Family of Silas and Kate in the census:
In the 1871 census, the family were living at 86 Stanhope St, Regents Park :
Silas Gorton, age 31, painter, born Kent
Kate Gorton, 31, born Hampstead
Robert Gorton, 8, scholar
Ann Gorton, 6, scholar
NB Robert and Ann are two of the children of Silas Gorton’s first marriage to Isabella in 1858
1881 census shows Gorton family living at 17 Thanet St, London Middx :
Silas Gorton, age 42, house painter
Catherine Gorton, age 43
George Gorton (?Silas), age 8
Kate Gorton, age 4
In the 1891 census, Kate Gorton and the children were living at 59 Gifford Street :
Kate Gordon, head, wid, 52, mantle maker
Silas G Gordon, son, unm, 17, carman
Kate Gordon, dau, unm, 14, purse maker,
In the 1901 census, Kate was living with her daughter at 19 Ringcroft St, Islington :
Catherine Gorton, widow, aged 64, mantle maker
Kate Gorton, single, aged 24, fancy leather worker
1911 census at 264 St Pauls Road, Islington
Robert Francis Towler, head, 35, restaurant porter
Kate Towler, wife, 34
Kate Gorton, mother, wid, 72, leather purse maker
parents of Emily Elizabeth Hill
James HILL
Born 20 Dec 1855 at Park Street in Hatfield. His father was John Hill, railway labourer and his mother was Ann Hill, formerly Ford. (source Birth Certificate)
James married Caroline Ridgewell 2 oct 1876 at the Parish Church Islington. Marriage certificate states that James Hill was a labourer of 8 Albert St and his father was John Hill, also a labourer. Caroline was living at the same address and her father was William Ridgewell, labourer. Witnesses were William Perrin and Ann Read. (source Marriage Certificate)
James Hill died on 9 Nov 1912 at 23 Sutterton Street, Lower Holloway, aged 52 years. His occupation was given as ‘Carman’ and the cause of death was Gout and Uraemia 1½ days, certified by J H Patterson, MB. The death was reported by C Hill, Widow of the deceased, present at the death of 23 Sutterton Street, lslington. (source Death Certificate)
Caroline RIDGEWELL
Born 10 jan 1859 at 3 Bolton Terrace, West Islington. Her father was William Ridgewell, a carman and her mother Caroline Ridgewell, formerly Richardson. (source Birth Certificate)
Caroline Hill died on 6 October 1933 and was buried on 9th October 1933 at the Islington Cemetery in East Finchley. She was aged 74 years and had purchased the plot in 1914. Her eldest son George William Hill, who predeceased Caroline, was also buried in the same grave on 14 March 1921, aged 40 years – see photos of gravestones (pdf image and descriptions).
Known Children of James and Caroline Hill:
James Frederick Hill, born 19 dec 1876, chr 14 jan 1877 at St Mary Islington, son of James Hill, carman of Bemerton St and Caroline. This James must have died before the 1881 census.
Emily Elizabeth Hill, born 9 dec 1877 at 93 Banceton St, Islington, chr 23 dec 1877 at St Mary Islington – father James Hill, carman of Bemerton St, mother Caroline. Married to Silas Gorton in 1894
George William Hill, born 23 sep 1880, chr 10 oct 1880 at St Mary Islington – son of James Hill, carman of Bemerton St and Caroline (NB. George was christened on the same day as Joseph William RIDGEWELL, son of Joseph and Ann Elizabeth Ridgewell carman of Cardaille St) . Married to Emma – in the 1901 census they had daughter Rose age 1yr – not yet found in 1911 census. George died on 14 March 1921, aged 40 years. He was buried at the Islington Cemetery in East Finchley.
Walter Charles Hill, (known as Charles in the censuses) born 3 dec 1882 , chr 25 mar 1883 at St Mary Islington, son of James Hill, carman of Brewery Road and Caroline – married Margaret Jane Allen on 7 apr 1901 at St Clement Barnsbury, Islington. His father was James Hill, coal man and one of the witnesses was Silas George GORTON.
Harriet Caroline Hill, born 17 feb 1885 and chr 15 mar 1885 at St Mary Islington, dau of James Hill, carman of Georges Yard and Caroline – married Richard Monaghan on 25 dec 1902 at All Saints, Battle Bridge, Islington.
Rosetta Amelia Hill, born 21 oct 1887 and chr 20 nov 1887 at St Mary Islington, dau of James Hill, carman of 13 Georges Yard and Caroline.
Ellen Annie Hill, born 14 dec 1889 and chr 12 dec 1890 at St Mary Islington, dau of James Hill, carman of 12 St Georges Yard and Caroline
John Edward Hill, born 15 apr 1892 and chr 8 may 1892 at st Mary Islington, son of James Hill, carman of 12 St Georges Yard and Caroline. (NB a William Richardson, son of William and Mary Ann, milkman of 36 Baring St was chr on the same day) Married to Florrie Miller – this couple are ancestors of Jess.
Joseph Jim Hill (known as James), born 10 jun 1894 and chr 1st july 1894 at St Mary Islington, son of James Hill, carman of 12 St Georges Yard and Caroline. Married to Lily Edith Flack on 21 sep 1912 at All Saints, Battle Bridge. Both claimed to be 21of Carlsbad St – Joseph James was a carman, son of James Hill, carman.
Lizzie Louise Hill (known as Elizabeth), born 30 nov 1896 and chr 28 jan 1897 at St Matthias Caledonian Road, dau of James Hill, carman of 12 St Georges Yard and Caroline. (NB Emily Kate GORTON, dau of Silas George and Emily Elizabeth Hill, carman of 2A Blundell St, was chr the same day). Did she marry Edward Seymour in Islington in 1915?
Maud Martha Hill, born 13 apr 1899 , chr 27 aug 1899 at St Mary Islington, dau of James Hill, carman of 12 St Georges Yard and Caroline. Maud died on 19 Nov 1913 and is buried in the same grave at Islington Cemetery as her father James.
Family members have told me that there were close links between the Hills, Ridgwells, Richardsons and Gortons - this is evidenced by the number of christenings where cousins were christened on the same day at the same church; also the families lived very near to one another in a small area around Brewery Road, off the Caledonian Road, north of King's Cross.
Family of James and Caroline in the census:
The 1881 census shows the Hill family living at 8 Brewery Road
James Hill, 22, born Hatfield, occ. Manure carrier
Caroline Hill, 22, born Islington
Emma, 3, born Islington (is this Emily?)
George, 6m, born Islington
In 1891 census, the Hill family were living at 12 George’s Yard, off Blundell St, Islington South West (Emily’s address when she married Silas Gorton) :
Jas Hill, 36, born Hatfield occ Master Cabman Groom
Caroline, 31, born London
Emily 13
George 10
Charles 8
Hariet 5
Rose 3
Ellen 1
Also in the 1891 census, James’ parents, Jno Hill (67 a labourer, born London) and Ann Hill (57, born Herts) were living at 11 George’s Yard and his brother’s family at 10 George’s Yard (Hy Hill age 29, wife Elizth 26 and children Annie 8, Caroline 6, Rose 4, Sarah 2 – all born in London).
In the 1901 census, the Hill family were living at 11 Georges Yard, Islington (all were born in Islington) :
James, head, 42, carman
Caroline, wife, 42
Charles, 19, carman
Harriet, 17
Rose, 15
Ellen, 12
John, 10
James, 8
Elizabeth, 5
Maud,. 2
and living at 9 Georges Yard, were:
George Hill, head, 20, carman, b. Islington
Emma, wife, 19, b. Islington
Rose, d, 1, b. Islington
In 1911 they were living at 23 Sutterton Street, Caledonian Rd, Islington:
James Hill, head, 55, carman’s contractor, b.Hatfield
Caroline Hill, wife, 51, b Islington
John, son, 19, carman, b. Islington
James, son, 16, carman, b. Islington
Elizabeth, dau, 14, printer, b. Islington
Maud, dau, 11, school, b. Islington
Fred Simons, boarder, 30, coal porter, b. Holloway
Wm Bollinger, boarder, 35, coal porter, b. Islington
(James and Caroline had been married 35 years, with 11 children, 10 still living)
Recollections of growing up in Brewery Road
Click on the image to open a pdf document recording the memoirs of a descendant of Caroline Ridgwell's niece Esther Ward, who grew up in the same area as many members of the Hill family.
Left: image of the Metropolitan Cattle Market (source Wikipedia)
click on the map to download a pdf of the area south of the Cattle Market circa 1908 where you can find many of the streets where the Hill family lived.
Mastel Family History
Mastel Family History
Gorton & Hill families - generation 4: great great grandparents
Silas Theophilus Gorton
Born on 30 June 1839 at 1 Henry St, Old Kent Road and christened in 1 apr 1855 in the French Huguenot Church de Savoy in Westminster – parents John Gorton and Ann Adams. (source Huguenot Society of London, Guildhall Library)
No record of the birth of a child with this name has been found on the GRO index.
Silas Gorton’s first marriage was to Isabella WALKER on 24 nov 1858 at the Register Office in St Pancras, Middx. At the time of the marriage, Silas Theophilus Gorton was a bachelor aged 22 years, occupation Music Smith, of 26 Mary Street, father John Gorton, music smith (deceased). Isabella Walker was a spinster aged 26 years, also of 26 Mary Street, father Robert Walker, pianoforte maker (journeyman). The witnesses were Robert Baxter and John Radley. (source marriage certificate DR)
Isabella Gorton died in 8th August 1868 at 17 George Street, Somers Town St Pancras aged 38 years. She was described as the wife of Silas Gorton, House Painter and the cause of death was rupture of the womb (post mortem) following an inquest held 11 aug 1868 (coroner Edwin Lankester) (source death certificate DR)
Known children of Silas and Isabella Gorton:
Edwin Robert Gorton, born 14 jan 1861 at 14 Frederick St, Hampstead Road, Pancras and bapt 30 jul 1861 at French Huguenot Church Savoy. Godfathers John Gorton and John Mudry, godmother Jane Walker (source HSL Guildhall library)). Edwin was married to Harriet Elizabeth Mockett in 1895 (jun qtr, St Pancras 1b, 112). In the 1911 census, they were living at 53 Norfolk Rd, Dalston and Edwin was a stockkeeper for Austrian Globe Agents. They had four children (one having died): Robert Ernest (b.~1899), Stanley Silas (b.~1903), Frederick Harry (b.~1906) and Isabella Miriam (b.~1910)
Robert John Gorton, born 17 feb 1863, bapt 24 apr 1865 at Old Church, St Pancras, son of Silas and Isabella Gorton, painter of Mary St. In th 1891 census, Robert J Gorton was a Sergeant in the Royal Marines Light Infantry, based at Gillingham, Kent
Ann Jeannette Gorton, born 26 jan 1865 bap 24 apr 1865 at Old Church St Pancras, dau of Silas and Isabella Gorton, painter of Mary St.
Alice Isabel Gorton, born 10 mar 1867, bapt 14 oct 1867 at Old Church St Pancras, dau of Silas and Isabella Gorton, painter of George St.
Silas Gorton’s second marriage was to Catherine Victoria REBBECK (known as Kate) on 11 sept 1870 at St Leonard’s in Shoreditch. At time of marriage, Silas T Gorton was aged 30 and a widower, occ Painter, living at 1 Hackney Road. His father was John Gorton a smith. Catharine Victoria Rebbeck, spinster aged 32, living at 2 Hackney Road. Her father was William Rebbeck, a publican. Witnesses were James Proudfoot and Rhoda Wyatt (?his sister). (source Marriage Certificate)
Silas Gorton died of enteric fever on 4 sep 1883 aged 43 in Islington. At the time of Silas’s death, the family were living at 26o Beaconsfield Bldgs, Islington (source Death Certificate)
Catherine (Kate) Victoria REBBECK
Born 1837 and christened on 20 sep 1837 at St John’s in Hampstead, parents William and Mary Rebeck of Hampstead – he was a licensed victualler. (source Parish Records)
Married Silas Theophilus GORTON in 1870
Known children of Silas and Catherine Gorton:
Silas George Gorton, born in 1874 and chr 22 feb 1874 at St Mary Magdalene St Pancras, son of Silas and Catherine Gorton, painter of 86 Stanhope St – see previous generation.
Kate Rebbeck Gorton, born 1876 – have not found a baptism record. Kate reported her mother’s death in 1913, by which time she was Kate Towler. Kate Gorton married at St Stephen’s Church in Canonbury, Islington on 25 Dec 1904 to John Francis Towler – both were aged 28 and lived at 12 Spencer Street. John’s occupation was Porter and his father was John Henry Towler, Publican. Kate gave her father’s name as George Silas Gorton (deceased), builder. The witnesses were William Alger and John Henry Fowler (source Marriage Certificate)
Catherine Victoria Rebbeck died on 11 April 1913 at 264 St Paul’s Road, Highbury, age 75 years. She was described as the widow of Silas George Gorton, a House Painter and the cause of death was Bronchitis, 11 days, certified by H M Mayburn, MD. The death was reported by K Towler, daugher, present at the death, of 264 St Paul’s Rd, Islington (source Death Certificate)
parents of Silas George Gorton
family of Silas and Isabella Gorton in the census:
In the 1861 census, the Gortons were living at 19 William Street, St Pancras:
Silas Gorton, head, 25, music smith,
Isabella Gorton, wife, 29, born Scotland
Edwin Gorton, son, 3months
In the 1871 census, two of Silas’s children were living with their grandfather at 22 Market Street, Finsbury:
Robert Walker, wid, 70, pianoforte maker, b. Scotland
Janet Walker, dau, 30, dressmaker
Mary Walker, sister, 68, b. Scotland
Edwin Gorton, grandson, 10
Alice Gorton, granddau, 4
In the 1881 census, three of the children were living with their grandfather, at 164 Regents Park Road, St Pancras :
Robert Walker, head, wid, 80, formerly pianoforte maker, born Scotland
Jane Walker, dau, unm, 50, dressmaker, (is this Janet?)
Mary Walker, dau, unm, 42
Edwin R Gorton, grandson, unm, 20, warehouseman
Robert J Gorton, grandson, 15, warehouseman
Alice J Gorton, grandau, 14, scholar
Anne M Galloway, lodger, unm, 72, annuitant, born Scotland
In 1891 census Robert Walker must have died, but his daughter Janet still had three of Silas and Isabella’s children (now grown up) living with her :
Janet Walker, head, single, 60, dressmaker
Mary Walker, aunt, single, 54
Edwin R Gorton, nephew, single, 30, warehouseman
Ann J Gorton, niece, single 26, cutter
Alice I Gorton, niece, single, 24, cutter