See also
Name:
Abraham George Thornton1
Sex:
Male
Father:
Mother:
1861, 1861 Census for Abraham Thornton
2008, Certified Copy of an Entry of Death for Abraham Thornton
Birth:
13 Sep 1791
Although the parents' address for most baptisms were recorded that of Abraham and Ann was not. However, unlike most other entries the date of birth was given.
Baptism:
27 Jun 1792 (age 0)
St Mary's Church4
Address: Whitechapel High Street, Middlesex
His parents would have been present and they probably took his siblings William and Sarah but who else was there is not known.
Present (sibling):
11 Oct 1795 (age 4)
Present at Baptism of his sister Hannah
Present (sibling):
12 Nov 1797 (age 6)
Present at Baptism of his brother Samuel
Present (sibling):
21 Aug 1801 (age 9)
Present at Baptism of his sister Elizabeth
Occupation:
frm 1802 to 1863 (age 10-72)
Address: Spitalfields, Middlesex
He is shown as a weaver in the Baptismal Register of St Mary's Church, Whitechapel for his sons George and Thomas and in the 1841 and 1861Censuses, and as a silk weaver on his Death Certificate. (He does not appear in the 1851 Census and his occupation is not recorded in the Parish Registers covering his marriage to Mary and the baptism of his youngest son Abraham.)
The records also show that although he lived in a number of different places he remained in the Bethnal Green and Spitalfields area. As Spitalfields was the centre of the silk weaving industry and was often taken by contemporaries, particularly in connexion with silk weaving, to include the adjoining built up area to the north in what after 1743 was Bethnal Green parish so it is reasonable to assume that he was a silk weaver. The way in which he moved around (see notes on residence) would indicate that he was an employee rather than working on his own account. Where and who he worked for cannot be determined. It is possible that he may have worked in a garret workshops in one of the silk-weavers’ houses in and around Spital Square, Fournier Street and Elder Street as towards the end of his working life he lived close by. As the silk making industry was in decline towards to the end of his working life he must have been a skilled weaver to have remained in employment.
Residence:
frm Dec 1815 to Apr 1847 (age 24-55)
where [PF] worked as a silk weaver. The first indication of where they lived after their marriage in Bethnal Green in Dec 1815 is from the baptism of their first son Abraham George in Apr 1825 which took place in St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch, just to the north of Spitalfields. Their address is not recorded but they must have lived in the parish. The first specific address comes from the baptism of their sons George and Clement Harman in September 1828 when they are shown as living in Montague Street in Whitechapel. By December 1830 they had moved to Crown Court, Little Pearl Street, Spitalfields, which is the address recorded in the Baptismal Register for the baptism of their son Thomas at Christ Church. In the 1841 Census they are shown as living in Bell Court which was one of the courts off Wheler Street in Spitalfields. They were still living there when Mary died in April 1847.
The way in which they moved around has been plotted on a map of the area.
Parent:
4 Apr 1825 (age 33)
Baptism of son Abraham George
Parent:
28 Sep 1828 (age 37)
Baptism of son George
Parent:
28 Sep 1828 (age 37)
Baptism of son Clement Harman
Parent:
20 Dec 1830 (age 39)
Baptism of son Thomas
Residence:
frm Apr 1847 to Dec 1863 (age 55-72)
Some time after Mary's death Abraham moved to Grey Eagle Street in Spitalfields. In the 1861 Census he is shown as living at number 34 and on his death certificate at number 61.
spouse:
7 Apr 1847 (age 55)
Death of spouse Mary
Son's marriage:
13 Mar 1850 (age 58)
Marriage of son Thomas to Caroline Wood
Census:
7 Apr 1861 (age 69)
Spitalfields, Middlesex17
Address: 34 Grey Eagle Street
There is no census record for Abraham for 1851 and it is not possible to be absolutely certain that this is Abraham, as the age of 75 is a poor match for his birth date of 13 Sep 1791 which would make him 69 at the time of this Census. However, no record can be found of an Abraham Thornton born in or around 1786, neither is one recorded in the either the 1841, 1851 or 1861 Censuses. Since he was illiterate (he signed the Marriage Register on the occasion of his marriage to Mary Bolitho with his mark) it is quite likely that he was uncertain about his exact age. Also, Abraham was born in Whitechapel whereas this census gives his birth place as Spitalfields. However, Spitalfields is a sub-district of Whitechapel and he lived there for most of his life so it could have been a genuine mistake to give his birthplace as Spitalfields as opposed to Whitechapel. His occupation of weaver accords with all other records of his occupation so on balance it considered that this record refers to Abraham.
