Could you have more luck than me ?

[jackthehat]

I have been searching for the birth record of my Great-Great-Grandmother, Ann MARTIN.
She was born on Christmas Day in 1856. She would have been born in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire.
I cannot find any reference for her.
Her father was Edward Martin born in Co. Armagh.
I have her on censuses and I have her marriage certificate, and that of her parents..........just can't find the pesky birth !

Any help, pointers, etc., gratefully received.

Thankyou.

[craft1948]

Do you know the registration district...........I've 7 Ann Martins in Q4 1856 and 4 in Q1 1857.

[craft1948]

Was she Ann or Anne.....she's Anne on the 2 censuses I've looked at?

[jackthehat]

Hiya.
Ashton-in-Makerfield came under the 'Wigan' registration district.
Although, possibly 'Warrington' may have been a contender.

[jackthehat]

Ann Martin on everything I've seen.......

[craft1948]

Right jack I've checked on the original docs on thegenealogist and the nearest Ann Martin datewise was registered in Wigan in 1858 Q3 8c 30.
I'm obviously not saying this is yours but I remember my gran was quite illegally registered when she was 2 years old!

[jackthehat]

Are there any Ann(E) Martins who fit the bill, craft ?
I'm willing to accept that there could have been a misplaced 'e' in the conundrum.....

[craft1948]

No I've checked for Annes as well. It may just have been the census takers spelling as her mother was spelt as Anne as well yet I assume her mother was Ann Smith.

[jackthehat]

That's her :o)
Possibly formerly Birchall.
This (Martin) branch of the family were fervent Catholics, apparently.

[flobadob]

There's a show on BBC in the mornings called Heir Hunters, you could look at how they do it. http://www.lostkin.co...irhunters/default.htm

[jackthehat]

Thanks for your input, flobadob.........

[dothawkes31]

Yes Ashton comes under Wigan RD, 1856/57 comes before birth registrations were compulsory and resulted in a fine for the parent(s) if it went over 6 weeks, so the responsibility was with the local registrar to encourage parents to register the birth, a vicar or priest would also encourage registration but for many a baptism was still the more important registration. Ann would most likely have been baptised at St Oswalds RC Church in Ashton (I went to a funeral there last August) .
If I still worked in Wigan I could have nipped into the register office as our staff entrance was only 50 yards away and the receptionist there would always check a detail for me before issuing a certificate.
http://www.genuki.org...rfield/StOswald.shtml

[craft1948]

Dot my nan was registered in 1903 but she always insisted she was older than my grandad who was born in 1901.

[craft1948]

Talk about coincidence.....I'd never heard of Ashton-in-Makerfield until jack posted this...........was doing some research on my Vint relatives tonight and guess where some showed up.....

[dothawkes31]

It was a big mining village, very bleak place up until the last 20 years after the pits closed. Three sisters track is there, it's a race circuit and country park, just off the M6.

I don't know what you mean about your Nan craft lol

[dothawkes31]

Oh sorry yes I do I re-read what you put earlier, her Mum and Dad didn;t want to be fined I guess!!

[jackthehat]

Thankyou, both.
Are St. Oswald's Registers available at Preston Records Office, Dot ?
And if not, any idea where I can get a shuftie ?

(I know she's buried in St. Oswalds as I've been to the grave..........)

[dothawkes31]

Hi
No I reckon they will be at Wigan Record Office ,(which is in Leigh)
http://www.gmcro.co.u...positories/wigan.html