The Norris Mystery
Thomas Norris is a bit of a mystery and not very much is known about him. Upon her marriage to William Field in 1885, Eliza Ann Norris stated that her father was Thomas Norris and he was a whitesmith. A whitesmith, usually known as a tinsmith or tinplate worker, is a person who makes and repairs things made of tin or other light metals.
There is a marriage in about March 1858 in Westminster, Middlesex of a Thomas Bartlett Norris and Elizabeth Ann McCarthy. A Thomas Norris was born in about June 1839 in Westminster, Middlesex and his mother’s maiden name was Bartlett. Thomas may have taken his mother’s maiden name as his middle name. Elizabeth Ann McCarthy was born in about 1837 in London, Middlesex and was the daughter of James McCarthy and Mary Ann Leadbetter.
A birth was registered in about June 1858 in Westminster, Middlesex of Thomas James Joseph Norris, with mother’s maiden name McCarthy. His death was recorded in about March 1859 in St Martin, London at less than one year old.
There is a marriage in about March 1858 in Westminster, Middlesex of a Thomas Bartlett Norris and Elizabeth Ann McCarthy. A Thomas Norris was born in about June 1839 in Westminster, Middlesex and his mother’s maiden name was Bartlett. Thomas may have taken his mother’s maiden name as his middle name. Elizabeth Ann McCarthy was born in about 1837 in London, Middlesex and was the daughter of James McCarthy and Mary Ann Leadbetter.
A birth was registered in about June 1858 in Westminster, Middlesex of Thomas James Joseph Norris, with mother’s maiden name McCarthy. His death was recorded in about March 1859 in St Martin, London at less than one year old.
Eliza Ann Norris was born in about 1861 in Westminster, Middlesex. Another son, John T. (probably John Thomas) was born in about December 1864 in Westminster, Middlesex.
Thomas (Bartlett) Norris died in about March 1866 in Westminster, Middlesex at the age of 28 years. His daughter, Eliza was just 5 years old, and her brother, John, was just 2 years old. Both children were living with their grandparents, James and Mary Ann McCarthy in 1871 at 57 Romney street, Westminster, Middlesex. In 1881, Elizabeth Norris was lodging at the residence of Glenery Cook of 12 Tabernacle row, St Luke's, Middlesex. Elizabeth was employed as a laundress at that time. Nineteen-year-old Eliza Norris and her sixteen-year-old brother John, were living together at 75 Cleveland street, Marylebone, London. Eliza earned a living as a wig-maker and John was an errand boy. |
Eliza Norris married William Field at St Saviours Church, Battersea, Surrey on 19 September 1885. William, a widower, was 24 years older than Eliza.
Elizabeth Ann Norris remarried in about 1888. Her husband, James Slaughter, was a fisherman from Arundel, Sussex, he had also been widowed and had one son from his first marriage, William Jupp Slaughter. By 1891, James Slaughter was an Inn Keeper in Surrey street, Arundel, Sussex. This was possibly the Hare and Hound Inn. |
Elizabeth Ann Slaughter died on 30 August 1915 at 136 Ham road, Worthing, Sussex. The cause of death was senile decay and phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis). She was 80 years old. Elizabeth was buried on 2 September 1915 in Broadwater Cemetery, South Farm road, Worthing, Sussex.
Descendants of Thomas Norris
Thomas Bartlett Norris was born in June quarter 1839 in Westminster, Middlesex and died in March quarter 1866 in Westminster, Middlesex at age 26 years. Thomas married Elizabeth Ann McCarthy in March quarter 1858 in Westminster, Middlesex. Elizabeth was born in about 1837 in London, Middlesex and died on 30 August 1915 in Worthing, Sussex at age 78 years. They had three children: Thomas James Joseph, Eliza Ann and John T.
- Thomas James Joseph Norris was born on 3 April 1858 in Westminster, Middlesex, was christened on 7 March 1859 in Westminster, Middlesex and died in March quarter 1859 in St Martin district, London at age about 11 months.
- Eliza Ann Norris was born in about 1861 in Westminster, Middlesex and died in September quarter 1912 in East Preston, District, Sussex at age 51 years. Eliza married William Field on 19 September 1885 in Battersea, London. William was born on 5 October 1837 in Westminster, Middlesex, was christened on 22 October 1837 in Finsbury, Middlesex and died in June quarter 1924 in Steyning, Sussex at age 86 years. They had ten children: Florence Matilda, Elizabeth Ann, Thomas William, Albert Victor, Ann Eliza, Charlotte Maude, Edward James, Josephine Mabel, St John Philip Claude and Rose.
- John T Norris was born in December quarter 1864 in Westminster, Middlesex.