On the assumption that it does he is now a widower. This is quite likely as it is believed that his wife died in 1847 or 1848. It would appear that Abraham rented the house and sub-let rooms to fellow workers. In all there were 4 occupants including Abraham. The size of the house is not known, however, the next house (No. 35) housed two families totalling 14 people.
Death:
13 Dec 1863 (age 72)
Spitalfields, Whitechapel, Middlesex18
Cause: age and general debility
Address: 61 Grey Eagle Street
The cause of his death is given as age and general debility; in other words he was worn out by a life of work as a silk weaver. As there was no form of pension the only alternative to working was either to be supported by his children or the workhouse. Although he had children living in the area his death was registered by his lodger.
Death Registration:
17 Dec 1863
Address: Whitechapel
Although Abraham's second given name is omitted this is almost certainly because the informant who was his lodger at the time of his death did not know it. This was almost certainly the John Peeyton (Snr) who was shown as his lodger in the 1861 Census. The age given on his Death Certificate is 75 although it would appear (from his birth date) that he was only 72. However, in the 1861 Census he had given his age as 75 and it is quite likely that he and those around him were uncertain of his exact age. The only evidence of his birth would have been his Baptismal Certificate presumably given to his parents which may or may not have been passed on to him and, even if it had been, it is extremely unlikely that it had survived.
1841, 1841 Census for Household of Abram Thornton
Spouse:
Children:
Marriage:
13 Dec 1815 (age 24)
St Matthew's Church22
Address: Bethnal Green, Middlesex
The marriage register entry shows that Mary was a widow although she was only 23 at the time. The two witnesses, Francis Rooney and J P Nilk, do not appear to be related to the couple although it is remotely possible that one of them may have been related to Mary. A search of the FamilySearch (LDS) website and the 1841 census indicates that a few Rooneys of Irish origin were living in the Whitechapel area which borders Bethnal Green where they were married. So it is possible that Francis Rooney was a friend. A search on the name Nilk produced a blank.
Census for household:
6 Jun 1841 (age 49)
Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, Middlesex23
Address: Bell Court, Christ Church
The household consisted of Abram, his wife Mary and their children Abram, George and Thomas aged 18, 14 and 10 respectively. There was also a William Thornton living in the house who, at the age or 24, is the oldest child but is listed last. As children are normally listed eldest first and the first born boy was normally named after his father this makes the relationship to Abram uncertain (the 1841 Census does not give relationship information). However, for lack of any other evidence he has been treated as Abraham's and Mary's son. Abram's trade is given as a weaver and he probably worked in the silk making industry which was centred on Spitalfields. Many of his neighbours had occupations connected with weaving. Mary is shown as a blacksmith which seems incredible for a woman. There is no corroborating evidence.
Abraham and Marey married in Dec 1815. The 1841 Census lists 3 definite children, Abraham George (b. 1824), George (b. 1825) and Thomas (b. 1828) who were confirmed as theirs through baptismal records. There was also a William Thornton (b. 1817) living with them but it has not been possible to establish his relationship to Abraham and Mary. He is probably their child although he was listed after the other children despite being the oldest and it was normal practice to list the oldest child first. Subsequently another child Clement Harman (b. 1825) was found through baptismal records. This leaves a gap of 9 years (Dec 1815 to Oct 1824) between their marriage and the birth of their first definite child during which they probably lived in the Spitalfields area. As it seems unlikely that they did not have any children during this period there are two possibilities. Either the children had left home (a child born 1 year after they married would have been 24 or 25 at the time of the 1841 census) or they had died.
