Hannah's birth was registered as WHALLEY at Halliwell in 1843 before the couple were married.
Hannah was with her parents in 1851 and 1861, and there is no matching death after 1861, so she must have married. There are 11 Lancashire Hannah Mather marriages between 1861 and 1871 and the 4 for Bolton and Bury are most likely: 1866: Alfred BLACKELEY (Stand, Bury) 1869 Hugh STRANDRING (Radcliffe, Bury 1870 Samuel NAYLOR (Walmsley) - NO (born 1849) 1870 John WARD (Bolton, St George) - YES The 1870 marriage is the nearest church to Shaples. Also Hannah Ward is the correct age and born Halliwell.
Hannah and John were married in a religious ceremony on December 4th, 1870 at St. George (Little Bolton) by Curate J Ridley and witnessed by Samuel Brabbin & Ellen Mather.3
Marriage/Union Notes
Marriage: 4 Dec 1870 St George, Bolton, Lancashire, England John Ward - Full, Mechanic, Bachelor, Bolton Hannah Mather - Full, Spinster, Bolton Groom's Father: Peter Ward, Mechanic Bride's Father: James Mather, Spinner Witness: Samuel Brabbin; Ellen Mather Married by Banns by: J. Ridley Curate Register: Marriages 1867 - 1871, Page 233, Entry 466 Source: LDS Film 1966158
They had two sons and three daughters, named Peter, James, Susan, Sarah and Ada. There are no more children.
Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1872 WARD Susan A MATHER Little Bolton LB/69/275
Name: Susan Ann Ward Baptism Date: 6 Apr 1873 Baptism Place: Bolton-le-Moors, St Peter, Lancashire, England Parish as it Appears: Bolton-le-Moors Father: John Ward Mother: Hannah Ward Reference Number: GB127.L243/1/3/27 Abode Little Bolton (Fitter)
Name: James Ward Baptism Date: 13 Jun 1886 Baptism Place: Bolton, St James the Apostle, Lancashire, England Father: John Ward Mother: Hannah Ward Reference Number: GB127.L116/1/1/1