The Roles of William and John Henry Royle in the Development of ...

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patterns all three baptisms are related to this branch of the family and at least one of
them definitely is. Therefore, bearing in mind the fact that genealogy in this era is not
always an exact science, there are four other possible John Royle connections which
are worthy of mention, so as not to confuse the future researcher. They are John Royle,
who was baptised on the 8 th December 1644, at Flixton and Thomas Royle, who was
baptised on the 1 st January 1642, also at Flixton. Both baptisms are to George Royle
and probably belong to an unrelated family. There is also John Royle, who was
baptised on the 23 rd January 1644, at Flixton, to James Royle; John Royle, who was
baptised on the 10 th February 1638, at Flixton, to John Royle; and John ‘Royel,’ who
was baptised on the 29 th April 1638, at Flixton, to John Royle.
However, these are not the only John Royle links in this era, at Flixton, as there are
also those relating to the family of Matthew Royle of Manchester, as well as several
others who are unrelated to either family. Matthew Royle’s gravestone can be found in
St. Michael’s churchyard, on the east side and reads thus,
“Here resteth the Body of Matthew Royle of Manchester who departed this Life
March 18 th 1824 aged 55 Years. Also Ann his Wife, who departed this Life June 12 th
1829 aged 54 Years. Also Elizabeth their Daughter departed this Life June 3 rd 1801, 1
Month & 2 days. Also John their Son departed this Life Decr. 29 th 1802 aged 17 weeks.
Also Arthur their Son departed this Life April 14 th 1812 aged 10 weeks. Also Thomas
Royle their Son who died Mar 10 th 1835 aged 30 Years. Also John their Son who died
Janry 11 th 1837 aged 26 Years. Also Sarah their Daughter who died August 8 th 1864
aged 65 Years.”
Matthew Royle is of significance to our research because of his marriage to Anne
Walkden on the 15 th October 1798, at Flixton. Anne was baptised at Flixton on the 5 th
March 1775, to Peter Walkden and Anne Wright, who were themselves married on the
8 th May 1764, also at Flixton. Fanny Royle, the sister of William Royle and John Henry
Royle, married William Walkden, the son of Peter John Walkden, in 1901. It would
appear that there were well established marital and business contract links between the
two families stretching back at least several decades and culminating in William
Royle’s Statutory Declaration of 1919, discussed in Royle. Booth and Walkden
Connections in 19 th and early 20 th Century Flixton. Part Two (Dickens. 2010 pp. 329 -
333) and ‘Part Eight’ of this article. Matthew Royle was born on the 11 th February
1771 and baptised on the 31 st March 1771, at Flixton, to John and Elizabeth Royle. The
most likely marriage of Matthew’s parents is one between a John Royle and Betty
Evans, on the 3 rd May 1762, at Cathedral, Manchester. Their residence in Manchester
would explain Matthew being “of Manchester,” on his memorial inscription. As
mentioned, there are some John Royles listed at Flixton and three in particular, who
may be the possible father of Matthew. They are John Royle, who was baptised on the
25 th April 1749, to George Royle; John Royle, who was baptised on the 30 th November
1746, to James Royle; and John Royle, who was baptised on the 12 th November 1731,
to Thomas Royle. Over the next 300 years the descendants of these families were to