Walton Family Line
Richard Walton 1735 – 1818
Richard Walton was born in August 1735 in the small village of Warden 3 miles from Hexham to John and Esther. He was baptised 17th August 1735.
He had seven sons and one daughter with Elizabeth between 1752 and 1765. Thomas, Richard, Elizabeth, Hugh, Robert, William, Jonathon and John
He died in 1818 in Hexham, Northumberland, having lived a long life of 83 years.
Robert Walton 1759 – 1839
Robert Walton was born in December 1759 in Allendale to Richard and Elizabeth. He was baptised 27th December 1759.
On 1st June 1784 he married Hannah Coatsforth in Allendale and they had two children together; William and Hannah. His wife Hannah passed away in April 1790 and he then married Mary Reay on 25th October 1791 they had three children together; Robert, Richard and Thomas. Robert was a miner.
He died April 1839 in Allendale
Robert Walton 1792 – 1841
Robert Walton was born in July 1792 in Allendale to Robert and Mary. He was born in Fawside Green Houses, these are a terrace of 3 houses, dated 1790. There is a stone panel over door of no. 2 with inscription 'Built by Sir. Tho. Blackett. Bart. Anno Domini 1790' in circular surround.
On the 22nd July 1792 Robert was baptised at Saint Peter and Allenheads Chapelries, Allendale with his father’s occupation being listed a miner. Sometime before 1813 Robert relocated to Knarsdale and then to Greenhead, as Robert worked as a miner he was probably following the mining work.
Robert married Mary Scott on 24th July 1813 in Knarsdale and in 1814 the first of their seven children were born; William, Robert, Thomas, John, Jane, Isaac and Joseph. In March1837 his wife Mary passed away in Greenhead, Haltwistle
Robert was next listed on a newspaper article with his wife’s grandfather around 1839 in Alston, 37 miles from Greenhead. The article was regarding the sale of a lead mine. Robert may now be working as a mining agent.
He died on 4 May 1841 at the age of 48 in New Angerton, Greenhead.
John Walton 1821 – 1889
John Walton was born in July 1821 in Knarsdale south of Haltwistle. There are signs that when he was a child John may have moved around with his sister being born in the village of Alston in 1824 when John was 2, by 1830 the family were now living in Haltwistle.
In 1838 when John was 17 his mother passed away. Then at the beginning of 1841 Johns father passed away leaving the eldest William as the head of the household.
The men of the house were all coal miners working at Blenkinsopp colliery; they probably would have done so from a very early age.
He married Sarah Dove in April 1843 in Greenhead, she was already 3 months pregnant and the first of their eight children was born July 1843. They had Robert, William, Sarah Jane, Thomas, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Hannah and Isaac. The family lived at Wallend in Greenhead in 1843, by 1861 the family was living in Coanwood in Mays Cottages
Around about 1863, the family then relocated to Bedlington. This is likely due to John finding work in Netherton Colliery. In 1870 John was working as a Master Wasteman at Bedlington Colliery. A master wasteman examines sides and roof airways necessary for ventilation, and is responsible for their maintenance and repair. On the 20th October 1870 John’s wife Sarah dies.
John spends the rest of his days working at Broomhill colliery and on 4 May 1889 he passes away in Broomhill, at the age of 67. He was probably living with his daughter Hannah as his son in law George Headley was present at the death. John died of Cirrhosis of the liver caused by heavy drinking or possibly contracting hepatitis. On 6th May 1889 John was buried in Chevington cemetery.
Thomas Walton 1853 – 1904
Thomas Walton was born in June 1853 in Greenhead, Haltwistle to John and Sarah Walton. He was baptised 19th June 1853
Thomas lived in Mays cottage on Coanwood common until around about 1863, the family then relocated to Bedlington. This is likely due to his father finding work in Netherton Colliery. It is probable that Thomas himself started working in the pits at a very early age and he would have also found work at this colliery.
In 1870 Thomas` mother dies and his sister Sarah became the lady of the house, she would have stayed at home and looked after the younger siblings.
In 1871 Thomas worked at Bedlington colliery as a coal miner moving in 1881 to work at Broomhill colliery. It would be in Broomhill that he met Mary Ellerington and they married 3rd April 1882
The first of nine children was born the following year Ann (died 0), John, William (died 3), Sarah Jane, Elizabeth Ann, Mary, Thomas Dove, Diana and Hannah.
By 1889 Thomas had worked his way up to be Deputy Overman at Broomhill Colliery this means he was an underground official who had supervision of a district and the men working in it, earning his certification in 1892. Thomas spent the rest of his days working and living in Broomhill. He died on 7 January 1904 at the age of 50 from symptomatic asthma. His son John was present and he registered the death. Symptomatic asthma was probably due to working his entire life in the coal mines. Dust from the coal and digging would have causes his lungs to blacken and scar tissue to form resulting in symptoms very similar to asthma.
Sarah Jane Walton 1889 – 1970
Sarah Jane Walton was born on 12th June, 1889 in Broomhill to Thomas and Mary. She was baptised 14th July, 1889 at Chevington Parish Church. Not much is known about her early life, she lived with her parents in Broomhill. Sarah may have had some education but usually would have been expected to help her mother in the house.
In 1904 the father passed away and her brother John took over as the main bread winner. At this point due to her father’s death she may have been expected to seek employment to contribute to the household income.
Sarah became pregnant early 1908 at 19 with her son Joseph Ellerington Walton being born 30th September 1908. It is unknown who Joseph’s father was and he was raised by his grandparents believing them to be his birth parents and his mother to be his sister.
Sarah left Broomhill sometime after the birth and took up employment as a house maid in 10 Ridley Terrace, Scotswood, Benwell. It is unknown if this was to provide for her son, escape the stigma of the birth or for other reasons. The head of the house`s brother was also listed at this address and would later become Sarah`s husband, this was Arthur Lambert. In 1911 Sarah married Arthur Lambert in Benwell. In 1939 Sarah was living at 19 Valley Gardens, Consett with her husband and children.
She died in April 1970 in Durham, Durham, at the age of 80.
Joseph Ellerington Walton 1908 – 1988
Joseph Ellerington Walton was born on 30th September 1908 in Broomhill his mother Sarah was 19 and it was unknown who his father was. Joseph grew up believing that his grandparents Thomas and Mary were his biological parents.
Joseph was baptised on 12th November 1908 and Sarah Walton was listed as his mother, at Chevington Parish Church. He lived in an area called Bullocks Hall near Broomhill, this was an old mining village.
After his grandfather (father) passed away Joseph would have grown up with his grandmother and uncle supporting him. His uncle was a miner probably working in Bullocks hall colliery, another uncle was a lorry driver in the mines and Joseph seems to have followed in his footsteps and did the same.
He married Elizabeth Ellen Alcock in April 1935 they had five children Mary, Kenneth, Thomas, Elizabeth and Lorna.
Joseph worked as a lorry driver at the collieries and also for a period of time had his own business. In March 1939 he was caught driving his vehicle without the appropriate mirrors and on the 24th of March that year was fined 4s.
During the war Joseph would have been deemed too old to join the forces but he helped the war effort by working as a volunteer Northumberland County Special Constable, this would be to keep the peace and also they would be trained to help with the war effort on the home front i.e. first aid, clearing up after bombs. He signed up to this sometime in 1939 and his address is listed as 3 Chapel Row.
Joseph lived for most of his life at Togston Crescent; he died on 5 January 1988 in Broomhill at the age of 79.
