Orton Family History - My Mansfield Roots

One of my early memories is that of my grand-mother Emma, telling me of the story behind the unusual name of Efford, my grand-father's middle name. Joseph Efford had apparently carried on a great family tradition, of naming the eldest son of each generation "Efford". Not surprising then that my uncle Efford, the elder brother of my father Cyril, was to name his eldest son Efford.
Thirty four years later, I became interested in Family History research. An interest prompted by the discovery of a well worn family bible belonging to my wife Ann's father. The wealth of information contained in the family bible, (What a wealth of information ! ) started us on the fascinating road of genealogy. In tandem with this research, I not unnaturally recalled the interesting Orton name of Efford and so a long process began of tracing my ancestors with the unusual name which linked each generation. I also recalled my grandmother's tale of money held in chancery for the fortunate claimant to the family inheritance. An added dimension which though not the motivation gave a little more interest to the search in the early days. It was soon apparent that very many families had similar stories of "missing" wealth waiting for the rightful claimant! At the outset I was convinced that my search for my ancestors from Mansfield would be relatively simple. After all the name Efford would be a dead give-away to those who could rightly be claimed as mine.
Like so many people embarking on family history research my first examination of records began with a visit to the local Church of the Later Day Saints. It was conveniently located and certainly easier than the Public Library at Mansfield, since I was then living in East Yorkshire. After months of weekly visits, pouring over microfilms of IGI s, Bishops' Transcripts, Births, Deaths, and Marriages there was no Efford recorded in Nottinghamshire records. (Before the days of valuable Internet research facilities! )
Many disappointing weeks later a breakthrough. Derbyshire IGI sheet N2

HORTON,EFFORD ELIZH COOK H M 11 OCT 1791 SOUTH NORMANTON

Progress? At first it seemed that way. I had found an Efford, and South Normanton was not too far from Mansfield. But l79l, was just too great a gap to try matching up with nothing in between. A total rethink was called for in order to make any progress. Whilst searching for any Effords, Ann and I had laboriously noted every reference to all records with the family name, with the intention of having on record all references which we might need at some later stage of our research. At this time however we were still working solely on IGI information. We had read somewhere, that one should always check this information with the "source document" and with this in mind we promised ourselves that we would check records of Marriages and Births as soon as practicable.

For the time being we started to piece together the various branches which emerged from the IGI. It was possible initially to build quite interesting "mini-trees" from the various Birth, Marriage, and Death entries. Still nothing however which would take us either from my grand-father Joseph Efford, or in any direction from Efford 's marriage in South Normanton. Time for a rethink. In fact we went back to the basics which every genealogist knows only too well is the only means to research a tree. Enthusiasm counts for little if it is at the expense of accurate and methodical work. Finally I therefore obtained a copy of my grand-father's birth certificate. Why not sooner? I wish I knew! Step by step using a logical progression it should be possible to go back from grand-father and gather all the information needed along the way.

Joseph Efford Orton's birth certificate told me that he was born in Mansfield on 15th September 1880. His father was James Orton a Frame Work Knitter of 3 Garden Road Mansfield. His mother Emma Orton 's maiden name being Gadd Who said copies of certificates were expensive? Flushed with excitement at some progress, a copy of his marriage certificate followed.

More information! Confirmation that Joseph Efford Orton had married Emma Hayes on l7th September l906 at he General Baptist Chapel, Stockwell Gate, Mansfield. At the time of his marriage he was a Slater's Labourer and was living at 7, Peacock Street, Mansfield. His father is named as James Orton (deceased) a framework Knitter. Emma Hayes was 24 years old, a factory hand, the daughter of Philip Hayes a general labourer of Pembroke Street, Mansfield. Next to find James' details. Was his middle name Efford?

No it was not, at least not according to the Marriage Certificate obtained next.

Where did this story originate because only one generation on the Efford name had
disappeared? James was born 21 st May 1859 to Samuel and Francis Orton (nee Angliss). From the church records, he was the eldest son, though the second of nine children of Samuel and Francis.

Further methodical research showed Samuel to be the son of John & Anne (nee Kirkby) Orton, and John to be the son of Joseph Efford Orton and Elizabeth (nee Cook). Back to the marriage in 1791 with which I had been so fascinated when originally locating it.
For a full and up to date family tree( to date...), for Orton, Hayes, Lloyd, Angliss, Arby, et al, visit:

http://camerius.tribalpages.com

See below to visit the Efford Orton Page here on Squidoo, which has more about this unusual family name EFFORD.

