Person:Thomas Judson (1)

John Thomas Judson was baptised on 2nd May 1841 at Navenby in Lincolnshire, son of Elizabeth Judson, formerly Baker, and her husband Joseph Judson, an agricultural labourer. The 1841 census finds him living at Navenby with his parents and an older sister. In the 1851 census John Thomas was listed simply as "Thomas" - many records list him just by his middle name, suggesting he was known as Thomas. He was living in 1851 at Navenby with his mother, who was working as a rag collector at the time, and four younger siblings. His father was away from home on census night.

By 1861 Thomas had left Navenby and was working as a servant for a farmer at Heckington, about seventeen miles to the south-east of Heckington. One of the other servants at the farm was a Sarah Ann Turner, who was the daughter of another farmer in Heckington.

Three years after that census, Thomas and Sarah Turner married. By that time they had left Heckington and were living in the town of Boston, where they married on 24th May 1864. Thomas was working as a railway porter when they married, whilst Sarah was still working as a servant.

Between 1865 and 1885, Thomas and Sarah went on to have at least eleven children together.^[13]The first two, in 1865 and 1866, were born in the Boston area. They then moved to the nearby town of Spalding where they had another two children in 1867 and 1869. By 1871 they had returned to Boston, appearing in the census at 1 Junction Street, with Thomas working as a railway inspector, which job he appears to have continued with for the rest of his career, working for the Great Northern Railway. In the mid 1870s the family moved from Boston to Skirbeck Quarter, a suburb to the south of Boston which at the time was just outside the borough's boundaries.

Each census from 1881 to 1911 finds the family living on London Road in Skirbeck Quarter. In 1911 it was reported that their home had eight rooms, and Thomas was described as being retired.

Thomas and Sarah celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary on 24th May 1914, by which time Thomas was seriously ill, although his obituary notes "it was a source of consolation to himself and the members of his family that he was spared to celebrate the happy occasion". He died fifteen days later, on 8th June 1914, at home at London Road in Skirbeck Quarter. He was 73 years old. His obituary also describes his long career for the Great Northern Railway and the high esteem in which he was held. He apparently had 22 grandchildren at the time of his death. Sarah survived him by just over seven years.

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

   b. John Thomas JUDSON, March Quarter 1841, Lincoln Registration District, Volume 14, page 476, mother's maiden name Baker

2. ↑ Baptisms register, in Navenby, Lincolnshire, England. Parish Registers (Lincolnshire Record Office, Lincoln).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Navenby in the County of Lincoln in the Year 1841
   No.	When Baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parents' Name		Abode	Quality, Trade, or Profession	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   			Christian	Surname
   710	May 2nd	John Thomas Son of	Joseph & Elizabeth	Judson	Navenby	Labourer	J. Conington

3. ↑ 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 621; Book 1; Folio 16; Page 26, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Navenby, Lincolnshire
   Joseph Judson, male, 25 [1811-16], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], not born in county
   Elizabeth Judson, female, 20 [1816-21], born in county
   Hannah Judson, female, 3 [1837/8], born in county
   John Judson, male, 3 months [1841], born in county

4. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 2104; Folio 30; Page 52, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Chapel Lane, Navenby, Lincolnshire
   Eliz[abe]th Judson, head, married, female, 31 [1819/20], Rag Collector, b. Harmston, Lincolnshire
   Thomas Judson, son, male, 10 [1840/1], Scholar, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   Jane Judson, daughter, female, 7 [1843/4], Scholar, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   Mary Judson, daughter, female, 5 [1845/6], Scholar, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   Sarah Ann Judson, daughter, female, 3 [1847/8], b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   William Judson, son, male, 1 [1849/50], b. Navenby, Lincolnshire

5. ↑ England. 1861 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 RG9; Piece 2345; Folio 75; Page 11, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Fen Side, Heckington, Lincolnshire
   David Dawson, head, married, male, 42 [1818/19], Farmer of 67 acres, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Sarah Turner, servant, unmarried, female, 20 [1840/1], Serv[an]t, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   George Senescall, visitor, unmarried, male, 13 [1847/8], Scholar, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Thomas Judson, servant, unmarried, male, 21 [1839/40], Serv[an]t, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire

6. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 3342; Folio 68; Page 49, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: 1 Junction Street, Boston, Lincolnshire
   Thomas Judson, head, married, male, 30 [1840/1], Railway Inspector, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   Sarah A. Judson, wife, married, female, 30 [1840/1], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Naomi H. Judson, daughter, female, 6 [1874/5], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   John T. Judson, son, male, 5 [1865/6], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   William E. Judson, son, male, 2 [1868/9], Scholar, b. Spalding, Lincolnshire
   Mary Hull, visitor, married, female, 21 [1849/50], Railway Storemans Wife, b. Spalding, Lincolnshire

