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

On the 1841 census, Ellen was aged 20 (which is rounded to 5 years), so was between 15 and 25 (i.e. born 1816 to 1826).

The marriage certificate of Ellen and John has Ellen of "Full Age", and John and "Minor", but the 1841 census shows John older then Ellen.  However the Baptism record does suggest she was born about 1816, so of same age, so born before 9 Oct 1816 (i.e. 21 when married)

Ellen was living in Halliwell in 1837, and we only know she was born somewhere in Lancashire (probably East Bolton) from the 1841 census.

23 FEB 1816   Moor Lane Baptist-Formerly Scotch Presbyterian, Bolton Le Moors, Lancashire, England

Name:    Ellen Buckley
Birth Date:    23 Feb 1816
Birth Place:    Bolton, Lancashire, England
Event Type:    Birth
Father:    John Buckley
Mother:    Mary Buckley
Denomination:    Baptist
Piece Title:    Piece 1022: Bolton, Moor Lane (Baptist formerly Scotch Presbyterian), 1793-1836

Died between 1841-42.  Lancashire BMD has Ellen died in East Bolton, in 1842, aged 26.  The others ages dont match.

Deaths Sep 1842   (>99%)
MATHER  Ellen     Bolton  21 51

Lancashire Death indexes for the years: 1842
MATHER Ellen 26 Eastern Bolton EB/6/389

Death recorded in Great Bolton (Eastern Bolton).  Age 26.  Husband John Mather, and Oil Cloth Maker, was in attendance at Crook Street, Great Bolton.  The death was recorded on 8-Sep-1842 by John Scowcroft, Registrar.

Ellen was not buried at St Peters or Tonge, so possibly at St Stephen and all Martyrs, Darcy Lever (where brother Cornelius is buried).

The Manchester times reported Ellen's death (Sat 17 Sep 1842 edition):  "DIED: - On the 7th instant, aged 26 years, Mrs Ellen Mather, of Crook-street, Great Bolton".

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1838
Name: MATHER, Benjamin
Mother: BUCKLEY
Sub-district: Eastern Bolton
Registered at: Bolton
Reference: EB/2/88

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1838
MATHER    Benjamin    BUCKLEY    Eastern Bolton    EB/2/88

MATHER, BENJAMIN        BUCKLEY 
GRO Reference: 1838  J Quarter in BOLTON UNION 
Volume 21  Page 77

Lancashire Death indexes for the years: 1840
MATHER Benjamin 2 Little Bolton Bolton LB/4/82

Deaths Dec 1840   (>99%)
MATHER  Benjamin    Bolton  21 8_

Joseph was 71 in 1911

Two Joseph Mathers born in Bolton this year (Q1 and Q4). Lil's records show our John Mather's birth to be the first one, confirmed by Birth Cert.

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1840
BUCKLEY, Joseph    BUCKLEY    Little Bolton    LB/4/253

MATHER, JOSEPH        BUCKLEY 
GRO Reference: 1840  M Quarter in BOLTON UNION 
Volume 21  Page 111

The birth certificate (see image) is item 253 from the Little Bolton records, so clearly, the above record is the one, and it was indexed with the wrong surname (maiden name instead).

Les recalls Joseph was also known as Joe

Still alive at 1901, aged 61.

Burial Record:
Folio: 507, Record 1000
Buried 10 Sept 1918, aged 78
Occupation: Iron Moulder
Living at 282 St Annes Street, Birkenhead U.D.
Buried in a Private Grave, Section NC6, grave 234
Ceremony performed by Ben Evans

Joseph and Ellen Mather, and Alfred James and Mary Nugent are buried together at Flaybrick Cemetary (see reference for details and picture).

See excellent reference for Birkenhead News Obituary.

Name: Joseph Mather
Death Registration Month/Year: 1918
Age at death (estimated): 78
Registration district: Birkenhead
Inferred County: Cheshire
Volume: 8a
Page: 522

Cause of death on certificate is:
(1) Dilation of the heart (left & right ventricles)
(2) Ascites (which is an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity)
Informant was R Mather (son) of 9 Seddon St, Manchester.

Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1841
MATHER Sarah A Little Bolton BUCKLEY LB/6/408

MATHER, SARAH  ANN      BUCKLEY 
GRO Reference: 1841  D Quarter in BOLTON UNION
Volume 21  Page 106

Name: Sarah Ann Mather
Year of Registration: 1841
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire
Volume: 21
Page: 106 

Born after 1841 census, but no record of her at 1851.  Three possible deaths:

Lancashire Death indexes for the years: 1843
MATHER Sarah A 1 Little Bolton Bolton LB/5/491

Sarah Ann Mathed [Sarah Ann Mather]
Registration Year:    1843
Registration Quarter:    Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration district:    Bolton, Lancashire
Volume:    21
Page:    85

Name:    Sarah Mathed [Sarah Mather]
Registration Year:    1843
Registration Quarter:    Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration district:    Bolton, Lancashire
Volume:    21
Page:    154