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Hi , I hope someone can help. I am looking for the parents of William Platt (born c 1838) who married an Elizabeth Dixon in 1859. William's father was given as John Fisher (a Stone mason) at the marriage. William and Elizabeth were both living in Shevington (Wigan) at the time of their marriage.(Elizabeth's father was James Ascroft - a collier). I cannot find anything to suggest who William's mother was, or who this 'John Fisher' is. Nor can I find a birth record in Wigan for William in 1838. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks :-)

is this them 1861
PLATT, William Head Married M 22 1839 Coal Miner
Shevington, Lancashire VIEW
PLATT, Elizabeth Wife Married F 18 1843
Wigan, Lancashire VIEW
PLATT, John Son M 0 (10M) 1861
Shevington, Lancashire VIEW

Piece: 2767

Folio: 99

Page: 26

Registration District: Wigan

Civil Parish: Shevington

Municipal Borough:

Address: Hullet Holes, Shevington

County: Lancashire

1841 ??????
PLATT, Ann F 25 1816 Lancashire VIEW
PLATT, William M 2 1839 Lancashire VIEW

Piece: 527

Book/Folio: 13/29

Page: 19

Registration District: Wigan

Civil Parish: Standish

Municipal Borough:

Address: Finch Mill & Nook, Standish, Shevington

County: Lancashire

birth ???????????
BMD transcript details
useful links & resources
Name: PLATT, William

Registration district: [?] Wigan

County: Lancashire

Year of registration: 1839

Quarter of registration: Apr-May-Jun

Mother's maiden name: Not available before 1911 Q3

Volume no:[?] 21

Page no:[?]838

Many thanks for your input. But my Wm Platt was born June 1838 to Oct 1838 in Shevington. I am starting to think that his birth wasn't registered. Is this likely ? Thanks

Shevington is a village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester,


Possibly ......

Births Jun 1839
Platt William - Wigan 21 838

Is this the correct family ?
In which case he was probably born before registration began


Household: 1881

William PLATT Head M Male 44 Shevington, Lancashire, England Coal Miner
Elizabeth PLATT Wife M Female 38 Wigan, Lancashire, England
John PLATT Son U Male 20 Shevington, Lancashire, England Coal Miner
Soloman PLATT Son U Male 19 Shevington, Lancashire, England Coal Miner
Alice PLATT Daur U Female 15 Shevington, Lancashire, England Working In Brick Croft
Mary E. PLATT Daur Female 5 Shevington, Lancashire, England Scholar
William PLATT Son Male 4 Shevington, Lancashire, England
Margaret PLATT Daur Female 2 Shevington, Lancashire, England
Ellen PLATT Daur Female 3 m Shevington, Lancashire, England


Dwelling Back Lane
Census Place Shevington, Lancashire, England

Hi Folks, Thanks for your input. You have got the correct William on the Census' but i am looking for his birth and parents details (all I know is his father was named as John Fisher at William's marriage). William was born June 1838 to Oct 1838 in Shevington. Aged 20 at his marriage 13/6/1859 and died aged 54 JAS 1892. Any help you can give me with his birth (and parents) would me much appreciated. Thanks again. Anne

Hello Anne - where do you get June 1838 to October 1838 as his possible birth?

Ages on marriage and death certificates are notoriously wrong, particularly back then when literacy was poor. It's usual to allow around +/- 2 years.

I assume you are going off this death for DOB

Deaths Sep 1892
Platt William - 54 -Wigan 8c 1

Do you have this cert?
Is it definately him ?

You say that the censuses posted are the right William
so do you think his mother was Ann ?

1841 ??????
PLATT, Ann F 25 1816 Lancashire VIEW
PLATT, William M 2 1839 Lancashire VIEW

I am guessing this is your source of information.

Marriage: 13 Jun 1859 St Wilfrid, Standish, Lancashire, England
William Platt - (X), 20 Collier Bachelor of Shevington
Elizabeth Dixon - (X), 17 Spinster of Shevington
Groom's Father: John Fisher, Stonemason
Bride's Father: James Ascroft, Collier
Witness: William Gibson; Henry Smith
Married by Banns by: R. H. Whitworth Curate
Notes: (Whit Monday)
Register: Marriages 1859 - 1880, Page 2, Entry 3
Source: LDS Film 1526141

Hi , yes I know dates and ages can be notoriously wrong , but in this case they actually 'add-up'. Also , there are only 2 possibles I can find in the area, I born Wigan 1839. - parents Robert and Mary- (died 1839) and one in Chorley ( parents Thomas and Catherine). I have got the dates from the age at marriage and age at death (which as I say tie in with each other). Thanks a lot Anne

I am not sure how this works yet but I am struck by this marriage.

Marriage: 1 Jul 1839 St Peter, Liverpool, Lancashire, England
John Fisher - Full Age Stone Mason Widower of Vauxhall St
Margaret Ascroft - Full Age Widow of Bootle Parish of Walton on the Hill
Groom's Father: Richard Fisher, Farmer
Bride's Father: John Cain, Butcher
Witness: Thomas Dighton; Elizabeth Dighton, (X)
Married by Banns by: Tho MacGill Curate
Register: Marriages 1839, Page 150, Entry 299
Source: LDS Film 93290

Hi Lady Kira, No, that's the wrong marriage. They were married 13 June 1859 In Standish (Wigan) .Wm Platt and Elizabeth Dixon. Groom's father John Fisher , Brides Father John Ascroft. I have seen that marriage and wondered if there had been some 'mix up' , but I have traced the bride's ancestry so I think the details recorded on their marriage Cert were correct. Cheers Anne

possible for James

1851 Address: Hallet Hole, Shevington
ASHEROFT, James Head Married M 33 1818 Collier
Upholland, Lancashire
ASHEROFT, Ann Wife Married F 29 1822
Orrell, Lancashire
ASHEROFT, Elizabeth Daughter Unmarried F 9 1842
Wigan, Lancashire
ASHEROFT, John Son Unmarried M 5 1846
Shevington, Lancashire
ASHEROFT, Soloman Son Unmarried M 2 1849
Shevington, Lancashire
ASHEROFT, George Lodger Unmarried M 18 1833 Tailor
Shevington, Lancashire

I have posted exactly the information you gave including the date. I also posted a marriage that took place in 1839 that has similar names so may be a family member.

Hello again LadyKira, Thanks again for the input. I've got all the ancestry on Elizabeth dixon (Ascroft). Its The William Platt side that I am tring to trace (from his birth backwards). I have all his descendants , but can't find his birth or the link between him and John fisher. Thanks again.

Hello again Anne - because there isn't a birth record that matches the dates you are so sure of then perhaps his birth just wasn't registered. It wasn't compulsory until the early 1870s.

HI MarieCeleste , I'm begining to think thats the case to be honest. The only other possibility I can come up with is that he was registered ina different area (which was often the case in those days - especially if he was illegitimate). I'm just desperately hoping that someone out there has traced him ! Thanks again. Anne

If Ann was an unmarried mother then john Fisher could be the named father.

This is another possible child for her

Baptisms: 28 Dec 1834 St Wilfrid, Standish, Lancashire, England
John Platt - 1st son of Ann Platt
Abode: Shevington
Occupation: Servant
Baptised by: Thomas Marsden, Curate
Register: Baptisms 1834 - 1869, Page 11, Entry 1677
Source: LDS Film 1526140