7. ↑ England. 1881 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 RG11; Piece 3219; Folio 114; Page 6, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: London Road, Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
   Thomas Judson, head, married, male, 40 [1840/1], Railway Inspector, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   Sarah A. Judson, wife, married, female, 40 [1840/1], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Naomi H. Judson, daughter, unmarried, female, 16 [1864/5], b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   John T. Judson, son, unmarried, male, 15 [1865/6], Railway Messenger, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   William H. Judson, son, male, 12 [1868/9], Scholar, b. Spalding, Lincolnshire
   George Judson, son, male, 9 [1871/2], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Elizabeth A. Judson, daughter, female, 7 [1873/4], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Emily Judson, daughter, female, 5 [1875/6], b. Scholar, b. Skirkbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
   Harry Judson, son, male, 2 [1878/9], b. Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
   Annie T. Judson, daughter, female, 1 [1879/80], b. Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire

8. ↑ England. 1891 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 RG12; Piece 2575; Folio 127; Page 4, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: London Road, Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
   Thomas Judson, head, married, male, 50 [1840/1], G.N.R. Inspector, employed, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   S.A. Judson, wife, married, female, 49 [1841/2], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   J. Thomas Judson, son, single, male, 25 [1865/6], G.N.R. Goods Guard, employed, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   George Judson, son, single, male, 19 [1871/2], Baker, employed, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Elizabeth Judson, daughter, single, female, 18 [1872/3], Domestic Help, employed, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Emily Judson, daughter, single, female, 16 [1874/5], Milliner, employed, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Harres [sic] Judson, son, male, 13 [1877/8], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Annie Judson, daughter, female, 11 [1879/80], Scohlar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Mary Judson, daughter, female, 9 [1881/2], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Fred Judson, son, male, 6 [1884/5], Scholar, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Clara Welsh, visitor, single, female, 23 [1867/8], b. Hatfield, Lincolnshire

9. ↑ England. England. 1901 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 RG13; Piece 3045; Folio 96; Page 27, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: London Road, Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
   J.T. Judson, head, married, male, 60 [1840/1], G.N.R. Inspector, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
   S.A. Judson, wife, married, female, 60 [1840/1], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
   Henry Judson, son, single, male, 22 [1878/9], Working on own account, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Annie Judson, daughter, single, female, 20 [1880/1], Mother Help, working at home, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Mary Judson, daughter, single, female, 19 [1881/2], Teaching School , b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Fred Judson, son, single, male, 15 [1885/6], Lad Porter G.N.R., b. Boston, Lincolnshire
   Walter Neal, grandson, male, 6 [1894/5], At school, b. Boston, Lincolnshire

10. ↑ England. 1911 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 RG14; Piece 19601; Schedule 21, 2 Apr 1911.

    Address: London Road, Skirbeck Quarter, Lincolnshire
    Eight rooms occupied
    John Thomas Judson, head, male, 71 [1839/40], married, Retired G.N.R. Insepctor Pensioned, b. Navenby, Lincolnshire
    Sarah Ann Judson, wife, female, 70 [1840/1], married 47 years, 15 children born alive to marriage, 10 children still living, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Fred Judson, son, male, 25 [1885/6], single, Shunter G.N. R[ai]l[wa]y, worker, b. Boston, Lincolnshire
    Walter Neal, grandson, male, 16 [1894/5], single, Office Boy - Solicitors, worker, b. Boston, Lincolnshire

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

    d. John Thomas JUDSON, June Quarter 1914; Boston Registration District, Volume 7a, page 480, aged 74 [1839/40]

12. ↑ Boston Guardian, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 10, Saturday 13 Jun 1914.

    DEATH OF MR. JUDSON, OF BOSTON.
    We regret to record the death of Mr. J.T. Judson, which took place at his residence of London-road, Skirbeck Quarter, after a long and serious illness, on Monday morning. On Sunday, May 24th, deceased and his wife celebrated their golden wedding, but Mr. Judson was at that time in a very critical condition, and it was a source of consolation to himself and the members of his family that he was spared to celebrate the happy occasion. Deceased, who was 74 years of age, was a son of Mr. Edward Judson, farmer, of Navenby. At the age of twenty-one he joined the staff of the Great Northern Railway Company, and for thirty years was inspector at the passenger station and in the goods' department at Boston, retiring thirteen years ago. He was a highly-respected employee of the Company, and was held in high esteem by those with whom he had business relations. He leaves a family of five sons and five daughters, and 22 grandchildren, and much sympathy is felt for the widow and for them in their bereavement.

13. ↑ Birth indexes for children called Judson with mother's maiden name Turner have been found for eleven children, although in the 1911 census Sarah reported that she had had 15 children in this marriage, ten of whom were still living.