Houghton/Hawtin Family

[Stanwix England]

Hello,

I'm trying to find out what happened to a family in the Radford region in Nottingham in the later 1800s.

The name changes spelling over various records from Houghton to Hawtin.

Father: William Houghton
Born: 1814 Morton, Nottinghamshire
Baptised 1 January 1814, Basford, Nottingham

Marries in 2nd quarter 1845 in Nottingham to

Mother: Elizabeth Pollicott
Born:1821, Radford, Nottingham
Baptised: 19 January 1921, Radford, Nottingham

I believe they had at least 4 children,

Sarah Anne born 1847, Nottingham. Possibly died unmarried July 1879
Jane born 1849, Nottingham. Ultimate fate unknown
William born 1853, Nottingham. Marries in 1876, one daughter, dies 1883
Henry born 1858, Nottingham, Ultimate fate unknown.

Other info I have

1851 Census: William the elder, Elizabeth and their two daughters are living in Nottingham, St Ann Ward, they also have a 63 year old lodger with them.

The two boys were born inbetween the two census.

At some point in 1861, William the elder dies.

1861: Elizabeth is living as a widow, with her mother, Mary Policott in St Ann, Nottingham. All four of the Hawtin children are with them.

Where I am stuck

Beyond that, I'm struggling to trace Elizabeth and her children. I can't find any of them on the 1871 census. It occurs to me that Elizabeth may well have remarried, but I can't confirm that.

I believe Sarah Anne died in 1879.

William married in 1876, and is present with his wife on the 1881 census still in Nottingham. He died in 1883.

I cannot trace Jane or Henry in either marriage or death records.

I've tried variant spellings but had no luck.

[Stanwix England]

Update: I've just found out that it's likely Elizabeth Pollicot was buried with her son William. She appears never to have remarried as is still called Hawtin and was buried in March 1887, in Nottingham.

[Stanwix England]

UPDATE

OK, here is what I think may have happened on the 1870 census. I would appreciate you running your eyes over it to see what you think.

On the 1870 census there is an Elizabeth ORTON who is listed as a widow, in St Mary's parish, Nottingham.

She has three children with her, Sarah ORTON who is a lace clipper born 1848, Jane ORTON, waitress born 1849 and Henry ORTON born 1858.

All of that matches up with my HAWTIN's (except for William, the middle son who could well just have been somewhere else). Sarah's profession is the same. Her mother is listed as charwomen not working in the lace industry anymore.

It occurred to me that, with accents and things, Hawtin might have been misheard as ORTON. It wouldn't surprise me if Elizabeth Hawtin was illiterate so she might not have been able to correct a spelling mistake even if she was brave enough to argue. The 'Basford, Nottingham' thing is a match too as that is where she describes as her area of birth on the 1851 census.

The only possibly issue is that there is also around at the time, an Elizabeth Orton but she gives her place of birth as Arnold and has differently named children. There is also an Elizabeth Orton who gives her place of birth as Mansfield, Nottingham - but she is on the 1871 census as a separate entry so it wouldn't be her.

What do you think? Am I clutching at straws here? It does seem a match in every other way.

[MaureeninNY]

Well done!

I'd say you have a good match on the 1871!

Maureen

[MaureeninNY]

Is this "Jane"?
GRO Births:
 HAWTIN, ELIZABETH  JANE       mmn POLLICOT   
GRO Reference: 1849  D Quarter in NOTTINGHAM  Volume 15  Page 544 

Marriage 1872 maybe to Thomas SWIFT?

Maureen

[Stanwix England]

Ah yes, it could be. Thank you very much.