Esther Horton was born January 9th 1851 at Walsall St, West Bromwich &christened March 23rd, 1851 at Christ Church, West Bromwich, Staffs, the first child of William Horton & Sarah Jones.
In 1861 Esther, her parents & 2 sisters were living at Mestey Croft, Wednesbury, Staffs.
At the time of the 1871 census Esther was visiting Eliza & Richard Richards, a farmer, and their family at Harwell, Berks.
Esther married John Dearlove at St John’s church, Wednesbury on August 1st, 1880. Witnesses at the wedding were Thomas York & Annie Horton, Esther’s sister & her future husband. John was chistened December 5th, 1852 at West Hagbourne, Berks, the son of Martha A Dearlove & Alfred Dearlove.
In 1881 John & Esther were living at the Railway Station, West Challow, Berks where John was a groom.
By 1891 John had become a railway packer & he & Esther were living at Challow Station, West Challow, Berks. With them was a niece, Lydia Dearlove, aged 4.
By 1901 Esther & John still had no family & had moved to Fernham Village, Berks where John was a railway ganger.
Esther & John were still living in Fernham in 1911 & John was still a railway ganger for the Great Western Railway. Esther was listed on the census form as ‘Hester'. With them was a niece, Elizabeth Annie Dearlove, aged 27, a parlour maid. Esther & John appear not to have had any children.
John died on November 16th, 1916, aged 64, & was buried on November 20th at Fernham, Faringdon, Berks. Administration was granted to widow Esther on February 10th, 1917 at Oxford. His effects amounted to £242.7s.8d. An article in the Faringdon Advertiser & Vale of White Horse Gazette of November 25th revealed that John had died at the Cottage Hospital from injuries received as the result of a train colliding with a trolley on which he was riding. His injuries were extensive & he died soon after arriving at hospital.
Esther appears to have moved back to Staffordshire after John’s death. She died on June 19th, 1920 at 113 Mill St, Kingshill,Wednesbury, aged 69. Probate was granted on July 20th, 1920 to her sister, Mary Ann York, widow. Her effects were £286.8s.8d.