Norton Family of Merriott
Earliest Mention in the Records – the 19th Century
The NORTONs did not appear in the Merriott records until the early 19th century, with the marriage of Robert NORTON to Mary BROOKS. Robert was noted on the Censuses as being born in Merriott, but I cannot find a baptismal entry for him. Mary came from North Cricket in Somerset.
There appears to be just the one family in the records, with the exception of a baptism in 1848 of Martha Norton, daughter of Robert, a farmer from Wambrook near Chard, and Ann Norton. At one stage, part of the family emigrated to Geelong, Victoria, Australia (see Norton to Australia), but returned to Merriott some years later.
Hadrian Cook has sent in a photo he believes is of the Abel and Christiana Norton Family – can anyone confirm the identity of any of the people in the photograph? Diane Ellisor & I have pored over the photo trying to match the family as listed in censuses but there are one or two too many people.
Note: Hadrian wants to confirm that the photo is for historical research purposes only.
We know Abel & Christiana went to Australia for a time ( see Norton to Australia) but returned to Merriott. If anyone has any light to shed on the subject, could you please contact either myself or Hadrian direct at hadrian@salisburywatermeadows.org.uk
UPDATE 17th October 2006: The photo has been identified as Simon Norton and his wife Mary (nee Woodfine) and their children, taken in the second half of 1884 in New Zealand. Probably sent back to the relatives in England, one would imagine. Thank you to Jude Elliot for this information.
MARRIAGES pre 1837
11 March 1817 Robert Norton m Mary Brooks
MARRIAGES post 1837
|
Date |
Year |
Forename |
Surname |
Spouse |
Age |
Condition |
Signed? |
Abode |
Occupation |
Father |
Father’s Occ |
Witness |
|
7-Feb |
1844 |
Thomasine |
Norton |
Samuel Shutler |
full |
Spinster |
Yes |
Beadon’s Lane |
not given |
Robert Norton |
Butcher |
Robert Norton Jnr |
|
7-Feb |
1844 |
Samuel |
Shutler |
Thomasine Norton |
full |
Widower |
Yes |
Lower St |
Yeoman |
Jonathan Shutler |
Yeoman |
Robert ? Nottey |
|
8-Sep |
1851 |
George |
Cary |
Mary Norton |
30 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Norton sub Hamdon |
Farmer |
John Cary |
Yeoman |
John Beater |
|
8-Sep |
1851 |
Mary |
Norton |
George Cary |
29 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Merriott |
not given |
Robert Norton |
Butcher |
Benjamin Norton |
|
23-Feb |
1854 |
Christiana |
Eason |
Abel Norton |
19 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Church St |
not given |
Robert Eason |
Gardener |
Christiana Lawrence |
|
23-Feb |
1854 |
Abel |
Norton |
Christiana Eason |
22 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Beadon’s Lane |
Butcher |
Robert Norton |
Butcher |
Francis Norton |
|
20-Apr |
1869 |
William Brooks |
Norton |
Mary Marg. Shutler |
25 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Merriott |
Farmer |
Wm Brooks Norton |
Farmer |
Samuel Shutler; Arthur? Norton |
|
20-Apr |
1869 |
Mary Margaret |
Shutler |
William B Norton |
21 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Merriott |
|
Samuel Shutler |
