Son Abel shows his father as James Knowles, a farmer.  Therefore, he was probably also a farmer from Entwistle where Jenny's family were farming when Able was born.

Name:    Jenny Mather
Birth Date:    17 Sep 1819
Event Type:    Baptism
Father:    James Mather
Mother:    Rachel Hamer
Baptism Date:    30 Sep 1821
Baptism Place:    Turton, Lancashire, England
Denomination:    Presbyterian
Piece Title:    Piece 1622: Turton, Walmsley Chapel (Presbyterian), 1762-1836

Aged 5 months on 1841 census so born Jan 1841.

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1841
MATHER    Abel    MATHER    Edgworth        EDG/1/345

MATHER, ABEL        - 
GRO Reference: 1841  M Quarter in BOLTON UNION 
Volume 21  Page 139

Aged 42 and a publican when married in 1881

Name:    Abel Mather
Estimated Birth Year:    abt 1841
Registration Year:    1890
Registration Quarter:    Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death:    49
Registration district:    Salford, Lancashire
Volume:    8d
Page:    125

Name:    Abel Mather
Age:    49
Birth Date:    abt 1841
Burial Date:    13 Sep 1890
Burial Place:    Eccles, St Mary, Lancashire, England
Reference Number:    L49/1/8/17
Archive Roll:    539
Abode: Salford