William and Nancy were married in a religious ceremony on November 7th, 1841 at St. Peter's (Bolton).1 They had two biological sons named John and Thomas. They also had an adopted daughter named Sarah. There are no more children.
John was born in May 1841 in Over Darwen and his baptism took place there on March 6th, 1842.24
Birth Notes
Aged 1mo in 1841 living with James and Rachel Aged 9 in 1851 Aged 20 in 1861
No GRO record for John HOLDEN (born before parents marriage)
MATHER, JOHN - GRO Reference: 1841 M Quarter in BOLTON UNION (too early) Volume 21 Page 192
MATHER, JOHN - GRO Reference: 1841 J Quarter in BOLTON UNION Volume 21 Page 142
Name: John Holden Baptism Date: 6 Mar 1842 Parish: Over Darwen, Lancashire, England Father: William Holden Mother: Nancy Holden Register Type: Parish Registers Reference Number: PR 3036/1/1
He died at the age of 23 in September 1864. He was buried on September 23rd, 1864.5
Death Notes
Name: John Holden Register Type: Burial Death Date: abt 1864 Burial or Cremation Date: 23 Sep 1864 Burial or Cremation Place: Lancashire, England URL: https://www.deceasedonline.com...
Thomas was born in April 1843 in Over Darwen and his baptism took place there on April 3rd, 1843.64
Birth Notes
Lancashire Death indexes for the years: 1843 HOLDEN Thomas 0 Darwen Blackburn D/4/56
HOLDEN, THOMAS MATHER GRO Reference: 1843 J Quarter in BLACKBURN Volume 21 Page 42
Name: Thomas Holden Baptism Date: 3 Apr 1843 Parish: Over Darwen, Lancashire, England Search Photos: Search for 'Over Darwen' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection Father: William Holden Mother: Nancy Holden Register Type: Parish Registers Reference Number: PR 3036/1/1
Sarah was born in December 1844 in Over Darwen and her baptism took place there on October 30th, 1845.24
Birth Notes
Aged 6 in 1851
HOLDEN, SARAH ANN JEPSON GRO Reference: 1844 D Quarter in BLACKBURN Volume 21 Page 27
Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1844 HOLDEN Sarah Ann JEPSON Blackburn B/21/48
It appears that Sarah Ann Holden is the daughter of Thomas Holden and Alice Jepson who married in 1842 at Blackburn, and was then possibly adopted by William and Nancy.
Name: Sarah Ann Holden Baptism Date: 30 Oct 1845 Parish: Over Darwen, Lancashire, England Father: William Holden Mother: Nancy Holden Register Type: Parish Registers Reference Number: PR 3036/1/1 Abode: Blacksnape, Over Darwen (Blacksmith)