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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: Bilham on Thursday 29 July 10 22:46 BST (UK)
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I wonder if anyone can help.
I'm researching Thomas Richard Thornton. Per the 1891 census I have him living at Boldon Colliery, Durham with "wife" Evangeline Thornton. I then have a record of him marrying Evangeline in the third quarter of 1901 in Sheffield! However there are children listed who were clearly borne before Thomas Richard and Evangeline met (she was living in Swansea in 1888 and two of the little Thorntons were borne in 1885 and 1888). I am therefore trying to trace the earlier marriage of Thomas Richard and locate him in census records for 1871 and 1881.
Any help gratefully appreciated.
Bilham
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Hi
This one says Sheburn Yorkshire, but it might be him...
1881 Census England Yorkshire Wortley in Bramley
RG11/4506/30/4
27 Danube View
THORNTON
Thomas Head Marr 26 Blacksmith Yorkshire Sheburn
Ada Wife Marr 28 Yorkshire Birstal
Mary A Dau Unmarr 3 Scholar Yorkshire Leeds
Harry Son Unmarr 2 Yorkshire Leeds
Cheers
Karenlee
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Does the 1901 marriage cert show him as a widower?
If not - there is no point trying to track down an earlier marriage
1891 shows him b 1852 "England" and Evangeline is shown as his wife
However there are children listed who were clearly borne before Thomas Richard and Evangeline met (she was living in Swansea in 1888 and two of the little Thorntons were borne in 1885 and 1888).
The 4 eldest children were b Durham - eldest b 1881/82
The only one b Wales was Frederick in 1888
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Some thoughts for you.
The census states Durham Sherburn and Sherburn is a village very close to Durham so that tallies. Also there is a grand daughter living with them in 1861 who is also born Durham Sherburn.
On Ancestry there is a family tree for this man Thomas Richard Thornton - it may be your own tree - and they do not have any entries for 1881 or 1871 either for Thomas however they do suggest a marriage name for Evangeline and census entries but with no citation to prove the marriage. I dont know if one is allowed to quote from peoples trees on Ancestry publicly so do you know about this tree - Moderators can you advise re this?
Just another thought, on the Ancestry tree it lists the children that you appear to already know about. If you ordered the birth certificate for the eldest, who was born in 1881 it would tell you where they were in part of 1881 and also who the mother and fathers names were, which may give you further clues as to marriage. Best wishes.
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Hi
http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Place:Easington_Registration_District,_1881_Census_Street_Index_U-Z
Wheatley Hill is in the Wingate area, Piece Nr 4970
Wheatley Hill being the POB for the older children on the 1891 Census
1881: 1 Arne Street - Wingate. Easington, Durham
RG11 / Piece: 4970 / Folio: 118 / Page: 30
Head: Thos THORNTON 30, Colliery Engineer, b Sherburn, Durham
Wife: Jane THORNTON 28, b Sunnybrow, Durham
Dau: Mary Ann THORNTON 1, b Wingate
Dau: Elizabeth THORNTON 3, b Wingate
Dau: Jane THORNTON 5, b Wingate
1881 occupation fits with that of Thomas & Evangaline in 1891 as a Colliery Fitter.
http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Place:Easington_Registration_District,_1881_Census_Street_Index_A-B
Arne Street is near Wheatley Hill
Cheers
AMBLY
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This is the full 1891 entry - the 1871 shows Evangeline Jenkins b 1857 Fishguard Pembrokeshire
Thomas Thornton 39 b England colliery fitter
Evangeline 32 b Wales
John W 9 b Wheatley Hill Durham
Ernest 8 ditto
Thomas 6 ditto
Ellen 5 ditto
Frederick 3 b Wales
Evangeline A 2 mths b Boldon Coll
RG12 Piece 4162 Folio 69 Page 42
Is the 1881 Thomas found with that family in 1891? If so - that solves the problem. I can't find them in 1901 at the moment to check his birthplace
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1891: 7 Albany Street - Stranton, West Hartlepool, Durham
RG12 / Piece: 4063 / Folio 115 / Page 30
Head: Jane THORNTON 37, married, Dressmaker, b Sunny Brow, Durham
Dau: Mary A THORNTON 13, b Wheatley Hill, Durham
Dau: Dora B THORNTON 2, b West H'Pool, Durham
Lodger: John LONG 37, married, Seaman, b Moldon, Essex
Lodger: Clara LONG 30, married, b Monkwearmouth, Durham
Lodger: Thomas LONG 26, single, Shipyard Labourer, b Moldon Essex
Cheers
AMBLY
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1881: 1 Arne Street - Wingate. Easington, Durham
RG11 / Piece: 4970 / Folio: 118 / Page: 30
Head: Thos THORNTON 30, Colliery Engineer, b Sherburn, Durham
Wife: Jane THORNTON 28, b Sunnybrow, Durham
Dau: Mary Ann THORNTON 1, b Wingate
Dau: Elizabeth THORNTON 3, b Wingate
Dau: Jane THORNTON 5, b Wingate
1891 for Stranton
Jane Thornton - married - 37 b Sunny Brow
Mary A 13 b Wheatley Hill
Dora B 2 b West Hartlepool
plus 3 lodgers
John Long 37 b Essex
Clara Long 30 b Durham
Thomas Long 26 b Essex
RG12 Piece 4063 Folio 115 Page 30
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1901 for Sheffield - suspect first wife Jane has died as Dora now with Thomas. That would explain the late marriage
Thomas Thornton 45 b Sherburn Durham mining engineer
Eva 42 b Fishguard
William 21 b Swansea
Frederick 16 b Hartlepool
Dora 13 ditto
Eva 10 b Boldon
David 8 ditto
Richard 4 ditto
Mary 5 ditto
Etty 9 months b Sheffield
RG13; Piece: 4342; Folio: 27; Page: 45
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There is a baptism of Thomas Richard Thornton, of Sherburn Hill, son of William and Mary Thornton in Thornley St. Bartholomew 18 Jan 1853.
