Wigan Genealogy

Tracing MIDDLEHURST's My GGG Grandfather William Middlehurst b1781 Wigan married 29th Sept 1808 Jane Rawlinson b1786 Sefton(Sephton) and in 1841 was living as tenant Farmer at Bamfurlong Hall Farm, Abram/Ashton in Makerfield. His son, my GG Grandfather Thomas b1825 Wigan, farmer, m Elizabeth Anderson b1826, dressmaker, Ashton in Makerfield - in 1847 (her father was a Blacksmith in Ashton in Makerfield). Son Henry b abt1847. Emigrated to America approx 1849 but findings confused, Elizabeth with Henry and a Jane Middlehurst b1822(possibly a sister In law) Jane recorded 1850 in Louisville Kentucky as a nun. In Magdalen Asylum for Destitute Females. Elizabeth is recorded with Francis Middlehurst b abt1824 (who was he, he's not recorded anywhere else was this really Thomas?)and Henry also in Louisville (Henry dies at the age of 10) In 1860 Thomas and Elizabeth (he a Teamster) are recorded with Thomas b1856 (my G Grandfather) and John b1858 in Louisville, Kentucky. The next record 1871 UK census has Thomas b1856, John b1858 and James b1861 in Lancashire as boarders! The family tale is that they were all on a Wagon Train and were attacked by Indians (it was the start of the Indian Wars, as well as the Civil War) and only the three boys (Thomas, John and James), reputedly, escaped back to England. I cannot find records of Thomas emigrating or the boys immigrating (date?), nor anything in America to confirm or dispute the story, but at that date they must have been "way out West" to have been involved with Indians, or so I am told. Can anyone help to fill in the details or extend the family please, especially back in time and in America.