The Boddington-Ingram Family History

Thomas BODDINGTON

• Born: 1821, Old Weston, Huntingdonshire, England
• Christened: 19 Aug 1821, St. Swithin's Parish Church, Old Weston, Huntingdonshire, England ²
• Marriage (1): Susannah BATES on 10 Nov 1841 in St. Swithin's Parish Church, Old Weston, Huntingdonshire, England ¹
• Died: 25 Jul 1862, St Giles, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England aged 41 ³

Notes:

Thomas BODDINGTON was born in Old Weston, a small village on the border of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire in 1821. The 1841 UK Census shows him to be living with a mixed group of agricultural workers at "Spencer Lodge", Great Addington, Northamptonshire aged 20 years. His occupation is listed briefly as "M. L", (sic). It was probably here that he met Susan BATES who is thought to have been an orphan and who lived and worked in nearby Finedon. They married in December 1841 in the Parish church of Old Weston, He is shown as a Bachelor aged 20 years, a (farm) labourer from Old Weston, Huntingdonshire and his father is shown as John Boddington, also a labourer. His bride is listed as Susan Bates, a Spinster aged 19 from Finedon in Northamptonshire. There is no entry for her father..
Thomas and Susan continued to live and work on the local farms and country estates in the Thrapston/Old Weston/Great Addington district for the next 4-5 years. It was during this time that their three eldest children Joseph, William and Ann were born.
Attracted no doubt, by the growing shoe industry in Northampton and the prospects of a better life, the family moved to the nearby village of Finedon, some time before 1847 when their next son John was born. Thomas gave up his farm work, cut the ties with his rural past and took up employment in a shoe factory. The rest of their children were all born in Finedon.
Thomas and Susan first appear as a married couple in the 1851 Census at an unspecified address in Finedon with their first four children. Thomas is shown to be about 29 years of age and a "Shoemaker" by trade. His wife Susan is listed as a "Staymaker". The family eventually moved into a "factory" town house in Melbourne Street in Northampton around 1857. The 1861 Census shows them living at 25 St Edmunds Street, Priory St. Andrews in the Municipal Ward of The East, Northampton. He is again listed as a Shoemaker and his eldest sons, (including John) are shown to be involved in the same trade. He died the following year, on September1862 at the age of 41. The stated cause of death was Small Pox. The death was registered by his son John.

The family subsequently moved to the parish of St. Giles where they are shown to be living at 44 Wellington Street in the 1871 Census. His wife Susan is shown to be a Widow and is also listed as the nominal head of the household.

Events:

1. He appeared on the UK Census 1841 in Great Addington, Northamptonshire, England. ⁴

2. He appeared on the UK Census 1851 in Finedon, Northamptonshire, England. ⁵

3. He appeared on the UK Census 1861 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England. ⁶

Thomas married Susannah BATES, daughter of John BATES and Mary, on 10 Nov 1841 in St. Swithin's Parish Church, Old Weston, Huntingdonshire, England.¹ (Susannah BATES was born circa 12 Aug 1822 in Finedon, Northamptonshire, England, christened <18 Aug 1822> in Finedon, Northamptonshire, England and died circa 1879 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.)