William Milton

My paternal great-grandfather was William Milton.

According to his birth certificate, William Milton was born in the registration district of St George's in the East in the sub-district of St Mary in the County of Middlesex on 8 December 1864. His father was James Milton (Journeyman Proof Maker) and his mother was Rebecca Milton formerly Haysom. She was the informant: she made her mark and gave her address as 17 Samuel Street, St George in the East.

William was married to Emma, and was the father of Alfred Thomas Milton, my grandfather, and numerous other offspring.

My Dad told me that two of his great uncles (who were twins) were killed on the same day during the battle of the Somme. Their father (i.e. William) was guarding German prisoners at the time, and shot two of them in revenge. Dad said he died in a military hospital of a brain tumour the following year. I searched the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site for a William Milton, and came up with this:

Debt of Honour Register

In Memory of W MILTON

Private 895 103rd Protection Coy., Royal Defence Corps who died on Wednesday 15 May 1918 . Age 53 .

Additional Information: Husband of Emma Sarah Louisa Milton, of 36, Freeland Buildings, Eastville, Bristol.

Cemetery: CITY OF LONDON AND TOWER HAMLETS CEMETERY London, United Kingdom Grave or Reference Panel Number: Screen Wall Historical Information: The cemetery, which covers about 33 acres, has been in use since 1841. It contains war graves of both world wars. During the 1939-1945 War the cemetery suffered severely from enemy air attacks directed on the City of London, the two chapels and many of the memorials having been damaged or destroyed. All the 280 war casualties buried in this cemetery are recorded on bronze panels affixed to a screen wall.

His death was also recorded in the Strutt Family bible.

I haven't found any evidence for two of his sons being killed in the First World War, but his son James died on 15 November 1916, age 20 (follow link for details).

Despite what it says above, I can't find any evidence that William Milton was actually married to Emma (at least not in England and Wales).

William Milton features in the 1881 census. He was 16 at the time, and the family was living at 13 North Street, Hackney. The head of the household was James Milton, age 47, born in London, Middlesex, England [a bit vague!]. His occupation was 'Boot Closer' (i.e. someone who sows the upper part of the boot).

William Milton's mother was Rebecca Milton, age 44 in 1888, born in London, Middlesex, England. Her occupation was 'Boot Machinist'. They had the following children at the time of the 1881 census:

• Rebecca, age 19, born in St Georges East, Middlesex, England, occupation Boot Machinist. Her birth certificate says that she was born on 23 January 1862. It gives her father as James George Milton (occupation Journeyman Boot Closer) and her mother as Rebecca Milton formerly Haysom. She was the informant and made her mark when registering the birth (i.e. she couldn't write her name). Her address at that time was 17 Samuel Street, St George in the East.
• Henry, age 18, born in St Georges East, Middlesex, England, occupation Boot Operator
• William [my great-granddad], age 16, born in St Georges East, Middlesex, England, occupation Printer at Press. His birth certificate says that he was born on 8 December 1864. It gives his father as James Milton (occupation Journeyman Boot Maker) and her mother as Rebecca Milton formerly Haysom. She was the informant and made her mark when registering the birth (i.e. she couldn't write her name). Her address at that time was 17 Samuel Street, St George in the East.
• Soloman, age 14, born in St Georges East, Middlesex, England, occupation Printer at Press
• George, age 11, born in Hackney, Middlesex, England, occupation Scholar (i.e. still at school: at the time primary school education was compulsory but not, as you can see above, secondary school education). According to FreeBMD there was a George Milton born in Hackney in the 1st quarter of 1870, Volume 1b page 497 of the Register of Births at the Family Record Service.
• Jane, age 9, born in Hackney, Middlesex, England, occupation Scholar. According to FreeBMD there was a Jane Milton born in Hackney in the 2nd quarter of 1871, Volume 1b page 472 of the Register of Births at the Family Record Service.
• John, age 7, born in Hackney, Middlesex, England, occupation Scholar. According to FreeBMD there was a John Milton born in Hackney in the 2nd quarter of 1873, Volume 1b page 504 of the Register of Births at the Family Record Service.
• Ellen, age 5, born in Hackney, Middlesex, England, [not at school]
• Elizabeth, age 3, born in Hackney, Middlesex, England,

[many thanks to Philip Milton for sending me these 1881 census details]

William and Emma were living at 3 Cross Street, Homerton, when their son Alfred Thomas was born in 1888. They were no longer there in the 1891 census. It was a multi-occupancy address, being the site of both the 'The Black Prince' (a pub, which no longer seems to exist?) and Ford Buildings. NB Cross Street is now called Homerton Grove.

William and Emma and their family are recorded in the 1901 census as living at 4 Douro Street, St Mary Stratford Bow, Tower Hamlets.