(OLD MONEY
5d is approximately 2.5 pence.
240d to the pound, or if you prefer
20s or shillings = 1 pound)

All of the research to date indicates that the Ortons were a Mansfield family, indeed the earliest records are of Thomas Orton, aged "over 18 years" signing the Protestation on Sunday 6th March 1641 / 42, and Robert Orton being taxed on one fireplace at Skegby in the "1674 Hearth Tax" of Nottinghamshire. Certainly all of the Orton tree is focused upon Mansfield family origins with a few exceptions in adjacent areas, such as Sutton - in - Ashfield, Mansfield Woodhouse, etc..

For 7 generations (research period to date), the Ortons of Mansfield, appear to have lived and worked, in the area of Stockwell Gate / Belvedere Street, and to have been predominantly employed in hosiery manufacture. There are of course exceptions, notably following the development of trades such as quarrying, shoe making, foundry work, and of course the opening of the railways and coal mines in Mansfield.

The Census Returns have confirmed that many Ortons worked as Frame Work Knitters, or as it is usually recorded F.W.K.. This work involved long hours and very poor pay, verging upon poverty for many. Families of the framework knitters, were required to undertake allied tasks from a very young age, and it is therefore not uncommon to find sons and daughters working as Cotton Doublers , Winders, or Seamers to keep down costs. It was typical for many Nottinghamshire Knitters to spend an 18 hour day at their machine, and whilst in 1778 a petition was put to the House of Commons, for an act to fix wage levels, no such act was ever passed. By way of an example, over 3,000 people were dependent upon parish relief in Hinckley in the 1840 s. In 1843 a petition signed by 25,000 framework knitters, was sent to the House of Commons asking for a Commission of enquiry. Wages had dropped below 10/- (50p), for the average worker, with living conditions evidently appalling, especially in the East Midlands. Extracts from the Commission's findings give an insight into conditions for framework knitters and their families.

In addition, various materials had to be bought in order to operate and maintain the machines, for example wrenches, hammer - keys etc.. Had John Thurman not used his son as a winder, then he would have had to employ someone at a cost of 6d per week. John's income for the week was .£1-2s-3d (£1-11p). His weekly coal bill was 1s-3d, with other expenses totaling 9s-7d. This left him 12s-8d a week to feed and cloth his family. He was fortunate since many families are recorded as having 3s-6d remaining to feed a family of 6, and clothe them. Not surprising then, that a saying of the time was " as poor as a stockinger ", and that stockingers were regular customers of the pawnbrokers. Frame Work Knitters or Stockingers were referred to locally as "shiners" due to the long hours spent at their machines and a resultant shine on their trousers from being sat on simple wooden bench seats.
It would seem hat not all of the Ortons were subject to the poverty prevailing in the Hosiery industry. In A.S, Buxton's "Historic Mansfield, in the Nineteenth Century", Volume 2, reference is made to Thomas Orton, the mill owner. On 18th June 1832 several local dignitaries held celebration dinners to mark the passing of the Reform Bill. Thomas had 120 of his workmen to dinner, washed down with half a gallon of ale each.

In more modem times, it would seem that the making of hosiery continued in the Orton family. My father Cyril was a Hosier, though I recall as a child visiting the factory where he worked, to see the vast " modern machines" in long noisy rows. By today's standards I guess these factories would seem somewhat primitive, but comparing the conditions to those of a few generations ago, it would seem like science fiction. My father would sometimes bring home stockings which had not been finished properly. I recall learning to repair them (or try to!), using a small tool which resembled a small wire loop in a pencil shaped wooden handle.
The Hosiery industry was still, as I remember, poorly paid, and we were certainly never "well off" The trade in Mansfield suffered quite a decline in the l95O s, and I recall my father being on "short time working", though at the time I'm not sure that I fully appreciated the implications. Not too long afterwards (or so it seemed) we moved to Sutton-in- Ashfield, where we had a small comer shop at the end of a row of terraced houses.(56, Dalestorth Street). More recently whilst visiting Mansfield, I noticed that all the Mills I remember as a child were either derelict or demolished. It would seem that the trade which occupied so many families through the generations has finally died.

Each generation produces "new " names to the tree. Seems obvious doesn't it? Each marriage gives us a link into another interesting family. Below are just a few of the related families in my tree. Think one or more of these may be common to your family tree? Leave a message or query and let's compare notes.

ANGLISS ARBY BEND BLACKNALL BLACKNELL BRANSON CLAY COLLINSON CALER COLLINSON GADD GRIFFITHS HARDSTAFF HAYES HAYS HOLLINGWORTH ISON IZON KIRKBY LLOYD PEARSON SHOOTER WALE WASS

In 1816 an earthquake shook the church during a service. Dust and lime fell from the ceiling and some of the congregation were thrown to the ground. Most of the streets in Mansfield were affected and there was considerable damage throughout the town. In nearby Mansfield Woodhouse church the vicar is alleged to have told his congregation, "There is no need for alarm friends, it is only the steeple that has fallen down. " It was the worst earthquake known in the area, although one was also recorded in 1750. In the grounds of St. Peter's church is the old 16th century Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, founded in 1561. Two of the school's boys became bishops, and another famous student was the Earl of Chesterfield. Richard Sterne, who became Archbishop of York attended the school later founding four scholarships at Cambridge and two for natives of York and Mansfield, sometimes held by boys from his old school. James Murray, inventor of the circular saw, attended Queen Elizabeth's School, James being the son of Lord Byron's servant, "Old Joe Murray".

