What do I really know for sure?

Update number 1

I have been able to confirm the death of John Panton’s father James Panton occured. He is still described as a grocer’s porter and is said to be aged 73 which also fits in with information I have already obtained. I am now fairly certain that the  John Panton, described as a farmer in the 1881 census is the correct one, as the details for his son Henry match, but suddenly James and Mary are both aged 74?(although to be fair it is very difficult to read. What are the odds of another John and Mary Panton also having a son of the name Henry of exactly the right age.

I decided to start a new Panton family tree from scratch, including only the facts I can absolutely verify.

I know John Panton was married to Mary and they had the following children:Ann Panton,John Panton, Robert Panton,Susan Panton,Rebecca Panton, Charlotte Panton, Frederick Panton and Henry Panton. I also know John Panton’s parents were James and Rebecca Panton. James Panton was a grocer’s porter in 1841(I wonder if he too worked for Edward Scrivener).

Unfortunately I have also been able to confirm he was almost certainly the same John Panton who was jailed for three months for stealing from Edward Scrivener. (court records match my John Panton’s details).

So being that this is one of the few certainties, I will concentrate on this incident. I already know most of the details from newspaper reports.

To be continued..