Thomas Stratton

Thomas Stratton was born about 1791 in Bottlesford, Wiltshire, England, a hamlet about a mile from the three Manningfords - Manningford Abbots, Manningford Bruce and Manningford Bohune. The son of Henry Stratton (1760 - 1836) and Anne Ragbourn (1760 - 1817), he was baptized 18 December 1871 at nearby North Newton. (Both Bottlesford and North Newton are just west and adjacent to Manningford Bohune.)

Thomas was the father of James Newman (1813 - 1884) whose mother was Sarah Newman.

Thomas went on to marry several times and had a number of children. The family emigrated to Ontario, Canada, settling in Bayham Township, Eglin County. Thomas is buried in Staffordville in that township.

I had originally thought that there was a Thomas Stratton Newman, husband of Sarah Unknown - parents of James Newman. But recent records released have shown that James Newman was the son of this Thomas Stratton and that the mother was Sarah Newman, (base-born) in Manningford Abbots in 1786. James took the name Newman and was primarily known by it (in the 1841 Census at Mannintford Abbots and when he came to Canada, as per census records of 1851, 1861 and so on). My interest was peaked when in the 1851 Census of Townsend Twp., Norfolk Co, ON, a visitor to the James Newman residence was listed as 'Thomas Straden' of Bayam, a 'Baptist.' Could this be his natural father visiting? .... Indeed it was.

While still in England, Thomas Stratton married Dinah Fowle (1796 - 1834). They had the following children: Henry Stratton (1817 - 1899); Sarah Stratton (b1820); George Stratton (b 1823) and David Stratton (1827 - 1904). The sons farmed in areas of Bayham Township around Straffordville.

After the death of Dinah, Thomas married Hannah Cooke (b 1799). Upon her death he married Elizabeth Unknown. Thomas and Elizabeth then had a daughter, Dinah 'Dinnie' Elizabeth (1840 - 1914). (Interesting that Dinah was likely named after Thomas' first wife, Dinah Fowle. Perhaps Elizabeth was a Fowle sister(?).