What could help you enormously is obtaining a copy of James BARON's will. Ancestry shows that it was dated January 1831 and is in the Cheshire and Lancashire Wills and Administrations 1831-33, Lancashire volume. FMP have details and, if you view the actual image, it shows to whom administration was granted and the amount of his estate. I should imagine that Lancashire Archives may hold a copy of the actual will - an email to them would confirm that. You could also have a look on Access to Archives website which have quite a few references to James BARON, attorney. These might provide a bit of background information and if you just do a search on BARON of Wigan you might find some clues as to James' parentage. Good luck Janet
Thanks so much for this Janet!! As it happens I had another look at that FMP will information yesterday! I did not know how to go about getting a copy of the actual will so your message is so very helpful. I will do that as my very first task this morning as, I agree, this information would shed some interesting light on any other siblings for John. I do note that our John and his wife were the two executors. I also found a Jane b a year before John on Family Search yesterday so it will be helpful to see if she is still alive at the time of his death in 1831. I would like to see the Will of Ellen, his wife, who died a year later and see what that throws up as well. Thanks so much for giving me some time at this especially busy time of the year!! I really appreciate it! Warm regards Sheryl
Glad to be of help, Sheryl. I did have a look on Cheshire Archives website just in case they had James' will and it does not appear on their catalogue so Lancashire RO would be the most likely place to hold it. If not, they may be able to suggest where it is likely to be held. Regards, Janet
To all those wonderful genealogy addicts may I take this opportunity to thank you so much for your help in searching for the Barons of Wigan, and to wish you all a truly magical Christmas season and all that it means for you and those you love!
The James Baron you are looking for was the son of James Baron and Elizabeth Finch who married 27.3.1749 at St. Wilfrid, Standish. Elizabeth baptised 30.9.1722 was the daughter of Peter Finch who was a Nailor (a maker of nails) of Langtree and Jane. (the full name of Standish is Standish with Langtree). James Baron who married Elizabeth Finch was baptised 12.11.1721 and was the son of Ralph Baron who was a Weaver of Langtree and Mary (Ralph was the son of Lawrence Baron and Ann and was baptised 03.06.1680) James Baron and Elizabeth Finch had the following children: Ann Barron (spelling on Lancashire OPC) baptised 14.01.1750 John Baron baptised 24.05.1752 Mary Baron baptised 22.06.1755 James Baron baptised 16.04.1758 Peter Baron baptised 29.06.1763 Peggy Baron baptised 16.06.1765 (Margaret) all the baptisms were at St. Wilfrid. Standish In his Will James leaves bequests to his sisters: 12.10.1773 at St. Wilfrid, Standish William Derbyshire of this Parish married Ann Baron spinster of this Parish 05.10.1795 at St. Wilfrid, Standish Edward Brooks of this Parish married Margaret (Peggy) Baron of this Parish The family always seem to use the church of St. Wilfrid for baptisms, marriages and burials and these are well transcribed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerks. The original parish records are all on microfilm and are available to view at The Museum of Wigan Life, however they are truly transcribed and only tell you exactly what the transcription does. Hope this helps you to put more meat on the bones!!
John Baron 1758 became the Attorney at Law and married Ellen Jackson on 3rd September 1793 at All Saints Church, Wigan (which is the Parish Church) they had two children who where both baptised at All Saints at the time the family are living in Queen Street, Wigan and John is Attorney at Law. Ellen (formerly Jackson) her parents are named as John and Jane: There children: Jane baptised 9th June 1794 and John born 16th July 1795 (gained an MA from Oxford in 1822) and became the Vicar of Walsall In the 1841 Census he is living in Cheltenham and married to Anna Maria (Prescot) they appear to have had the following children: John c1824 Kelsall Prescot c1825 James E.W. c1828 Walsall? c1829 Charles P. c1832 Henry W. c1835 James Baron (the Attorney at Law) was buried at St. Wilfrid, Standish on 8th January 1831 aged 72 years. Ellen Baron (Jackson) was buried at St. Wilfrid, Standish 03.08.1833 aged 68 years she had died in Altonbury, Huntingdonshire which should read Alconbury and is now in Cambridgeshire (formerly the ancient parish of Alconbury in Huntingdonshire).
The child born c1829 in Walsall was Anna Maria: When Rev. John Baron of Weston Super Mare, Somerset died 7.2.1867 she swore the oath Anna Maria Baron spinster of Weston Super Mare and Charles Prescot Baron Gentleman of Weston Super Mare. Under £5,000 When her mother Anna Maria died 12.03.1868 Anna Maria Baron spinster and Charles Prescot Baron Gentleman swore the oath, Under £200 Anna Maria died 21.08.1880 at 4 Denmark Villas, Cliftonville and Samuel Emile Casabianca Wine Merchant and Helena Waite spinster swore the oath Helena lived at 4 Denmark Villas and Samuel Emile in London. Under £1,000 In the 1841 Census the family are living in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and in subsequent Census records ie: 1851 and 1861 are in Clifton, Gloucestershire.
Oh wow!! You certainly have gone back in time from where I was at with the parents of Elizabeth Finch!! Are you related to this family or have you just been searching about for me while I have been snowed under with work buying and selling houses? It will take me some time to excitedly take all this new information on board! We are coming to England in May so I am hoping to see any burials in Standish etc!
I live close to Wigan and do some research there from time to time but all the information above I was able to find on line. Glad to be able to help I saw your original message on the local website for the museum.
Well, I do so appreciate your help! Were you able to find James' Will online? If you were I would love the link for this please! I am now very interested in finding the Will of James' wife Ellen and I am very keen to find out what happened to his daughter Jane. It would seem that James left his sisters the houses in which they lived in Standish, so when we come to England in May/June this will be an important port of call for us. The local church of St Wilfrid's will be a significantly important place to visit also!! I cannot thanks you enough for all you help! Much of the material relating to the John Baron research I knew but the earlier material was all new to me! James seems to have been from a family of working class people so it is so interesting that he became a solicitor and his son a Vicar. It will be fun to trace them back now with all the detail you have given me!! I sincerely appreciate the time you have given to locating this information!
It is a pleasure to be able to help you. Google Meat On The Barons' Bones The Family History has a blog spot and has put the Will on there. It was as a result of reading this that I was able to search his siblings. The blogger is based at Mt. Manganui, Bay of Plenty, NZ and would appear to be part of the family.