Thomas Heaton (1797 - 1878)

Born 7 Nov 1797 in Burtonwood, Lancashire, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Morris) Heaton — married 31 Mar 1834 in St Paul's Church, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Died 1878 at about age 80 in St Helens, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Biography

This profile is part of the St Helens, Lancashire One Place Study.

Thomas Heaton or Eaton was born on 7 Nov 1797 in Burtonwood, Lancashire. He was the son of William Heaton. He was christened on 10 Dec 1797 at St Oswald's Church in Winwick, Lancashire; the family's address was recorded as Burtonwood.

Thomas' son Henry Heaton was born in about 1831 in Eccleston, Lancashire.

Thomas married Betty Morris on 31 Mar 1834 at St Paul's Church in Liverpool, Lancashire. Both were of Liverpool; Thomas was a labourer, Betty a spinster. The witnesses were Philip Birch and Mary Birch.

Their daughter Alice was christened on 24 Aug 1834 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. Her father's occupation was recorded as labourer, and the family's address as Eccleston. Alice died at 11 weeks old, and was buried on 29 Sep 1834 at St Michael's Church in Burtonwood; her address was recorded as Burtonwood.

Their daughter Catherine was christened on 29 Nov 1835 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. Her father's occupation was recorded as labourer, and the family's address as Eccleston.

Their daughter Mary was born on 10 Sep 1837, and christened on 8 Oct 1837 at the church of St Michael and All Angels in Burtonwood, Lancashire. Her father's occupation was recorded as labourer, and the family's address as Eccleston.

Their son Leonard was born on 14 Mar 1839, and christened on 5 Aug 1839 at the church of St Michael and All Angels in Burtonwood, Lancashire. His father's occupation was recorded as labourer, and the family's address as Eccleston. He appears to have been listed in the 1841 census as Samuel.

By June 6th 1841, they were living in Sandy Lane, Eccleston. Thomas was a labourer. Samuel Morris, a 12-year-old labourer, was living with them - perhaps a relative of Elizabeth's, or even a child of hers born before her marriage.

Thomas and Elizabeth's son Abel was born in about 1842 in Eccleston.

Elizabeth died in 1846, and was buried on 24 Jun 1846 at St Michael's Church in Burtonwood, Lancashire. Her age was recorded as 47, and her address as Eccleston.

Thomas married Martha Hornshaw on 12 Oct 1846 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. Both were of full age (21 or more) and lived in Eccleston. Thomas was a widowed labourer, Martha hadn't been married before. Their fathers were named as William Eaton (labourer) and Richard Hornshaw (labourer). The witnesses were Thomas Orrell and Elizabeth Lyon.

By March 30th 1851, the family were living in Sutton. Thomas was working as an agricultural labourer. 46-year-old John Heaton, perhaps Thomas' brother, was lodging with them.

Thomas died in about 1878 in Prescot district, and his age was recorded as 82.

Research Notes

Son Henry

Henry was with his father in 1841 and 1851. Thomas could have been married before he married Elizabeth - he would have been 36 when he married her, so it's reasonably likely. On the other hand, he's not been found in any census after 1851, and there are no deaths for him in Prescot district as Henry Eaton or Heaton between 1851 and 1871. So it's also possible he was illegitimate and his legal surname was his mother's one, and he used that after leaving his father's household.

Three possible first marriages for Thomas have been looked at.

1) to Alice Middlehurst 10 Feb 1823 St Oswald, Winwick. Four children christened at Winwick, 1823-1829. Alice Heaton, Widow buried 1 Dec 1832 St Thomas, Ashton in Makerfield aged 28 - her address (Seneley Green in Ashton) matches the last two baptisms. Since she died a widow, her husband can't be this Thomas.

2) to Mary Birchall 21 Jan 1828 St Oswald, Winwick. That couple appear to have carried on having children after this Thomas was married to Elizabeth Morris, so not a possibility.

3) to Lowry Robert (widow) 2 Sep 1833 St Nicholas, Liverpool. Thomas a carter of Liverpool. No further record of Lowry found. Too late for Lowry to be Henry's mother anyhow.

Census

1841: Sandy Lane, Eccleston

  Thos Eaton 40 Labourer Y

  Elizabeth Do 40 Y

  Henry Do 10 Y

  Catherine Do 6 Y

  Mary Do 4 Y

  Samuel Do 1 Y /

  Samuel Morris 12 Labourer Y //

Sources

• Baptism: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk

• Marriage (1): listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk

• Marriage (2): listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk

• Death registration: Thomas Heaton, first quarter 1878, Prescot district, age 82, accessed on FreeBMD

• "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ2G-PVR : 22 May 2019), Samuel Eaton in household of Thos Eaton, Prescot, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. [Piece 516-05 https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Space:1841_piece_516-05#folio_29_page_21 folio 29 page 21].

• "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGYH-6Z5 : 12 September 2019), Alice Heaton in household of Thomas Heaton, Sutton, Lancashire, England; citing Sutton, Lancashire, England, p. 33, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7BN-YPX : 1 August 2020), Leonard Eaton in household of Thoams Eaton, Parr, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KD6X-ZD9 : 24 April 2019), Alice Heaton in entry for Thomas Heaton, 1871.