DONE: Ellen Longworth and James Cropper Ashworth

St. George's Church, Chorley

When Ellen Longworth was born in 1876 in Adlington, Lancashire, England, her father, John Longworth (1832-1880), was 44, and her mother, Alice (nee Loxham) (1839-1891), was 37. Ellen had seven sisters and four brothers.

Ellen married James Cropper Ashworth on August 20, 1898, in at the Parish Church in Chorley, Lancashire, England. Witnesses to the marriage are Frederick Wilson and Jane Ellen Ashworth (James' eldest sister).

Ellen's address is listed at 32 Bolton Road in Chorley (in 1905, sister Joanna is living at number 36).

32 Bolton Road, Chorley (image via GoogleMaps)

When James Cropper Ashworth was born in June 1877 in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, England, his father, James Ashworth, was 26 and his mother, Mary (maiden name unknown), was 25.

Marriage Certificate (image via Ancestry.com)

They had four children over a span of 20 years:

• Robert Ashworth (1899-1975*) married Sarah G. ? (1900-?)
• James Ashworth (1902-1930) married Elizabeth Cunliffe (1902-?)
• Mary Alice Ashworth (1905-?)
• Isabella Ashworth (1910-1915*)

We find the family on the 1901 Census at 21 Lincoln Street in Garston, Lancashire. An unexpected surprise - a "son", born eight years prior to the couple's marriage is on the census. On the 1891 Census, both James and Ellen are living with their parents - and there is no John Ashworth in either household.

Possibilities: 

A) The age listed for John is incorrect. But if that's true, why doesn't he appear on further censuses? Where is his birth registration?
B) John is adopted. Possible - but is John Ashworth his real name? Where is he after 1901?

Unfortunately, I haven't located any baptismal records for any of the children, which means that I can verify the birth that way. Clearly, some further research will need to be done to solve this mystery.

Either way - the family appears with real son Robert (aged 2 at the time of the census).  James' occupation is "mechanic fitter & turner."

1901 England Census (image via Ancestry.com)

21 Lincoln Street, Garston, Lancashire (image via GoogleMaps)

On the 1911 census, the family is living at 102 Station Road in Blackrod, Lancashire. The eldest, John, appears to have left home. Father, James, is a Millright in a Bleach Works. All of the children except Isabella (still an infant) are in school.

1911 England Census (image via Ancestry.com)

102 Station Road, Blackrod, Lancashire (image via GoogleMaps)

James Cropper Ashworth died in July 1925 in Bolton, Lancashire, England, at the age of 48.

Ellen (Longworth) Ashworth died in September 1952 in Horwich, Lancashire, England, at the age of 76.

*Death dates for the children have not been verified - but have been suggested by a relative further down the tree. No marriages have were found for children other than James Jr., but Robert and his wife Sarah G. (maiden name unknown) are on the 1939 census.

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