(nb also spelt Brittain and Britton)
Address: 1891 Halfway Houses, Hanslope
1901 Cuckoo Hill, Hanslope
1911 41 High Street, Hanslope
Family information:
Parents: William Henry Britton born 1866 and Sarah Jane (nee Matthews) born 1867. Headstone of double Grave in Hanslope churchyard reads ‘Sacred to the memory of William Henry Britton Died May 28th 1938 aged 72 years And Sarah Jane Britton died October 12th 1938 aged 71 years. Abide With Me’.
In 1853 Hanslope – marriage of Samuel Stonton and Ellen Britton, widow nee Clarke. In the 1871 census William Henry is resident, recorded as their grandson. His mother Charlotte also lived there and described as their ‘daughter in law, unmarried, Servant out of place’. She had been born in Sherington. William Henry’s mother subsequently married William Elliott, a farm labourer, and moved to Sherington with William and another sister, Elizabeth. She then at least six more children.
1887 William Henry married Sarah Jane Matthews (born in Quinton) at Hardingstone, Northamptonshire.
Children of William Henry and Sarah
William John born September 10, 1889; baptised June 1890
Ellen E born 1891
Florence Beatrice Maria born August 3, 1895 baptised April 18, 1897
Sarah F A born 1903
Henry Samuel Britton born January 12, 1899, baptised April 29, 1900. Died December 1967 Northampton.
Caroline Emily Britton born February 19, 1900, baptised March 22, 1900
Frederick James Britton born September 29, 1904, baptised August 4 1918
The 1901 census records that William Henry was working as a labourer in Wolverton Works on Railway wagons. 4 children from his mother’s marriage to William Elliott were also living with them:
James Elliott Half-brother age 20 Ordinary Agricultural Labourer
William Elliott Half-brother age 18 Ordinary Agricultural Labourer
Albert Elliott Half-brother age 16 Ordinary Agricultural Labourer
George Elliott Half-brother age 13 Ordinary Agricultural Labourer
1891 census the family had moved to Halfway House, Hanslope; 1901 to Cuckoo Hill farm; and by 1911 to 41 High Street.
Army career
Henry Samuel became 18 in 1917. He first joined the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, 4th Reserve battalion, Rgt numbers 203035 and 6979.
He was then transferred to 11th the Queen’s West Surrey Regiment, (Service Battalion) Rgt no. 25456. (In 1916 the 11th were with the 41st Division and were decimated at Fleurs, but later contributed to the campaign in Italy.)
IWM Lives Series WO 363 British Army Service Records 1914-1920
Remembered: Roll of Honour, St James the Great Church, Hanslope