William Colton was born about 1822, probably in Devonshire, England. His parents were William Colton and Elizabeth Blackler/Backler/Backer/Baker (variant spellings in the records).
He had brothers named John, Thomas, Edwin, and Albert, all of whom migrated to South Australia with their parents in 1839. All landed safely except for Albert who died at sea. The Colton family arrived in Adelaide on 17 December 1839 aboard the ship 'Duchess of Northumberland'. It seems that the family lived at McLaren Vale for a number of years. By 1849, William (the younger) was living or working at the small Clare Valley town of Penwortham. It was there that he married Eliza Fox on the 11th November 1849 in the town’s school house. He was 28 years old and she was 20. No birth or death records have been found for any children born to this couple.
William's brother, Edwin Backler Colton married Emily Gardner Wallace and raised a family of four children. Edwin passed away at McLaren Vale on 13th December 1867 at the age of 35. His brother Thomas passed away on 26th July 1873, also at McLaren Vale. His brother John, the celebrity of the family, passed away at his home on Hackney Road at Hackney on 6th February 1902. Their father had passed away a few months before William was married in 1849 and their mother Elizabeth, continued to live on, dividing her time between the McLaren Vale home and her son’s home at Hackney, until she passed away there on 7th March 1888.
Just why William Colton was returning to Adelaide from London in 1866 is a mystery, but it is very likely had something to do with his brother’s business endeavours. John Colton, or more correctly Sir John Colton, was a well respected and prominent business man in Adelaide for many years. His business dealings stretched far and wide across the country and overseas and were carried on by his sons after his death. He was also a well respected member of the Methodist Church in South Australia, and was for a time the Mayor of Adelaide, the Parliamentary representative for Noarlunga, and the Premier of South Australia.
Below is the outline of the Colton family as it was in William Colton’s day. The register commences with William Colton's father - William senior.
There are no marriages recorded on the SA Marriages 1917-1937 CD.
There are only 6 births recorded on the SA Births 1907-1928 CD –grandchildren of Sir John Colton.
Researched by: Julie K. Stokes, July 2009
William Colton
1791 - 1849
Individual
Ancestors
Descendants
Relationship
Timeline
GEDCOM
Suggest- William Colton b. c1791, England; d. 10 Jul 1849, McLaren Vale, SA .
William m. Elizabeth Blackler c1820, probably Devonshire. Elizabeth b. c1799; d. Hackney, SA; bur. 07 Mar 1888. [Group Sheet]
Children:
- 2. Mr. William Colton
b. 1822, probably in Devonshire, England. - 3. Sir John Blackler Colton b. c1824, England; d. 06 Feb 1902, Hackney, SA; bur. 1902, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.
- 4. Thomas Colton b. 1827, England; d. 26 Jul 1873, McLaren Vale, SA .
- 5. Edwin Colton b. c1832; d. 13 Dec 1867, McLaren Vale.
- 6. Albert Colton b. before 1839; d. 1839, at sea en route to South Australia, 'Duchess of Northumberland'; bur. 1839, at sea.
- 2. Mr. William Colton
- Mr. William Colton (1.William1) b. 1822, probably in Devonshire, England.
William m. Eliza Fox 11 Nov 1849, Penwortham. Eliza b. c1829. [Group Sheet]
- Sir John Blackler Colton (1.William1) b. c1824, England; d. 06 Feb 1902, Hackney, SA; bur. 1902, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.
John m. Mary Cutting c1847, South Australia. Mary b. c1823, England; d. 30 Jul 1898, Hackney, SA ; bur. 1898, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide. [Group Sheet]
Children:
- 7. John William Colton b. 20 Jan 1848, Adelaide, SA; d. 26 Dec 1906, North Adelaide, SA .
- 8. Thomas Colton b. 28 Mar 1850, Adelaide, SA; c. 01 Jun 1853, Hackney, SA.
- 9. Samuel Cutting Colton b. 17 Oct 1852, Hackney; d. 14 Jun 1853, Hackney, SA .
- 10. Elizabeth Mary Colton b. 24 Oct 1856, Hackney, SA ; c. 09 Sep 1870, Hackney, SA .
- 11. Edwin Blackler Colton b. 04 May 1859, Hackney, SA .
- 12. Ellen Hannah Colton b. 18 Oct 1863, Adelaide, SA.
- 13. Frank Septimus Colton b. 25 May 1865, Glenelg, SA.
- 7. John William Colton
- Thomas Colton (1.William1) b. 1827, England; d. 26 Jul 1873, McLaren Vale, SA .
- Edwin Colton (1.William1) b. c1832; d. 13 Dec 1867, McLaren Vale.
- Albert Colton (1.William1) b. before 1839; d. 1839, at sea en route to South Australia, 'Duchess of Northumberland'; bur. 1839, at sea.
- John William Colton (3.John2, 1.William1) b. 20 Jan 1848, Adelaide, SA; d. 26 Dec 1906, North Adelaide, SA .
- Thomas Colton (3.John2, 1.William1) b. 28 Mar 1850, Adelaide, SA; c. 01 Jun 1853, Hackney, SA.
- Samuel Cutting Colton (3.John2, 1.William1) b. 17 Oct 1852, Hackney; d. 14 Jun 1853, Hackney, SA .
- Elizabeth Mary Colton (3.John2, 1.William1) b. 24 Oct 1856, Hackney, SA ; c. 09 Sep 1870, Hackney, SA .
- Edwin Blackler Colton (3.John2, 1.William1) b. 04 May 1859, Hackney, SA .
Edwin m. Emily Gardner Wallace [Group Sheet]
- Ellen Hannah Colton (3.John2, 1.William1) b. 18 Oct 1863, Adelaide, SA.
- Frank Septimus Colton (3.John2, 1.William1) b. 25 May 1865, Glenelg, SA.
