Esther Horton was the fifth child of James Horton & Elizabeth Hale born at Sedgley, Staffs & christened December 8th, 1840 at Gornall, Staffs.
In 1841 Esther & her mother & sister Jane were visiting Esthers’s grand parents Henry & Esther Horton at Walsall St, West Bromwich.
In 1851 Esther & her parents were living at Gornall Wood, Lower Gornall, Sedgley. There were 2 older brothers & a younger brother & sister at home.
Esther married John Box in Jan-March 1871 at Dudley. John was christened August 13th, 1848 at Sedgley, Staffs, the daughter of Sophia Box. The marriage record shows John’s father as Joseph Thompson. Sophia Box married Joseph Thompson in 1852 at Sedgley.
At the time of the 1871 census John & Esther were living with Esther’s parents at 49 New St, Lower Gornall. John was an agricultural labourer. Also with them were Esther’s brother Samuel & sister Sarah.
By 1881 Esther & John were living at 8 Straits, Sedgley & John was described as a timber sawyer. They had 3 children – Emily (9), Elizabeth (7) & Esther (2).
John & Esther continued to live at 8 Straits & were there at the time of the 1891 census with children Emily, Esther & Charles (8).
Daughter Esther married Henry Cooper, a spectacle frame maker, in 1899 in Sedgley. In 1911 they & their daughter & 2 sons were living at Cross St, Wolverhampton.
They were at the same address in 1901 & John was still a wood sawyer. Only daughter Emily was at home. Son Charles was working as a groom at Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton in 1901 & living at Wightwick Stables.
Daughter Elizabeth married William Thomas Cowley, a bricklayer, in 1902 at Sedgley.
Esther was admitted to the County Asylum on November 6th, 1902 & died on August 22nd, 1903.
In the 1911 census widowed John was still living with his daughter Emily at 8 Straits. John continued to be a wood sawyer at an estate timber yard. Son Charles, now a coachman, had married & moved to Wales by 1911. He was living at Green Cottages, Allington, Denbighshire with wife Harriet & 3 children.
John died in July-September 1914, aged 66, his death being registered at Dudley.
The 1939 register shows son Charles living at The Green, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales with Harriet & son John W, a motor mechanic. Charles was now a general labourer builder.
The children of Esther Horton & John Box were:
h.1.4.5.1 Emily Box christened October 4th, 1871 at Lower Gornall, Staffs
h.1.4.5.2 Elizabeth Box christened July 2nd, 1873 at Lower Gornall, Staffs
h.1.4.5.3 Sarah Jane Box christened November 10th, 1875 at Sedgley; died July-September 1877 at Lower Gornall
h.1.4.5.4 Esther Box born April-June 1879 at Sedgley, Staffs; died April-June 1916 in Wolverhampton
h.1.4.5.5 Charles James Box born February 20th, 1883 & christened March 21st, 1883 at Lower Gornall, Staffs; died Jan-March 1952 at Wrexham, Denbighshire