Aged >21 in 1837 when married
Aged 25 in 1841 (rounded)
Aged 35 in 1851, Born Little Bolton, Lancashire.
Aged 45 in 1861, Born Bolton (and Elizabeth 43, Halliwell)
Aged 49 in Mar 1865 when died

Born before March 1816 as aged 49 at time of death.
Born after Sep 1817 as minor when marrying Ellen Buckley

Older brother Isaac was baptised at Ridgway Gates in 1810.  The Bolton Library baptism records for Ridgway Gates finish at 1814, and the only other records for there which have been deposited are burials records.  The only John Mather I can find a baptism for is 21 Jun 1816 at Walmsley (St. Mary, Turton) a son of Samuel Mather and Alice Greenhough Mather, which is another John Mather.

For John to be a minor (under 21) when he married Ellen, he was born after 9 Oct 1816

John Mather born 21 Jun 1816, Baptism 21 Jul 1816, son of Samuel Mather and Alice Greenhamgh is another.

Elizabeth was a widow by 1871 census

John Mather died 21st March 1865, while living at 114 Chroley Street, of Chronic Hepatic disease (liver disease), and Icterus (now called jaundice) - 3 weeks.  He was only aged 49 at time of death.
Joseph Mather (his son), was present at the death, who was also living at 114 Chorley Street, Little Bolton.

See death certificate for further details (added Aug-2007).

The grave records dated 1873 are in the Inman/Foot family.  The grave was bought originally for £2 by Elizabeth in 1865 and is in Tonge and Haulgh cemetery (at the back of where Fred Dibnah used to live)  Ref - 2:F:29NC  There are 3 inmates buried as follows:
Burial     Internment            Name                           Age
12657     25/3/1865            John Mather                 49 years
73225     15/11/1902          Ruth Inman                   48 years
77741     9/1/1908              Hannah Richardson     65 years
There is no tombstone but we think it is next to the grave bought by John's brother George also in 1865 when his first wife died.

The epitaph from the tombstone is matriarch Alice Mather, Samuel’s widow, is buried here as well as George and family.

The funeral service was conducted by T.W. Handford, who was daughter Sarah Alice's brother-in-law.  Grave 2.F.29

Another John Mather, aged 66, of Kay Street died 27 Feb 1849

Lancashire Death indexes for the years: 1865
MATHER    John    49    Little Bolton    LB/32/112

Aged 32 in 1851, born Halliwell

Born Halliwell, Deane, Lancashire. Confirmed by 1851 and 1861 and 1871 census records.

Aged 32 on 1851 census
Aged 54 on 1871 census (and stationer)

Name:    Elizth Kay
Baptism Date:    14 Dec 1817
Baptism Place:    Deane, St Mary, Lancashire, England
Father:    Ralph Kay
Mother:    Ruth Kay
Reference Number:    GB127.L85/1/2/2

Abode Halliwell (finisher)

According to census records, Elizabeth must have died between 1891 and 1901 in either Birkenhead or Bolton.

Died in Birkenhead, recorded Q2-1892 as aged 70 (Page 8a, page 304), based on deaths in Birkenhead after 1891.  There are other deaths in Birkenhead and Bolton that also match, but burial record confirms this is the one.

The Will and probate for this Elizabeth Mather was ordered from Leeds (14-Jun-2007), but no record of a Will could be found.

Elizabeth was buried in the non-conformist section of Flaybrick cemetary on 13-April-1892, age 70 (?), widow of John.  The address was 34 Vine Street, Birkenhead.  She was buried in a public grave in section NC5, grave 5,558.  The funeral ceremony was performed by Charles Thompson.

Celia tells us that her death certificate says she died "by the visitation of God from natural decay".  No wonder there was an inquest!

Born at Lum Street, Bolton.
Registered 2-Aug-1844.

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1844
MATHER Hannah    Little Bolton    KAY LB/10/175

MATHER, HANNAH        KAY 
GRO Reference: 1844  S Quarter in BOLTON UNION 
Volume 21  Page 112

Died in Bolton Q1/1908 recorded as 65 (but was actually 63).

Deaths Mar 1908   (>99%)
RICHARDSON Hannah 65  Bolton  8c 213
RICHARDSON Hannah 65 Farnworth Bolton FTH/87/443

The grave records dated 1873 are in the Inman/Foot family.  The grave was bought originally for £2 by Elizabeth in 1865 and is in Tonge and Haulgh cemetery (at the back of where Fred Dibnah used to live)  Ref - 2:F:29NC  There are 3 inmates buried as follows:
       25/3/1865            John Mather                 49 years
       15/11/1902          Ruth Inman                   48 years
       9/1/1908              Hannah Richardson     65 years
There is no tombstone but we think it is next to the grave bought by John's brother George also in 1865 when his first wife died.