And another: 3 Sep 1876 Jane Thornton, of Wheatley Hill, born 18 Dec 1875, daughter of Thomas & Jane Thornton
Hartlepool St Paul: 18 Sept 1887 Frederick Robson Thornton, of 141 Alma Street, son of Thomas Richard Thornton and Jane, marine engineer, also baptised that day was son John William.
There was another son William Robson Thornton also bapt 1876 (born 1874) in Thornley. I suspect Jane's maiden name is Robson.
Other baptism while on Alma Street were Dora Beatrice , 1889, and Elizabeth Ellen, 1885.
The only difference I see is the occupation of Thomas Richard--mining engineer and marine engineer.
Monk Hesleden St. Mary's marriage: 16 Jun 1873 Thomas Thornton, full age, of Hutton Henry, son of William Thornton, married Jane Robson, age 20, of Thornley, daughter of William Robson
Janis
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Dear all
I have definitely hit a rich seam here!! Thank-you all for your contributions which I will spend the weekend going through.
This RootsChat is so impressive - where do you get all your info from!
By the way, the Ancestry entry is me!
Graham/Bilham
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There is a Thomas Thornton aged 20, a boarder, occupation engineer in rolling mills, born in Spennymoor Durham - 1871 Durham Census. I cannot find any other Thomas Thornton's in Durham for this census around this age.
Also there is a Thomas Thornton Grandson aged 2 born in Middle Rainton, Durham 1851 Census.
From the thread it looks as though Thomas Richard Thornton left his first wife Jane Robson for Evangeline?
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Thanks BoroGenes
I'll have a check. He did indeed leave his first wife Jane - but he failed to divorce her before he married Evangeline! He was fined for bigamy and they then got married legally in Sheffield some years later. The newspaper cuttings I found made interesting reading! The fascinating bit I'm left trying to research is how hi second wife Eva came to travel to South Shields from South Wales to meet him??
Bilham
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Many thanks for the information.
If you find further details on this side of the family I would be very interested.
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Thomas Richard Thornton's daughter Mary Ann Thornton married John Brown, a boilersmith in Hartlepool on 29 January 1900. On the marriage certificate Thomas Richard Thornton is described as an Engineer. Mary Ann and John Brown appear in the 1901 Durham Census living in Hartlepool and now have a son William Brown, aged 7 months.
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Further information on Evangaline Thornton.
She was originally married to Alfred Jenkins (born Swansea 1858) and her father was William Laugharne (born Pembroke Dock 1821, a Master Mariner, Captain on the "Valant" sailing out of Cardiff.
Information from a Genes Reunited family tree.
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The final piece of the jigsaw. See the Northern Echo (Darlington, England) Wednesday, November 27 1889) This gives a report of the trial for bigamy of Thomas Richard Thornton and the full story of how Evangeline came to the north east from Swansea.
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Hi
You couldn't by any chance let me have a copy of the article could you?
Graham
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Hi Graham
For copywrite reasons the press cutting should be accessed via British Library Newspapers Online. It is possible to buy a 24 hour pass for access on line through the British Library website or by using access through a registered instutution such as a university or college library. However, many local authority library services also give authorised access at no charge. This is the route I took. If you go to your local authority library webpage they will give details. Normally you need to be a library member and enter the library card number to log in.
Besides the article in the Northern Echo, there is another one which is the precomittal hearing see below. Hope this helps. Did you find any other press references?
The Police Courts
The Newcastle Weekly Courant (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England),
Saturday, October 26, 1889; Issue 11206. (1978 words)
Go into Google British Newspapers 1800 – 1900 and enter in the search for Thomas Richard Thornton – you will find the article in the above paper.
Regards
Borogenes
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Some further information and a request for help.
There is another press report in the Newcastle Courier 2 Jan 1885 of a case in West Hartlepool County Court in which Thomas Thornton marine engineer, is charged with threatening the life of his wife. (a previous post above said that he was described as both a mining and marine engineer - he clearly a mining engineer from the records but perhaps worked in Hartlepool as a marine engineer in the shipbuilding yards for a time).
Another press report in the Sheffield Press 1900 describes Thomas Richard Thornton Mining Engineer, giving eye witness evidence of a fatal mining accident at the pit where he was working.
The request for help.
I have the birth certificate for Thomas Richard Thornton and his father is William Thornton and his mother Mary Hood. I am having difficulty tracing Thomas Richard Thornton and his parents in censuses prior to 1881. If anyone can make suggestions or help I would be grateful.
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Having followed up T R Thornton's career further. He appears to have lived in Shipley before he married for a third time in 1917 to Sarah Ann Taylor of West Bromwich. He died in Huddersfield in 1923. Does anyone have any information about this period, for example what happened to his second wife Evangeline?
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Hi Borogenes
on Thomas R's birth cert is there an address?
I have been trawling and come up with just one Father William Mother Mary Son Thomas
in Yorkshire as this is a feeling that this is where the family come from ?????
any way 1861 Cleakheaton Thomas ids born 1853 but will get better isea if the birth cert says where
Regards
Westmorland
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Hi
the same family is still in Cleckheaton 1871 with a few mor kids
regards
Westmorland
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In the 1901 Census he was still living with Evangeline, his second wife, in Hallam, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire.
Thomas Richard Thornton's record at the Probate Office shows that he died on 20 January 1923 and in his Will he left £483 15s and 4 d to his widow Sarah Ann Thornton. However, is this the same Thomas Richard Thornton??
I don't have his birth certificate.