William Horton was the third child of James Horton & Elizabeth Hale born c1837 at Sedgley, Staffs.
At the time of the 1841 census William, aged just 4 years, was living with William & Jane Hodgetts at Pensnett, Kingswinford, Staffs. William Hodgetts had married Jane Hale in 1815 at Sedgley, although the precise relationship of Jane to William’s mother Elizabeth is uncertain.
In 1851 William & his parents & brothers & sisters were living at Gornall Wood, Lower Gornall, Sedgley. William was now working as a labourer.
William married his mother’s namesake Elizabeth Hale!!! The marriage took place at St James, Dudley, Staffs on September 13th, 1857. Elizabeth was born Jan-March 1838 at Deepdale Bank, Sedgley, the daughter of Elizabeth Wood (who died in 1843) & Samuel Hale, a miner. Again the relationship of Elizabeth to William’s mother is as yet uncertain.
In 1861 William & Elizabeth were living at Grave Yard, Lower Gornall, Sedgley & William was a colliery labourer. They had 2 children, Joseph (4) & Samuel (1).
By 1871 they had moved to 4 Prices Rd, Lower Gornall, Sedgley & William was described as a labourer. In addition to Joseph & Samuel they now had Ann (9), Martha (7), Eliza Jane (2) & William (6 months). It appears that Martha had a twin sister, Mary Jane, who presumably had died aged just 8 weeks.
In 1881 the family had returned to live at the Grave Yard (number 37) & William continued to be a colliery labourer. Children at home were Joseph, a colliery labourer, Martha & (Eliza) Jane, both nail makers, Enoch (10), James (7), Emily (5). A son William whose age was given as 2 on the census was also listed but may in fact be William noted on the last census as aged 6 months. The enumerator was confused about the ages of a number of the children!
In 1889 son Joseph married Maria Brookes (b.1867 Darby End, Netherton Worcs) at Pensnett, Staffs.
In 1891 William had become a wagon & brake contractor & he & Elizabeth were living at Sandfield Bridge, Pensnett, Kingswinford. At home were Enoch, a carter, & James. Living next door was son Joseph, a hay & straw dealer, & his wife Maria & with them was her sister, Emily Brookes (14). By 1911 Joseph & Maria were living at Stafford St, Dudley where Joseph was still a hay & straw dealer & with them was their only child, Emily (18), a milliner.
By 1901 William & Elizabeth were living at 32 Dawley Brook, Kingswinford & William had returned to being a general labourer. They had 2 grandchildren with them – Henry Horton (19), a general labourer, & Millie Guest (11). Millie was in fact Nellie Guest, the child of daughter Eliza Jane, who had married James H Guest, a coal miner, in 1889. Henry Horton was the illegitimate son of daughter Martha [h.1.4.3.5].
William & Elizabeth continued to live at 32 Dawley Brook & in 1911 they had no family with them. William was a colliery labourer above ground. It was noted on the census that they had had 13 children, only 7 of whom were still living.
Elizabeth died in Oct-December 1913, aged 76, her death being registered at Stourbridge.
William died in January 27th, 1917, aged 81, his death being registered at Stourbridge.
The children of William Horton & Elizabeth Hale were:
h.1.4.3.1 Joseph Horton born April 3rd, 1857 at Graveyard, Lower Gornall,
Staffs
h.1.4.3.2 Samuel Horton christened September 21st, 1859 at Lower Gornall,
Staffs
h.1.4.3.3 Ann Horton born Jan-March 1862 at Lower Gornall, Staffs; died Jan-March 1901 at Chesterfield, Derbyshire
h.1.4.3.4 Mary Jane Horton christened January 27th, 1864 at Lower Gornall, Staffs; buried March 12th, 1864 at Lower Gornall
h.1.4.3.5 Martha Horton christened January 27th, 1864 at Lower Gornall, Staffs
h.1.4.3.6 Eliza Jane Horton
christened July 15th, 1868 at Lower Gornall, Staffs
h.1.4.3.7 William Horton christened
October 19th, 1870 at Lower Gornall, Staffs
h.1.4.3.8 Enoch Horton christened
October 15th, 1873 at Lower Gornall, Staffs; died December 19th, 1940 at Dudley, Staffs
h.1.4.3.9 Emily Horton christened May 10th, 1876 at Lower Gornall, Staffs,
died July-September 1881 at Lower Gornall, Staffs
h.1.4.3.10 James Horton christened
September 18th, 1878 at Lower Gornall, Staffs
h.1.4.3.11 Henry Horton christened September 18th, 1878 at Lower Gornall,
Staffs, died July-September 1880 at Lower Gornall, Staffs