John Horton was the eighth child of James Horton & Elizabeth Hale born at Sedgley, Staffs & christened January, 1846 at Gornall, Staffs.
In 1851 John & his parents were living at Gornall Wood, Lower Gornall, Sedgley. There were 2 brothers & 2 sisters at home.
By 1861 the family had moved to Himley Rd, Lower Gornall, Sedgley. John & brother Joseph were both working as labourers & also at home were Elizabeth (11), Samuel (8), Emily (6) & Sarah (5).
John married Emma Hartill at All Saints, Sedgley in 1870. Emma was christened May 9th, 1847 at Sedgley, the daughter of Ann & John Hartill, a brass founder.
In 1871 John, a brick layer, & Emma were living with Emma’s mother & her second husband Joseph Hickman, a labourer, who had married in Jan-March 1858. John & Emma had a new born son, James, just 4 days old at the time of the census. They were living at 6 Gordon’s Place, Cotwallend, Sedgley.
At the time of the 1881 census John & Emma were still living with Emma’s mother & step father at the same address. John was still a brick layer & they now had 3 children – James, Job (4) & Elizabeth (2). On the census John is listed as John Orton.
John & family & in-laws were still at 6 Gordon’s Place in 1891 & John was now described as a house bricklayer. Son James was now a house painter, Job was an apprentice carpenter. Also at home were Elizabeth, Ann (9) & Virginia (6).
By 1901 John & Emma had moved to 2 Gordon’s Row, Cotwallend, Sedgley & John was still a bricklayer. Daughter Ann was working from home as a dressmaker & Virginia was a school teacher. Emma’s mother Ann Hickman was now a widow & at the age of 75 was living on her own at 6 Gordon’s Row.
In 1911 John & Emma had moved back to 6 Gordons Place, The Straits, Lower Gornall, Dudey, presumeably after the death of Emma's mother. They had only 1 child living with them – Ann who continued to be a dressmaker. It was noted on the census that they had had 7 children, only 6 of whom were still alive.
The children of John Horton & Emma Hartill were:
h.1.4.8.1 James Horton born 29th March, 1871 at Sedgley, Staffs
h.1.4.8.2 Job Horton born Oct-December
1876 at Sedgley, Staffs
h.1.4.8.3 Elizabeth Horton born 1878 at Sedgley, Staffs
h.1.4.8.4 Ann Horton born Jan-March 1882 at Sedgley, Staffs
h.1.4.8.5 Virginia Horton born Oct-December 1884 at Sedgley, Staffs