Samuel Ashcroft, William Harrison, Joshua Ashcroft, Esther Harrison, and William and John Ashcroft were all from the Manchester area in Lancashire.

Samuel and Mary Ashcroft had eleven children; Joshua, the author's ancestor, was their eighth child.

No marriage record has been found yet for Hannah Smith and William Ashcroft. Hannah was from Meifod Wales. John, their first child, was born out of wedlock, in Disley, Cheshire.

Mary was born in Runcorn, Cheshire; Hannah, in Wednesbury, Staffordshire; Ann and Joshua in Aldridge, Staffordshire; William, in Handsworth, Staffordshire; and Esther in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire.

Their father, William, was an auctioneer, appraiser, excise officer, and innkeeper.

John was not mentioned in his father's will.

Mary was not in the will as she had died before he wrote the will; her children were in the will though.

Hannah, Ann and her child John, and Joshua and William were in the will.

Esther was in the will but William seemed to think she might die before him so her children were mentioned but not by name. He died 28 November 1878, about ten days after the will was written. Esther died the following June.

The author’s descent is through Joshua, William, Esther and Annie.