Henry Wilton and Mary Barton

The King's Head (closed), Great Dunmow. Photo © Robin Webster (cc-by-sa/2.0)

This pub and hotel on North Street has been closed and boarded up for some years, with signs of abandoned or postponed building work. It is grade II listed, the oldest parts from the 15th century. Conflicting reports suggest it has since been demolished or converted into flats.

Henry Wilton (bap. 30 Oct 1768 St Mary's, Sawston, Cambridgeshire), widower (not yet found records of his previous marriage), son of Richard Wilton and Mary Robinson, married Mary Barton, spinster - both were then "Of This Parish" - at St Mary's church, Great Dunmow, on 20 Sep 1810. 

In 1783 Henry had been apprenticed to Matthew Norris in Shelford, as a Collarmaker. In Pigot's Directory of Essex 1823, under Taverns and Public Houses, is listed 'Henry Wilton, King's Head'. Also listed at the King's Head is William Cock, who was listed as the Licensee or Tavernkeeper from 1815 until at least 1829, so it isn't clear what role Henry Wilton played in this business.

In 1841, Henry Wilton (73) Ind (Independant means?) and his wife Mary (61) were living alongside his nephew, Henry Wilton, saddler in the High Street, Great Dunmow. They were one side - of Geo. Saich, ostler (most likely of the Saracen's Head Hotel) - on the other was Robert Hockley, tailor and draper.

Henry Wilton died in 1846 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 49. He will have been 78.

In 1861, Mary Wilton (80) with birthplace given as Ruislip, Middlesex, was a Lodger in the High Street, Great Dunmow.

Mary Wilton died, at 81, on 8 Nov 1861 (1861 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 214). Probate was granted to John Barnard, Grocer and Sole Executor. John Barnard (1799-1872), was a grocer (later wine & spirit merchant) in the High Street, Great Dunmow. It's not known if there was any familial link or what the reason was for appointing him.

Thomas Barton and Elizabeth Ann Fuller

St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/5264357

Thomas Barton (bap. 4 Dec 1842 at Woodford Bridge), son of Thomas Barton and Ann Birch, married and Elizabeth Ann Fuller (bap. 8 Oct 1843), daughter of Robert Fuller and Elizabeth Ann Bradley, at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge (the previous church before it was rebuilt) on 27 July 1862.

Records suggest that this couple had 12 children:

1. Jane Ann Fuller b. 1860 J Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 44, bap. 16 May 1860 at All Saints Church, West Ham with a note that residence was 'Westham Union' (West Ham Union Workhouse)
2. Emily Elizabeth Fuller b. 1862 M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 44, bap. 4 Apr 1862 at St Mary the Virgin, Leyton
3. Ann Jane Barton b. 1864 M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 61, bap. 7 Feb 1864 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
4. Eliza Barton b. 1868 D Quarter in EPPING UNION Volume 04A Page 92, bap. 15 Jan 1869 at St John the Baptist Church, Buckhurst Hill and then again on 5 May 1872 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
5. Thomas Frederick Barton b. 1872 J Qtr in WEST HAM UNION Vol 04A Page 96, bap. 5 May 1872 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
6. Frederick William Barton b. 1875 J Qtr in WEST HAM UNION Vol 04A Page 114. Died 1875 J Qtr in WEST HAM UNION Vol 04A Page 55. 
7. Elizabeth Ann Barton b. 1878 J Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 154, bap. 4 May 1878 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge. Died 1878 J Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 76 and was buried at Woodford Bridge, Essex.
8. John Barton b. 1880 M Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 179, bap. 7 Mar 1880 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
9. George Barton b. 1882 M Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 219, bap. 8 Aug 1882 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
10. Beatrice Barton b. 1883 J Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 215, bap. 7 Aug 1887 at Holy Trinity, Hermon Hill, South Woodford
11. Joshua Barton b. 1886 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 262, bap. 3 Jul 1886 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
12. Elizabeth Barton b. 1887 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 261, bap. 7 Aug 1887 at Holy Trinity, Hermon Hill, South Woodford. Died 1887 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 132 and was buried at Woodford Bridge, Essex

In 1871, Thomas Barton (29) Labourer was living in Woodford Bridge, Essex with wife, Elizabeth Ann Barton (28), Jane Ann Barton (10) born in Leytonstone; Emily Barton (9) born Leytonstone; Ann Jane Barton (7) born in Woodford and Eliza Barton born in Buckhurst Hill.

