By charlton, on August 22nd, 2009 The neat thing about the 1911 Census of England & Wales is that it was the first census completed by the heads of each household. So it was that William Browell Charlton recorded by his own hand the presence of his family at 26 Western Hill on the night of April 2nd, 1911.
Interestingly, he did not do a very good job of filling out the form, however his errors only serve to highlight the bonds of family as existed within him. He starts by calling himself “Husband” although the form asks for him to label himself “Head”. This may have been a tip of the hat (or more) to the suffragette sympathies that served as a backdrop to this first self-reporting government survey.
More serious is the inclusion of his only son Robert, age 29, unmarried and living in Canada at Wesley College in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the time. Clearly he did not want to leave Robert out of any account of his family. This was done in spite of instructions to the contrary at the top of the form.
The line devoted to his wife Mary may help to explain his devotion to his son and two daughters and illuminates with cold numerical indifference the cost of the couple’s union. Nine children born alive, three still alive, six dead. That is four more siblings than I had previously been aware of and six more than my Grandfather (Robert in this census report) ever mentioned.
Here is the report:
- William Browell Charlton – Husband – 55 – Married 35 Years – Occupation: Colliery Enginemen’s Union Agent, Trades Union, Born: Durham, Chester le Street
- Mary Charlton – Wife – 55 – Married 35 Years – Children Born Alive (9) – Children Still Living (3) – Children who have died (6) – Occupation: Mother – Born: Durham, Low Moorsley
- Amelia Browell Charlton – Daughter – 24 – Unmarried – Occupation: Assist in Home duties – Born: Durham, Usworth
- Mary Isabell Charlton – Daughter – 21 – Unmarried – Occupation: Assist in Home duties – Born: Durham, Usworth
- Robert Charlton – Son – 29 – Unmarried – In Canada. Wesley College Winnipeg Man – Born: Durham, Langley Moor
By charlton, on May 12th, 2009 
Photo courtesy Norway Heritage
The Charlton family’s fateful journey to England in 1919 departed Montreal aboard the SS Scandinavian and landed in Liverpool on July 14, a week prior to my father’s 6th birthday. According to the ship’s passenger list, Robert was 36, Helen 29, Wm B. 6 and Robert G. 1. Their destination, 26 Western Hill Durham.
More photos of the ship and full details of how she was outfitted are available on the Norway Heritage web site.
By charlton, on April 19th, 2009 
Helen (Good) & son, Bill Charlton, with Oscar Deakin and daughters: Lois, Gertrude, Marjorie & Betty taken Easter 1917 at St. Stephen, N.B. This photo was in Lois Scott’s collection. Submitted by Renae Grubb.
Another photo from the same time period is located here.
By charlton, on November 22nd, 2008  Charlton Family August 1951 Photo courtesy Renae Grubb from the collection of Lois Scott
Renae reports the names on the back of the photo are: Bobbie 6yrs, Robert Charlton, Robbie 3yrs, Bert, Jimmie 3yrs, Della, Beryl and Peter 1yr. August 1951
By charlton, on November 22nd, 2008  Helen Charlton (nee Good) Thank you to Renae Grubb and her friend at Bird Films for sending me this photo of my Grandmother Helen Charlton. As far as I know this is the only clear photo of her as a fully adult woman.
Click on the photo to view larger.
By charlton, on October 1st, 2008 
Grenier Hill, originally uploaded by Light Collector.
From my brother, Bob Charlton aka Light Collector. The Flickr page (click on photo above) shows what happened to the Charlton House in Shawinigan.
Across the street from my grandfather’s house in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec was Grenier Hill. I can remember as a boy, sitting on the grass at the top of the hill and watching the trains in the yard at the bottom of the hill. For many years, I could not be sure that the memory was real or not, and today I came across this photo in an old album which clearly shows the tracks and a three bay engine house, middle left. The trains were steam then, but unfortunately, there are no trains in the picture.
This photo was scanned from the photo album and includes the caption in white ink, written by my father. It appears to have been taken during the winter of 1937.
By charlton, on September 4th, 2008 
My relation to Mary Dyer (and Anne Marbury Hutchinson) are as follows:
1. Mary (Barrett) Dyer
2. Samuel Dyer (Samuel is Mary Dyer’s son who married Anne Marbury Hutchinson’s grand daughter Anne Hutchinson)
3. Anne Dyer
4. Elisha Clark I
5. Elisha Clark II
6. Elisha Clark III
7. Hannah Clark
8. Edward Weyman McLeod
9. Agnes Bassett McLeod
10. Helen Lottie Good
11. William Browell Charlton
12. John Delbert Charlton
Read about Mary Dyer:
Amazon Online Reader: To Try The Bloody Law, The Story Of Mary Dyer by Robert S. Burgess
MayflowerFamilies.com The Colonial Gazette: Mary Dyer: A Quaker Martyr
She Died Twice, A play by Brian Jarvis
Wikipedia Entry: Mary Dyer
By charlton, on August 16th, 2008 
Della Charlton (nee Connell),
Passed away peacefully on Wednesday August 13, 2008 at Sunset Manor, Collingwood, Ontario in her 93rd year. Della, beloved wife of the late William Charlton and the late Wendell Phipps. Dear mother of Bob and his wife Agnes of Stayner, Ontario, Jim and his wife Louise of Kirkland, Quebec and John and his wife Ruth of Warkworth, Ontario. Grandmother of Julie and Robert. Della dedicated many years to the UCW of St. Lambert United Church. Visitation at Collins Clarke MacGillvary White funeral home, 307 Riverside Drive, St. Lambert, Quebec on Thursday, August 21, 2008 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and Friday, August 22 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Funeral Service to be held at St. Lambert United Church, 85 Desaulniers Blvd, St. Lambert, Quebec at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 22, 2008. If desired, donations in Della’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
Continue reading Della Jean Charlton 1916-2008
By charlton, on May 18th, 2008
Yet another death notice I received through the kind folks at the Durham Clayport Reference and Local Studies Dept, this one gives local perspective to the death of my Grandmother, Helen Lottie Good in 1920.
Death of Mrs. R. Charlton
The death occurred under painfully sudden circumstances on Monday afternoon at 26 Western Hill, Durham, the residence of Mr W. B. Charlton of Mrs Robert Charlton. The deceased lady, who was the wife of the Rev. Robt. Charlton, only son of the respected agent of the Durham Colliery Enginemen, Boilermakers’ and Firemen’s Association, had complained of minor ailments… but though she had been confined to the house a few days her state of health did not cause any anxiety. On the morning of her death she appeared to be in fairly good health, though as the day progressed a change was noticed. Medical advice was sought, but before the arrival of Dr. V***, Mrs Charlton had slept peacefully away, heart failure being the cause of her demise. To her husband and the two young children who are left, our sympathy goes out. Mrs Charlton, who was in her thirtieth year was born in Canada. She was a daughter of Mr and Mrs James E Good of Sask. and her marriage to the Rev. R. Charlton took place on August 7th, 1912. The Rev. and Mrs Charlton and their children came on a visit to England last July and recently the rev gentleman had been doing work at a mission in Newcastle. He was anticipating an early relief so as to take his wife to Scotland and London before returning to their Canadian home.
Related Article: Helen Lottie Good
By charlton, on May 13th, 2008 I was fortunate this week to put my hands on a copy of an obituary from The Durham Chronicle dated June 11, 1920 for my Great Grandmother, Mary Charlton. This provides the first and only account we have of her. The account below indicates she was severely afflicted by rheumatism and was confined to her home except for the use of a bath chair.
An article in the New York Times may have caught the moment referred to below of her encounter with Queen Mary. The only reason I think the article may refer to another lady in a bath chair is that John Wilson, MP would have known Mary Charlton personally and more likely would have introduced her to the Queen by name. Likely, the encounter with the Queen took place beyond the gaze of the press that same day. W. B. Charlton was intimately involved in the establishment of the Aged Miners Homes and would have no doubt been part of the receiving line that welcomed Queen Mary to the homes at Ushaw Moor and Shincliffe.
Durham Chronicle – June 11, 1920
Death of Mrs. W. B. Charlton
It is with sincere regret that we have to record the death, which took place at her residence, 26 Western Hill, Durham on Thursday evening of Mrs Charlton, wife of Mr W. B. Charlton, secretary of the Durham County Colliery Enginemen, Boiler Maker’s and Firemen’s Association. During the 14 years she lived in this city, Mrs Charlton was affected with rheumatism, and was not outside her house except in a bath chair. Despite that physical handicap, Mrs. Charlton continued to get a good deal of sunshine out of life. She was cheerfulness personified, and not even her most intimate friends ever heard her complain of her affliction. And it was that quality which gained the admiration of her friends. To some it might appear that death came as a happy relief from her sufferings, but those who had the privilege of her acquaintance know that she never spent an idle moment. She was a clever needlewoman and though her infirmity prevented her from carrying out houshold duties, yet her advice was invaluable and to her family she was a devoted mother. About a fortnight ago Mrs Charlton caught a chill and after a week’s illness she passed away.
Mr and Mrs Charlton were married at Brancepeth and there is one son, the Rev. Robert Charlton, recently appointed to the pastorate of Tyne Dock Congregational Church, and two daughters, Mrs M. Waller and Miss Isabell Charlton. The late Mrs Charlton often recalled with pleasure the visit of Queen Mary to the aged miners’ homes in 1914, when she was presented in her bath chair to her Majesty. She also prized the gifts from the Colliery Enginemen’s Association and the National Federation. The deceased lady was 64 years of age.
Continue reading Death of Mary Green (Mrs. W. B. Charlton)
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