Esther Horton was the second child of Charles Horton & Sarah Holloway born July 26th, 1845 & christened August 17th, 1845 at Christ Church, West Bromwich.
On February 9th, 1848 Esther’s father Charles was tragically killed in a violent explosion at the coal mine where he was working.
Esther, her mother & older sister could not be found in the 1851 census.
In 1861 Esther was living with her mother & step-father, Joseph Daniels at Pleasant St, West Bromwich. With them were her half-sister, Ruth & half brothers, Samuel & Thomas Daniels.
Esther married Edwin Priest on April 6th, 1862 at All Saints, West Bromwich. Edwin was christened March 17th, 1844 at All Saints, West Bromwich, the son of Hannah & Charles Priest.
In 1871 Esther & Edwin were living at Littleton St, West Bromwich & Edwin was a shingler in the iron works. They had 3 children at this time – Emma (8), Charles (4) & Frederick (2).
By 1881 the family were living at 47 Maybrook St, West Bromwich & Edwin continued to be an iron shingler. Children at home were Charles & Frederick, both sock makers, & Alfred Edwin (9).
Daughter Emma married Francis Edwards on October 28th, 1888 at Christ Church, West Bromwich.
Son Charles married Sarah Ann Massey on December 21st, 1890 at Christ Church, West Bromwich.
Son Frederick married Sarah Timmins in 1890 but she sadly died in 1896. Frederick married again in 1910, his second wife was Alice Maud Hope.
Esther & Edwin were living at 8 Bowater, West Bromwich in 1891& Edwin was now described as an iron worker. Son Alfred was still at home & was also an iron worker. They had a 49 year old domestic servant & cook, Ann Matthews.
In 1901 Esther & Edwin were living at 20 Cambridge St, West Bromwich & Edwin was now an iron works shingler. Widowed son Frederick, a packer (balances), & son Alfred, a packer & labourer, were at home. Also with them was a granddaughter, Emma Priest, aged 9, who was Frederick’s daughter.
Edwin died in Oct-December 1904 at West Bromwich.
Widowed Esther was still living at Cambridge St in 1911, now number 23. With her was son Alfred, a railway contractor’s packer at the railway wagon works. Also living with them was an 80 year old boarder, John Cutler.
Esther died in July-September 1914 at West Bromwich.
There is a record of Alfred Priest, aged 52, a packer, sailing from Liverpool to Montreal in June 1924. Alfred died of broncho-pneumonia in Canada in 1937.
The children of Esther Horton & Edwin Priest were:
h.1.9.2.1 Emma Priest born Oct-December 1862 in West Bromwich
h.1.9.2.2 Sarah Ann Priest born April-June 1865 in West Bromwich; died at Watton St, West Bromwich & buried February 14th, 1866 at Christ Church, West Bromwich
h.1.9.2.3 Charles Priest born Oct-December 1866 in West Bromwich; buried May 9th, 1939 in West Bromwich
h.1.9.2.4 Frederick Priest born March 3rd, 1869 in West Bromwich; died July-September 1954 at West Bromwich
h.1.9.2.5 Alfred Edwin Priest born August 8th, 1871 at West Bromwich; died June 3rd, 1937 & buried June 5th at Bostwick Cemetery, London, Ontario, Canada