Ralph is described as of Hallgate, Wigan, in the parish register entries related to his children. His house in Hallgate was assessed in 1720 at four and a half shillings towards the relief of the poor (Sinclair 2:207).
Events
Date of Baptism: 26 December 1669.
Place of Baptism: Wigan, Lancashire, England.
The baptism is recorded in the bishop’s transcripts of the parish registers.
Date of Burial: 23 February 1744/5.
Place of Burial: Wigan.
The bishop’s transcripts record the burial: “Ralph Laithwait of Hallgate”.
Relationships
Father: John Laithwait (1646-1709).
Mother: Alice (died 1690).
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: unknown.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. All baptisms and burials are in Wigan.)
Alice Laithwait (baptized 8 October 1696 - buried 7 June 1699).
John Laithwait (baptized 2 May 1703 - buried 20 October 1757).
Evidence
Ralph Laithwate baptism (from the bishop’s transcripts, Wigan, December 1669)
26 Ralph the sonn of John Laithwate of Standishgate
Baptisms of children (Wigan, All Saints parish register):
October 1696
8 Alice daugtr of Ralph Lathwate halgate
May 1703
2 John son of Ralph Lathwate of Halgate
Burials of children (Wigan, All Saints parish register):
June 1699
7 Alice dar of Ralph Lathwate de halgate.
Commentary
Ralph’s parentage:
Ralph’s eldest daughter, Alice, was baptized in 1696, and his eldest son was named John.
The only baptism in the Wigan area that works chronologically as a candidate for Ralph’s baptism is 26 December 1669 (father John Laithwaite of Standishgate).
The Wigan register records the burial 24 April 1690 of Alice wife of John Lathwate saxton.
The names “John” and “Alice” increase the likelihood that the 1669 baptism is correct.
References
Ralph Laithwate baptism, Ralph Laithwait burial, Wigan bishop’s transcripts; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 4 August 2014) citing Lancashire Anglican Parish Registers. Preston, England: Lancashire Archives.
Marsden, Len (transcriber) and Ken T. Taylor (editor). Registers of Wigan, Parts 2- 3, 1626-1710. (Lancashire Parish Register Society, 2001)
Sinclair, David. The History of Wigan 2 volumes (Wigan: 1882).
"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J3J7-ZMX : accessed 05 Apr 2014), Ralph Lathwaite, 26 Dec 1669; citing WIGAN,LANCASHIRE,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 94030.
Wigan Anglican Parish Registers. Wigan Archives Services, Wigan, England; digital images Ancestry.com (accessed 19 January 2016).