James Vere Horton [h.1.2.7]

James Vere Horton was the seventh child of John Horton & Eliza Andrews born December 12th, 1847 at Court 3, Matt St, Birmingham.

James' birth certificate

James’ mother died soon after his birth & in 1851 James was listed with his widowed father who was a carpenter at Matt St, Court 3 House 2. Also at home were sisters Emily, Ann, & Jane & brother George, a jeweller.

James was still at home at the time of the 1861 census at House 4, Court 3, Matt St, Birmingham & he was described as a jeweller at the age of 13! He was living with his father, sister Emily, a milliner & dressmaker, brother John, a jeweller & sister Jane who had domestic duties.

In 1871 James was still living at home, now 3 Clifford Rd, Aston Manor & his father was now a joiner & cabinet maker. James was described as a signet ring maker. Emily, Ann, a milliner, John & Jane, a sewing machine worker, were all still at home.

James married Eleanor Fullbrook Coxon on June 16th, 1880 at the parish church of Attleborough, Warwick. At the time of the wedding James was described as a jeweller of St Peter’s Birmingham. Both James & Eleanor’s fathers were deceased. Witnesses at the wedding were John Horton (possibly James’ brother) & Lillian Sinkinson. Eleanor was born April-June 1856 at Birmingham, the daughter of Harriet Moore & Jesse Coxon, a brewer/butcher.

Marriage of James & Eleanor

In 1881 James & Eleanor (listed as Sarah in census!) were living at 25 Victoria Rd, Aston Manor, Birmingham & James was a gilt jeweller (toy maker).

By 1891 they had moved to 97 Clifford St, Aston Manor & James was described as a jeweller (gold). They had 2 children living with them – James (8) & John (3), but daughter Eleanor was with her aunts Emily, Ann & Jane & uncle John Horton at Wheeler St, Aston Manor. Daughter Eleanor appears to continue to live with her aunts & uncle as she was still with them at the time of the 1901 census.

The family were still at 97 Clifford St in 1901 & James was now a ring maker as was his son James. Son John was still at home & noted on the census as ‘feeble minded’.

In 1911 James & Eleanor were living at 2 Lime Grove, Handsworth, West Bromwich & James was described as a jobbing jeweller. There was no family with them. Daughter Eleanor was still living with her aunts Emily & Ann Horton at Aston & was now a music teacher. Son James had married Edith Jessie Smith in 1909 & they were living at 138 Putney Rd, Handsworth & James was still a ring maker.

There is a death recorded for James V Horton, aged 68, registered in West Bromwich in Jan-March 1917.

The children of James Vere Horton & Eleanor Fullbrook Coxon were:

h.1.2.7.1 Eleanor Elizabeth Horton born April-June 1881 at Aston, Birmingham
h.1.2.7.2 James Horton born Jan-March 1883 at St Pauls, Birmingham
h.1.2.7.3 John Horton born c1888 at Aston, Birmingham