Mary Anne Crosby was the fifth child of Mary Crosby christened February 1st, 1818 at Bishop Middleham.
In 1841 she was living with her mother Mary and brother Thomas Crosby at Bishop Middleham.
Mary Anne married George Matthews, a tailor of Stockton, in Jan-March 1846 in Co. Durham.
It appears that Mary Anne & George came to live at Ludworth where their son, George Robert, was born in 1848. Sadly he died in 1850 aged just 2.
George of Ludworth, died aged just 29 & was buried on May 29th, 1849 at Shadforth, Co. Durham. An article in the Durham Chronicle of June 1st 1849 described the reappearance of Asiatic cholera at Ludworth Colliery. A number of cases were reported and 3 deaths mentioned around the same time, one of which was George Matthews.
The children of Mary Anne Crosby & George Matthews were:
c.4.5.1 George Robert Matthews christened December 19th, 1848 at Shadforth & buried May 5th, 1850 at Shadforth, Co Durham
Mary Anne remarried on August 5th, 1850 at Auckland St Helens. Mary Anne gave her father's name as George Crosby at that time. Her second husband was Robert Walton, son of Isaac & Jane Walton, christened February 26th, 1815 at Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham. Robert had previously been married to Mary Musgrave, born c1821, daughter of John & Tamar Musgrave, the marriage having taken place in April-June 1845 at Darlington. Mary died in December 1849 at St Helens, Auckland. Robert & Mary Musgrave had 2 daughters, Mary Walton christened on Christmas Day, 1847 & Elizabeth Walton christened May 27th, 1849 both at St Helen Auckland.
In 1851 Mary & Robert were living at Front St, St Helen Auckland where Robert was a tailor. With them was Robert’s 1 year old daughter Elizabeth from his previous marriage. Also living in Front St was Robert’s brother Isaac, a 42 year old mason, his mother Jane (72), described as a cooper’s widow & a nephew Samuel Walton (5). Robert’s other daughter, Mary, by his first marriage was living at Redworth, Co. Durham at this time with her uncle Thomas Musgrave, a cordwainer & grandmother Tamar.
They were still living at St Helen Auckland in 1861 & Robert continued to be a tailor. They now had 6 children – Mary (13), Elizabeth (11), Jane (9), Thomas (7), Isabella (5) & Isaac (3). Living next door was Robert’s brother Isaac & nephew Samuel.
In 1871 Robert was found at Newton Cap Bank, Bishop Auckland along with children Elizabeth & Jane, both dressmakers, Thomas, a grocer’s apprentice, Isaac, a fish hawker, & 7 year old Rebecca. Living with them was Robert’s 62 year old brother Isaac. Wife Mary Anne was visiting George & Elizabeth Jackson & their 3 week old daughter Ann Ellen B at Cockfield, near Bishop Auckland. Mary Anne’s relationship to the family was described as a friend. George was a police officer. Daughter Isabella was living nearby in Newton Cap Bank with Sally & William Hudson & described as visiting.
Son Thomas married Sarah Burnley in 1872 in Auckland & by 1911 they were living in Bishop Auckland with 6 of their 7 surviving children, 3 children having died. Thomas was working as a stationary engineman for the district council.
Daughter Jane married James Caygill on October 30th, 1871 at St Andrew, Auckland. Sadly Jane died aged just 29 in June 1879. Jane & James had had 5 children before her death - Thomas Robert in 1872, John Henry in 1874, James Samuel in 1876 & twins Rebecca Jane & Isaac Walton in 1878.
Mary Anne died aged 54 in 1871 & was buried on December 19th at St Andrew, Auckland.
Daughter Isabella married James Race, a bricklayer, in 1877 in Auckland St Andrew.
By 1881 widowed Robert was living with daughter Isabella & husband James Race & family at 14 Vickers St, Bishop Auckland. He was still working as a tailor at the age of 67 & with him was his son Isaac, a hawker. By 1911 Isabella & James & family were living in Auckland St Andrew where James continued to be a bricklayer. Of their 9 children, 4 had died.
Robert died in 1881, aged 67, & was buried on April 11th at St Andrew, Auckland.
In September 1881 son Isaac married Frances Bell in Middlesbrough & in 1901 they & 3 sons were living in Bishop Auckland & Isaac was now a fruit hawker. In 1911 Isaac was boarding with the Moss family in Bishop Auckland & was again a fish dealer. His wife Frances appears to be working as a servant in Whitworth, Spennymoor, Co Durham. There are a number of newspaper reports mentioning Isaac as being in trouble with the law for drunkenness.
The children of Mary Anne Crosby & Robert Walton were:
c.4.5.2 Jane Walton christened June 12th, 1851 at St Helen Auckland; buried June 6th, 1879 at St Andrew, Auckland
c.4.5.3 Thomas Walton christened July 10th, 1853 at St Helen Auckland
c.4.5.4 Isabella Walton christened May 20th, 1855 at St Helen Auckland; died July-September 1925 at Auckland, Co Durham
c.4.5.5 Isaac Walton born July-September 1857 at St Helen Auckland; died Oct-December 1935 at Auckland, Co Durham
c.4.5.6 Rebecca Walton born April-June 1863 at St Helen Auckland; buried April 18th, 1878 at St Andrew, Auckland