Dairyman |
Elizabeth Mary Ann Read? |
|
20-Aug |
1878 |
James Albert |
Chapman |
Mary Susan Eason Norton |
37 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Braxton, Surrey |
Accountant |
Edward Chapman |
Engineer |
Benjamin Norton |
|
20-Aug |
1878 |
Mary Susan Eason |
Norton |
James Albert Chapman |
21 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Merriott |
Abel Norton |
Butcher |
Ann Norton |
|
|
20-Nov |
1884 |
John Edward |
French |
Annie Norton |
27 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Merriott Mills |
Miller |
John French |
Miller |
Abel Norton |
|
20-Nov |
1884 |
Annie |
Norton |
John Edward French |
23 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Sherrimoor Hill |
Abel Norton |
Butcher |
Rebecca French |
|
|
28-Sep |
1886 |
Charles Richard |
Hughes |
Minnie Wellesley Norton |
23 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Bournemouth |
Marble Mason |
Henry Hughes |
Engine Driver |
Abel Norton |
|
28-Sep |
1886 |
Minnie Wellesley |
Norton |
Charles Richard Hughes |
22 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Merriott |
Abel Norton |
Farmer |
Flora Norton |
|
|
4-Apr |
1893 |
Benjamin |
Norton |
Catharine Susan Clark Mitchell |
32 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Merriott |
Farmer |
Abel Norton |
Butcher |
Wm Clark Mitchell |
|
4-Apr |
1893 |
Catharine Susan Clark |
Mitchell |
Benjamin Norton |
26 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Merriott |
|
William Clark Mitchell |
Farmer |
Alice Rosina Norton |
BAPTISMS to early 1876
| Robert (a Butcher) & Mary (nee Brooks) NORTON |
6 January 1819 William Brooks 24 June 1823 Mary 4 January 1825 Elizabeth 16 May 1826 Benjamin Brooks 7 December 1829 John |
7 December 1829 Thomas 4 October 1831 Abel 7 January 1834 Joseph 12 December 1834 Francis 7 July 1839 Simon |
| Robert (a Farmer from Wambrook, near Chard) & Ann NORTON |
25 December 1848 Martha | |
| Abel (a Butcher) & Christiana (nee Eason) NORTON |
8 April 1855 Mary Eason 11 January 1857 Mary Susan Eason (possibly a duplication of 8 April 1855 Mary Eason) 15 November 1863 Benjamin 15 November 1863 Ann 15 November 1863 Minnie Wellesley |
10 March 1867 John 11 April 1869 Flora 9 April 1871 Robert 13 April 1873 Alice Rosanna 13 June 1875 William Robert |
| Francis (a Butcher) & Christiana (thought to be nee Lawrence) NORTON |
2 March 1856 Mary Ann 6 September 1857 Francis Richard 14 August 1859 Joseph |
11 October 1863 Christiana 11 February 1866 Robert 11 October 1868 Arthur Charles |
BURIALS
| MALES – 4 | FEMALES – 6 |
| 22 November 1900 Abel Norton 69 29 January 1894 Benjamin Brooks Norton 67 21 September 1853 Charles Norton 21mo 11 December 1874 Robert Norton 3 |
25 March 1896 Adelaide Norton 64 26 May 1866 Ann Brooks Norton 23 5 December 1895 Christiana Norton 60 30 April 1852 Mary Norton 5 8 February 1853 Mary Norton 1 27 September 1856 Mary Norton 1y 6 mo 22 February 1868 Mary Norton 72 |
1873 Returns of Owners of Land of more than one acre
NORTON, Abel of Merriott; over 2 acres.
NORTON, Benjamin of Merriott; over 8 acres.
NORTON, John of Merriott; over 1 acre.
CENSUSES
(Excluding 1881) – Non Merriott in white background.
