Oswald Horton [h.1.7.2.5]

Oswald Horton was the fifth child of William Horton & Elizabeth Gamble born January 27th, 1882 at Harborne, Staffs & christened June 24th, 1882 at West Bromwich.

Oswald was still living at home at 38 Hope St, West Bromwich, in 1891 with his parents & sisters Emilia & Mary & brother Harry.

Oswald was still living at Hope St in 1901 with his parents, his father having become the head master of an elementary school. Both Oswald & his sister Mary were pupil teachers.

By 1911 Oswald was a certificated assistant school master & was living with his sister, Mary, also an assistant school mistress, at 188 Beeches Rd, West Bromwich. They had a 24 year old domestic servant, Bertha May Watton.

Oswald married Grace Perkins on October 28th, 1911 at Christ Church, West Bromwich. Witnesses at the wedding were George & Jessie Perkins. Oswald was an assistant school master at the time of his marriage. Grace was born June 17th, 1880 at Loveday St, West Bromwich, the daughter of Sarah & George Perkins, a monumental mason, & christened August 20th ,1880 at Christ Church, West Bromwich.

Oswald enlisted with the Staffordshire Regiment during WW1 (reg # 509807). In 1918 his address was given as 17 Lily St, West Bromwich. Unfortunately no more details are known due to the poor quality of his service records.

Oswald & Grace had a son William, known as Billy, who sadly died in his tenth year.

The 1939 register shows Oswald & Grace living at 8 Hardware St, West Bromwich. He was described as an elementary school master.

Grace died June 2nd, 1947 at Hardware St, West Bromwich. Probate was granted on July 3rd to widowed Oswald, retired schoolmaster, & her effects were £1,710.1s.11d.

Oswald died December 23rd, 1952, & was buried alongside Grace at All Saints, West Bromwich. Also interred with them was son Billy, & George Perkins who died March 4th, 1917. Oswald died of uraemia due to prostatic enlargement. His death certificate states that he was a retired headmaster of a modern secondary school & the informant of his death was sister Mary of 8 Ernest Road, Smethwick. Oswald’s address at the time of his death was 8 Hardware Streeet, West Bromwich & he died at the General Hospital, Edward St, West Bromwich. Probate of his estate was granted to Joseph Richardson, retired Headmaster & his effects were £3,157.6s.7d.

Grave of Oswald & Grace Horton at All Saints, West Bromwich

The children of Oswald Horton & Grace Perkins were:

1.7.2.5.1 William Horton born Jan-March, 1913 at West Bromwich, died in 1922 a West Bromwich