The Family of John Thornton Melling

FAMILY HISTORY: NORRIS

THE FAMILY OF JOHN THORNTON MELLING

John Thornton Melling was the son of Isaac Melling and Bridget Thornton, who were married in Bentham, Yorkshire in 1843. John, their first child, was in Lancaster c. 1844.

Isaac Melling died when John was only about 5 years old and by the time of the 1851 Census he was living with his uncle in Low Bentham, Yorkshire:

1851 CENSUS OF BENTHAM, YORKSHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
J. Belman Thornton	Head	Unm.	M	31	Draper	Bentham, Yorkshire
Bridget Melling	Sister	Widow	F	29	Housekeeper	Bentham, Yorkshire
John Melling	Nephew	-	M	7	Scholar	Bentham, Yorkshire
Robert Melling	Nephew	-	M	3	Scholar	Lancaster, Lancashire
Eliza Tetterington	Cousin	Unm.	F	29	Dress Maker	Bentham, Yorkshire

1:	Living Low Bentham. (H.O.107-2277, folio 67, page 10)
2:	John Melling was almost certainly born in Lancaster, Lancashire.
3:	The above information is taken from the census returns on microfilm at the Lancashire Record Office.

By 1871 Bridget Melling had moved with her brother to Preston where he opened a Drapers shop on Fylde Road:

1871 CENSUS OF PRESTON, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
John Belman Thornton	Head	Unm.	M	53	Draper	Bentham, Yorkshire
Bridget Melling	Sister	Widow	F	50	-	Bentham, Yorkshire
Thomas P. Thornton	Brother	Unm.	M	62	Agent	Bentham, Yorkshire
Robert Melling	Nephew	Unm.	M	23	Joiner Apprentice	Lancaster, Lancashire

NOTES:
1:	Living at a Draper's Shop, 120 Fylde Road, Preston. (RG10-4207, folio 139, pages 20)
2:	The above information is taken from the census returns on microfiche at the Lancashire Record Office.

Bridget Melling died sometime between the night of the 1871 Census and the night of the 1881 Census. In !881 her brother John Bentham Thornton was living with her eldest son John Thornton Melling. I have not yet found the record of her death.

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