Clara Ann Horton [h.1.10.5]

Clara Ann Horton was the fifth child of Henry Horton & Sarah Ann Hancox born June 13th, 1856/7 at West Bromwich, Staffs.

By 1861 the family had moved to the High St, Knutton, Silverdale, Staffs. Clara had 3 sisters & 3 brothers at home.

At the time of the 1871 census Clara & her parents & brothers & sisters were living at Bank St, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent.

Clara was entered into the Catholic Church on July 18th, 1879 at Sacred Heart, Tunstall, Staffs.

Clara Ann c1880

(Photo courtesy of Lois Horton Kerr)

Clara married Thomas Shannon on April 6th, 1880 at St Mary’s Chapel, Tunstall. Thomas was born c1855 at Mold, Flintshire, the son of Mary & Michael Shannon from Ireland (a marine store dealer in 1871).

In 1881 Clara & Thomas were living at 87 Sun St, Tunstall, Staffs where Thomas was a blacksmith with their 6 month old daughter Mary E.

In 1891 the family were found at 19 Newfield St, Tunstall & there were 4 children at home – Ellen (aged 10 -Mary E in last census), Clara (7), Ettey (5) & Thomas (2).

Thomas died on October 5th, 1895, aged 38, at 19 Newfield St, Tunstall. His father Michael Shannon was present at the death.

The children of Clara Ann Horton & Thomas Shannon were:

h.1.10.5.1 Mary Ellen Shannon born Oct-December 1880 at Tunstall, Staffs; died April-June 1940 at Stoke-upon-Trent

h.1.10.5.2 Maud Delina (Delilah?) Shannon born December 11th 1881 & christened December 25th, 1881 at Sacred Heart, Tunstall, Staffs; died April-June 1882 at Tunstall

h.1.0.5.3 Clara Anna Shannon born June 13th, 1883 & christened July 1st, 1883 at Sacred Heart, Tunstall, Staffs; died Jan-March 1953 at Stoke-upon-Trent

h.1.10.5.4 Henrietta Shannon born October 21st, 1885 & christened November 1st, 1885 at Sacred Heart, Tunstall, Staffs; died January 30th, 1966 at 109 Sunnyside Ave, Tunstall, Stoke-upon-Trent

h.1.10.5.5 Thomas Henry Shannon born September 13th, 1888 at Tunstall, Staffs; died August 22nd, 1962 in Stoke-on-Trent

Widowed Clara was living at 26 Little Row, Tunstall in 1901 where she was a tailoress. All 4 children were still at home – Mary E worked at a pottery making biscuitware, Clara A & Henrietta (Ettey in last census) were both ‘potters transferrers’ & Thomas had no occupation given.

Clara married again in 1908 – a civil marriage at Wolstanton. Her second husband was William Myatt & in 1911 Clara (54) & William (74) were living at 102 King St, Tunstall, Stoke-on Trent where William was a fishmonger. Clara's children Henrietta Shannon, a potter transferer, & Thomas Shannon, a hollowware turner, were living with them. William was born in Oct-December 1838 at Maer, Staffs, the son of Harriet & Robert Myatt, a pottery gilder. In 1901 William, noted as widowed, was a near neighbour of Clara at Little Row, Tunstall.

Clara's daughter Mary Ellen Shannon married Patrick McDonald, a coal miner, in 1901 & in 1911 they were living at Henry St, Tunstall with their 2 daughters – Clara Ann (7) & Winifride Mary (4). Clara's second daughter Clara Ann Shannon married Richard Hollinshead, a worker in earthenware factory, in 1906 & in 1911 they were living at Henry St, Tunstall & had a 4 year old daughter Henrietta.

William Myatt died on February 8th, 1912, aged 75, at 102 King St, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. Administration of his will was granted at Lichfield on March 12th, 1912 to his widow Clara Ann. His effects were £399.17s.4d.

Daughter Henrietta married John Conlon, a general labourer at the brickworks, in 1913 in Wolstanton.

Son Thomas married Ann Trueman on May 17th, 1914 at St Mary’s RC Church, Wolstanton & served with the Irish Guards during WW1. In 1939 Thomas & family were living at Hazelhurst Arms, Wolstanton where both Thomas & Ann were licensed victuallers. Their son Thomas was a bricklayer.

Clara (late of King Street), died on June 22nd, 1936, aged 80, at 10 Newfield St, Tunstall, the home of daughter Mary Ellen, and was buried at Tunstall Cemetery after a service at the Church of the Sacred Heart.