An annotated analysis of available Walton Records
in Cheddleton 1861-1891
What we know about the Walton's in Cheddleton, England between 1861 and 1891 is limited by available records, primarily Birth, Marriage, Death and Census. Let's start with what we know by identifying the Who? Where? When? Why? and How?
Who? Where? When?- We will investigate the Walton family (the Who?) that lived in Cheddleton (the Where?) during 1861 to 1881 (the When?).
Why?How?- Why did the Walton's come to Cheddleton in 1861. As I said in the previous blog, that is a mystery, but it is more than likely due to a job opportunity. How they got to Cheddleton may never be known. It is possible they took a train or maybe they simply walked. To date, no records have been found to positively answer these questions.
The one question we can answer is more depth by analyzing existing public records is:
Who are the Walton's of Cheddleton (1861)?
From birth, death(1) and census(2) records, we know that in 1861 the John Walton family consisted of the following five members: (Note: Both Elizabeth and John Joseph were part of the family immediately prior to the move in 1861 and are included here for completeness. They have been greyed out to indicate their deaths)
| Name | Birth | BirthPlace | Death | Place | Age 1861* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walton (father) | 1828 | Appleby | 31 | ||
| Eliza (mother) | 1835 | Shackerstone | 26 | ||
| 1. Emily | 1852 | Appleby | 7 | ||
| 3. Jane Ann | 1857 | Appleby | 4 | ||
| 4. Mary | 1859 | Appleby | 2 | ||
| (2) |
On April 23, 1862 a second son, and namesake, John William, was born. He survived to adulthood, immigrated to America and is the great- grandfather of Gayle Judd of California who has done extensive research on our family and shared her findings with me.
On July 3, 1864 a third son was born and named George. He too survived to adulthood, immigrated to America and is my great-grandfather and a direct ancestor of many of you reading this blog.
On December 3, 1865 Edwin, the fourth son was born followed two years later by a daughter, Lousia on June 29, 1867. John and Eliza's ninth child, Rosalia Alberta was born on March 21, 1870.
These children would grow up in the village of Cheddleton. They would attend church and school here. Like most children, they probably hiked in the nearby fields and splashed in the abundant streams. They undoubtedly walked to the train station and watched trains arriving and departing to a world outside the borders of their tiny rural village. They would have visited the village shop and post office. (These are all places I visited, and tried to envision the children visiting, during my short visit to Cheddleton in April 2011.)
Death only visited the Walton household in Cheddleton once during the decade between 1861 and 1871. Jane Ann died of scarlet fever on September 10, 1868 and is buried in Cheddleton. I visited the Churchyard and searched for her grave, but will tell that story another time.
Who are the Walton's of Cheddleton (1871)?
By 1871 John and Eliza doubled the family size with the 5 new children, decribed above, whose names are listed in bold:
| Name | Birth | Place | Death | Place | Age 1861 | Age 1871* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walton | 1828 | Appleby | 31 | 42 | |||
| Eliza | 1835 | Shackerstone | 26 | 36 | |||
| 1. Emily | 1852 | Appleby | 7 | 17 | |||
| 4. Mary | 1859 | Appleby | 2 | 12 | |||
| 2 | |||||||
| 6. John William | 1862 | Cheddleton | 8 | ||||
| 7. George | 1864 | Cheddleton | 6 | ||||
| 8. Edwin | 1865 | Cheddleton | 5 | ||||
| 9. Louisa | 1867 | Cheddleton | 3 | ||||
| 10. Rosalia-Alberta | 1870 | Cheddleton | 1 |
On May 31, 1872, 5th son Frederick was born in Cheddleton according to the records in the General Register Office, London. He is 8 years old when the 1881 census is taken and is not found in the 1891 English census. He is believed to have immigrated to America around 1890 according to research conducted by Gayle Judd. (4)
Their final child, Charles, was a Valentine baby, born on February 14, 1874. I am not sure if the Walton's practiced this holiday, but it was well known by this time. Valentine’s Day is alluded to by Shakespeare, Chaucer and many of the old poets. Like his brothers before him, Charles Walton immigrated to NY in 1890, when he was16 year old, according to research conducted by Gayle Judd. (5)
At the Same time as new babies were being Born, older Children were leaving the nest. Emily Walton, age 17, is greyed out in the above table because by 1871 she had left the Walton household, as was customary for a girl of this age. On the 1871 Census (3), she is listed as a "unmarried, domestic servant" in the household of Eliza Woolliscroft, a 65 year old "retired farmer widow" in nearby Leek.
