Hello, my first post and I'd like to share with you something that has interested me for a number of years and thanks to the internet, I've been able to research the history of a family I have no connection to other then they once lived in my family home. I would dearly love to see a photo of this family, but so far all research has produced nothing.
In 2009 I purchased a copy of the 1911 census for the old family house of 34 Stovell Ave in Longsight, Manchester. My mum and dad moved in in the summer of 1966 as tenants. In the late 70s, my father was renovating the box bedroom and lifted the floorboards and found a pile of old cigarette cards discarded between the boards, coated in dust. The cards dated to around 1910-1920s and depicted scenes of the British Empire and the British Army. Those cards always intrigued me about who left them there. Someone who smoked, in the bedroom, dropping the cards between the floorboards.....
The 1911 Census
My father sold the house in 2007 and moved to Ireland. And that was the end of the history of the Byrne family at 34 Stovell Ave. In 2009 the 1911 census was released, and my intrigue took over again. I purchased a copy for 34, and straight away I was presented with five names. On the night of Sunday the 2nd of April 1911, a William Hilton and his wife Amy, resided there with their five children, sons William and George, daughters Amy, May and Ena. William Hilton was a Brass Polisher by trade. His wife was classed as a housewife. His eldest son William was a Junior Palesman. His eldest daughter Amy was a Shirtmaker and his other children were at school.
Hilton History
William Hilton was born in 1866 at 6 Long Mill Gate, Manchester (street is still there today but is now a car park next to Victoria Train Station)
Amy Turnbull was born in 1870 at 53 George Leigh Street, Manchester (house still exists today!).
The fathers of William and Amy died when they were both young. Williams mother was a confectioner by trade. Amy's mother was a charwoman.
William was a metalworker by trade. He started working at 14 years old for a calico printing company in Manchester and specialised in brass polishing.
When William turned 17 and a half, he was conscripted into the 3rd Battalion, The Manchester Regiment. He signed up at York Barracks, Wellington Road, Stockport on Monday 28th May 1883.
At some point, William met Amy, and in June 1889, they married at St John the Evangelist church, Miles Platting, Manchester (church still exists today). They moved into 68a Ronald Street in Ancoats (the street is still there today, but 68 has disappeared and the street is a mix of old terraced and new builds).
Their first child, William, arrived in 1890, followed by their second child Amy Hilton born in 1893, and third child George Hilton in 1901.
Between 1901 and 1902, they moved from Ronald Street into 34 Stovell Ave.
In 1906, their fourth child was born, May.
In 1911 their fifth child was born, Ena.
In 1914 their first son, William, joined the Army. He spent much of his time in England during World War One, but in 1918 he was posted to France where he was gassed in a German attack and survived only to return to the fighting and was wound in the back by gunshot in August 1918, and so was discharged from the Army with bad health.
At some point after 1911, the second child, Amy, moved out of 34 Stovell and into 38 Stovell Ave. Amy was a spinster and had no children.
Deaths
The fourth child, May, died in Stovell Ave on Wednesday 20th April 1932 aged 26. Cause of death not known.
The father, William, died in Stovell Ave on Tuesday 3rd December 1946 aged 80.
The mother, Amy, died in Stovell Ave on Sunday 19 February 1961 aged 90.
Their second child, Amy, died in 38 Stovell Ave on 3rd February 1973 aged 80.
George Hilton passed away 21/1/1972. The funeral was arranged by William D Hilton with a service on 25/1/1972, George’s remains were scattered in The Old garden of Remembrance 26/1/1972.
More Research
Amy Hilton moved into 38 Stovell in 1961 after her mother died in 34 Stovell. She was on the electoral record for 1971, along with her brother George.
After Amy moved out of 34 Stovell, a couple called Neville and Patricia Hillman moved in and stayed until the summer of 1966. No burial record for this couple in the Manchester area, still alive?
I discovered that Ena Hilton married Thomas Enstone in 1934 at St Peters church in Levenshulme. They moved into a house on Burnage Hall Road. Ena passed away in 1989. Ena and Thomas had three children, Ruth born 1939, Allwyn born 1941 and Brian born 1945.
William Jnrs Army Service - WWI
William Hilton Jnr - Enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment at the Levenshulme recruitment office on Wednesday 6th December 1915. Started basic training, 12th of February 1916. Posted to Cheshire Regt in France on 30th of August 1916. Gassed by shell attack on Thursday 25th of April 1918 and injured. Recovered and returned to the trenches. GSW (gun shot wound), Wednesday 21st of August 1918. Posted back to England wounded. Discharged from the British Army due to GSW as a Lance Corporal on 11th of April 1919 on 40% disability pension. Awarded two medals, the Victory medal and British War Medal.
And that is my research on the Hilton family. Thank you for reading.
