Bolton Wanderings

In the beginning, we knew that Christopher Tuthill's wife, Mary Louisa was a daughter of John Smurthwaite Bolton and Louisa Bolton (maiden name Seton).
In this post I bring you results of my investigations about John Bolton, and then more about Louisa Seton in a later post.

More on John Bolton's parents

John Smurthwaite BOLTON, c.1917





It was rather difficult to find any details about John Bolton's ancestors, though when I knew the details on his 1898 marriage certificate, I could narrow the search down a little.

He and his young wife Louisa are found in the 1901 census return in Darlington, Co. Durham

Borrowdales of Barnard Castle

Back to Darlington!
While John Smurthwaite Bolton was away in Canada and serving in France, his wife Louisa (was Seton now Bolton) and three children were living in Darlington - so they will show up on the 1911 census when it becomes available. Not sure why he took the step of going to Canada, perhaps he had a family connection there, an offer of a good job? It was a long-term job...he arrived on the Canadian shores March 1911 and enlisted in 1916. Presumably, after his injuries in France (or when the war ended) he returned home to Darlington.

Next step of the search is to turn backwards now from John & Louisa - in order to find their parents. (Easiest and most surefire way would be to get the 1898 marriage certificate, but that's not nearly so interesting!)

Louisa Seton, Wood, Bolton

Going Further
Unlike with other branches of the family, there was only one choice in the 1881 database for this family - so I can be fairly certain that the young Louisa Seton I found in the 1881 Census is the right one. Further checks on full certificates would be good.

Following the discovery of these few details, I was able to go back in time through the National Census returns and piece together the following family history for Louisa's parents: