The STORIES

Friends of Horton Cemetery The Burials

Our Volunteers and the Stories they write.

The following stories have been written by our volunteer researchers who are all amateurs, united by a deep-rooted passion to preserve the memory of those buried in Horton Cemetery.

Once written, the researchers often return to stories at a later date when further information is unearthed. Occasionally, the researchers find case notes and photographs in the local archives and these details are woven into the stories. Sometimes, family members have come forward to add detail to the stories.

If you believe that any of the following might be someone significant in your family history, please do not hesitate to contact us.

  • BURTON, Susan
    BURTON, Susan
    She ordered extravagant luncheons both at Stafford and Northampton stations and had no money to pay for them. The delusion that she is a duchess…
  • YEO, Marian Elizabeth
    YEO, Marian Elizabeth
    The silver polisher
  • COPELAND, Mary Ann (née Myring)
    COPELAND, Mary Ann (née Myring)
    b.1845-d.1915 Mary Ann’s parents Mary Ann Myring’s birth is registered in the 4th quarter of 1845 in Sapcote which is a small town around 12…
  • WHITROD, Elizabeth
    WHITROD, Elizabeth
    Coping with 6 family deaths within 4 months
  • ROBERTS, Benjamin
    ROBERTS, Benjamin
    Benjamin said he had made a harp with 1,000 strings and could play any tune and instrument! He worked as a musician.
  • HOLTON, Emma
    HOLTON, Emma
    The sad story of Emma of whom we know very little. She was born without speech and spent most of her life away from her…
  • BAILEY, Kate
    BAILEY, Kate
    b.1882-d.1914 Kate Bailey née Cheer was born in 1882 in Abingdon, Berkshire to a farming family. Unfortunately, there is little cheer in this family’s story,…
  • REEVE, Jane Sarah
    REEVE, Jane Sarah
    b.1840-d.1912 Jane’s family Jane Sarah Reeve was born on 10th January 1840 and was baptised on 9th February 1840 in St Mary’s Church Marylebone.   Her…
  • MAURISCHE, Marie Theresa
    MAURISCHE, Marie Theresa
    Additional difficulty of not speaking English
  • WILSON, Frederick Leon
    WILSON, Frederick Leon
    The common story of someone with epilepsy whose life was marred by a lack of understanding of the condition.
  • MAPLE, Louisa
    MAPLE, Louisa
    b.1854 - d.1923 What do we know? The address book contains details of a son, Frederick Maple, son Henry & Edith Maple, daughter, E. Redsull…
  • KING, Harriet
    KING, Harriet
    b.1836 - d.1913 Introduction: I took on this story and at first thought it might be a nice easy one to complete, but how wrong…
  • FLAXMAN, Elizabeth
    FLAXMAN, Elizabeth
    The tailoress suffering depression
  • GARLAND, Percy Ernest
    GARLAND, Percy Ernest
    b.1882-d.1916 Percy's parents and siblings Percy Ernest Garland was born in Blackheath, Kent in the 4th Q of 1882, the fourth of six children. No…
  • ROADS, Francis Elliot
    ROADS, Francis Elliot
    Many people will not know what a coprolite merchant is. This story will make all clear.
  • BRYANT, Percy Henry
    BRYANT, Percy Henry
    b.1890-d.1914 Percy’s family and early life Percy was born, the eldest of seven children, on 2nd December 1890 and baptised on 22nd February at St…
  • AITKEN, William
    AITKEN, William
    5½ weeks after he had his head cut open by being knocked down by some roughs in the street, William Aitken suffered a life of…
  • SABEY, George David
    SABEY, George David
    What happened to this Bootmaker?
  • GILCHRIST, Jane 
    GILCHRIST, Jane 
    b.1893-d.1918  Jane’s parents and siblings Jane Gilchrist was born in the Holborn registration district to Charles Edward Gilchrist 1854  1895 and his wife Mary née…
  • FAIRBRASS, Amy (Amey)
    FAIRBRASS, Amy (Amey)
    b.1837-d.1910 Amy’s parents Amy was born in 1837 in Bermondsey, as Amey Presley. There is an entry in the GRO for Amey Presley, March quarter,…
  • CARR, Arthur
    CARR, Arthur
    b. 1874 - d. 1915 Arthur Henry Carr, a twin, was born on the 14th of July 1874 at 10.30 am in Mile End Old…
  • WOOD, Mary Ann
    WOOD, Mary Ann
    b.1837 - d.1911 Mary Ann Wood neé Pearce was born abt.1836 in Hackney, Middlesex, England. Her birth is too early to locate on the GRO…
  • LEWIS, James
    LEWIS, James
    b.1859-d.1912 James's parents and siblings James was born on 30 September 1859 in the Camden Union workhouse and at his baptism on 19 Oct 1859…
  • HONEY, Joseph Thomas
    HONEY, Joseph Thomas
