William Thomas Horton was the second child of Samuel Horton & Ann Maria Oakley born December 1 st , 1876 at Musk Lane , Lower Gornall & christened December 27th, 1876 at St James, Lower Gornall , Sedgley, Staffs.
In 1881 William (known as Thomas) was living with his parents, brother & sister at 36 Musk Lane , Lower Gornall , Sedgley.
Thomas was still living at home in 1891, now at 15 Barr St , Lower Gornall & he was now a coal miner. He had 4 brothers & 2 sisters.
At the time of the 1901 census Thomas was still with his parents at 33 Barr St & was described as a coal miner labourer below ground. There were 5 brothers & a sister still at home.
Thomas married Esther Wilkes on May 12th, 1901 at All Saints, Sedgley. Esther was born Oct-December, 1878 at Gornall Wood, Sedgley, the daughter of James Wilkes.
In 1911 Thomas & Esther were living at 31 Barr St, Lower Gornall, Dudley & Thomas was a sinker at the colliery. They had 6 children by this time – Benjamin Rupert (9), Samuel (8), John Thomas (6), Sarah Jane (5), Leonard (3) & Annie (1).
Son Benjamin married Mary Hannah Hopson in 1933 in Dudley & in 1939 they were living in Sedgley where Benjamin was a coal miner pikeman underground & Mary was a firebrick maker.
Son Leonard married Gertrude May Talbot in 1934 in Wolverhampton & in 1939 they & their family were living in Stafford where Leonard was a sheet metal plating welding planner, rate fixer.
Son William married Mary Ethel Green in 1934 & in 1939 they were living at The Straits, Sedgley where William was a firebrick moulder.
Son Samuel married Joyena Bennett in 1937 in Rowley Regis & in 1939 they were living in Coseley & Samuel was a general labourer at the brickworks.
The 1939 register shows Thomas, listed as William, & Esther living at 28 Barr St, Sedgley. Thomas was now a general labourer at the gas works. With them were daughters Annie, a tailoress trouser finisher, & Mary Virginia, a tailoress trouser machinist. Living next door was daughter Sarah Jane & her husband Albert E Southall, a colliery surface worker, & their family. They had married in 1927.
Living 2 doors away was son John & his wife Mary E (nee Flavell) & son Ronald. John was a cable layer for the Midland Electric Company.
Daughter Mary Virginia married Harold Wilfred Harlow, an electric welder, in 1941 in Lower Gornal. 1914-2004
Thomas died on June 20th, 1959 at 28 Barr St, Lower Gornal. Probate was granted to son Samuel, yard worker, & Michael Howard Jones, solicitor. His effects were £1,082.
The children of William Thomas Horton & Esther Wilkes were:
h.1.4.10.2.1 Benjamin Rupert Horton born July 31st, 1901 at Gornalwood; died May 1989 at Dudley, Staffs
h.1.4.10.2.2 Samuel Horton born September 28th, 1902 at Gornalwood; died May 22nd, 1981 at 115 Eve La, Dudley, Staffs
h.1.4.10.2.3 John Thomas Horton born December 25th, 1904 at Gornalwood; died Jan-March 1987 at Dudley
h.1.4.10.2.4 Sarah Jane Horton born December 1st, 1905 at Gornalwood; died March 2nd, 1959 at 29 Barr St, Lower Gornal
h.1.4.10.2.5 Leonard Horton born Jan-March 1908 at Gornalwood; died April-June 1983 at Stafford
h.1.4.10.2.6 Annie Horton born March 25th, 1910 at Gornalwood; died August 1995 at Dudley
h.1.4.10.2.7 Maria Horton born April-June 1912 at Gornalwood
h.1.4.10.2.8 Rachel Horton born July-September 1914 at Gornalwood
h.1.4.10.2.9 William Horton born July 8th, 1917 in Dudley; died October 23rd, 1992 at Dudley & buried at Gornal Wood Cemetery
h.1.4.10.2.10 Mary Virginia Horton born July 8th, 1917 in Dudley; died March 2004 in Dudley