The BURTON family of Whitby are the ancestors of Annie Maud SCHOFIELD, who married Arnold McDANIELSON in 1924.

The earliest date to which they can be traced with certainty is 21^st October 1822 when John BURTON was baptised in Whitby. He was the son of William BURTON and Margaret.

The IGI lists a marriage between William BURTON and Margaret RIDLEY at Whitby on 28^th April 1812, who may be John’s parents. William’s date of birth is not known, but he may have been born 28^th December 1783 to Leonard BURTON and Elizabeth. A marriage between Leonard Burton and Elizabeth UNDERWOOD is recorded at Whitby on 23 November 1781 but research has not yet established if this is relevant.

By 1841, Margaret may have been widowed as she is found minus William, living with son John, at Cayley’s Building, Whitby. John was an apprentice house painter, a trade he continued throughout his life.

The 1851 census records that Margaret, born in Barnby, (a district of Whitby) was widowed and living at Church Street, Whitby. She was age 57 and was a ‘Washer Woman’ with an elderly lodger resident.

Her son John at this time was living at Baxtergate, Whitby, with his wife Isabella (nee HUSTLER, daughter of Richard HUSTLER and Isabella HODGSON) whom he had married in 1846, and their children William (c1849) and Isabella (c1850), both born in Whitby.

By 1861, Margaret is not found on the census, but John’s family had increased by six, all born at Whitby: John c1852; Margaret c1854; Richard Hustler 1855; Ann Elizabeth 1857; Sarah Jane 1858 and Thomas 1860. The family were living at ‘National School’, Church Street, Whitby, which implies that John was employed as a painter by the school (which was established in 1844 – source: GENUKI).

John and Isabella’s family increased by one more later in 1861– Maria – and by 1871 the Burtons were living at 21 Hunter Street, Middlesbrough. Their daughter Isabella had married Thomas KNOTT in 1870 (though she and Thomas are not found on the 1871 census).

In 1891 the family were still in Middlesbrough, now at 90 Russell Street. The only children remaining with John and Isabella were Sarah Jane, now working as a ‘Commercial Clerk’, Thomas, working as an Accountant’s Clerk and Maria, of no occupation.

Isabella died aged 77 in late 1900. John, recently widowed, is found on the 1901 census at 8 Walton Street, Middlesbrough, still working as a House Painter. His unmarried daughter, Margaret and a grandson, John Burton SUTHERLAND age 15 are also resident, along with a Boarder. John BURTON died in 1902 age 79.

John’s daughter Maria was the mother of the above John Burton SUTHERLAND. She had married Scottish-born Donald McKenzie SUTHERLAND in Middlesbrough in 1882. The 1891 census records them at 24 Newton St, Middlesbrough with their family: Hugh Mackay age 7; Isabella age 7; John Burton age 5; Sophia age 3; Maggie age 2 and Minnie Burton age 2 months. Donald’s age and occupation are unclear on the census record, but he may have been a Police Officer. By 1901 Maria was widowed and living at 9 Newport Crescent, Middlesbrough, with her four daughters. Her son Hugh had died age 10 in 1893.

In 1911 Maria with daughter Isabella and son John Burton were resident at 42 Upper Millbank Street, Middlesbrough.

This is a work in progress.  19 June 2011.