#52Ancestors: Thomas PICKTON, 1791-1853, Cheshire England

Continuing the #52Ancestors year-long challenge by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow, here is Thomas PICKTON in the PERRY line, a 4th great-grandfather to my son-in-law, 5th to his children. 

It is rather challenging finding details of Thomas' life in and around Weaverham Parish in Cheshire in the west of England. I have a possible christening, a marriage, a death. I'm comfortably sure of his spouse, and their names on the 6 children's christenings.  But there are very sparse details of his and his family's daily lives, interests, social network, and so on. 

Thomas was born about 1791 in Cuddington, a hamlet which had about 200 inhabitants in 1800. In searching the Parish Register for the region, I have only found his children's baptisms, and his marriage. No Picktons before that time - although I did find one William Pickton in early-mid 1600s in Whitegate a few miles away with a small family. For Thomas and his family, census records of 1841 and 1851 provided additional information of birth county, estimated age.

Thomas, a farmer, married Mary SAVAGE, daughter of George SAVAGE & Hannah LEE [not yet verified], on August 6th, 1811, in the village of Frodsham, in her parish church, St Laurence Church.   

They had 7 children that I have been able to find in the Parish Registers for Weaverham, which covers Cuddington. Not all life details have been found as yet for each child. 

All were born in Cuddington:

    1.  Mary, bap 30 May 1813; m. abt 1839 to William Podmore, 1 dau known

    2.  John, est 1816

    3.  Elizabeth, bap 12 Jul 1818; m. Jun 15, 1854 to James Gaskins [widower]

    4.  Hannah/Ann [ancestor], bap Feb 11, 1821, d. Nov 27, 1889,;
              m. Dec 239 Dec 1841 to George BOSTOCK sr.; 8 children

    5.  Thomas [jr], bap Jun 8, 1823

    6.  Sarah, bap Feb 12, 1826

    7.  Ellen, bap Feb 14, 1830; m. Mar 6, 1855 to Jesse Moss; 3 daughters

I managed to find a note that there was a two-storey grammar schoolhouse* in Weaverham, which may mean their children attended. Perhaps they all were able to do basic reading, writing, and arithmetic perhaps along with a few other topics such as history. I noticed that the 7th child, Ellen, signed her name at her marriage in 1855, while her mother had only made her mark at her marriage in 1811. (*Some Aspects of Education in Cheshire in the Eighteenth Century, by Derek Robson, pp134-135.) 

 Thomas died Aug 12, 1853 and his death was registered in Northwich, Cheshire.  His wife Mary, died a few years later, in 1859, registered in Northwich. It is possible that they were living with one of their children in Northwich, with either/both of their sons taking over the farm at this time. More research to do.  

PICKTON is not a common name at all in this parish in the 1700s and early 1800s, and rare or absent in nearby parishes. It is possible that Thomas moved to this parish as a young man, perhaps for work on a farm, and stayed. So many possibilities. So little actually known.

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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.

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52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No.45: Thomas PICKTON & Mary SAVAGE,

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was "Frightening" and I wrote about another very early settler to New England, Edmund TAPP & wife, Anne.  This week's theme is "Free", in whatever way one wishes to take it.  Fine, I headed over to my son-in-law's family lines, and picked his 3rd greatgrandparents:  Thomas PICKTON & Mary SAVAGE, from Cuddington, Cheshire, England.

Thomas PICKTON & Mary SAVAGE, both born approximately 1791. On the 1851 Census of Cuddington, Thomas lists his birthplace in Weaverham, and Mary lists her birthplace as Frodham Parish, about 7 miles apart.

They were married 6 Aug 1811 in Weaverham as seen on the Marriage Register, as well as in the Bishop's Register for the Diocese. Weaverham's history is detailed and summarized by the Weaverham History Society.  "The Weaverham of 1801 was a sleepy rural Cheshire village where only 1040 people followed largely agricultural employment."   
The church in the village is still standing:  St Mary's Church of England, built early in the 15th Century and added to in following centuries - A Grade 1 listed heritage building.  It has six bells, several from the 1700s, several from the 1800s. The first Parish Registers begin in 1576.  The photograph of this church, found on Wikipedia, is attributed to "Lizzie" from geograph.org.uk,, 11 Jun 2005.

The young PICKTON couple appear to have settled about 2 miles away, in Cuddington, where at least 4 of their children are known to have been born.  There is a 5 year gap between the first and second child; I could not find another birth for this couple in those years. 

1. Mary, bap 30 May 1813; m. 1849 to William Podmore in Whitegate, Cheshire
2. Elizabeth, bap 12 Jul 1818
3. Hannah/Ann [ancestor],  bap 11 Feb 1821 Cuddington; m. abt 1841 to George BOSTOCK; 7 children [all boys]; husband George d. 1870 Aug 9.
4. Thomas, bap 8 Jun 1823, poss. burial reg, 1861 1st Quarter, Weaverham Cheshire. [aged 37]
5. Sarah, abt 1826 [est by age on 1841 Census]
6. Ellen, bap 14 Feb 1830  [listed as Helen on 1851 Census]

Thomas's occupation was Farmer on both the 1841 and 1851 Censuses for Cuddington. On the 1851 Census, it states "Farmer of 9 acres." They do not seem to be listed on a 1861 Census for Cheshire. 

I have not yet firmly identified a burial or death for either Thomas or Mary. There is a possible death register date of Sep 1853, and burial register place in the region, but not proven to be this Thomas. My to-do research list includes searching for more information on Hannah's siblings, and additional details on both Thomas' and Mary's families, likely both in Cheshire,  With such common first names, this could be somewhat challenging. 

If you know anything about Thomas PICTON & Mary SAVAGE, I would be so pleased for more details. Contact me at my address at the bottom of the page, or in the Comments section.

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