John and Alice Haslam of Bolton, Lancashire


 

John Haslam’s mother was Betsy Haslam and his father was William. In a letter from Jennie Weeks, a genealogical researcher in Salt Lake, hired by the Haslam family in the 1960s, to Edith Norris, a genealogical researcher in Bolton, England, Ms. Weeks states: “He gave his mother’s name as Elizabeth Haslam, and listed his father as William with no surname given.” The letter continues with additional clues: “We have definitely proven that the English family that he was connected with, who wrote him many letters after he left England, was the family of John Hardman and his wife Jane. We have a record showing that Jane had an illegitimate son, Thomas, born 16 July 1815. She then married John Hardman and had five children, including Elizabeth, James, Rodger, Giles, and Sarah. We know that this is the family he calls brothers and sisters.”

Betsy’s parents were John and Alice Haslam. Research in Bolton is challenging because Haslam is a common name, and during this time period there were four John and Alice Haslam’s having children. They were:

  1. John Haslam and Alice Draper, married in 1779, in Bolton.
  2. John Haslam and Alice Crompton, married in 1782, in Deane by Bolton.
  3. John Haslam and Alice Roscoe, married in 1786, in Bolton le Moors.
  4. John Haslam and Alice Halliwell, married in 1794, in Bolton le Moors.
Dividing out the many Haslam children among the proper families has been difficult, as the mother’s maiden name is not given at the christening. These christenings took place in St. Peter’s in Bolton, and in Deane by Bolton. On occasion, the townland is given, which can be helpful in grouping the families. Notes from Mrs. Morris, along with the townlands propose the following family groups:
John Haslam and Alice Draper

John Haslam and Alice Draper’s marriage is recorded in the St. Peter’s parish register: “John Haslam, weaver of this parish, and Alice Draper of this parish were married 14 October 1779”. Their children, all christened in St. Peter, were:

  1. Betty, christened 17 September 1780 of Tong.
  2. Ellen, christened 10 August 1783 of Tong.
  3. Alice, christened 18 April 1784 of Great Bolton.
Alice Draper Haslam died 1807 as a widow.
Sources: IGI, St. Peter parish register, FHS# 559176; marriage FHS# 559180.

John Haslam and Alice Crompton

John Haslam of Middle Hulton married Alice Crompton 12 February 1782 in Deane by Bolton. Their children, all christened in Deane by Bolton were:

  1. Mary, christened 28 June 1782 in Deane.
  2. Peggy, christened 21 August 1785 in Deane.
  3. Hannah, christened 18 November 1787 in Deane.
  4. Alice, christened 4 September 1789 in Deane.
  5. Matty, christened 27 December 1791 in Deane.
  6. Ruth, christened 19 October 1794; died 2 September 1795, buried in Deane.
  7. Betty, christened 1 January 1795 in Deane.
  8. Abraham, christened 5 November 1795 in Deane.
  9. Thomas, christened 25 September 1796 in Deane.
  10. John, christened 30 April 1797 in Deane.
  11. John, christened 18 May 1800 in Deane.
  12. Lettice, christened 18 September 1802 in Deane.
  13. Hannah, christened 7 August 1803 in Deane.
  14. George, christened 6 September 1804 in Deane.
  15. James, christened 15 September 1805 in Deane.
  16. Elizabeth, christened 7 February 1806 in Deane.
  17. Mary, christened 17 May 1807 in Deane.
  18. John, christened 15 October 1809 in Deane.
John Haslam, Sr. died 13 November 1808. Alice Crompton Haslam died 26 March 1819.
Sources: IGI; monumental inscription in Deane churchyard for John, Alice and their daughter Ruth. The inscription states “Here is interred the body of Ruth Haslam the daughter of John and Alice Haslam of Middle Hulton September 2nd in the year 1795. Also the said Alice Haslam died March 26th 1819 in the 60th year of her age. Like wise John Haslam died November 13th 1808 in the 67th year of his age.”

John Haslam and Alice Roscoe

John Haslam and Alice Roscoe’s marriage is recorded in the St. Peter’s parish register: “John Haslam of Deane, weaver, married Alice Roscoe of this parish 25 December 1786.” Their children were:

  1. Mary, christened 6 May 1787 of Darcy Lever; died 8 May 1791.
  2. Catherine, christened 1 March 1789 of Haulgh; married Job Openshaw.
  3. Molly, christened 31 October 1790 of Great Bolton.
  4. Alice, christened 13 November 1791 of Haulgh; died 10 May 1800.
  5. John, christened 30 September 1792 of Great Bolton at Bolton Le Moors Methodist Church on Bridge Street.
  6. Jane, christened 10 May 1794 of Great Bolton at Bolton Le Moors Methodist Church on Bridge Street; married John Hardman.
Sources: IGI, St. Peter parish register, FHS# 559176.

John Haslam and Alice Halliwell

John Haslam and Alice Halliwell’s marriage was recorded in the St. Peter’s parish register: “John Haslam of this parish, widower, and Alice Halliwell of this parish, spinster were married in this church by banns this fifteenth day of October in the year 1794.”Mrs. Norris proposed that this is the second marriage for John Haslam, with the first marriage being to Alice Roscoe. The children, all christened in St. Peter, were:

  1. Betty, christened 15 November 1797; died 1798.
  2. Thomas, christened 25 November 1798.
  3. *Betty, christened 25 May 1800 of Tong.
  4. Alice, christened 15 November 1801, Great Bolton.
  5. Mary, christened 24 April 1803 of Haulgh.
  6. Samuel Haslam, christened 24 February 1805 of Tong; died 11 December 1883.
Sources: IGI, St. Peter parish register, FHS# 559176.

There are several possible Betsy Haslams in the families of John and Alice Draper, Alice Crompton, and Alice Halliwell. John S Haslam’s mother Betsy had a sister, Jane, who raised John after her death. Only the combined families of John Haslam and Alice Roscoe, and Alice Halliwell meet this requirement.

Other information related to Jane Haslam confirm this assumption. The Bolton parish register shows the birth of “Thomas, son of Jane Haslam, Haulgh, spinster” on 18 June 1815. (FHS# 559176)The townland of Haulgh is listed at the christenings of several of John and Alice Roscoe and Alice Halliwell’s children.

In addition, a death certificate for Jane Hardman on 28 February 1838, at the age of 44 years has Thomas Haslam, brother listed as the informant. (Death certificate of Jane Hardman) Betsy has a brother, Thomas, two years older than her in the family of John Haslam and Alice Halliwell. 

Another clue in the letters of Jennie Weeks and Edith Norris is the fact that John S Haslam was related to Catherine, the wife of Job Openshaw. Ms. Weeks states: “Another fact that has been established shows that John was related to Catherine, the wife of Job Openshaw, and several of these connections you have been able to authenticate with actual dates and places.”Catherine was the daughter of John Haslam and Alice Roscoe.

The combined families of John Haslam and Alice Roscoe, and John Haslam and Alice Halliwell meet all of these conditions.Betty (or Betsy) Haslam, christened 25 May 1800 to John Haslam and Alice Halliwell is thought to be the mother of John S Haslam.

The letters from Edith Norris propose this parentage for John Haslam and Alice Roscoe:

John Haslam, christened 3 July 1761 to James and Ellen Haslam.

Alice Roscoe, christened 14 September 1760 to Robert and Ellen Roscow of Tong.

No parentage is suggested for Alice Halliwell, Betsy’s mother. Additional research is needed to continue this line.

 


If you have any additional information about this family, please contact me at alice@boydhouse.com.

 

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