Mansfield was granted a market charter in 1227, but the present Market Place was once marked only by a widening of the road between the Moot Hall and Church Street. The narrow approaches meant that the centre became increasingly congested and in 1823 the Mansfield Improvement Act allowed many changes to be made. By 1845 the Market Place was very much it's present size and shape. In the centre of the Market Place stands the Bentinck Monument. It is unfortunately often unnoticed despite it's prominence, and today appears neglected almost as testimony to the lack of awareness or interest in it. It was built in 1849, by public subscription as a monument to Lord George Bentinck, second surviving son of the 4th Duke of Portland. The monument cost £1500, though as can be seen today, it was never finished due to lack of sufficient funds, hence the space at the centre where a statue was to be placed. The Town Hall was opened in December 1836. It was built by the inhabitants of the town who formed The Town Hall Committee with capital of £6650. The foundation stone was laid by John Coke and after the ceremony, members of the committee went to the Swan for lunch and the workmen were given "an excellent dinner and three pints of ale each." A Corn Exchange, a public hall, a lock-up, a reading room and a library were all provided in the "new" Town Hall. The clock was first illuminated by gas on the night of Thursday 4th February 1837. People of Mansfield were most impressed and were reported as feeling "really important" when they saw it. Accommodation was provided for butchers in the Town Hall, but it was not fully occupied. Some butchers from Gainsborough saw an opportunity to undercut the local traders and came to Mansfield to sell their meat at lower prices in competition with the Mansfield butchers. The local tradesmen cut the shafts off their carts and thus gave the Gainsborough traders a gentle hint that they were not welcome in Mansfield.

The Market Place was often the venue for fairs in the 18th century, and men who were dissatisfied with their wives were known to have sold them in the Market Place. This custom was still around in the 19th century, since in 1882, a man led his wife to Mansfield to be sold. However, after what was to be their last drink in a nearby pub, they resolved their differences and went home! There was a similar incident in 1849 when a Sutton-in- Ashfield man sold his wife for 18d (approx. 7 and a half pence) The lady was apparently quite pleased, but both she and her husband were arrested. In 1914 King George V and Queen Mary visited Mansfield. 1949 saw a visit by Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, who saw the town prior to laying the foundation stone of the Portland Training College for the disabled at Harlow Wood.

MANSFIELD EVENTS 1800-1900
1819 Pinxton Railway opened
1823 Mansfield Improvement Act
1823 Gas Company formed
1823 Street names painted on corners of buildings
1823 First Scavenger employed, for street cleaning
1824 The Robin Hood coach began running daily, between Mansfield & Nottingham
1825 First Mansfield rates to cover improvements
1825 Horse & Cart purchased for Scavenger
1825 First Gas Street Lamps (near Belvedere Inn, in Stockwell Gate)
1827 Blind Lane entrance removed
1827 Gig Mail began running between Mansfield & Newark
1827 West Gate MacAdamised
1834 Church Street MacAdamised
1836 Lock-up, Market house and Shambles opened
1837 Town Hall clock lit by gas
1837 Gig Mail to Sutton, Hucknall Torkard, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and Bulwell
1838 Water pipe from Ladybrook to West Gate for water cart to be filled
1840 Omnibus service started to South Wingfield Station for London train
1849 Bentinck Memorial built
1849 Midland Railway purchased line and modernised it
1853 Public Baths erected
1870 Act to supply Mansfield with water
1876 Cattle Market constructed
1885 Church Street widened
1885 Town Hall purchased
1886 Baths acquired and enlarged
1894 Forest Infectious Hospital established

Many enquiries have been made regarding where the name Mansfield comes from. Quite simply it is my understanding that the River Maun which flows through the town gave the original settlement it's name - which was originally MAUNSFELD. Or loosley translated as meadows by the Maun.
Similarly the surname "Mansfield" would probably have been assigned to a person from the town, in the same way that a surname such as Sheffield or Leicester would have arisen. In this way John of Mansfield would have become John Mansfield.
Surnames were normally assigned by virtue of a trade, place of origin, or according to the father's name. Hence FLETCHER might be an indicator of an arrow maker or Flecher. Johnson the son of John. etc. etc.