Person:Thomas Shelton (26)

Thomas Shelton’s origins have yet to be established. The age given when he died suggests he was born around 1753. The 1841 census indicates that he was born in England but not in the county of Northamptonshire, where he was then living.

Thomas’s first confirmed sighting is on 28th October 1783 when he was married at Barnwell St Andrew in Northamptonshire to Mary Porter. They were both said to be living in the parish at the time of their marriage.

After their marriage, Thomas and Mary went on to have seven children baptised at Barnwell St Andrew between 1784 and 1797. Two of their children died in 1793: their daughter Frances died aged two in the April, then their son William died aged five in the July. They went on to use the names Frances and William again for their youngest two children.

Mary died in 1837, when she was said to be 86 years old. They had been married for 53 years. Her burial record gives her abode as Latham’s Hospital, a local charity which ran almshouses for the poor in Barnwell.

The 1841 census finds Thomas living in Barnwell St Andrew with his grandson, William Marriott (Thomas’s daughter Mary’s son), and his family. The census notes “Hospital Place” against Thomas’s name, suggesting that he was being supported, presumably also by Latham’s Hospital.

Thomas died in 1845, when he was said to be 91 years old, a remarkable age for the time. He was buried at Barnwell St Andrew on 17th June 1845, and his last abode was given as Latham’s Hospital.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 808; Book 1; Folio 6; Page 8, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Barnwell St Andrew, Northamptonshire
   William Marriott, male, 30 [1806-11], Shepherd, born in county
   Elizabeth Marriott, female, 30 [1806-11], born in county
   Thomas Marriott, male, 7 [1833/4], born in county
   Rachel Marriott, female, 6 [1834/5], born in county
   Mary Ann Marriott, female, 4 [1836/7], born in county
   Frances Marriott, female, 1 [1839/40], born in county
   Emma Marriott, female, 1 month [1841], born in county
   Thomas Shelton, male, 85 [1751-6], "Hospital place" [crossed out], not born in county
   John Twigden, male, 85 [1751-6], Parish Relief, not born in county

2.   Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. Thomas SHELTON, June Quarter 1845, Oundle Registration District, Volume 15, page 258, aged 91 [1753/4]

3. ↑ Burials register, in Barnwell, Northamptonshire: Bishop’s Transcripts (Northamptonshire Record Office, Northampton).

   BURIALS in the Parish of Barnwell St. Andrew with All Saints in the County of Northampton in the Year 1845
   No	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   253	Thomas Shelton	Barnwell St. Andrew Latham's Hospital	June 17	91 [1753/4]	R.M. Boultbee Rector