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| Buckingham Road, Brighton, BN1 cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Mike Quinn - geograph.org.uk/p/3125000 |
Edwin Joseph Wilton (b. 1843), son of Joseph Wilton and Ann Thurlbourn, married Maria Seaton (b. 1851 in Holbeach, Lincolnshire), daughter of William Seaton and Ann Cook, in Hackney, London, on 8 Mar 1877. The Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury of 16 Mar 1877 reported on the marriage, "at the Victoria Park Tabernacle, London, Edwin J Wilton, of Dunmow, to Maria, youngest daughter of Mr. Wm. Seaton, Holbeach Drove, Crowland."
Edwin and Maria had seven children:
- Sydney Edwin Wilton b. 1878 M Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 454
- Frederick William Wilton b. 1879 D Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 473
- Mabel Annie Wilton b. 1882 M Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 539. (Died 1882 M Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 330.)
- Reginald Wilton b. 1883 S Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 518
- Ethel Mary Wilton b. 1885 D Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 575. Died 8 Feb 1886 (1886 M Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 388) and buried on 12 Feb 1886 (Essex Non-Conformist Church Records)
- Dorothy Wilton b. 1888 J Qtr in DUNMOW Vol 04A Page 621
- Frank Wilton b. 5 Jan 1891 (1891 M Qtr in BRIGHTON Vol 02B Page 234)
(The 1911 Census confirms 7 children born, 5 surviving & 2 died.)
In 1871, Maria Seaton (19) had been a Draper's Assistant to James Scott (57) Grocer & Draper in Bridge Street, Downham Market, Norfolk.
After the death of his father in 1873, in 1881, Edwin Joseph Wilton (37) General Outfitter, employing 4 men and 1 boy, had taken over the Outfitters Shop, High Street, Great Dunmow, assisted by his brother, Arthur Thurlbourn Wilton (30), Clothier. In the household were Maria (28), sons Sydney Wilton (3) and Frederick Wilton (1) and Julia French (19), Domestic Servant.
The Essex Weekly News of 28 Dec 1888 section on Great Dunmow reported on the "CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL. - A Christmas morning service has for the last five years been held at this place of worship. This year the attendance was good. Christmas hymns with great heartiness, and a sermon on "The Incarnate Word" (John i. 14) was preached by the Rev. J Barton Dadd. There were no decorations. In the absense of Miss Mackenzie, the musical arrangements were under the direction of Mr. Edwin J Wilton." Sidney Wilton, meanwhile, was one half of a violin duet at the annual Children's Christmas Entertainments at the Town Hall. In other news that year, the inmates of Great Dunmow Workhouse "were regaled at dinner of Christmas Day with prime roast beef and plum pudding." [...] "And Master Dadd presented each child with an orange, bought with his own pocket money."
By 1891, Edwin Joseph Wilton (47), Clothier, and his wife Maria (39), Sydney E (13) and Frederic W (11), had moved to 26 & 27, North Road, Brighton, Sussex. They'd added three more children; Reginald (7), Dorothy (3) and Frank (0) and employed two assistants: John Jarris (21), Herbert Tapley (17) and two Domestic Servants: Mary Ruffle and Elizabeth Ruffle, both 13.
In 1901, they had moved even more upmarket to 8, Buckingham Road, Brighton, with Edwin J Wilton (57), Clothier, wife Maria (49), Sydney E Wilton (23), had become an assistant in the business, Reginald (17), Dorothy (13) and Frank (10) were all still at home. Also listed are Albert Baker (19), Clothiers Assistant and Elizabeth Ruffle (23), General Domestic Servant.
In 1911, at 8, Buckingham Road, Brighton, were Edwin Joseph Wilton (67), Maria (59), Dorothy (23) and Elizabeth Ruffle (33), General Servant.
In 1921, Edwin Joseph Wilton (77) Retired Clothier and Maria Wilton (69) were still living at 8, Buckingham Road, Brighton, Sussex.
Edwin Joseph Wilton died in Brighton, aged 82, on 8 Dec 1925 (1925 D Quarter in BRIGHTON Volume 02B Page 320).
Maria Wilton died on 23 Feb 1934, also aged 82. They are buried together at Brighton and Preston Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex.