In 1847, John Ashton (a possible brother) married Mary Mather, daughter of Henry, also at Dean. This Mary died in Little Hulton 1848, soon after the birth of her daughter Hannah (so all Ashton+Mather Births in Little hulton are probably correct)
In 1853, William was 21, a brick layer when he married Ann Mather.
In 1861, William and Ann (both 26) were at Dunkirk, Little Hulton with James (7), Elizabeth (3) and Alice (1).
Ann's mother was Betty Mather and her father James Thornley. Between 1864 and 1870 Ann's maiden name changes from Mather to THORNLEY for the births of Jacob, Ellen and Joseoh, and then back again for the birth of John Robert in 1872.
In 1871, William and Ann Ashton (both 37) were at Dunkirk, Little Hulton with 8 children. Jacob, Ellen and Joseph where not Ann's.