Help wanted to trace ancestors walker family Upholland

[Qwackers]

Hi , I am looking for any history of the Richard Walker , named as father on birth of cisely Walker , 1803 st Thomas Upholland , does anyone know where he was born ? Thanks

[Merry]

First of all it's a good idea to record Cicily's siblings, in order to hopefully find the correct marriage for Richard. These are from Lancs OPC:

Baptism: 29 Apr 1798 St Thomas, Upholland, Lancashire, England
Mary Walker - Daughter of Richard Walker
Abode: UpHolland
Occupation: Collier
Register: Baptisms 1789 - 1812, Page 27, Entry 14
Source: LDS Film 1657546

Baptism: 11 May 1800 St Thomas, Upholland, Lancashire, England
Betty Walker - Daughter of Richard Walker
Abode: UpHolland
Occupation: Collier
Register: Baptisms 1789 - 1812, Page 33, Entry 9
Source: LDS Film 1657546

Baptism: 6 Jan 1803 St Thomas, Upholland, Lancashire, England
Cisely Walker - Daughter of Richard Walker
Abode: UpHolland
Occupation: Collier
Register: Baptisms 1789 - 1812, Page 40, Entry 33
Source: LDS Film 1657546

Burial: 2 Feb 1803 St Thomas the Martyr, Up Holland, Lancashire, England
Cicily Walker - Daughter of Richard Walker
Abode: Upholland
Register: Burials 1790 - 1812, Page 1, Entry 17
Source: LDS Film 1657546

Baptism: 25 Mar 1804 St Thomas, Upholland, Lancashire, England
Cecily Walker - Daughter of Richard Walker
Abode: UpHolland
Occupation: Collier
Register: Baptisms 1789 - 1812, Page 45, Entry 24
Source: LDS Film 1657546

This could be his marriage:

Marriage: 31 Oct 1797 All Saints, Wigan, Lancashire, England
Richard Walker - (X), Upholland
Ellen Gaskell - (X), Upholland
Witness: Wm. Bancks; Henry Fishwick, (X)
Married by Banns by: John Fawel
Register: Marriages 1790 - 1803, Page 188, Entry 752
Source: LDS Film 1885689

Next thought is, less than ten years worth of children after the marriage. Was that because Richard's wife was older, or because she (or Richard) died, or because they moved to a different parish or had come from a different parish in 1798 (making that 1797 marriage less likely)?

Also, you said "1803 birth" note that 1803 was the year the child was baptised, not necessarily when they were born. The Cecily baptised in 1803 died in 1803, so your Cecily was baptised in 1804.

[Merry]

If that 1797 marriage is the right one, then the family did move.

Baptism: 22 Dec 1806 All Saints, Wigan, Lancashire, England
Ellen Walker - fifth Daur. of Richard Walker & Ellen (formerly Gaskell)
Born: 26 Nov
Abode: Haigh
Occupation: Miner
Mother's Parents: Henry & Mary Gaskell
Register: Baptisms 1799 - 1812, Page 224
Source: Original register at Wigan Archives

Most helpful of the vicar to record maiden name, mother's parents and "fifth daughter" - that never happens in my tree! lol

I don't know if this is the same Ellen (jr)

Burial: 21 Nov 1813 All Saints, Wigan, Lancashire, England
Ellen Walker - Daughter of Richard Walker
Age: 7
Abode: Standishgate
Cause of Death: Smalpox
Buried by: T.Pigot
Register: Burials 1813 - 1818, Page 55, Entry 438
Source: LDS Film 1885700

[Merry]

The issue is when researching common names is that obviously there may be many possible entries that fit the bill, so you may have to research other people within the potential families to see if anything helps you.

[Merry]

I presume this is the correct bap for Ellen Gaskell though, as she has the correct parents, as recorded by the vicar at the 1806 baptism.

Baptism: 6 Sep 1778 All Saints, Wigan, Lancashire, England
Ellen Gaskell - Daughter of Henry Gaskell & Mary
Abode: Pemberton
Register: Baptisms 1754 - 1778, Page 236
Source: Original register at Wigan Archives

[Merry]

There is an Ellen Walker of the right age b Upholland on the 1841 and 1851 census, but I think her husband was William Walker not Richard as the baptism of her daughter Sarah (living with her in 1851) seems to confirm this.

[Merry]

I think this is the right Ellen Walker:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...nSearchResults

The entry reads "Ellen wife of Richard Walker, abode Blackrod, buried Dec 6th 1840, found dead"

[Merry]

That entry rather suggests Richard was living when Ellen died.

[Qwackers]

Wow , great work , yes potentially the marriage looks a possible one , and places like Pemberton where potentially Ellen was born is only a few miles away and so is Blackrod , as there was a lot of work around these area and again isn't too far away . Have you any idea where Richard was born ? it could be in the surrounding areas if not Upholland ? I I found a Richard walker on the 1841 census in Blackrod age 65 Looks like he was on his own as it doesn't mention anyone else with him in Goodmans Fold Blackrod , Yes the. First cisely Walker may have died and then she had another baby the following year and named her Cisely Thanks for your help Regards Qwackers

[Merry]

Have you any idea where Richard was born ?

No, because I can't find a burial for him which should show his approx. age at death and he doesn't seem to be showing up on the 1841 or 1851 census. EDIT - but I didn't see the 65 year old, so will try and find him now. You should have posted a link or the ref to his entry!!


There don't appear to be any baptisms of a Richard Walker in Upholland or Wigan at the right time, but there are around plenty to choose from if he was born somewhere else in Lancashire.