Where did they live?
 |
| 1871 Cheddleton Census for John and Eliza Walton |
The April 7, 1871 Census gives us a few more clues about the family. They lived in Cheddleton. You already knew that, but this census enumerator has listed a house name so we can pin point where they lived. Unfortunately I couldn't quite make out the name as he wrote it, can you? (see 2nd yellow circled name to left of circled "John Walton")
Luckily the preceding neighbor's house was easier to read..."Dale House". My Cheddleton B&B host had an old village map, and I was able to locate the Dale house. It was only a mile or two down the road from where we were staying. I knew the enumerator would go from house to house in an orderly fashion , so now I simply had to look at the name of the next house. There is was! "Sunnyside". Knowing that, the mystery name suddenly becomes obvious. (I visited this house. Look for pictures in an upcoming tour blog.)
The Census also tells us who is living in the household and confirms their ages and birth places. With the exception of Emily, who is living in nearby Leek as a servant, all the living children are listed on the 1871 English census. (see table above).
Under the column of Occupation, John is again listed as a "Coachman Domestic Servant". Eliza is listed as "house wife" and all the children, except Rosalia, are listed as "scholars" including 3 year old Louisa. This would suggest that the children attended the village school which is still standing, but is today used as a tearoom and craft shop. (I visited the school and we had lunch here. Look for pictures in an upcoming tour blog.)
A final and reassuring tidbit is that none of the Waltons is check-marked on the 1871 Census form in the column labeled as being "deaf and dumb", "blind", "imbecile" or "idiot", or "insane".
Who are the Walton's of Cheddleton (1881)?
By the time of the 1881 Census, John and Eliza added the final two members of the family (listed in bold), totaling 12 children, but they are not all living under one roof: The family members living in other households at the time of the 1881 Census have been grayed out.
| Name | Birth | Place | Death | Place | Age 1861 | Age 1871 | Age 1881* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walton | 1828 | Appleby | 31 | 42 | 52 | |||
| Eliza | 1835 | Shackerstone | 26 | 36 | 46 | |||
| 1. Emily | 1852 | Appleby | 7 | 17 | 27 | |||
| 4. Mary | 1859 | Appleby | 2 | 12 | 22 | |||
| 2 | ||||||||
| 6. John William | 1862 | Cheddleton | 8 | 18 | ||||
| 7. George | 1864 | Cheddleton | 6 | 17 | ||||
| 8. Edwin | 1865 | Cheddleton | 5 | 15 | ||||
| 9. Louisa | 1867 | Cheddleton | 3 | 13 | ||||
| 10. Rosalia-Alberta | 1870 | Cheddleton | 1 | 11 | ||||
| 11. Frederick | 1872 | Cheddleton | 8 | |||||
| 12. Charles | 1874 | Cheddleton | 7 |
According to the 1881 Census (6), only four children remained in the household; 15 year old Edwin, who is listed as an apprentice joiner and 11 year old Rosetta, Frederick and Charles all listed as "Scholar"
John and Eliza have moved their smaller family to a new home at Belmont Cottage, near Belmont hall where John worked as a Coachman. Eliza is listed as "wife".
Eldest daughter Emily is married with children of her own. She is listed as Emily Patterson, in the Everton, Lancashire enumeration at 45 Elias Street (house) as 27, married, lodger with William Price, born at Appleby, Leicestershire, no occupation given. With her is her daughter, Emily, 4, born at Manchester, Lancashire. No husband is listed.(7)
Fourth child, Mary, is listed as a stillroom maid (domestic) in a large household in the 1881 English Census for Micklethwaite, Yorkshire. A "Still Room Maid " worked in the Still-Room in a large Victorian household, answerable to both the housekeeper and the cook, where she would concoct the kitchen cleaners, soaps, candles and cosmetics for the lady of the house. It also housed the jams pickles etc. that the cook would make. (8) The address was "The Grange Hall", owned by Robert Gunter, 49, colonel in army militia and landowner. Included in his household is a very large staff. Mary is listed as unmarried, 22 years old, and born in Appleby, Leicester. (9)
18 year old John William is not found in the 1880 US Census or the 1881 English census, so we can conclude that he immigrated sometime between these two dates. His passenger records are not clear because there are a number of John Walton's who immigrated in this time period.
17 year old George can be found at Belmont Hall in the household of Mary Sneyd Kynnersley, a 72 year old widow of "independent means". George is listed as a "General servant [&] Groom". He is one of the 4 servants listed in this household.(10)
Louisa, age 13, born at Cheddleton, is listed with an aunt and uncle, George Cope, 34, a gamekeeper and Elizabeth, 37, in Barton Blount, Derby. This is about midway between Cheddleton, and Appleby, 3 1/2 miles from Tutbury station on the North Staffordshire Railway which can be reached via Cheddleton's Churnet Valley line (11). She may be living there as a servant or just visiting on the day the Census was taken. (12)
Elizabeth Cope's birthplace is listed as Appleby Magna, which is a strong clue to a place connection, but John does not have a sister by this name. I do not find any marriage record for George Cope and Elizabeth Walton (or maternal surnames Bonsall, Waterson or White). John and Eliza named one of their children Elizabeth, perhaps in honor of this relative, but it is not clear what her relationship is without additional research.
Who are the Walton's of Cheddleton (1891)?
The Walton's are gone from Cheddleton by the time the 1891 English Census is taken. Some relocated to the Manchester area while others immigrated to America. Additional research will be needed to follow the various family lines once they have left Cheddleton. With your help, I intend to start with our direct family line, through George Walton, in future Blogs and carry them down to the present generation.
Meanwhile to close this chapter in Walton History, I have summarized where the Walton Family ended up after leaving Cheddleton in the following Table. Note: for clarity, I only included Walton's still living after 1881.
| Name | Birth | Place | Age 1891 | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Walton | 1828 | Appleby | 61 | Died 1890 Manchester |
| Eliza | 1835 | Shackerstone | 56 | Widow,Manchester |
| 1. Emily (Waugh) | 1852 | Appleby | 37 | remarried, Burslem (Stoke-on-Trent) |
| 4. Mary (Starling) | 1859 | Appleby | 32 | Married 1885 in Prestwich, a suburb of Manchester, then immigrated to America |
| 6. John William | 1862 | Cheddleton | 28 | To America, 1881 |
| 7. George | 1864 | Cheddleton | 27 | To America, 1883 |
| 8. Edwin | 1865 | Cheddleton | 25 | Died 1929 Manchester, England |
| 9. Louisa | 1867 | 23 | Died about 1895 in New York | |
| 10. Rose (Williams) | 1870 | Cheddleton | 20 | Married, Manchester, Eliza lives with her. |
| 11. Frederick | 1872 | Cheddleton | 18 | to America, 1890 |
| 12. Charles | 1874 | Cheddleton | 17 | To America , 1890 |
Notes:
(1) Appleby-Magna Parish Records-"St Michael & All Angels' Church Registers, 1572 to 1906", Source URL http://www.applebymagna.org.uk/appleby_history/records_parish_records.html
(2) 1861 Census Records for Cheddleton district 1, Page 4, Family 19
Source Citation: Class: RG9; Piece: 1951; Folio: 4; Page: 1; GSU roll: 542893.
(3) 1871 Leek census for Emily Walton
Source citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 2882; Folio: 95; Page: 28; GSU roll: 836391.
(4) According to ancestry.com, Frederick Walton immigrated on the ship "Wyoming" which departed from Liverpool and arrived in New York 26 Aug 1890, Frederick Walton was from England, a clerk, traveling in steerage, age 18 (estimated year of birth- 1872). (Source Citation: Year: 1890; Arrival: New York , United States; Microfilm Serial: M237; Microfilm Roll: M237_554; Line: 33; List Number: 1263 )
(5) According to ancestry.com NEW YORK PASSENGER LISTS: Charles was on the ship Arizona that sailed from Liverpool, England and arrived in New York, 14 Jul 1890. He was listed as age 16, weaver (dittoed from passengers before him), and 275 on the list.
(Source Citation:Year: 1890; Arrival: New York , United States; Microfilm Serial: M237; Microfilm Roll: M237_551; Line: 12; List Number: 1011)
(6) 1881 Census for John Walton, Class: RG11; Piece: 2744; Folio: 137; Page: 13; GSU roll: 1341658.
(7) 1881 Census for Emily (Walton) Patterson, Class: RG11; Piece: 3660; Folio: 86; Page: 41; GSU roll: 1341877.
(8) Occupations- http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/s.html
(9) 1881 Census for Mary Walton, Class: RG11; Piece: 4329; Folio: 79; Page: 4; GSU roll: 1342033
(10) 1881 Census for George Walton, Class: RG11; Piece: 2744; Folio: 137; Page: 14; GSU roll: 1341658.
(11) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Staffordshire_Railway
