Thomas Colton x 3; Usage of "Senior" and "Junior"

[David Outner]

Three Thomas Coltons were active in nineteenth century Louth: TC1 (c 1768-1839), TC2 (c 1793-1886) and TC3 (c 1814-1859).  For all three I have found no records of births/baptisms and the approximate dates of birth come from the stated ages at death.  "Colton" was the early spelling; later spellings were more often "Coulton" or "Coultan".

Between them TC1 and TC2 appear to have commissioned about 35 houses yielding a significant rental income.  On a property basis, the rating and voting records suggest that TC1 was the father of TC2 and probably the grandfather of TC3. 

This view is supported by references in rating lists dated 1823 and 1838 and in voting records to TC2 as "Thomas  Colton junior" and some references to TC1 as "Thomas Colton senior".  However after the death of TC1, TC2 becomes (in two burgess rolls) "senior" and TC3 appears as "junior" in these rolls and also in the 1851 rating list.

How strong is this evidence of father/son relationships?  To put the question another way, does anyone know of Lincolnshire cases in this period when "senior" and "junior" have been used in formal documents without indicating a family relationship?

[hanes teulu]

First, a very warm welcome to Rootshat.

The General Register Office (GRO) has the death registration of Thomas Coltan, age 71, Mar Qtr 1839, Louth Union, 14  325 - calc. YoB about 1768.

FindMyPast has the baptismal record(image/transcription) of a -
Thomas Colton, bap 30 May 1767 at Normanby Le Wold, parents Frances and Thomas.

Have you discounted this baptism as a possible for your Thomas, 1768-1839?

[David Outner]

Thank you.  I had missed the Normanby 1767 record.  It might well relate to TC1.  A Louth rating list for that year shows no Coltans.

The earliest record that I can find that certainly relates him was a vote in a parliamentary election in 1818, although there is another possible in the form of a marriage in 1791.

[hanes teulu]

"TC3 (1814-1859)"

FindMyPast baptism (transcription/image)
Thomas Coulton, bap. 22 Aug 1814, at St. James' Parish Church, Louth, parents Thomas, shoemaker and Jane, abode Louth.

FindMyPast marriage (transcription/image)
Parish Church Theddlethorpe all Saints
Thomas Coulton of the Parish of Louth, Cordwainer, to Jane Parker of the Parish of Theddlethorpe all Saints, spinster (by banns and parental consent) on 16 Sep 1813.
WOne of the witnesses "James Parker, father of the bride".

 

[David Outner]

Thank you for these references.  Census returns show that TC2's wife was called Jane and the 1813/14 correspondence of names and occupations seems to me to make the relationship between TC2 and TC3 extremely probable.