Martha Elizabeth Stone [st.2.4.2.]

Martha Elizabeth Stone was the second child of Benjamin Stone & Amelia Hackett born September 1st, 1855 at Lombard St, West Bromwich, & christened October 21st, 1855 at Christ Church, West Bromwich, Staffs.

In 1861 Martha, known as Eliza, was living with her parents & older brother James Henry at 16 Lombard St, West Bromwich.

In 1871 the family were living at Dudley Rd, West Bromwich & Eliza now had 2 more sisters – Letitia & Miranda. Visiting was Emily E Young, aged 17, whom brother James was to marry later that year.

On January 6th, 1879 Eliza married Richard Horton at the Parish Church of West Bromwich after the reading of banns. Richard was described as a 26 year old grocer of West Bromwich & Eliza was a 23 year old spinster of West Bromwich. Witnesses at the wedding were Eliza’s father Benjamin Stone & her younger sister Letitia Jane Stone. Richard was the third child of Richard Horton & Mary Phipps born 1852 at West Bromwich.

By 1881 Richard & Eliza were living at 60 Old Meeting St, West Bromwich & Richard was a grocer. They had a 1 year old son Denys.

Richard & Eliza's third son, Frederick Richard, sadly died in 1890, aged 6. The cause of his death was croup & the informant of his death was his aunt, Sarah Fisher.

In 1891 Richard was a grocer on the High St, West Bromwich. The family were living at #232-234 High St. In addition to Denys they now had Henry N (9), Sydney H (5), Alfred (3), Oscar (1) & Margaret A (4 months). Two grocer’s assistants were living with them, as well as a domestic nurse & a general servant.

By 1896 when the 3 youngest boys attended Christ Church School the family address was given as Legge St, West Bromwich. Daughter Margaret also attended the same school from 1897 to 1901.

Eliza

By 1901 Richard & Eliza were living at 37 New St, West Bromwich & Richard was a grocer/shopkeeper working at home. Children at home were Henry N, a grocer’s assistant, Sydney H, a junior clerk, Alfred, a grocer’s assistant, Oscar & Margaret A.

By 1911 Richard & Eliza had moved to 15 Oxford Rd, West Bromwich & the census states that Richard was a grocer's assistant. Sydney Herbert was the only child living at home & at age 25 he was a manager in a glass warehouse.

In 1914 an article in the London Gazette of July 14th reveals that son Henry was centrally involved in the declaration of the insolvency of his father’s grocery business at 59 High St, West Bromwich.

Richard died April 23rd, 1929 at 15 Oxford Rd, West Bromwich, the cause of death being uraemia due to prostate cancer. The informant of the death was his son Denys of 74 Dagger Lane, West Bromwich.

The 1939 Register reveals that Eliza was living with daughter Margaret Amelia Horton in the borough of Doncaster, West Yorks. Margaret was an elementary school teacher & was also an air raid warden

Eliza died on January 20th, 1945, aged 89, at 257 Ashbourne Rd, Leek, Staffs. The cause of death was myocarditis & senility. The informant was her daughter Margaret.

The children of Martha Elizabeth Stone & Richard Horton were:

h.1.7.3.1 Denys Horton born October 9th, 1879 at Bilhay St, & christened October 20th, 1879 at St AndrewsWest Bromwich, Staffs, died died August 20th,1966 at Troed-y-Bryn, Arthog, Wales
h.1.7.3.2 Henry Norman Horton born October 26th, 1881 & christened November 24th, 1881 at St Andrews, West Bromwich, died May 6th, 1917 at Zillebeke, Belgium

h.1.7.3.3 Frederic Richard Horton born February 22nd, 1884 at Great Bridge & christened March 23rd, 1884 at St Andrews, West Bromwich; died April 14th, 1890 at 52 Whitehall Rd, Great Bridge, West Bromwich
h.1.7.3.4 Sydney Herbert Horton born October 27th, 1885 at West Bromwich, died April 19th, 1918 at Picquigny, Amiens, France
h.1.7.3.5 Alfred Horton born July 27th, 1887 & christened August 21st at St Andrews, West Bromwich; died February 9th, 1966 at the General Hospital, Newcastle
h.1.7.3.6 Oscar Horton born May 7th, 1889 & christened June 11th, 1889 at St Andrews, West Bromwich; died August 9th, 1961 at Dudley
h.1.7.3.7 Margaret Amelia Horton born November 27th, 1890 at 15 Great Bridge & christened December 28th, 1890 at St Andrews, West Bromwich; died December 25th, 1972 at Skegness, Lincs