In 1881, Thomas Barton (37) Labourer was living in Victoria Road, Woodford, West Ham with Elizabeth Barton (37), Ann J Barton (17), Eliza Barton (12), Thomas Barton (9), John Barton (1) and James Mead (21) Lodger. (Eliza Barton married Alfred Mead in 1888, James Mead's younger brother.) Jane Ann Barton (21) was a Domestic Servant in the household of Augustus Harper (35) Member of stock exchange, at Louise Heim House, Cleveland Road, Wanstead. Couldn't find Emily Elizabeth under either Fuller or Barton.

In 1891, Thomas Barton (49) General labourer was living in Lower Road, Woodford with Elizabeth Barton (49), John Barton (11) and George Barton (9), Beatrice Barton (7), Joshua Barton (4) and William Fuller (46) Lodger.

In 1901, Thomas Barton (59) General labourer was living in Oxford Terrace, Chigwell Road, Woodford, with Elizabeth Barton (58) and John Barton (21) and Joshua Barton (14). (George had married that year at just 19.)

Elizabeth Ann Barton died at 65 in 1908 M Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A 227.

In 1911, Thomas Barton (69) Widowed, was still living in Woodford with Joseph Barton (29) [George] (Meanwhile, Annie Barton (27), George's wife, was Housekeeper to William Patience (34) Widower), Joshua Barton (24), Beatrice Saggers (28), Charles Saggers (28), Beatrice Saggers (8), Emily Saggers (6), Mary Saggers (3) and John Saggers (2).

Thomas Barton died at 69, in 1911 J Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 161 and was buried on 8 Apr 1911 at Woodford Bridge.

Joshua Barton and Mary Birch

Queensland, Australia [va Pixabay]

Joshua Barton (bap. 3 Jul 1886 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge), son of Thomas Barton and Elizabeth Ann Fuller, by 16 Jun 1915, had emigrated to Australia, because that's the date he married Mary Birch (b. 1 Oct 1894, in Queensland, Australia) there, daughter of James William Birch and Albertine Augusta Bucholz. Joshua and Mary were second cousins because Joshua Barton's paternal grandmother was Ann Birch (1812-1885) while Mary Birch was the granddaughter of Ann's brother, James Birch (1815-1879).  

The couple had at least one son:

1. Thomas James Barton b. 27 May 1917 in Queensland, Australia

Joshua Barton died on 16 May 1968 and was buried at Caboolture Cemetery, Caboolture, Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. His widow, Mary Barton, died on 26 Jun 1989, is buried with him.

While unpicking the two families of another pair of brothers who married two sisters: Thomas Barton and Elizabeth Ann Fuller and Peter Barton and Annie Fuller, inevitably, I encountered Thomas and Elizabeth Ann's youngest son, Joshua Barton, who was born in 1886, to whose record at FamilySearch, someone had attached records of a birth in 1888, merely stating the reason for doing so was "Correct Information", but offering no justification for why they believed this to be so. This is the genealogical equivalent of a red rag to a bull, because that just couldn't be right, so I sought to solve the puzzle ... These records belong to two different people, as the evidence shows.

This Joshua Barton was registered in 1886, so there'd be no need to register him in 1888. The person who attached the 1888 record - at a guess, probably someone related to the above Joshua Barton who went to Australia - had obviously missed the correct 1886 registration and, of course, if they ordered the birth certificate on the basis of that later one, they've got the wrong one. 

So, that just leaves us with the 1888 birth registration ... If it doesn't belong to this Joshua Barton, who does it belong to? The answer is, his nephew.

The India Gate War Memorial, New Delhi, India
Photo: Vikram Siingh Via Pixabay

Joshua Barton's older sister, Ann Jane Barton (b. 1864), had an illegitimate son in 1886 and then gave birth to a second illegitimate son, you guessed it, registered as Joshua Barton in 1888 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 268. There's no mother's maiden name on this registration, suggesting an illegitimate birth and, confirming that, he was baptised, as Joshua Barton, on 13 Dec 1888 at Holy Trinity, Hermon Hill, South Woodford, and the record clearly notes he was the child of Annie Barton, Single Woman.

Charles Edward Puffett and Ann Jane Barton married on 9 Jun 1890 in Woodford and from then, Joshua (b. 1888) used his father's surname.

The family was in Wanstead in 1891, and in 1901, Joshua Puffett (13) was living with his parents at 33 Oxford Terrace, Chigwell Road, Woodford. Yes, in the same row, at the same time, as his 14 year old uncle, Joshua Barton (b. 1886) who had been in the household of his parents in Lower Road, Woodford, aged 4, in 1891; in Oxford Terrace, Chigwell Road, Woodford at 14 in 1901 and, with his widowed father, in Woodford, in 1911, aged 24.