| YEAR | REF | ABODE | NAME, AGE (etc), OCCUPATION, WHERE BORN (Y = Somerset) | |
| 1841 | 28 | Lower St | Norton Robt 45 M Butcher Y Norton Mary 43 F Y Norton Ann 20 F Y Norton Robert 19 M Butcher Y Norton Mary 18 F Y Norton Benjamin 15 M Y |
Norton John 14 M Y Norton Thomas 12 M Y Norton Able 8 M Y Norton Joseph 8 M Y Norton Frances 6 M Y Norton Martha 4 F Y Norton Simeon 2 M Y |
| 1841 | 44 | Beadons Lane | Norton Thomasin 25 F ? Y | |
| 1851 | 330 007 | Higher St | Norton Benjamin Head U 25 M Butcher Som, Merriott Norton Ann Sister U 31 F Housekeeper Som, Merriott |
Norman William Visitor U 25 M Plumber Som, Merriott |
| 1851 | 354 062 | Beadons Lane | Norton Robert Head M 58 M Farmer of 54 acres emp 2 lab Som, Cricket Norton Mary Wife M 55 F Farmer’s Som, Merriott Norton Mary Dau U 28 F Farmer’s Daughter Som, Merriott Norton Elizabeth Dau U 26 F Farmer’s Daughter Som, Merriott Norton John Son U 23 M Farmer’s Son Som, Merriott |
Norton Able Son U 20 M Farmer’s Son Som, Merriott Norton Joseph Son U 17 M Farmer’s Son Som, Merriott Norton Francis Son U 16 M Farmer’s Son Som, Merriott Norton Martha Dau U 14 F Farmer’s Daughter Som, Merriott Norton Simon Son U 11 M Farmer’s Son Som, Merriott |
| 1861 | 30 031 | Broadway | Norton Robert Head M 68 M Farmer of 15 acres employing 2 men Som, Merriott | Norton Mary Wife M 65 F Som, North Cricket |
| 1861 | 48 13 | Lower St | Norton Frank Head M 26 M Butcher Som, Merriott Norton Christianna Wife M 26 F Som, Merriott Norton Mary Ann Dau U 6 F Som, Merriott |
Norton Richard Son U 4 M Som, Merriott Norton Joseph Son U 2 F Som, Merriott Tuck Jane Serv U 16 F Dorset, Philbury? |
| 1861 | 52 053 | Higher St | Norton Benjamin Head U 34 M Cattle Dealer Som, Merriott | |
| 1861 | 65 1 2 | Higher St, Norton Sub Hamdon, SOM | Cary, George Head M 39 Yeoman Farmer of 14 acres employing 2 men & 1 boy, South Petherton, Somerset | Cary, Mary Wife M 38, born Merriott Cary, George Son 9 Scholar, born Norton sub Hamdon Cary, Mary E, Dau 1 born Norton sub Hamdon |
| 1861 | 74 23 126 | Hinton St George | Boyd Elizabeth Head Widow 32 Dressmaker born Merriott (*nee Norton) | Boyd Yorkshire Son 1 born ?? Hobram Bay, Dorset |
| 1861 | 109 15 77 | Main St, Lopen | Norton Mary A Head M 35 Dressmaker born East Coker Norton Thomas R Son 7 Scholar born Jersey |
Norton, Benjamin G Son 4 Scholar born Jersey Norton, Anne Dau 2 Scholar born Lopen, Som |
| 1861 | 142 7 23 | Bishopton St, Montacute | Norton Robert Head M 41 Butcher & Farmer 35 acres employing 1 man Merriott, Som Norton Ann Wife M 31 Domestic Merriott, Som Norton Marther Dau 12 Scholar Wambrock, Dorset Norton Robert Son 11 Scholar Wambrock, Dorset Norton Grace A Dau 8 Dumb from Birth Wambrock, Dorset |
Norton Mary Dau 7 Scholar Wambrock, Dorset Norton Joseph Son 5 Scholar Wambrock, Dorset Norton William Son 3 Montacute, SOM Norton Simon Son 1 Montacute, SOM Culler? Mary Servant 16 Stratton, Som |
| 1871 | 10 053 | Lower St | Norton Abel Head M 38 M Butcher Som, Merriott Norton Christiana Wife M 36 F Som, Merriott Norton Mary Susan Dau U 14 F Scholar Som, Merriott Norton Benjamin Son U 11 M Scholar Geelong, Australia |
Norton Ann Dau U 9 F Scholar Geelong, Australia Norton Minnie Dau U 6 F Bay of Biscay, at Sea Norton John Son U 4 M Som, Merriott Norton Flora Dau U 2 F Som, Merriott Norton Robert Son U 1m M Som, Merriott |
