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| St John the Evangelist, Lambeth Tom Morris, CC BY-SA 3.0 (interior) |
James Luxton (b. 1841 in Taunton, Somerset), son of Charles Luxton and Charlotte Townsend, married Anna Maria Hawkins (b. 20 Aug 1839, bap. 8 Sep 1839, in Tiverton), daughter of James and Susannah Hawkins, on 11 May 1874 at St John the Evangelist, Lambeth. The couple undoubtedly met in Tiverton, perhaps were even childhood sweethearts, as James' parents had moved to Tiverton by 1853, where his younger sister was born that year.
This couple had five children, all baptised at at St Peter’s Church Tiverton.
- Charles Frank Luxton, b. 28 Jan 1876 (GRO Reference: 1876 M Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 451), bap. 12 Feb 1876
- Alice Luxton, b. 11 May 1878 (GRO Reference: 1878 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 452), bap. 26 May 1878
- Alfred James Massey Luxton, b. 1880 (GRO Reference: 1880 J Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 470), bap. 18 Apr 1880
- Emily Luxton b. 22 Jun 1882, (GRO Reference: 1882 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 433), bap. 9 Jul 1882
- Jessie Luxton, b. 27 Jun 1886 (GRO Reference: 1886 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 423), bap. 25 Jul 1886
On 29 Mar 1860, at the age of 19, James Luxton had enlisted in the British Army and served for 13 years, 320 days, in the 10th Reg Of Foot, until 16 Jul 1874, being promoted to Corporal in 1869 and attaining the rank of Sergeant in 1871. During that time, he spent over nine years serving abroad in the Cape of Good Hope, St Helena, Japan, China and the Straits Settlements.
James was discharged from the army in 1874 as he had been found unfit for further service, because of a valve disease of the heart. "Due to a constitutional cause, aggravated by service in hot climates", says the medical report on his service record. It went on to say that it was first noticed at Singapore in Nov 1872, when the patient was under treatment for another complaint.
"He suffers from a most serious heart disease which he can never recover from. He can contribute to his maintenance by light work only", it concludes.
On the 1881 census, James Luxton (40), was Grocer (Chelsea Pensioner) in Bampton Street, Tiverton, along with wife listed as Hannah M (40), Charles F (5), Alice (2), Alfred J M (1) and Bessie Hewett (14) Nurse domestic servant.
Unsurprisingly, James Luxton died in 1886, aged just 45.
In 1891, Maria Luxton, widow, lived in Sewards Court, Leat Street, Tiverton, where she worked as a silk lace mender; Charles F Luxton (15) was a machine boy at the lace factory (Heathcoat Lace Factory, Tiverton, Devon), Alice (12) was employed as a silk winder at the lace factory and Alfred J M (10) was also a machine boy at the lace factory. Emily (8) and Jessie (5) were at school.
By 1901, Hannah M Luxton (59), widow, was still a silk lace mender; Alice Luxton (22) had moved up to silk lace finisher; Alfred Jas M (20) was employed as a cellar man at a wine & spirit merchants; whilst Emily (18) and her younger sister, Jessie (14), had become silk winders, working at the lace factory.
In 1911, Anne Maria Luxton (71) was still in Tiverton, living with her son, Alfred (31) still employed as a cellar man for a wine and spirit merchant.
Hannah Maria Luxton (née Hawkins) died, in Tiverton, in 1912 (GRO Reference: 1912 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 418), aged 72.
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| Workers' housing and mill, Tiverton cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Allen - geograph.org.uk/p/2458956 |