to carry on sorting out their father Willam's parents!!

Thganks again for your help
Elizabeth

Hi Sophie
Thank you I have that one that was the year he married.
I was able to find that out because on the marriage certificate he was Willam Houghton with no name for the father but one of the witnesses was Robert Naylor who according to that census lived next door.

I am thinking that may be John Swift was not his Dad and that Elizabeth Swift was Houghton before she married.

Elizabeth

Hi Sophie
The confusion I have is that on the censuses and marriage certificate he was born in Whiston not prescot.

I do realise that both those places are close together

Do you know if people had to fill out some sort of documentation to change their name?

Elizabeth

Thanks very much for all your help on this one Sophie

Elizabeth

1851 - looks like he is using a family name

William Swift
Age: 1
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850
Relation: Son
Father's Name: John
Mother's Name: Elizabeth
Where born: Whiston, Lancashire,

Civil Parish: Whiston
County/Island: Lancashire

Registration district: Prescot
Sub-registration district: Farnworth

Margaret Houghton 9 Stepdaughter
Peter Houghton 14 Stepson, Coaldrawer
Elizabeth Swift 33
John Swift 38 Colliery Bankman
William Swift 1 - Son

Class: HO107; Piece: 2194; Folio: 239; Page: 59; GSU roll: 87203.

Gail

A Marriage

John Swift
Year of Registration: 1851
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Prescot
County: Lancashire
Volume: 20
Page: 761

Elizabeth Houghton on same page

Was William a Houghton or a Swift

Gail.

Possible birth registration

William Houghton
Year of Registration: 1850
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Prescot
County: Lancashire
Volume: 20
Page: 810

Gail.

Sorry Sophie only just seen your post.

Gail.

Or .........this birth registration..

William Swift
Year of Registration: 1850
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Prescot
County: Lancashire
Volume: 20
Page: 902

Gail.

Gail and Sophie
Thankyou so much for looking into all of this for me.
Sorry I had to leave the house for a while.

Looking at what you have found in 1851
how on earth am I going to work out whether he was a Houghton or John Swift's son.
Elizabeth was I assume married before to a Houghton and had Peter and Margaret.
Any chance anyone could look at 1841 census and see if Elizabeth was married to someone Houghton with a son Peter age around 4.

Many thanks
Elizabeth

Hi
Just wondering if someone would be good enough to look this family up in the 1861 census.

If you could see where the parents were born that would be great and might help me in my mystery .

Many thanks
Elizabeth

1841 census possible

Address-Whiston (part of) South side of the lane leading from the pottery to the lane ends?

Peter Houghton
Age: 4
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1837
Where born: Lancashire,

Civil Parish: Prescot
Hundred: West Derby
County/Island: Lancashire
Registration district: Prescot
Sub-registration district: Prescot

Adam Houghton 15 Engineer
Elizabeth Houghton 20
Ellen Houghton 1
Peter Houghton 4

Class: HO107; Piece 517; Book: 7; Civil Parish: Prescot; County: Lancashire; Enumeration District: 9; Folio: 7; Page: 7; Line: 19; GSU roll: 306904.

Gail

The marriage took place before Williams birth so it depends what Elizabeth registered him as, even if he was Johns son....

1861 Pottery Lane

William Swift
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1850
Relation: Son
Father's Name: John
Mother's Name: Elizabeth
Where born: Whiston, Lancashire, England

Civil Parish: Whiston
County/Island: Lancashire

Registration district: PRESCOT
Sub-registration district: Prescot

James Forshaw 38 unmarried. Watch Screw Maker.
Charlotte Swift 3 born Whiston, Daughter
Elizabeth Swift 43
Ellen Swift 9 born Whiston, Daughter
John Swift 47 Coal Heaver, born Tarbuck? Lancs
William Swift 11

Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 2744; Folio: 94; Page: 43; GSU roll: 543022.

Gail

I am not sure who James Forshaw, the boarder on the 1861 is, but on the 1841 census there is a Joseph Forshaw aged 20 who is a coal miner, in the same household.

I wonder if the Forshaws are related in some way.

Gail.