| 1871 | 14 094 | Boozer | Norton Christiana Head M 36 F Butcher’s Wife Som, Merriott Norton Richard Francis Son U 14 M Butcher’s Son Som, Merriott |
Norton Christiana Dau U 7 F Scholar Som, Merriott Norton Robert Son U 5 M Scholar Som, Merriott Norton Arthur Son U 3 M Scholar Middlesex, Southall |
| 1871 | 75 155 | Beadons Lane | Norton Benjamin Head M 44 M Dealer Som, Merriott Norton Adelaide Wife M 40 F Som, Merriott Norton Dennis Son U 8 M Scholar Som, Merriott |
Daw Mary Servt. U 16 F General Servant Som, Merriott |
| 1891 | 16 149 104 | Shiremoor Hill | Norton Abel Head M 58 Butcher Merriott Norton Christiana Wife M 53 Merriott Norton Benjamin Son S 30 Butcher’s son Merriott Norton John Son S 21 Butcher’s Son Merriott |
Norton Rosina Dau S 16 Merriott Norton Robert Son 14 Scholar Merriott Norton Daisy Dau 12 Scholar Merriott |
| 1891 | 31 157 205 | Moorland’s Farm | Norton Benjamin B Head M 63 Farmer East Coker, Somerset Norton Adelaide Wife M 59 East Coker, Somerset |
Norton Dennis Runsby? Son S 27 Farmer’s Son East Coker, Somerset |
| 1901 | 35 72 247 | Shiremoor Hill | Norton John Head S 33 Farmer Merriott Norton Robert Brother S 25 Butcher Own account Merriott |
Norton Daisy Ida Sister S 23 Housekeeper Merriott Chapman Florence B Niece S 18 Help Islington, London |
| 1901 | 40 74 281 | Boozer Pit | Norton Benjamin Head M 40 Farmer Australia Norton Kate Wife M 32 Merriott Norton Benjamin Son 5 Merriott |
Norton Mildred Dau 7 Merriott Norton Frank Son 2 Merriott |
Census 1911:
Ref No of Rooms Abode Persons
135 6 Shiremoor Hill NORTON Benjamin Head 51 M Farmer Employer Born in Australia
NORTON Kate Wife 42 Married 18 years 3 children born alive, 3 still living, born Merriott
NORTON Benjamin Son 15 S Working on the Farm born Merriott
NORTON Mildred Dau 17 S Dairy Work on the Farm born Merriott
NORTON Frank Son 11 School born Merriott
107 8 95 Dorchester Road, Weymouth, DORSET
NORTON Mary Margaret Head 63 W Married 42 years 4 children born alive 3 still living; Private Means born Merriott
NORTON Annie Brooks Dau 41 S born Drimpton DORSET
NORTON Mary Margaret Dau 38 S born Drimpton DORSET
Descendants of Robert NORTON
This chart has been updated on 9th April 2004. It is now located on its own page, here. Feedback about the chart, with corrections or additions is always welcome.
NORTON in Merriott in the 20th Century
No marriages 1901 – 1924.
BURIALS 1901 – 1952
Only one: 1948 Benjamin Norton 89
NORTON to AUSTRALIA and Back
Abel Norton & his family moved briefly to Australia. Check this out here.
Jude Elliot, of Christchurch, New Zealand, is especially interested in the Nortons, Paulls, Brooks and Shutlers. Have a look at her interests here.
The Francis Norton/ Christianna Lawrence family were living in Cleveland, Ohio by the time of the 1880 US census. Does anyone have a connection to this part of the Norton family? Daughter Mary Ann Norton, born in Merriott 4 February 1856, married Llewellyn Trask here in 1876. Llewellyn Trask was born about 1851 in Somerset, son of Reuben Trask and Ann
Lawrence. He had first emigrated to New Zealand, then moved to Australia, and later to Cleveland. See Trasks To New Zealand.