It is interesting
to see that the whole family were involved in
the silk industry Queen Elizabeth 1st took much
interest in Reading. In 1560, she granted to
the Corporation a new charter, greatly enlarging
their powers and privileges. It was she who
sent a large number of mulberry trees to Reading
in order to encourage the industry of silk-weaving
from 1640 silk was made in Reading.
The 1841 census for Berkshire shows there were
just two silk throwsters (millers) employing
101 males and 100 females. Berkshire silk mills
were at Reading, Newbury, Wokingham and Twyford.
This last silk mill closed in 1829, and like
all the others the decline was brought about
by the treaty with France allowing French silk
to enter this country duty free.
So it appears that William and
Hannah could have been some of the last people
working in the silk industry in Reading.
1817: Jul 17
- Marriage at St Mary's Reading Berkshire
William Colton
to Hannah Warwick
William and Hannah had children:
1822: Feb
24 - Baptism at St Mary's Church Reading
Arthur Coulton son of William
Coulton and his wife Hannah
1824: Feb
4 - Baptism at St Mary's Church Reading
David Colton son of William
Colton and his wife Hannah
1826:
Feb 22 - Baptism at St Mary's Church Reading
Walter William Colton son of William
Colton and Anna his wife
1836: Baptism
at St Giles Church Reading
Rosanna Colton daughter of William
Colton and Hannah his wife
1841: Census
- St Giles, Reading
William Colton
born abt 1790 age 51 - Silk Weaver
Hannah Colton born abt 1795 age 46 -
Silk Weaver
Arthur Colton born about abt 1822 age
19 - Silk Weaver
Walter Colton born abt 1826 age 15 - Silk
Weaver
Resuma Colton born abt 1835 age 6
1851: Census:
5 Vine Court, Reading, Berkshire
William
Coulton born
1791 age 60 - Hand Lomer Weaver (Silk) -born
Newington, Surrey
Hannah Coulton born 1794 age 57 - Hand
Lomer Weaver (Silk) - born Tilhurst, Berkshire
David Coulton born 1824 age 27 - Tailor
Journeyman - born at Reading
Walter Coulton born 1826 age 25 - Hand
Lomer Weaver (Silk) - born at Reading
Rosanna Coulton born 1836 age 15 - Servant
House - born at Reading
Meanwhile
William's son Arthur Colton (1822)
was living with them or next door
with his family
1851: Census - 5 Vine Court,
Reading
Arthur Colton - Head - age 29 - Silk
Weaver - Reading
Maria Colton - Wife - age 33 - Reading
George D Colton - Son - age 4 - Reading
Andrew Colton - Son - age 2 - Reading
1856: Hannah
Colton died at St Gile, Reading - Sep quarter
(2c 209) - age 61
1859: William
Colton died
at St Lawrence, Reading - Jun quarter (2c 241)
- age 69
In the Old Churchyard of St
Mary, Newington, Surrey are the following gravestones,
could the first one belong to William's grandparents
and the one below Williams father?
Thomas Colton
1745 - 1805
COLTON
In memory of
LOUISA MARIA
Daughter of Thomas and Martha Colton
who died
March 2nd 1797 Aged 8 Years
Also of
MR THOMAS COLTON
Father of the above
who died the 8th of June 1805
Aged 60 years |
William Colton
1777 - 1814
COLTON
In Memory
of
WILLIAM COLTON
who died 23rd November 1814
Aged 37 years
|
Source:
http://www.archive.org/stream/monumentalinscr00englgoog/monumentalinscr00englgoog_djvu.txt
Letter relating to the banns
of William Colton and Doris Woodiwiss -
does this belong to William above?
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=051-p295&cid=-1#-1
|