Tracing the former is difficult as it means ploughing through baptismal records of churches in the area in which they lived. It is evident from existing records that they moved frequently so the records of a number of likely churches have to be examined. In an effort to determine whether any children had died FreeBMD was searched for Thornton deaths in Middlesex from Sep 1837 (when registration started) to Dec 1841. The FamilySearch (LDS) website was then searched for baptismal records of children with the Christian names thrown up by the death registrations and parents names of Abraham and Mary who were baptised between 1815 and 1825. This produced 2 possibilities:-
NameChurchBirthBaptismParent's names
Mary ThorntonSion Chapel3 Aug 181612 Jan 1817Abraham and Mary
Union Street
Lady Huntingdons
Mile End Old Town
Shoreditch
John ThorntonSt Mary1 Nov 1818Abraham and Mary
Whitechapel
Both of these are considered unlikely as the baptismal registers for the baptism of their known children which took place in C of E churches always give the full names of the parents, i.e. Abraham George and Mary Priscilla. It is therefore concluded that they almost certainly had children between between Dec 1815 to Oct 1824 but had not had them baptised and that they had either died before September 1837 or had left home left home.
Rev. Joshua King Rector of St. Matthew's Church, Bethal Green, Register Entry for Marriage of Abraham George Thornton and Mary Priscilla Bolitho, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: Marriages 1815, Page 186, No. 468; London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: Not Recorded.
Church of England, Register Entry for Baptism of Abraham George Thornton, (Ancestry website). Cit. Date: 13 September 1791. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P93/MRY1/003, 005, 071-08.
Census 1841 Census for Household of Abram Thornton in Whitechapel, Middlesex, (Ancestry.co.uk). Custom Id: HO107/710 Book1, Folio 15, Page 22; Abram (an accepted abreviation for Abraham) Thornton aged 49. This would make his year of birth 1792 and provided the pointer to obtaining his baptismal record. National Archives. Call Number: HO107/710/1.
Church of England, Register Entry for Baptism of Abraham George Thornton, (Ancestry website). Cit. Date: 27 June 1792. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P93/MRY1/003, 005, 071-08.
Census 1841 Census for Household of Abram Thornton in Whitechapel, Middlesex, (Ancestry.co.uk). Custom Id: HO107/710 Book1, Folio 15, Page 22; Abram Thornton Weaver in the parish of Christ Church, borough of Tower Hamlets in the county of Middlesex. National Archives. Call Number: HO107/710/1.
Rev. William Stone, Register Entry for Baptism of Thomas Thornton Christ Church, Spitalfields, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: Baptisms 1830, Page 14, No. 111; Abraham George Thornton, weaver living in the Parish of Spitalfields, Stephney. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P93/CTC1/206-213.
Rev. D. Mathias Rector St Mary's Church, Whitechapel, Baptism of George Thornton at St. Mary's Church, Whitechapel, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: St Mary's Church Whitechapel Baptisms 1828 Page 83; Abraham George THORNTON - Weaver living in the parish of Whitechapel. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P93/MRY1/003, 005, 071-08.
1861 Census for Abraham Thornton in Spitalfields, Middlesex , (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG9/265; Abraham Thorntonage 75 weaver. National Archives. Call Number: RG9/265.
Editor: F. H. W. Sheppard, Silk Weaving in Spitalfields, (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=361&page=1&sort=1, Volume: Survey of London: volume 27 - Spitalfields and Mile End New Town). Spitalfields is well-known for the handsome silk-weavers’ houses in and around Spital Square, Fournier Street and Elder Street, with their distinctive weavers’ garret workshops. British History Online.
Editor: T.F.T. Baker, British History Online - Bethnal Green and Spitalfields, (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22746 Volume: Bethnal Green). Custom Id: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 11, Subject: Bethnal Green, The West: Shoreditch Side, Spitalfields, and the Nichol, Url: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22746, Volume: Bethnal Green; Spitalfields, officially the parish of Christ Church created out of Stepney in 1729, was often taken by contemporaries, particularly in connexion with silkweaving, to include the adjoining built up area to the north in what after 1743 was Bethnal Green parish. British History Online.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Death for Abraham Thornton, (General Register Office 14 May 2008 in response to Application No 199254-1). Custom Id: DYB944974; Abraham Thornton ocupation a silk weaver. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
Rev. William Stone, Register Entry for Baptism of Thomas Thornton Christ Church, Spitalfields, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: Baptisms 1830, Page 14, No. 111; Residence of parents Crown Court, Lower Peal Street, Spitalfields. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P93/CTC1/206-213.
