Birmingham 1854, Death Index

[Robert B. Croman]

I am trying to get a handle on my GGGgrandfather, Thomas Morton, of Birmingham born sometime around 1770-75.    I found in the 1851 Census for Birmingham the following family:
Birmingham, St Peters, Family #39, 132 Moor(?) St.
Henry Thompson 46
Elizabeth Thompson, 46, wife, b. Birm.
T. Henry Thompson, 6, son, b. Birm
Thomas Morton, 80, Father-in-Law
Edwin Hacket, 18, Apprentice
Emma Mammal, 17, Servant

It is possible that Thomas Morton, age 80, listed as the father-in-law could be the one I am looking for.

Searching the Free BMD for June 1851 to Sept 1861, I found two death listings for a Thomas Morton, 1854
(1)  Birmingham  March 1854   6d/62
(2)  Birmingham  June 1854  6d/154

Before I send for either or both of these death certificates, does anyone have access to the National Death Index to see if either of these Thomas Mortons were about 80-85 at the time of death.

Many thanks for any help
Bob Croman
Plano, TX

[mosiefish]

Hi,

Sorry he does not show on the Index.  If you are sending for the certificate from the GRO then you can always provide both the references you have found and stipulate that you only want the one aged around 83 give or take a couple of years.  Your Thomas seems to be the only one living in the area of the right age (plus or minus 20 years) so I think it would be a safe bet.  That way they will only charge £3.00 more (I think) for checking both entries.  At least it saves on buying two certificates.

Regards,
Mo

[Robert B. Croman]

Mo,

Many thanks for advice and thanks for the lookup attempt.   

Again many thanks
Bob Croman

[jim1]

Hello Bob
Age on a death cert. wasn't a legal requirement at that time although this
information was sometimes given.If you are tracing this family from present
day you should be able to verify if he is the right Thomas through his daughter.

                                              Jim

[Robert B. Croman]

Jim,

Many thanks for your reply.   I have some reason to believe that Elizabeth Thompson, nee Morton is the sister of my GGGgrandmother, Catherine Harrison, nee Morton.   (In my original posting I referred to the elderly Thomas Morton in the Henry and Elizabeth Thompson as my GGGgrandfather, but really if he is my ancestor then he would be my GGGGgrandfather).   But as you can probably quess, I have some doubts as well.    My GGGgrandmother Catherine Morton was baptised, 27 Dec 1808 as the daughter of Thomas Morton and wife Mary and recorded at St Martins, Birmingham.   Checking the St Martins baptismal records shows that Thomas and Mary Morton had a daughter Elizabeth born 27 March 1805 and baptized 2 October 1806 and this daughter could well be the Elizabeth listed as the wife of Henry Thompson in the 1851 Birmingham (St Peters)Census as I showed in my original posting.
But the St Martin's baptismal records (which are lacking in a lot of detail) show about 12 children for Thomas and Mary Morton in the 1795-1814 time frame, making one wonder whether there was more than one Thomas and Mary Morton couple baptizing children at that time frame.
Looking at the 1851 census and the addresses, I find it interesting that Henry and Elizabeth (nee Morton) Thompson (perhaps my GGGgrand uncle and aunt) live at 132 Moor St, St Peters and Henry and Catherine (nee Morton), my GGGgrandparents, live at 39 John St, St Marys.    I believe these two addresses were within walking distance in 1851.    If so the proximity of the two families might be suggestive of a relationship.
I would be thankful for any thoughts you might have on any of this.

Many thanks,
Bob Croman
Plano, TX

[jim1]

Hello Bob
Looking at the births,they are about 2 years apart with none overlapping which indicates the same family,I noticed Charles & Elizabeth were baptised on the same day (although the entry shows them a day apart).
Although there are several Thomas Mortons about there is only one married to a Mary(Mary Barlow m.9/4/1792 Aston Juxta (St.Peter's & St.Paul's)).
With regards to Elizabeth there is another b.1803 to Thomas & Ann who may be the one you have on the census but it looks like you have the right family.
To be sure you can check the birth entry for children born after 1812 as this shows father's address & occupation and if Elizabeth married after 1837 this will show father's occupation also.
                                                   jim

[Robert B. Croman]

Jim,

Again many thanks for your suggestions.    With your help and comment about an Elizabeth Morton, daughter of Thomas and Ann Morton, I decided to look in the St Peters District, Birmingham 1841 census which is online (Warwickshire Ancestors Proj.) and low and behold I found the following household on Moor St.

Moor St,1,Thos Moreton,60,,Inge Maker,WAR,
,,Ann Moreton,,70,,WAR,
,,Henry Thompson,35,,Gun Finisher,WAR,
,,Elizh Thompson,,35,,WAR,

As you can see, Ann Mor(e)ton was still alive in 1841 and therefore showing that Elizabeth Thompson must have been the daughter of Thomas and Ann Moreton.
According to the IGI, this Elizabeth Mor(e)ton was associated with one of the two religious organizations:

Paradise Street Paradise Meeting-Protestant Dissenbirminghamitarian
or
Bond Street Baptist, Birmingham

Wonder what Dissenbirminghamitarian means?

Again many thanks,
Bob Croman
Plano, Tx

[jim1]

Wonder what Dissenbirminghamitarian means?

I think this is Protestant dissenters.