Henry Wilton and Martha Douse

Saint Mary the Virgin, Great Shelford

Henry Wilton (bap. 12 Apr 1702), son of Henry and Elizabeth Wilton, farmer, married Martha Douse (bap. 8 Jul 1711), daughter of Philip and Constantia Douse in 1732 in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire. Henry and Martha Wilton had the following children baptised in Stapleford, Cambridgeshire:  

1. Henry Wilton bap. 2 Sep 1733 
2. Richard Wilton, bap. 16 Oct 1737 
3. Martha Wilton bap. 21 Oct 1739

Henry Wilton died and was buried, on 21 Oct 1739, at Stapleford. Martha Wilton died and was buried on 24 Oct 1766, also at Stapleford.

Alfred John Day and Alice Louisa Gaunt

Southwark Bridge Rd
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © N Chadwick - geograph.org.uk/p/3400009

Alfred John Day (b. 4 Jan 1852 in Henlow, Bedfordshire), son of John Day and Ellen Wilton, married Alice Louisa Gaunt (b. 1861 in Lambeth, Surrey), daughter of Henry Gaunt and Mary Ann Holt, in Southwark, in 1881. 

Alfred and Alice Day had thirteen children:

1. William Alfred Gaunt b. 1879 J Quarter in ST SAVIOUR SURREY Volume 01D Page 79. (Thereafter listed as William Alfred Day.)
2. Alfred James Day b. 1880 S Qtr in SAINT SAVIOUR SURREY Vol 01D. Died 1880 S Qtr in SAINT SAVIOUR SURREY Vol 01D Page 55
3. Arthur Henry Day b. 24 Apr 1882 in ST SAVIOUR SURREY Vol 01D 75
4. Alfred Wilton Day b. 1884 M Qtr in ST SAVIOUR SURREY Vol 01D 57
5. Alice Florence Day b. 14 Sep 1885 in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D 870
6. Herbert Day b. 11 Jun 1887 in CAMBERWELL Volume 01D Page 864
7. Frank Edwin Day b. 2 Oct 1888 in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 878
8. Walter Daniel Day b. 25 Mar 1890 in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 830
9. Sydney Frederick Day b. 2 Aug 1892 in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D 915
10. Fred Day b. 10 May 1894 in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 886
11. Ethel Mary Day b. 17 Jun 1896 in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 890
12. Lillian Grace Day b. 31 Dec 1898 (1899 M Qtr CROYDON Vol 02A 260)
13. Elsie Eleanor Day b. 1902 M Qtr in CROYDON Vol 02A Page 288. Died 1902 S Qtr in CROYDON Vol 02A Page 125

In 1881, Alfred Day (30) Compositor, Alice Day (21) and son, William Alfred Day (2), were living at 174 Southwark Bridge Rd, Southwark. 

In 1891, Alfred John Day (39) Traveller For Printing Machinery; Alice Day (33), William (11), Arthur (8), Alfred (7), Florence (5), Herbert (3), Frank (2) and Walter (1) were living in Evelina Road, Camberwell.

In 1901, at 10 Rosebery Ave, Thornton Heath, Croydon, we find Alfred (49) Journalist, Alice (41), William (21), Herbert (13), Frank (12), Walter (11), Sidney (8), Frederick (6), Ethel (4), Lily (2).

In 1911, Alfred Day (59), Journalist, was living at 116 Birchanger Road, South Norwood, with  William (29), General Warehouseman, Arthur (27), Printer's Machinist, Florence (25), Walter (21), General Clerk, Fred Day (16), Motor Mechanic's Assistant, Ethel (14) and Lily (12). Wife, Alice Day (51) born in Lambeth, married for 32 years, was listed at 89 Crowther Road, South Norwood. That record confirms they had 13 children, with 11 then living.

In 1921, Alfred John Day (69) Journalist, it appears, writing for Baker and Confectioner, an “independent newspaper and trades journal”, was living at 12, Torridge Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon with Alice Day (61), Arthur Day (39), Sydney Day (28), Ethel Day (25) and Lillian Day (22).

Alice Day died aged 64, in 1924 J Qtr in CROYDON Vol 02A Page 377.

