John Burton (1817 - 1883)

Biography

He was baptised 19 Oct 1817 in Stepney, London ^[1]

John was born in 1817 (age at death was 65 (before his birthday) in 1883).

John of St Botolph-without-Aldersgate, son of Thomas Burton (gentleman), married Caroline Watson of Lambeth, daughter of William Watson (gentleman), on 16 February 1841 in Holy Trinity, Clapham : Clapham Common North Side, Lambeth, England. The marriage was witness by Samuel Linford, Henry Burton, Mary Ann Watson, Sarah Burton and ? Watson.^[2][3]

1841 ^[4] census finds John and Caroline (listed incorrectly ? as "F.S. and M.S.") in the home of surgeon James Sharp in Grosvenor St, London

Newspaper reports in 1844 ^[5]recorded the dissolution of the partnership : "Thomas Burton, Henry Burton and John Burton, Aldersgate St builders (so far as regards John Burton)". Does John only drop out of the building business, founded by their father Thomas, with his brothers?.....and start his timber import business at this time?

1851 Census: ^[6] Shenley Lodge, Acre Lane, Lambeth, London & Surrey (NB - His father, Thomas had owned a 100 acre estate at Shenley Hill, Hertfordshire and the name "Shenley" appeared on several Burton properties.)

In the 1861 census John (age 43) and Caroline were living with Caroline's sister Charlotte (Watson) Mason and her family in the household of Charles Mason in Canterbury, Canterbury St Paul, Kent, England. (Charles and Caroline's children are recorded at their home, Tower House, in Leigham Court Road.)^[7]

1861 Census : Children of John and Caroline at home at Tower House, Leigham Court Road, Streatham, Wandsworth, London & Surrey ^[8]

In the 1871 census John (age 53) was the head of household in Streatham, Surrey, England. He lives with his mother-in-law, Maria Watson, confirming the maiden name of his wife, Caroline. This sister is Maria King (married to Charles T King), which confirms that he is the brother-in-law of Harriet King (married to Charles King's brother, Edmund King. Edmund King is referenced as the father of Mildred Emily King in the entry for Howard Carlile in History of the Carlile Family). NB. Arthur and Grace are missing from the household (school?).^[9]

In the 1881 census John (age 63), Timber Merchant, was the married head of household at Leigham Court Rd (Tower House), Streatham, London, England.^[10]

"Died 21st April, John Burton Esq, of Tower House, Leigham Court Rd and 15 George St, Mansion House, London EC in his 66th year" ^[11]

John died on 21 April 1883 and was buried in West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium, West Norwood, London Borough of Lambeth, Greater London, England.^[12]

By the time of his death John was a wealthy man - his personal estate was recorded as £160,699 10s 6d. (about £17m at 2025 value) ^[13]

Research Notes

Previous Notes: These marriage details don't quite match. John married Caroline Watson on 9 February 1841 in England, United Kingdom.^[14]

The marriage record could have been a Banns which could easily have taken place in St Aldersgate where John Burton was from. The date is exactly one week before the other marriage on the 16 Feb... which took place in Lambeth. Slay-306 20:53, 5 October 2025 (UTC)

It looks like the parents were incorrectly added to the previous John Burton (by me originally). There was a John Burton born nearby to St Botolph-without-Aldersgate (in St Cripplegate) to another Thomas Burton - who married Charlotte Upcott. They also had a Maria Burton (same as John's sister, Maria). But there was no Harriet Burton born to Thomas and Charlotte that I can find. Thomas and Charlotte married in 1820 - which is after the birth expected for John Burton (1817). Their son John Burton was born in December 1820. I am in the process of updating these records. Slay-306 17:50, 5 October 2025 (UTC)

Transcript of probate record:

"Burton John. Personal estate £160,699 10s 6d. 25 June 1883. The Will with two Codicils late of Tower House, Leigham Court Rd Streatham in the County of Surrey and of 15 George St, Mansion House in the City of London. Timber Merchant who died 21 April 1883 at Tower House was proved at the Principal Registry by Caroline Burton of Tower House widow the Relict and John William Burton of Kerry House Upper Tooting in the said County and Henry Howard Burton of Coventry Park, Streatham. Timber Merchants the sons and Thomas Gabriel of Leigham Court Rd Timber Merchant the executors."

Sources

1. ↑ England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975 https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=R_949577809&tab=this
2. ↑ Marriage: "London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1940"
   London Metropolitan Archives; London, England, UK; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P95/TRI1/111
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 1623 #2618335 (accessed 5 October 2025)
   John Burton, son of Thomas Burton, marriage to Caroline Watson on 16 Feb 1841 in Holy Trinity, Clapham : Clapham Common North Side, Lambeth, England.
3. ↑ Marriage: "England Marriages, 1538–1973"
   FamilySearch Record: NVZV-HT5 (accessed 2 June 2022)
   John Burton marriage to Caroline Watson on 16 Feb 1841 in Clapham, Surrey, England, United Kingdom.
4. ↑ 1841 Census https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1841%2F0732%2F0097&parentid=GBC%2F1841%2F0008094372
5. ↑ York Herald 27 Jul pg 3 https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000498%2F18440727&page=3&article=010&stringtohighlight=henry+burton+thomas+burton
6. ↑ 1851 Census https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1851%2F0004992398&expand=true&tab=this
7. ↑ 1861 Census: "1861 England Census"
   Class: Rg 9; Piece: 519; Folio: 39; Page: 12; GSU roll: 542654; ED, institution, or vessel: 3; Household schedule number: 63
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 8767 #7302408 (accessed 5 October 2025)
   John Burton (43) brother-in-law in household of Charles Mason (49) in Canterbury, Canterbury St Paul in Canterbury registration district in Kent, England. Born in London, England.
8. ↑ 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1861%2F0002499001&expand=true&tab=this
9. ↑ 1871 Census: "1871 England Census"
   The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 719; Folio: 138; Page: 30; GSU roll: 823348; ED, institution, or vessel: 13; Household schedule number: 153
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 7619 #5768231 (accessed 5 October 2025)
   John Burton (53) head of household in Streatham in Wandsworth registration district in Surrey, England. Born in London England.
10. ↑ 1881 Census: "1881 England Census"
    Class: RG11; Piece: 666; Folio: 105; Page: 34; GSU roll: 1341155; ED, institution, or vessel: 16
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 7572 #21063568 (accessed 5 October 2025)
    John Burton (63), married, Timber Merchant, head of household in Leigham Court Rd (Tower House), Streatham in Wandsworth registration district in London, England. Born in London, London, Middlesex, England.
11. ↑ "Shipping and Mercantile Gazette" 24 Apr 1883, pg 8 https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0001702%2F18830424&page=8&article=082&stringtohighlight=john+burton+tower+house
12. ↑ Burial: "UK and Ireland, Find a Grave® Index, 1300s-Current"
    Find A Grave: Memorial #43245869
    Ancestry uk Record 60526 #26705 (accessed 5 October 2025)
    John Burton burial (died on 21 Apr 1883) in West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium, West Norwood, London Borough of Lambeth, Greater London, England. Born in 1818.
13. ↑ England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019 https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBOR%2FGOVPROBATE%2FC%2F1883-1883%2F00006105&tab=this
14. ↑ Marriage: "England Marriages, 1538–1973"
    FamilySearch Record: NJWN-3JZ (accessed 2 June 2022)
    John Barton marriage to Caroline Watson on 9 Feb 1841 in England, United Kingdom.

• The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain - Entry: John Burton