Page 266 - Just another English family (Sep 2019)

Helen Ann
F
27
DAUGHT ER
Chester / E.P.
Note: Have assumed that Sydney Barton T. has died – would be 89 years at the census.
This grouping which is derived from Thomas and Elizabeth (née Mitchell) seems in fairly good shape in terms of the likelihood of survival. In the 1961 census, there were eight males (including Arthur, b.1882) identified. Five – Michael Leslie (b.1945), Peter John (b.1941), Kenneth Alan (b.1942), John (b.1943) and James (b. 1945) – were under 21 and so their reproductive powers had not yet been fully tested, while there was perhaps still scope for Dennis (b.1933) to produce some male heirs. In the event the 2011 census shows that there are now 12 surviving males. The five youngsters identified in the 1961 census had between them produced five male heirs in the 50 years between the 1961 and 2011 censuses. In fact, Kenneth Alan had produced three boys, while John and James had produced one male each. Among the males there had been five deaths,10 so the replacement quotient is parity. Considering just the females in the two censuses shows a slight fall in the number of females. In the 1961 census, there were 15 females (seven who were born a Soothill and eight who became a Soothill by marriage), while in 2011 there were 13 females (five who were born a Soothill and six who became a Soothill by marriage).
Without interviews it is a matter of conjecture of how well these persons in this grouping know each other. But how can they describe their relationships? Let’s consider the 12 males. Peter John and Kenneth Alan are brothers as are John and James. These two sets of brothers are actually fourth cousins (with Thomas and Elizabeth Soothill as common ancestors). But Peter John and Kenneth Alan are much closer to Michael Leslie H., for they are second cousins (with Arthur and Esther Soothill as common ancestors), while John and James are fourth cousins to Michael Leslie H. (with Thomas and Elizabeth Soothill as common ancestors). John and James are third cousins to David M. T. (with Samuel and Harriet Soothill as
10. Sydney Barton has been included here but this has not been confirmed.
262