Rev. Robert Saxby, Register Entry for Baptism of Abraham George Thornton, 4 Apr 1825 St Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: Baptisms 1825, Page 18, No. 139; Church or Chapel St LeonardParish ShoreditchFull Name Abraham George THORNTONResidence Webb SquareDate of Baptism 04 Apr 1825. Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury,LONDON,EC2P 7HH. Tel: 020 7332 1862 / 020 7332 1863.
Rev. D. Mathias Rector St Mary's Church, Whitechapel, Baptism of George Thornton at St. Mary's Church, Whitechapel, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: St Mary's Church Whitechapel Baptisms 1828 Page 83; Church or Chapel St MaryParish WhitechapelFull Name George THORNTONResidence Montague StreetDate of Baptism 28 Sep 1828. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: P93/MRY1/003, 005, 071-08.
1861 Census for Abraham Thornton in Spitalfields, Middlesex , (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG9/265; Address 34 Grey Eagle Street, Spitalfields. National Archives. Call Number: RG9/265.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Death for Abraham Thornton, (General Register Office 14 May 2008 in response to Application No 199254-1). Custom Id: DYB944974; Place of death - 61 Grey Eagle Street. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
1861 Census for Abraham Thornton in Spitalfields, Middlesex , (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG9/265; Parish of SpitalfieldsCity or Borough of (Not Recorded)Ward (Not Recorded)Parliamentary Borough Ecclesiastical District Christ ChurchAddress 34 Grey Eagle StreetNamesRelCondAge OccupationWhere BornAbraham ThorntonHeadWid75WeaverSpitalfieldsLaurance QuinnLodgerWid60WeaverIrelandJohn PeeytonLodgerMar72WeaverIrelandJohn PeeytonLodgerSon19Silk Tassel MakerBethnal GreenNumber of Families in house 3It would appear that Abraham who is now widowed rented the house and sub-let rooms to fellow workers. The size of the house is not known. The next house (No. 35) housed two families totalling 14 people.Total in house 4. National Archives. Call Number: RG9/265.
General Register Office, Certified Copy of an Entry of Death for Abraham Thornton, (General Register Office 14 May 2008 in response to Application No 199254-1). Custom Id: DYB944974; Cit. Date: 13 December 1863. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
Ibid. Death of Abraham (George) Thornton (78)Informant's SignatureJohn Poyton (Pogton)Informant's DescriptionPresent at deathInformant's Residence61 Grey Eagle Street, SpitalfieldsDate Registered17 Dec 1863RegistrarMr R Goode Jus, Registrar. Jack Ward, The Nook, Silver Street
Bampton
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 9NR. Tel: 01398332458, Email: familyhistory@blackwithies.demon.co.uk.
1861 Census for Abraham Thornton in Spitalfields, Middlesex , (Ancestry website). Custom Id: RG9/265; Cit. Date: 17 December 1863. National Archives. Call Number: RG9/265.
CRI(E&W) for Death of Abraham George Thornton, Event Type: Death, Registration District: Whitechapel, Volume: 1c, Page: 255, (Period, Oct-Dec 1863). CRI(E&W) for Death of Abraham George Thornton (78)Quarter and YearDec 1863Registration DistrictWhitechapelVolume1cPage255SurnameThorntonGiven NamesAbraham. General Register Office. Call Number: Deaths Oct-Dec 1863.
Rev. Joshua King Rector of St. Matthew's Church, Bethal Green, Register Entry for Marriage of Abraham George Thornton and Mary Priscilla Bolitho, (Ancestry website). Custom Id: Marriages 1815, Page 186, No. 468; Cit. Date: 13 December 1815. London Metropolitan Archives. Call Number: Not Recorded.
Census 1841 Census for Household of Abram Thornton in Whitechapel, Middlesex, (Ancestry.co.uk). Custom Id: HO107/710 Book1, Folio 15, Page 22; Cit. Date: 6 June 1841. National Archives. Call Number: HO107/710/1.