The spelling can be Kearton and Kirton etc.
George Kerton was born about 1806/7 and baptised 21 December 1806 at Kirkby Malzeard, N. Yorks, a son of Richard Kerton and Sarah formerly Branfoot.
George married first Ann Wood 13 August 1831 at Kirkby Malzeard after banns. They were bachelor and spinster of the parish. The witnesses were Sarah Wood and John Kearton. In the record of the baptisms of William, 1835, and Elizabeth 1836, Ann was stated as the daughter of William Wood and Ann. William was a farmer of Kirby.
On 2 January 1835 George was a miner, of Leeds.
On 4 September 1836 George was a labourer of Leeds.
George began work in the Sheepscar Chemical Works around 1835 or so – his death notice in 1881 records that he had worked for the company for upwards of 47 years.
There is a death registration of Ann Kerton in the Leeds West sub-district in the June quarter 1839.
In spite of extensive search, George has not been found in the 1841 census. His son, Richard though is in Kirkby Malzeard with his grandfather. No doubt Richard was living there because his mother had died and George was at work.
George married secondly Rosamond Thwaites at St Peter’s Chapel, Leeds, according to the rites and ceremonies of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion, on 21 January 1844. George was a widower, a working chemist of 16 Smithson's Fold, Meadow Lane, Leeds, a son of Richard Kerton, a labourer. Rosamond was a spinster of Gower Street, Laylands, Leeds, a daughter of Thomas Thwaites, a Farmer. They were both of full age. The witnesses were Benjamin Pollard and Thomas Thwaites.
In the 1851 census, of Sheepscar Street, George was aged 44, a working chemist, born at Kirkby Malzeard, Yorks, Rosamond was aged 42 and born at Gale Garth, Westmorland and his children were Richard, aged 11, Thomas aged 6, Ann aged 4 and Elizabeth aged 1. They were all born in Leeds.
In 1861. at Sheepscar Street Chemical Works, George was aged 54, a working chemist born at Kirkby Malzeard. Rosamond, his wife, was aged 52 and born at Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland. Their children were Thomas, aged 16, a blacksmith (apprentice), Sarah A. aged 14 and Elizabeth aged 11. All were born at Leeds.
In 1871, at Sheepscar Chemical Works, St Clements, Leeds (northwest), George was aged 64, a working chemist, born at Kirkby Malzeard, Rosamond was aged 62, born at Casterton, Westmorland. Their daughter, Elizabeth was single, aged 21, a dressmaker, born in Leeds and their grandson, James A Crossley was aged 4 and born at Leeds.
Rosamond died, aged 70, in the December quarter 1879 in the Leeds district (9b 366).
In 1881 George was living in the household of his son, Thomas, at 1 Sheepscar Street, Leeds. He was a widower and working chemist, aged 74, born at Kockby (sic) Malzeard, Yorks.
His death notice appeared in the Leeds Mercury, Saturday, 24 December 1881, Issue 13638. (There was also a second, less informative notice.) “Kerton – On the 20th inst, suddenly aged 75 years, George Kerton one of the managers at the chemical works of Watson, Walker and Quickfall, Sheepscar; having been in employment of Mr Watson and the present firm for upwards of forty-seven years. The funeral will take place at the Cemetery Burmantofts (Saturday) leaving the house 23 Sheepscar Street at ? o’clock. Friends will please accept this intimation.” [Burmantofts Cemetery (Leeds burial ground Beckett Street) was opened in 1845 and is now managed by a company after Leeds City Council threatened to redevelop the site.] His death registration appears in the December quarter 1881 in the Leeds district as George Kirton. He was aged 75.
Probate of George’s will was granted 3 January 1882 at Wakefield, to his executors, Thomas Kerton, his son, William Crossley, his son-in-law, a boot and shoe maker of 42 Hamilton Terrace, Leopold Street, New Leeds, Leeds and William Donald Barbour, 3 Park Row, Leeds, a commission agent/bookkeeper and cashier. George’s personal effects were £44. 2s. 0d. George died at 23 Sheepscar Street, Leeds on 20 December 1881.
His will was dated 8 December 1881 and the witnesses were Rowland Crossley, solicitor of Leeds and Henry Shaw Bookkeeper of Leeds. George was of 23 Sheepscar Street, Leeds, a working chemist. He gave to his son, Thomas, his black chest of drawers, his eight day clock, a feather bed, bolster and two pillows, his camp bedstead, mattress and curtains, his mahogany cupboard in one of the bedrooms, bookcase, his square table in the sitting room downstairs, his small looking glass and small dressing table. To his daughter, Sarah Ann Crossley he gave his double mahogany chest of drawers, his 30 hour clock, a feather bed, bolster and two pillows, his mahogany corner cupboard, his large looking glass and large dressing table, his black box and his small bedside table. The rest of his assets were to be divided equally between his son and daughter.
George and Ann’s children appear to have been:
1. Sarah, baptised 24 June 1832 at Kirkby Malzeard (labourer)
2. Ann, baptised 14 July 1833 at Kirkby Malzeard (labourer)
3. William, born 8 November 1834 and baptised 2 January 1835 at the Methodist New Connexion Chapel, Leeds (son of George Kearton, miner, and Ann formerly Wood).
4. Elizabeth, born 22 June 1836 and baptised 4 September 1836 at the Old Weslyan Chapel, Leeds (daughter of George Kearton, labourer, and Ann formerly Wood).
5. Richard, born 1839 in Leeds (sub-district of Leeds West, June quarter) and baptised 12 January 1840 at Kirkby Malzeard, a son of George (labourer) and Ann, of Sheepscar Row, Leeds.
George and Rosamond's children were:
6. Thomas, born 1844/5 at Leeds.
7. Sarah Ann, born 10 May 1846, at Sheepscar Street, Leeds (West), to George Kerton, a manufacturing chemist, and Rosamond formerly Thwaites.
8. Elizabeth, born about 1849 in Leeds
Posted February 2017