The Eastern Mercury of 29 Dec 1903, amongst other press, carried a story under the headline A PUGNATIOUS LITTLE POMPADOUR, "At Stratford, on Saturday, Joshua Puffett, 15, of 17, Oxford Terrace, and William Bass, 16, a private of the 2nd Essex Regiment, was charged with being disorderly and assaulting the police. Constable Sharp, 107J, said that at nine o'clock on Xmas Eve he found the two prisoners at Salway Hill, Woodford, in a fighting attitude. They were using very bad language, and when witness interfered, Bass struck him on the breast, saying "I belong to the 44th Pompadours; they are ----- to fight." Prisoners pleaded guilty; Bass saying he was home on leave and had had a little spree with some friends. Mr W W Glenny; "You may be a brave fighting little fellow, but don't interfere with the police, you are bound to get into trouble." Bass was fined 10s and costs, and Puffett 5s and costs." While it was Bass who was charged with assaulting PC Sharp, before you sigh with relief, he was likely a cousin as my 4x great-grandmother, Joshua Puffett's 2x great-grandmother, was Elizabeth Bass. 

The Woodford Times of 25 Sep 1908 with HAWKER AND DOG then informs us that, "At the Stratford Petty Sessions on Thursday, 17th inst., Joshua Puffett, 20, hawker, 25, Oxford Terrace, Chigwell Road, Woodford, was charged with having in his possession a dog wearing a leather collar, supposed to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained. P C Smith, 692K, said he saw the prisoner in Nelson road, Wanstead, late on Wednesday night, leading the dog with a pocket handkerchief attached to it's collar. Witness asked prisoner if the dog belonged to him, and he replied in the negative, and stated he did not know to whom it belonged. He added, "A man gave it to me at the Duke of Edinburgh public house, and I was going to take it home and bandage its leg up." Prisoner now adhered to this statement and called Henry Godsalve, potman at the Duke of Edinburgh, Wanstead, who stated that the dog had been hanging about the house for three or four days, and he told the prisoner he might have it. The bench stopped the case, and discharged prisoner." 

Coincidentally or not, it was in 1908 that Joshua Puffett (20) of Woodford, Essex, joined the 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.

In 1911, Joshua Puffett (22) was with his regiment in Neemuch, India. 

By Aug 1914 the 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry were in Nowshera, India (which is now in Pakistan.) Research carried out by Adrian Lee and Redbridge Museum reveals that "On 16th September 1916 he [Puffett] was admitted to hospital suffering from Malaria, but on 23rd September 1916 he underwent an operation for an appendicitis. Unfortunately he died from the effects of this condition on 26th September 1916." Records show Joshua Puffett was buried on 27 Sep 1916, cause of death listed as Apendicitis and Malaria. His grave, as are the others in Nowshera Military Cemetery, is one which the Commonwealth War Graves Commission can no longer maintain, so he's formally remembered on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate). 

J Puffett is also listed on the WW1 Board at Holy Trinity Church, South Woodford, the church where he was baptised (as Joshua Barton).

Peter Barton and Annie Fuller

St Paul, Cross Road, Woodford Bridge - Chancel
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/3015817

Peter Barton (bap. 4 May 1851), son of Thomas Barton and Ann Birch, married Annie Fuller (bap. 23 Jan 1853 in Woodford), daughter of Robert Fuller and Elizabeth Ann Bradley at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge on 25 Dec 1873. Peter Barton was the younger brother of Thomas Barton who had married Annie's older sister, Elizabeth Ann Fuller. Two brothers marry two sisters creating a nightmare sorting out which couple children belong to.

At least 14 children can be attributed to Peter and Annie:

1. Emily Eliza Fuller b. 27 Jan 1869 (1869 M Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 68), birth certificate lists her mother as Annie Fuller, with no name of father, bap. as Emily Eliza Barton at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge on 6 Jun 1869, listing her father as Peter Barton and mother Annie, despite the fact that her parents weren't married.
2. Ada Fuller b. 1871 J Quarter in CHELMSFORD Volume 04A Page 196, bap. as Ada Barton on 2 Nov 1873 at St Paul's, Woodford Bridge
3. Peter Barton Fuller b. 1873 D Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 103, bap. as Peter Barton Barton on 2 Nov 1873 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge. Died 1874 M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 56 and was buried at Woodford Bridge.
4. Annie Eliza Barton bap. 17 Feb 1875 at St Paul's, Woodford Bridge
5. Peter Barton b. 1876 M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Vol 04A Page 138, bap. 5 Mar 1876 at St Paul's, Woodford Bridge. Died at 15 in 1891 J Quarter in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 162 and buried on 13 May 1891
6. Florence Barton b. 1878 M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 155, bap. 7 Apr 1878 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
7. Frederick George Barton b. 1879 J Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 170, bap. 6 Jul 1879 at St Paul's, Woodford Bridge
8. Eleanor Barton b. 1880 D Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 171, bap. 2 Jan 1881 at St Paul's Church, Woodford Bridge
9. Jane Barton b. 1882 D Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 198. Died 1883 M Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 101. (By elimination as Thomas and Elizabeth had a daughter Jane already and Elizabeth had given birth in the March quarter of 1882.)
10. Ernest Barton b. 1884 M Quarter in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 243, bap. 11 Mar 1884 at St Paul's, Woodford Bridge. Died 1884 S Quarter in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 135 and buried on 5 Sep 1884.
11. William John Barton b. 1886 J Quarter in BROMLEY Volume 02A Page 448, bap. 28 Mar 1887 in Woodford
12. Maud Barton b. 1887 J Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 271. Buried 8 Jun 1887 at Woodford Bridge. (Attributed by elimination because Elizabeth Ann had a child in the previous quarter.)
13. Charles Barton b. 1889 M Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 281, bap. 12 Aug 1891 at Holy Trinity, Hermon Hill, South Woodford
14. Lily Barton b. 1893 J Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 331, bap. 7 May 1893 at Holy Trinity, Hermon Hill, South Woodford.

The reason I began to research this family was finding Emily Eliza Fuller (2) listed as 'daughter' in the household of her grandparents, Robert Fuller and Elizabeth Ann Bradley, in 1871. Having a child at 54 was very unlikely, naturally, so I ordered the birth certificate to discover the truth. 

From the Essex Newsman on 1 Sep 1877, we read, "Peter Barton, labourer, of Woodford-bridge, who received the character of notorious poacher, for carrying a gun without a licence on the marshes at Loughton, was fined £2 10s" It seems he was a 'frequent flier' at the Petty Sessions, often being fined for some misdemeanour that was reported on the pages of the local press, and if it wasn't for this, it was for drunk and disorderly. On one such occasion, with several other defendants, it was said that "... all had been previously convicted for poaching, trespassing, drunkenness and assaults."

In 1881, with address listed merely as Woodford Bridge, Woodford, West Ham, were Peter Barton (32) Labourer, Annie Barton (30) Laundress; Emily Barton (12), Ada Barton (9) (Ada Fuller (9) Granddaughter was also listed in the household of her grandparents, Robert Fuller and Elizabeth Ann Bradley, so she was double-counted), Annie Barton (6), Peter Barton (5), Florence Barton (3), Frederic (sic) Barton (1) and Nelly [Eleanor] Barton (0).

In 1891, at 1, Granville Road, Woodford were Peter Barton (40) General Labourer; Annie Barton (38), Emily Barton (22), Ada Barton (19), Peter Barton (15), Frederick Barton (12), Ellen [Eleanor] Barton (11), William Barton (6) born in Kent and Charles Barton (2). Annie Barton (16) was a visitor in the household of Charles Birch (39) Dairyman, as was Peter Barton (14) who looks to have been counted twice. Couldn't locate Florence.

In 1901, Peter Barton (50) General Labourer was living in Cross Road, Woodford Bridge, with Annie Barton (48), Frederick Barton (22), William Barton (15), Charles Barton (11) and Lily Barton (8).

In 1911, I found Annie Barton (59) Married, with Lily Barton (19) Domestic Servant, living at 2 Sherwood Cottages, Victoria Road, South Woodford, but could not locate Peter. Given his record, he could have been in prison.

Annie Barton died, age listed as 66, in 1916 S Quarter in WEST HAM Volume 04A Page 55 and was buried on 30 Sep 1916, in Woodford Bridge.

In 1921, Peter Barton (70) General Labourer (Retired) was living with Charles Birch (70) Beer House Keeper (Retired) and his wife Emma Birch (74), listed as his Brother-in-law, at 25, High Road, Woodford Bridge, Woodford, Essex.

Peter Barton died, aged 81, in 1933 J Quarter in EPPING Volume 04A Page 342 and was buried on 15 Apr 1933 at Woodford Bridge.