In 1939 Alfred J Day (b. 4 Jan 1852) Bakery Trade Journalist, was still living at 12 Torridge Road, Croydon, with Horace L and Ethel M Langridge. (Horace Leonard Langridge had married Ethel Mary Day, daughter of Alfred John Day, Journalist, at Croydon, Holy Saviour, on 23 Jul 1921.)

Alfred John Day died, aged 93, in 1945 M Qtr in CROYDON Vol 02A 938.

Henry Wilton Day and Emmeline Emma Sell

St John the Evangelist Church, London SE1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Christine Matthews - geograph.org.uk/p/4377468

Henry Wilton Day (b. 1843 in Buntingford, Hertfordshire), eldest son of John Day and Ellen Wilton, married Emmeline Emma Sell (bap. 2 Jul 1840 in Barkway, Hertfordshire), daughter of John Sell and Mary Drage, in the 4th quarter of 1867, St John the Evangelist, in Lambeth (Waterloo). 

1. Frank Henry Sell b. 1866 J Quarter in HITCHIN Volume 03A Page 276. Mother's maiden name blank, as illegitimate birth. Thereafter used Day.
2. Emma Day b. 1868 S Qtr in SAINT SAVIOUR SURREY Vol 01D 23
3. Ellen Day b. 1872 M Qtr in SAINT SAVIOUR SURREY Vol 01D 18
4. William Day b. 1874 S Qtr in SAINT SAVIOUR SURREY Vol 01D 23
5. Mary Day b. 1877 D Qtr in SAINT SAVIOUR SURREY Vol 01D 22
6. Alice Day b. 1881 M Qtr in ST SAVIOUR SURREY Vol 01D 20
7. Harry Day b. 1884 M Qtr in ST SAVIOUR SURREY Vol 01D 25

In 1871, in Farnham Place, St Saviour Southwark, where Henry W Day (27) Railway Porter from Royston, Herts; Emmeline Day (30) from Barkway; Frank Henry Day (5) birthplace Hitchin and Emma Day (2) born in Southwark.

In 1881, still at 2, Farnham Place, St Saviour, Southwark were Henry Day (37), Railway Porter, Emma Day (40), Frank Day (15), Ticket Writer, Ellen (9), William (6), Mary (3) and Alice (0), as well as two boarders: Henry Garrett (26), General Labourer, and George Griffin (17), General Porter. 

Likewise, in 1891, they were still living in Farnham Place, Southwark. Henry Day (48) Sorters Clerk, with Emma (50), daughter Emma (22), Box Maker, William (16), Alice (10) and John Clifford (51), lodger. 

[Emmeline] Emma Day died, aged 56, in 1897, in Southwark. 

In 1901, at 70, Linnell Road, Camberwell, were Henry Day (58), Widower, Railway Porter, Mary Day (23), Alice Day (20), Lady Clerk, daughter Emma Pocock (32), widow; granddaughters: Elsie Pocock (4) and Lily Pocock (2).

In 1911, Harry W Day (67), Pensioner and Former Booking Clerk, Widower, was living at 17 Rignold Road, Camberwell, with his widowed daughter, Emma Pocock (40) Elsie Pocock (14) and Lilian Pocock (12). 

Henry Wilton Day died, at 71, in 1915 M Quarter in CAMBERWELL. 

John Day and Ellen Wilton

View from Market Square in Hitchin, with St Mary's Church in the background

cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Lucas - geograph.org.uk/p/989830

John Day (b. 27 Dec 1820, bap. 25 Mar 1821 in Hitchin) son of Squire Day and Sarah Hobbs, married Ellen Wilton (b. 1819), daughter of Stephen Wilton and Elizabeth Hankin, in Royston, Hertfordshire, in 1842. 

John and Ellen Day had six children: 

1. Henry Wilton Day b. 1843 in Buntingford, Hertfordshire
2. Martha Hobbs Day b. 2nd quarter of 1845 in Cambridgeshire
3. Ellen Day b. 3rd quarter of 1847 in Hitchin (died 1857, aged 9)
4. Sarah Ann Day b. Q1 of 1850 in Hitchin (died Q4 of 1850)
5. John Alfred Day b. 4 Jan 1852 in Henlow, Bedfordshire
6. Arthur Stephen Day b. 1855 born in Hitchin

In 1851, John Day (30) Cabinet Maker Journeyman, Ellen Day (32) Dressmaker, Henry W (7), Martha H (5), Ellen (3), George Day (29) Master Tailor (John's brother) and Caleb Burrows (15), lodger, lived in Dead Street, Hitchin - later renamed Queen Street, but that didn't improve it much. Dead Street was compared to the worst slums of London. Even in 1919, the cottages in the Queen Street area were described:  

“Some houses had earth floors. The windows and doors were small and in a few cases the only window downstairs opened to a passage where there was no light and very little air. The only bedroom was like a stable loft, reached by a decrepit stairs or a ladder. Tea chests served as tables and 5 or 6 children in one bed was not unusual.  It was very much survival of the fittest.”

