Walton  

George (forth generation) was born in 1813 at Braidley Farm Cheadle Staffordshire. He was christened as George Goodwin Walton in Cheadle Staffordshire. On the 1851 census he was in Shardlow Derbyshire with wife Martha and children Eliza, George, Martha and Sarah. His occupation was given as Canal Carriers Boatman and his birthplace as Stafford Cheadle. He married Martha Condliffe on 16 May 1836 at Christchurch Alsager, in 1836, she remarried to John Foden in1870, also George was not mentioned as the father of John Walton who was born in 1859. George and Martha had 10 known children. George's son Samuel quotes him as "George Walton" on his marriage certificate, Samuel's brother William Walton also quotes George as his father. George and his wife Martha appear at the christenings of their children, mainly at Christchurch Alsager. Their abode is given as either Thurlwood, Odd Rode, Salt Works Odd Rode or Slat Works Lawton. George's occupation Boatsman or Boatman. His occupation probably the reason for not finding him on a census and the failure to register the births of their children. George married Martha Condliffe on 16 May 1836 at Christ Church Alsager - Marriage George Walton of this parish bachelor and Martha Condliffe ot this parish spinster Wit James Barker & Parish Clerk. George and Martha had ten known children, it is the eighth child Samuel that is in our direct line.

On the left is a map dated 1795 showing the route of the Trent and Mersey Canal. This is the canal that was worked by George Walton and many of his inlaws the Condliffes.  The families of the Waltons and Condliffes were living in the area of the bottom of the first vertical strip on the map.

Away from the Boats - life in Smallwood

Samuel (fifth generation) was born in 1855 in Odd Rode Cheshire. He married Sarah Tripp of Liverpool on 1st July 1884 in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel at Middlewich. Samuel and Sarah had three children George, William John and Henry. Henry is in our direct line.

Henry (sixth generation) was born in Smallwood on 27th March 1891, he spent his childhood in the village of Smallwood living at Martins Moss. He married Ruth Elizabeth Holland on 16th October 1915 at Buglawton Cheshire. Henry and Ruth had two children Harold and Nancy. Henry, or Harry as he was usually called attended Smallwood school which he left school at age of 12. He worked on farms for 4 years and then went to work at Birchenwood colliery. 

On the right is a photograph of Henry (Harry) Walton and his wife Ruth Elizabeth Holland.

On the left  is a photograph taken at Brunswick coal wharf. Henry Walton is standing on the left. Second from the right is Jack Holland his brother in law, to Jack's left is Charlie Yates who is the uncle of Henry's daughter in law Ada Yates.

When Henry was 21 he went to work at Co-op as driver. He married Ruth Elizabeth Holland when he was 23, first living in  Brook Street and then Herbert Street in Congleton before moving to Kingsley Rd. In 1960 he moved to retirement bungalow in Buxton Old Road, he lived alone after the death of Ruth in 1970 until 1986 when he died after short illnes in hospital.

Below are pictures of Harold and Nancy the children of Harry and Ruth. Harold is photographed in Queen Street Buglawton where he lived as a child and Nancy's photograph is assumed to be a school one.

Harold(seventh generation) was born 22nd January 1917 in Buglawton Cheshire. He had three children, David, Raymond and Phillip. He also had eight grandchildren.

The note below was added in August 2017

Postscript taken from the "Waltons" book for which there is link on the index page

In the final chapter of this book I talk about the mystery of what happened to George Walton (1813). Shortly after completing the book I came across the attached newspaper article on findmypast.

I am of the option that this is our George. I find it very sad what happen to George and then to his widow Martha and sons William and Samuel. It does however now make sense. It is also interesting to note that the older sister of William and Samuel did not go back to Cheshire but stayed in Derbyshire and lived with her Aunt - Hannah Pilsbury. Sarah later went to live in Shrewsbury where for many years she was a midwife. It was probably distressing initially for Sarah but in the long term I'm sure she benefitted.