Greystoke Castle and Greystoke Village from Google World
John Atkinson was born 15 February 1805 (gravestone says 14 Feb.) in Whitehaven, Comberland, England, and baptized 17 March 1805 in Saint James' Church, Whitehaven, Cumberland, England. He was the son of Johb and Eliz. Atkinson (no further information).
John married first Elizabeth (?) probably about 1828. Until 1837, marriages performed outside the Church of England were considered to be irregular marriages and were not recorded. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_in_England_and_Wales
The 1841 English census was the first National Census for England. This census lists John Atkinson without a wife, but with two young children.
/ Greystoke / John Atkinson / 35 / Ag. Lab. (Agricultural Labor) / N / indicating that he was not born in Cumberland County; however, John must not have understood the question. Greystoke and Whitehaven are in the same county, but different districts. / / Thomas Atkinson / 12 / / Y / / / Mary Atkinson / / 8 / / Y / / / Jane Atkinson / / 25 / F. S. (Family Servent?) / Y / she appears to be John's sister
http://interactive.ancestry.com/8978/CULHO107_171_172-0455/757905?backurl=http://person.ancestry.com/tree/104096118/person/280036640778/facts/citation/860113977461/edit/record Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England.
/ Market Street / Margaet Todhunter / / 20 / Milliner A. / N /
Source InformationAncestry.com. 1841 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England.
Original data: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
John married second Margaret Todhunter, daughter of John and Anne Todhunter, 10 September 1842 in Patterdale, Westminster, England.
Original data: England, Marriages, 1538–1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
1851 England Census
John Atkinson / Head / M / 44 / / Ag. Lab. / Cumberland,Whitehaven Margaret Atkinson / Wife / M / / 24 / / Cumberland, Greystoke Mary Atkinson / Daughter / U / / 19 / / Cumberland, Greystoke John Atkinson / Son / / 7 / / Scholar / Cumberland, Greystoke William Atkinson / Son / / 3 / / Cumberland, Greystoke Thomas Atkinson is missing from this census and I have not been able to locate him for this year.
Ancestry.com. 1851 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1851. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England.
1861 England Census
Greystoke Village / John Atkinson / Head / Mar / 55 / / Ag. Lab. / Cumberland, Whitehaven / Margaret Atkinson / Wife / Mar / / 40 / / Cumberland, Greystoke / Mary Atkinson / Daughter / Un / / 28 / / Cumberland, Greystoke / Sarah Atkinson / Daughter / / / 11 / Scholar / Cumberland, Greystoke / James Atkinson / Son / / 9 / / Scholar / Cumberland, Greystoke / Margaret Atkinson / Daughter / / / 4 / / Cumberland, Greystoke / Joseph Atkinson / Son / / 1 / / / Cumberland, Greystoke
Ancestry.com. 1851 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1851. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England.
Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Data imaged from the National Archives, London, England.
The family was preparing to go to America and it is likely that Mary refused to leave the people and places that she knew. Therefore, John had to find a place where she could live. The rest of the family migrated in 1872.
1881 England Census
Mary Atkinson: second line on this page.
I have not been able to find a death record for Mary; although, it is likely that she died in 1881. Remorse and guilt about leaving her in England may have resulted in her father's suicide in 1882.