The Family of John Ascroft

John Ascroft is a bit of a mystery. According to his marriage record, he was the son of William Ascroft, a farmer at Croston, and according to all available Census records he was born c. 1843 in Tarleton, Lancashire. However, I have searched the birth indexes and baptism records for the churches in the area and can find no record of his baptism under the name John Ascroft.

When his father died in 1879 he left a Will in which he refers to his "reputed son", John Taylor Ascroft. This is the first record I can find that mentions a middle name - and it is the maiden name of his mother Elizabeth. I initially suspected that John Ascroft was Elizabeth's son born before she married William Ascroft, but when I found her Will she also refers to her "reputed son", John Taylor Ascroft. In these instances, the word "reputed" may indicate that John was not their natural son. Formal adoption did not exist at this time and adoptions would have been informal arrangements. It is possible that John was a relative of Elizabeth's, hence the name Taylor being used as a middle name, and that she and William "adopted" him as their first child.

They were not yet married at the time of the 1841 Census and by the time of the 1851 Census John was living with them as their son:

1851 CENSUS OF BRETHERTON, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
William Ashcroft	Head	Married	M	33	Farmer of 59 Acres	Tarleton, Lancashire
Elizabeth Ashcroft	Wife	Married	F	32	Farmer's Wife	Tarleton, Lancashire
John Ashcroft	Son	-	M	8	Scholar	Tarleton, Lancashire
Phillip Ashcroft	Son	-	M	5	-	Bretherton, Lancashire
William Ashcroft	Son	-	M	1	-	Bretherton, Lancashire
Adam Taylor	B-I-L	-	M	11	Scholar	Preston, Lancashire
Ralph Bamford	Servant	Unmarried	M	40	Farm Servant	Bretherton, Lancashire

NOTES:
1:	Living at South Row, Bretherton. (HO-107-2263, folio xx, page 21)
2:	William was listed as employing 1 labourer.
3:	The misspelling of the surname was a common error.
4:	Adam Taylor was Elizabeth's younger brother (B-I-L = Brother-in-Law).
5:	The above information is taken from the census returns on microfilm at the Lancashire Archives.

1861 CENSUS OF CROSTON, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
William Ascroft	Head	Married	M	43	Innkeeper & Farmer	Tarleton, Lancashire
Betty Ascroft	Wife	Married	F	42	-	Tarleton, Lancashire
John Ascroft	Son	Unmarried	M	18	Farmer's Son	Tarleton, Lancashire
Phillip Ascroft	Son	-	M	15	-	Bretherton, Lancashire
William Ascroft	Son	-	M	11	-	Bretherton, Lancashire
Margaret Ascroft	Daughter	-	F	7	-	Bretherton, Lancashire
Sarah Ascroft	Daughter	-	F	3	-	Croston, Lancashire
Adam Taylor	Servant	Unmarried	M	21	Ag. Labourer	Preston, Lancashire
William Hale	Servant	Unmarried	M	18	Ag. Labourer	Hawkshead, Lancashire
John Trafford	Servant	Unmarried	M	18	Ploughman	Croston, Lancashire
Stephen Whittle	Servant	Unmarried	M	18	Ag. Labourer	Croston, Lancashire
Ellen Dobson	Servant	Unmarried	F	18	General Servant	Sollom, Lancashire
Mary Sharrock	Servant	Unmarried	F	13	Nurse	Croston, Lancashire

NOTES:
1:	Living at The Grapes Inn, Croston. (RG9-3123, folios 77 & 78, pages 25 & 26)
2:	William Ascroft's full occupation was Innkeeper & Farmer of 65 acres, employing 4 labourers and 3 boys.
3:	Sollom is a hamlet in the township of Tarleton.
4:	The above information is taken from the census returns on microfilm at the Lancashire Archives.

10 years later William and Elizabeth's lives had changed considerably. Their daughter's, Margaret & Sarah died within days of each other and were buried in the churchyard at Croston Parish Church on 26 and 29 November 1861 respectively. Their eldest son John had married in 1866 and started his own family.

William was no longer running the pub but was still farming in Croston:

1871 CENSUS OF CROSTON, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
William Ascroft	Head	Married	M	55	Farmer of 62 Acres	Tarleton, Lancashire
Elizabeth Ascroft	Wife	Married	F	52	-	Tarleton, Lancashire
Phillip Ascroft	Son	Unmarried	M	25	Farmer's Son	Bretherton, Lancashire
William Ascroft	Son	Unmarried	M	20	Farmer's Son	Tarleton, Lancashire
Jane Caunce	Servant	Unmarried	F	18	General Servant	Tarleton, Lancashire
Ellis Hart	Visitor	Married	M	42	Mechanic	Bolton, Lancashire

NOTES:
1:	Living in the village of Croston. (RG10-4200, folio 68, page 9)
2:	William Ascroft's full occupation was Farmer of 62 acres, employing 2 boys and 2 men.
3:	Their exact address in the village wasn't recorded.
4:	The above information is taken from the census returns on microfiche at the Lancashire Archives.

William Ascroft Sr died on 6 July 1879 and was buried 2 days later in the churchyard at St Mary the Virgin Parish Church in Rufford. As mentioned above, he made a Will mentioning his wife Elizabeth, his "reputed son" John, and his sons Phillip and William.

National Probate Index entry:

Ascroft, William - 14 August (1879). The Will of William Ascroft late of Croston in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, who died 6 July 1879 at Croston was proved at Lancaster by Elizabeth Ascroft of Highfield Cottage, Croston, Widow the Relict (during Widowhood), Philip Ascroft of the "Heketh Arms" Rufford in the said County, Innkeeper and William Ascroft of Highfield Cottage, Farmer, the Sons, and John Taylor Ascroft of the Lodge, Croston, Farmer, the Executors. Personal Estate under £1500

William's widow Elizabeth continued to live in Croston and was still living there in 1881:

1881 CENSUS OF CROSTON, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
Elizabeth Ascroft	Head	Widow	F	62	Annuitant	Tarleton, Lancashire
Elizabeth Ascroft	Granddau.	-	F	11	Scholar	Croston, Lancashire

NOTES:
1:	Living at Highfield Lane, Croston. (RG11-4222, folio 64, page 1)
2:	The younger Elizabeth Ascroft was the daughter of John Ascroft and Jane Norris.
3:	Their exact address in the village wasn't recorded.
4:	The above information is taken from the census returns on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk.

1891 CENSUS OF RUFFORD, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
Elizabeth Ascroft	Head	Widow	F	72	-	Tarleton, Lancashire
Ann Anderton	Servant	Unmarried	F	40	House Keeper	Higher Walton, Lancashire

Elizabeth (Taylor) Ascroft died on 9 October 1897 and was buried in the churchyard at St Mary the Virgin Parish Church in Rufford where husband was interred 18 years earlier. She made a Will mentioning her "reputed son" John, and sons Phillip and William.

National Probate Index entry:

Ascroft, Elizabeth of Daisy Cottage, Rufford, Lancashire, widow, died 9 October 1897. Probate Lancaster 19 November (1897) to Philip Ascroft, innkeeper. Effects £117 12s 1d

NOTES:
1:	Living at Preston Road, Rufford. (RG12-3040, folio xx, page 12)
2:	The above information is taken from images of the census returns on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk.