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From my local newspaper....
Family bid to trace history of Norwich hero
Henry Norton, the father of Donald, outside his tobacconist shop at 33 St Stephens Street in Norwich.
DAVID BALE
15 October 2009 07:08
A family is trying to trace the history of the fallen Norfolk hero they never knew existed and who died in the First World War.
Donald Norton was killed in action on July 5, 1917 serving as a private with the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment in northern France, aged 30.
He is named on the Roll of Honour in the Norwich Castle Museum and his service number was G/14718.
His descendants are especially keen to find out more about Mr Norton because, until recently, they had never heard of him.
David King, Mr Norton's great-grandson, who works in Aberdeenshire for an oil company, said: “Through discussions with his elderly aunts, my father John King, who has lived and worked in Norwich all his life, discovered his grandfather was not actually the man he believed was his grandfather for 70 years.
“My father, who is a retired accountant, grew up believing his grandmother's second husband was his true grandfather.”
Through family research, Mr King said they had discovered that the Norton family owned a tobacconist business at 33, St Stephen's Street in Norwich, at the turn of the last century and the 1901 census shows that Donald, aged 14, was living with his father, Henry Norton, 34, above the family business. Donald was born in the Heigham Street area of Norwich in 1886.
The family's search has also been helped by a Norwich man's postcard collection, and the family obtained a copy of Mr Norton's death certificate, which confirmed he died in action in the First World War.
Mr King added: “Based on where his regiment and brigade (his regiment was part of 2nd Brigade, 1st Division) were placed at the time of his death we have concluded it is highly likely he was killed around the area where he is buried, defending the end of the Western front on the Belgian coast at a place called Nieuwpoort.
“Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery, where he is buried, is only a mile or two from Nieuwpoort. His regiment were there supporting the Belgian army from June 30 to November 1917 which fits in with his date of death.
“On July 10 there was a large German attack, which would have been building up in the days preceding which may have been how he died.
“My father, sister and I would like to trace anyone who has information relating to Donald Norton or the Norton family.”
The family is travelling on Armistice Day to Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery in Belgium to visit Mr Norton's grave for the first time.
Can you help Mr King with his search? Email him at [email protected].
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Hmmm
Tricky one this unless certs are bought.
If Henry is the Father then he married Amelia Katherine Mansfield in 1868, Norwich. But, They are not living together in 1881/91 and by 1901 Amelia is said to be the wife of George Brandish with children Amelia Norton and George Norton.
Donald may have gone by the name of Harry. (1881 census)
There are a couple in the 1911 but nothing conclusive. A name for the wife would be handy
Sorry I haven't cut and pasted any 'proof' don't have the time at the mo.....perhaps someone else can have a go at putting it on here.
In Heigham, a Michael Norton also has a son named Donald about the same age .....as I say....tricky without certs and more info.
1911 says that George and Amelia had been married 11 years so in 1881/1891 census they obviously were not married. She is also in the same household as George Brandish in 1881
It is possible that it was a shotgun wedding between Henry and Amelia, as her first child Amelia Norton was, it seems, born Amelia Norton Mansfield
Now here is an even trickier bit.....If Henry is the Father of Donald and is alive in the 1901 census. Did he and Amelia divorce?. She married George Brandish in the J/F/March 1/4 of 1901.....Henry isn't in the 1911 census
so far I can find one death 1900 of a Henry Norton born abt 1845......gets trickier
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Hmmm
I wonder if this is Henry's Father.....
171/68 Norton, Henry - Heigham - 1892
Probated copy of Will & Codicil - brother William Norton, nephew William J Norton, niece Sarah J Culley - her children Edith J, Albert J & Henry E Norton Culley. Servants Jane & Mary A Taylor, Emma E Branch. Specific bequests, including a collection to the Norfolk & Norwich Library. 2 large sheets Parchment, a number of company stamps on reverse - certificate of Probate & wafer seal attached. [see Sarah Norton, below] £29
from the site of
http://www.ancestordocs.co.uk/Norfolk.htm
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Thanks Susan, have copied and pasted this and the stuff you sent to David King.
Will let you know what happens.
Lizx
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There is also someone on Ancestry with the same tree but they only have a daughter of the first Henry
Wot!.....no others doing a lookup? I am surprised
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