John moved to 152 Brook St, Birkenhead in 1861.
The MMN recorded for the childrens birts are varied: HEAL (1x), HALD (1x), HILL (1x), HEEL (2x), and then HEALD (5x)
In 1851, John (15) was in Westhoughton with his parents and sisters Ann and Ruth (14 & 7).
31 Oct 1859, John Mather, Engine Driver, son of Richard Mather a labourer married Elizabeth Heele a minor, daughter of Samuel Heele, a Boiler Maker at st nicholas, Liverpool. Both were living in Dale Street.
In 1861 John and Elizabeth (both 24) were in Brikenhead with son Richard (1 month)
John left Birkenhead about 1874 after Elizabeth was born and moved to Aspull, Lancashire.
In 1881, John and Elizabeth (45 & 40) were back at Westhoughton with Mary (17), Maria (15), Samuel (13), Elizabeth (8) Edward (6), Henry (4), Sarah A (2) and Ruth (4 months).
After John, their last child, the family movd back to Westhoughton, where daughter Maria Ellen Mather married William Morris in 1888.