General Notes

This is not the John Mather, born Bolton, step-son of Robert and Mary Longworth. He was still in Little Bolton, England with his mother in 1871.

John was born in 1839 the oldest son of Robert and Mary (all 5 birth registrations show mother's maiden name CARR).

In 1861, just after his father died, John was a spinner, lodging at 2 Blackburn Old Road, Sharples.

In 1864, John was 25, Bachelor and overlooker at Astley Bridge, son of Robert Mather, a printer (as per marriage). He married Betsy Rothwell at St Paul's, Astley Bridge in October 1864.

John (and presumably Betsy) arrived in the US about 1865.  The 1900 census records 35y (so 1865) and the 1910 census also records 1865.

In 1870, John and Betsy (27 & 25) were at Lawrence, Essex, Massachusetts.  John was still a spinner. 

25 Oct 1870, John became a US national, (US Naturalization Record Indexes).

The John (24, a machinist), lodging with an American family at Fitchburg, Worcester in 1870 and also a boarder (32, Machinist in 1880) is another person.

In 1876, John's son Peter came to visit with his new wife Ann.  Their son John was born in Boston, before returning back to Lancashire where thier daughter Mary was born the following year.

In 1880, John, 32 (but really 41), is still single, at Leominster, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.

In 1888-1890, John is in the Lawrence, MA City Directory as a Clerk at 23 Manchester..

In 1890, John  and Betsy would have still been together, but the USA census records are lost.  However, John is in the City directory, now as Groceries and Provisions dealer at 434 Broadway, Lawrence.

In 1897, John (50, but actually 58), a Butcher, son of Robert and Mary Mather married a much younger Martha Haigh (23) at Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA.  This is his second marriage (the first in the UK, not Massachusetts).

According to Bessie French, an old family member, there was a story passed down that two travelled to the Cross Keys, Falls Road, Baltimore for their Honeymoon.  Nathan C. Mather had recently sold the tavern to William Fraking and it was being run as a hotel (because of the prohibition).

In 1900, John was a Meat cutter, born March 1847 (which is incorrect) with wife Martha (b 1873, R.I.) and son Robert (aged 1).

25 Aug 1904, John Mather, aged 64, a Butcher, arrived back in Boston from Liverpool, sailing on the Ivernia.  He had been visiting family in "Astley Bridge".

In 1907, Johns sister Nancy (aged 61) married John Sanderson in Massachusetts. They both recorded their ages as 50. Perants were confirmed as Robert Mather and Mary Carr.

In 1910, John (aged 69) was living on his own income. He was still with his young wife Martha (36) and son Robert (aged 11) and also Margaret (aged 8).

In 1916, John and Martha are listed in the Lawrence Mass City Directory.  John is shown as died 20 April 1916