In 1861, John and Ellen Day were living in Church Yard, but that was still in the same squalid, underworld area, of which was said, "Although the area was central, the whole district was taboo for the rest of Hitchin’s inhabitants." There we find John Day (41), Ellen Day (46), Henry Day (17), at that time a Butcher Journeyman, Alfred Day (9) and Arthur Day (6). Martha Day (14) was then a House Maid in the household of Frederick Gillum (27), Cabinet Maker, in Sun Street, Hitchin. (A Martha Day, year of birth given as 1847, daughter of John and Ellen Day, was baptised on 17 Apr 1872, in Cambridge.)

Found no further records anywhere for John and Ellen Day.

In 1871, Alfred J Day (19) Reporter and Arthur S Day (15) Photographic Artist, were living with their grandfather, Squire Day (74) Upholsterer and Lodging House Keeper, in Back Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

John Stone: Attempting to ravish and carnally know

Hockworthy: Hockford Cottage
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Martin Bodman - geograph.org.uk/p/164609

John Stone, the third of Henry Stone and Mary Ridgeway's children, born in Ashbrittle, Somerset, in 1858, may have been a bit of a rogue. 

In 1861, John (3), like his older brothers, was at home with his parents at Court Place, Ashbrittle. I've not been able to locate him in 1871, when he will have been around 13, but he'd already left his parents' home. Undoubtedly employed as a farm labourer, his employer probably didn't know much about him, so he may well appear on the census, but with details they guessed.

In 1873, aged 15, John Stone, was arrested and taken to the Devon County Prison, on 2 Jun, accused of "Attempting to ravish and carnally know Maria Disney on the 28th May, 1873, at Hockworthy." The committing magistrate was J. C. New, Esq., of Cullompton, but John wasn't tried: the bill was ignored for assault with intent to ravish, indecent assault and assault. No further details or clues as to why the case did not proceed, but as Peter Calver of Lost Cousins suggested, securing a conviction was difficult in those times.

On the 1871 census, Mariah Disney (then 12, so 14 at the time of the alleged assault), daughter of John Disney, farm labourer, was living at Hockford Barton, Hockworthy. We may assume she was the young lady in question. 

[NOTE: John's sister, Harriet Stone, married their first cousin, James Ridgway. James Ridgway's mother was Ann Tooze, who's own mother was Eliza Disney, so there's no doubt that John was also "keeping it in the family"!]

Widening the area of search, I eventually found John Stone on the 1881 census living in the household of Henry Payne, Railway Tunnel Miner, at Railway Hut, Hurst Green, Oxted, Godstone, Surrey. Living there were Henry Payne (31), his wife, four children aged 5 to 11, as well as nine men, all boarders, all railway tunnel labourers. And at the bottom of the long list was John Stone (22), Tunnel Miner's Labourer, born in Somerset.

The Oxted Tunnel - on the Oxted line, which passes under the North Downs in two tunnels, and then splits into two branches at Hurst Green, adjoining Oxted in Surrey - opened in 1884. It doesn't take much imagination, therefore, to work out what John must have been working on in 1881. Living in what must have been horrendous conditions, with so many people crammed into an undoubtedly overcrowded space, lacking in facilities will have been a perfect environment for transmitting infectious diseases ...

Because one year later, John Stone, "Labourer on Railway", died, aged just 24, on 27 Aug 1882, in Uplowman. His sister, Mary Ann Prescott, was present at his death. Wondering if he'd been killed in an accident or even a revenge attack, I'd ordered his death certificate, but John had, in fact, died of the all-too-common at that time, Phthisis (Tuberculosis). 

John Stone was buried, on 3 Sep 1882, in the churchyard at Uplowman.

Grave of John Stone and his parents, Mary and Henry Stone, in Uplowman Churchyard