Hi Margp
Yes I have come to learn that its a very common name and sometimes is known as Orton too.
My gut feeling says that he came from Staffordshire having looked at loads of Horton/Orton families.
I haven't actually seen the Parish Register entry as it was kindly provided to me from a fellow RC from a CD they had and they did not mention a parish, just the witness names of William Horton and Eliza Smith and that the bride and groom signed with a X.
Further down the line in my tree there is another Orton from Birmingham who is stated as "nephew" to the Head of household. The wife's maiden name was Horton, Maria Horton, John Horton's daughter.
I would be really interested to see the original PR but Birmingham Archives are closed. I am also not well enough to travel upto Birmingham at the moment. I wondered whether the copy on the LDS microfilm would shed any further light?
Thanks in anticipation ...