Amy Johnson Crow, on her blog No Story Too Small, has challenged her fellow bloggers to post 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. This is week thirty.
My great-great-great grandfather, Thomas Burton, was born on May 28, 1816 in Wrenhigham, Co. Norfolk, England. His parents were Thomas Burton Sr. and Alice Maria Hardy.
I don’t know anything about Thomas’ early life at this point, but on March 21, 1848, he married Dionysia Ansted, daughter of John and Dionysia (Northeast) Ansted, in Lambeth, Surrey, England.
On the 22d inst., at St. Michael’s Church, Stockwell, by the Rev. Charles Kemble, Thomas Burton, Jun., Esq., of Thurton, Norfolk, to Dionysia, second daughter of John Ansted, Esq., of Portland-place, Clapham-road.
The 1851 census finds Thomas (34) and Dionysia (23) living in Thurton, Norfolk. They are living in Thurton Hall, along with their children Alice Jane (2) and Thomas Northeast (5 months). Thomas is listed as a farmer of 269 acres, employing 10 labourers and 2 boys. The family also employs Ellen Harvey (cook), Martha Brewer (housemaid), Jemina Bedingfield (nursemaid), James Ecctertorn (groom) and William Brewer (shepherd?).
By 1861, the census shows the family living on Loddon Road, near Thurton Hall. Thomas (45) and Dionysia (33) now have seven children: Alice Jane (12), Thomas Northeast (10), Arthur Henry (8), Edith Emily (6), Clara Dionysia (4), Margaret (2) and Helen (6 months). Helen was a twin but her brother, Clement, passed away as an infant. Thomas is still a farmer with 260 acres, employing 14 men and 2 boys. Also in the family household is a visiting Emily Ansted (Dionysia’s sister). The family employs Maria Green (governess), Maria Thurston (cook), Mary Whines (nurse), Mary Ward (housemaid), Esther Thompson (nurse) and Alfred Buckle (groom).
From what I have been able to determine the newspapers of the day, it appears Thomas’ father had amassed a considerable debt. Both of them worked land owned by the Proctor-Beauchamp Baronetcy. Thomas Sr died in 1867 and the following year, Thomas and Dionysia and their family emigrated to Canada. I am not sure if or how those two pieces of information might be connected, but it does appear possible that they are. The ship’s manifest shows the family consisting of Thomas (52), Dionysia (42) and children Alice Jane (19), Thomas (17), Edith (14), Clara (11), Margaret (10), Helen (8), Clement (6), Leonard (4), Amy (2) and Frederick (4 months). They sailed cabin class on the Thames, embarking in London on September 24, 1868. They arrived in Quebec on October 20.
The family settled in Quebec, showing up on the 1871 Canadian census in Quebec’s Jacques Cartier district, in the Montreal area. The family at that time consists of Thomas (54), Dionysia (43) and their children: Alice Jane (22), Thomas Northeast (20), Arthur Henry (18), Edith (16), Clara Dionysia (14), Margaret (12), Helen (10), Clement William (8), Leonard Decimus (6), [Amy] Ansted (4), Frederick (3) and Charles (10 months). Thomas is listed as a cultivateur (farmer).
At the time of the 1881 census the family was living in Outremont Village, which today is part of Montreal. Thomas (64) and Dionysia (53) were living with those of their children still at home:Â Clara (24), Helen (20), Amy (15), Frederick (12), Charles (10), Edith (26), Clement (18) and Leonard (16). Thomas is listed as a Gentleman but several of the children were employed.
By the 1891 census, the family is shown living in Montreal. Thomas (75) and Dionysia (63) were home with Charles (21) and Amy (25). Thomas is listed as an ancien fermier (former farmer), while Charles is a plombier (plumber).
Thomas passed away on February 22, 1898 at 82 years of age. Dionysia followed on August 10 of the same year. Thomas and Dionysia are buried together in Montreal’s Mount Royal cemetery, along with their son Clement and daughter Clara.
