James’ wife. Maureen recalls that her nieces always wore black and came from Scotland. They may well have come DOWN from there but Jane was most certainly born in Co. Durham. Jane’s nieces apparently attended university (Edinburgh?) which was almost unheard of before the 30’s. True to tradition Jane is wearing a black outfit. Is this photo taken outside the aged miners cottage (in Birtley) where she was burned to death? In 1946 (allegedly) Jane’s night dress caught fire on an electric fire in the cottage, Donald ‘Adair’ burned his arms trying to put out the fire. Sadly Jane Booth died in the ambulance of her burns, she would have been an elderly woman by then (92 years old) which would account for that. Jane Booth died in 1946 and that Donald died almost 2 years later actually in 1948.
This death registration is dated quarter Oct-Nov-Dec 1946. Note that both Donald and Jane were registered at Durham N. which I assume is the new name for the Gateshead registration office.
I haven’t found her family on the 1881 census (not looked really) yet but Dominic informs me
- William Booth 1827-1886 m Stella Howells 1829-1901
- Nancy 1851 – 1940
- Jane
- Alice 1857-1930
- Margaret 1858-1950
- John William 1860-1945
- Clara Jane 1863-1950
- Thomas 1865 1955
- Arthur 1868 1955
- Eva Louise 1871 1965
- ‘Selah’1873 1970. This is of course a mistyping of Stella, possibly Stella Clarissa?
Jane on the 1871 census
I finally found Jane on the 1971 census in Scotland, 43 Maryfield Place, Midlothian, Edinburgh. They were in the Edinburgh Greenside parish. The 1871 Census for Scotland was taken on the night of 2/3 April 1871
| Name | Position | Age | Occupation | Where born |
| William Booth | Head | 43 | Fish and Egg merchant | England, Longridge |
| Elizabeth Booth (Nee Todd) | Wife | 42 | England, Wollwick | |
| Jane Elizabeth Booth | Dau | 16 | Co. Durham (we know this to be Cockfield) | |
| Alice | Dau | 14 | Barnard Castle | |
| Margaret Ann | Dau | 12 | Station? (New)Castle on tyne | |
| John William | Son | 10 | Station? (New)Castle on tyne | |
| Clara Jane | Dau | 7 | Station? (New)Castle on tyne | |
| Thomas S | Son | 6 | Castle, castle on Tyne | |
| Arthur A T | Son | 3 | Blaydon | |
| Eva Louise | Dau | 1 mon | Edinburgh | |
| James Todd | Brother-in-law | 53 | Fish and Egg merchant | Worcester |
Longridge is in Lancashire. But the biggest revelation here is the presence of James Todd who would be the elder brother of Williams wife Elizabeth. This is the same James Todd described as a retired soldier when he is living with James Wright and Jane when they have Stella and Alice in Framwellgate Moor. Perhaps there was no room for him in Edinburgh and he moved in with his niece.
Now CURIOUSLY there is a Chelsea pensioner called James Todd in Chelsea Hospital aged 73 in the 1891 census born in Worcester with the correct year of birth. Isn’t THAT odd.
Perhaps when he became too old for James and Jane to look after and they were filling the house up with kids he ended up in Chelsea Hospital? His sister Elizabeth (Jane’s mother) was born in Woolwich so perhaps he had relatives in London? The Zulu war was in 1879, First Boer war was 1881. James Todd was born in 1818 he would clearly have been too old to have fought in those wars. However the Indian mutiny was in 1857 when he’d have been 39. The Crimean war was 1854–1856). James Todd would have been 36 at the outbreak of that conflict. There were plenty of wars in South Africa before 1854 against the Bantu, Hottentots etc though.
It is possible that he could have taken part in the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839-1842) when he would have been in prime military age of 21 to 24. He could have taken part in the 6th and 7th Xhosa wars which were fought between 1834 and 1836 and 1846. In fact it is feasible he fought in all 3 wars across 2 continents.
I have found a 43 year old James Todd born in ‘Woolarsh’, Kent who is in Sandhurst barracks in what looks like the 15th Hussars in 1861. Now you could imaginatively say that yes, this is our James as Woolarsh is more than likely Woolwich, he is the right age and he’s a military man.
Jane on the 1861 census
Back to England and county Durham, Stainton Village. Stainton is a village outside Barnard Castle and is close to Cockfield and not far from Piercebridge either.
| Name | Position | Age | Occupation | Where born |
| William Booth | Head | 33 | Quarryman | Longridge, Lancs |
| Elizabeth S Booth | Wife | 32 | Woolwich, Kent | |
| Nancy | Dau | 10 | Halifax, Yorkshire | |
| Jane Elizabeth | Dau | 6 | Cockfield | |
| Alice | Dau | 4 | Barnard Castle | |
| Margaret | Dau | 2 | Stainton, Co. Durham | |
| John William | Son | mths | Stainton, Co. Durham | |
| John Booth | Brother | 23 | Quarryman | Longridge, Lancs |
So now we have more clarity. ‘Station’ is actually Stainton in Co. Durham near Barnard CASTLE.
The 1851 census
William and Elizabeth were living with Williams parents during this census. They are living in Dilworth Village near Longridge. William doesn’t actually appear on the census but Elizabeth and their daughter Nancy do. Notice that Thomas Jnr, Alice and John are all working in a cotton mill. We finally get to see where Elizabeth Todd was born, Woolwich in London, yet her brother was born in Worcester.
| Name | Position | Age | Occupation | Where born |
| Thomas Booth | Head | 48 | Labourer in Stone Quarry | Dilworth, Lancs |
| Nancy Booth | Wife | 44 | Dilworth, Lancs | |
| Thomas | Son | 18 | Cotton Weaver | Dilworth, Lancs |
| Alice | Dau | 16 | Cotton Weaver | Dilworth, Lancs |
| John | Son | 13 | Cotton Weaver | Dilworth, Lancs |
| Robert | Son | 11 | Scholar | Dilworth, Lancs |
| Stout | Son | 11 | Scholar | Dilworth, Lancs |
| Elizabeth | Dau | 9 | Scholar | Dilworth, Lancs |
| Margaret | Dau | 6 | Scholar | Dilworth, Lancs |
| Elizabeth | Daughter in law | 23 | Wife of Quarryman | Woolwich, Middx |
| Nancy | Grandaughter | 9 months | Halifax, Yorks |
2 doors away are a William Booth (born in Bowland, West Yorkshire) aged 74 and a John Booth aged 46 who could conceivably be Thomas’ Father and younger brother. John Booth is also working in a stone quarry. Gloria Potter has also come to this conclusion and gone back one more generation from there with another William Booth born in 1735 in ‘Bowland’ West Yorkshire. This is curious as near Longridge is the Forest of Bowland as well as various small towns with Bowland in the name such as Bolton-by-Bowland. There is a defunct district council of Bowland in West Yorks around the Ribble valley and that is literally just across the border and not at all far from Longridge.
John Booth the (13 year old cotton weaver) married a Sarah Leybourne and moved to West Hartlepool setting up a grocers business at which he became very successful. His descendants are still there including Gloria who now lives in Australia. John had 3 children, Thomas, Eva and Amelia. Thomas had 10 children and Gloria is the daughter of the tenth child Annie Booth b. 1911 so Thomas Booth b. 1803 is our common ancestor.
The Wrights Family History 