The epitaph from the tombstone is matriarch Alice Mather, Samuel’s widow, is buried here as well as George and family.

Hannah was admitted to the workhouse (also used as a primative hospital) on 26 Dec 1908. "Richardson Hannah 65 Dead Interred by friends.  Cause of death cellulitis of neck/toxaemia  Spinster from the workhouse (wrong).  She died just 12 days later.

Born: Little Bolton, Lancashire

Aged 21 when married Aug 1867
Born on or before March as aged 42 when he died.

MATHER, SAMUEL        KAY 
GRO Reference: 1846  J Quarter in BOLTON UNION 
Volume 21  Page 146

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1846
MATHER Samuel    Little Bolton    KAY LB/13/163

Died aged 42 in March 1888
District: Bolton, Lancashire
Volume: 8c Page: 296 

Born: Little Bolton, Lancashire

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1848
MATHER Margaret    Little Bolton    KAY LB/16/194

MATHER, MARGARET        KAY 
GRO Reference: 1848  S Quarter in BOLTON UNION 
Volume 21  Page 107 (or Page 109 on FreeBMD)

Assumed to have also died in New Zealand

Name    Margaret Kay
Death Date    1938 Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration Place    Birkenhead, Auckland, New Zealand
Folio Number    2354

Aged 70y 11mo in 1921, born Bolton


MATHER, SARAH  ALICE      KAY 
GRO Reference: 1850  S Quarter in BOLTON UNION 
Volume 21  Page 128

Sarah was 8 months old in 1851, in Little Bolton
Sarah was 10 in 1861, born Bolton
Sarah Alice was 60 in 1911.

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1850
MATHER    Sarah A    KAY    Little Bolton    LB/19/225

The Sarah Ann Mather chrisened 18-Sep-1849 at Stand (daughter of another John and Elizabeth) must be another. Stand is 0.5 miles SE of Radclidde, and about 6 miles ESE of Bolton.

At least later than 1901

Probate:
HANDFORD Sarah Alice of Rawdon Leicester-road Loughborough Leicestershire widow died 20 Sep 1924 at the Hospital Loughborough.
Probate Leicester 24 November to Reuben Ernest Handford (i.e. her son) Engineer and Henry Townsend D.D. Effects £774 10s 7d

The GRO has 6 John Mather births registered in Bolton in 1852 and another 7 in 1853.  John is so common !

MATHER, JOHN        KAY 
GRO Reference: 1852  D Quarter in BOLTON UNION 
Volume 08C  Page 218

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1852
MATHER    John    KAY    Little Bolton    LB/23/197

The Birkenhead death, aged 74 is correct, which suggests he was born after Feb 1853, but that's not possible as his birth was registered in Q4 1852.

It is reported (in both Birkenhead newspapers) that John attended Joseph Mather's funeral, so was still alive in 1918.

There is a John Mather who died in Little Bolton in 1922, aged 74  but this is another.  John died at 45 Church Steet, in Tranmere, Birkenhead, 23 Fev 1824, aged 74 (actually 75).  His brother Joseph had moved to Tranmere, and Joseph's son John Mather of 45 Thompson Street reported the death.

Deaths Mar 1928   (>99%)
Mather  John  74  Birkenhead  8a 708

Born: Little Bolton, 1854, Lancashire.

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1854
MATHER    Ruth    KAY    Little Bolton    LB/27/32

MATHER, RUTH        KAY 
GRO Reference: 1854  S Quarter in BOLTON UNION 
Volume 08C  Page 242

Ruth Mather was born on 2 August 1854 at 58 Chorley St.  Her father John was then a time keeper according to the birth certificate.

Name: Ruth Inman
Estimated birth year: abt 1854
Year of Registration: 1902
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at Death: 48
District: Bolton
County: Greater Manchester, Lancashire
Volume: 8c
Page: 241


The grave records dated 1873 are in the Inman/Foot family.  The grave was bought originally for £2 by Elizabeth Mather in 1865 and is in Tonge and Haulgh cemetery (at the back of where Fred Dibnah used to live)  Ref - 2:F:29NC  There are 3 inmates buried as follows:
       25/3/1865            John Mather                 49 years
       15/11/1902          Ruth Inman                   48 years
       9/1/1908              Hannah Richardson     65 years
There is no tombstone but we think it is next to the grave bought by John's brother George also in 1865 when his first wife died.

Ruth died in 1902, aged 48 at 16 Osborne Street from pneumonia and and heart failure. She is buried at Tonge with 2 others in the same grave.