Wilfrid Aidan Horton [h.1.10.6.9]

Wilfrid Aidan Horton was the ninth child of Henry Horton & Mary Morris born March 30th, 1901 at Burslem, Staffs.

Wilfrid was just 1 month old at the time of the1901 census & had not been named. His home at that time was 64 Hamil Rd, Burslem & he had 1 older brother & 5 older sisters.

Wilfrid was still at the same address with his family in 1911 & was now at school.

After attending the Park Rd School, Burslem, Wilfrid was admitted to the Hanley Secondary School in September 1913. He left this school in July 1917, graduating with Oxford Local Honours 2nd class. On leaving school he went to Bradford to join his brother Joseph Thomas who was at that time assistant curate at Holy trinity, Bradford. Joseph Thomas had played a central role in Wilfrid’s upbringing.

Wilfrid served as a wireless operator in the merchant navy during the latter part of WW1.

Wilfrid at the time of enlisting in the Merchant Navy

After the war Wilfrid emigrated to USA, arriving in New York in 1919.

Wilfrid married Gwendoline Phillips in 1927. Gwen was born Jan-March 1902 in Burslem, the daughter of Annie Elizabeth & Charles Thomas Head Phillips. At the time of the 1911 census Gwen & her parents, twin brothers & younger sister were living at 103 Dartmouth St, Burslem. Gwen’s father was a glazed brick works manager for Sneyd Collieries, Burslem. Family relate that Charles invented a new type of pottery glaze but the firm employing him wanted to patent it in the firm’s name. Mr Phillips refused & went to the USA where he made his fortune. There is a record of Mrs Annie Phillips & 5 children, including Gwen, travelling to New York from Liverpool on August 18th, 1915.

Wilfrid was tragically killed on February 6th, 1928 when the car in which he was a passenger was hit by a train on a level crossing in New Jersey.

He was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Mercer County, New Jersey alongside his parents-in-law Charles & Annie Phillips. Wilfrid’s sister Clara sent news of Wilfrid’s fatal accident to their older brother, Joseph Thomas Horton who had to break the sad news to Wilfrid’s mother Mary.

Widowed Gwen was listed in the 1930 census of Trenton, Mercer County, NJ.