    b.1843 – d.1912 Early Life Joseph Thomas was the fifth of seven children born to Joseph Honey (1804-81) andMargery Couch (1811-66) who were both born…
  • PEDLEY, Byron
    PEDLEY, Byron
    The boisterous, Victorian star of the stage
  • WATERER, Richard James
    WATERER, Richard James
    A 20ft fall led to strange behaviour
  • KOEKKOEK, Hendrick B.
    KOEKKOEK, Hendrick B.
    A famous Dutch artist from a famous artistic family; yet missing from the historical records. Why did this son end up at the Asylum?
  • EARING, Mary Ann
    EARING, Mary Ann
    There is no hint of any mental health problems until Mary Ann enters the Asylum in 1899. He family remain attentive and visit her many…
  • GORSUCH, Joseph
    GORSUCH, Joseph
    b.1846 - d.1916 Joseph Francis Gorsuch was born on the 7th of May 1846 at City Road, St Luke, Shoreditch, London, England to parents William…
  • TIDYMAN, Samuel
    TIDYMAN, Samuel
    Escaped childhood murder!
  • SPACKMAN, Lily Sophia
    SPACKMAN, Lily Sophia
    The giggling tomboy
  • SIMCOCK, Ellen (Nellie)
    SIMCOCK, Ellen (Nellie)
    We are not sure why Ellen (Nellie) Simcock entered Manor Asylum but she was visited often by family members
  • PFAFFENBACH, Augustus
    PFAFFENBACH, Augustus
    The German Tailor who came to London
  • PENFOLD, Edward Charles
    PENFOLD, Edward Charles
    b. 1853-1908 Early Years 1850s to 1870s Edward Charles Penfold was born on 6 Nov 1853 in Holborn, Middlesex, registration district St Luke’s. His parents…
  • COPPING, Ada
    COPPING, Ada
    An epileptic since birth
  • MILTON, Maria
    MILTON, Maria
    Maria MILTON gave birth to 11 children, a challenging life that ended in Horton Asylum.
  • APPLETON, Caroline Sophia
    APPLETON, Caroline Sophia
    b.1831-d.1911 Caroline’s parents Caroline Sophia Appleton was born Caroline Sophia Barnaschina in the 1st quarter of 1831 in Gravesend, Kent. Her parents were upholsterer Anthony…
  • BOWDERY, Agnes Bessie
    BOWDERY, Agnes Bessie
    b.1844-d.1914 Agnes Bessie Corke was born in the 4th Quarter of 1844 in the Registration District of Camberwell, London, although her actual birth place was…
  • SULLIVAN, Agnes
    SULLIVAN, Agnes
    b.1877 – d.1927 Intro Had it not been for the Manor address book, we would never have unravelled this story. The addresses gave us the…
  • THOMPSON, Samuel Thomas
    THOMPSON, Samuel Thomas
    The Solicitor's Clerk
  • ABBOTT, Mary Winchester
    ABBOTT, Mary Winchester
    The Yale graduate and published author
  • BIGFORD, Emma
    BIGFORD, Emma
    b.1838 - d.1912 Early life – 1830s to 1840s Emma was born on 14th April 1838 in Paddington and lived to be nearly 74 years…
  • KILMINSTER, George Thomas
    KILMINSTER, George Thomas
    The Kensington Plumber
  • HOWARD, Frank
    HOWARD, Frank
    b. 1876 - d. 1912 Frank’s appearance in the Lunacy Register and his hospital admission form do not record his DOB but according to the…
  • MASSEY, Harriet
    MASSEY, Harriet
    b.1832-d.1907 Death I have had to start at the end of Harriet Massey's life and try to work backwards in order to tell her story. …
  • UNDERWOOD, Septimus Rowland
    UNDERWOOD, Septimus Rowland
    b.1873-d.1913 Septimus’s parents Septimus Rowland Underwood was born in Groton, Suffolk, in the 2nd quarter of 1873. He was the seventh of nine children born…
  • WILSON, Eleanor Lydia Kate
    WILSON, Eleanor Lydia Kate
    b.1865 - d.1914 Eleanor Emily Lydia Kate Maule was born on the 11th October 1865 at Westminster, London. She was the daughter of William and…
  • CORKE, Henrietta
    CORKE, Henrietta
    The author says, "This has been such an interesting case to try to unravel and kept a couple of us up to the early hours…
  • STREET, John
    STREET, John
    It is not clear why John entered Manor hospital. His family were interesting. John's brother George, a builder, left £6m in his will. His son…
  • EFFEMEY, John
    EFFEMEY, John
    b.1851-d.1909 John’s family The Effemey name has been quite a challenge to research due to its change of spellings when transcribed. Effamy, Effemy, Efeny, Evamy,…
  • BURTON, Susan
    BURTON, Susan
    She ordered extravagant luncheons both at Stafford and Northampton stations and had no money to pay for them. The delusion that she is a duchess…
  • YEO, Marian Elizabeth
    YEO, Marian Elizabeth
    The silver polisher
  • COPELAND, Mary Ann (née Myring)
    COPELAND, Mary Ann (née Myring)
    b.1845-d.1915 Mary Ann’s parents Mary Ann Myring’s birth is registered in the 4th quarter of 1845 in Sapcote which is a small town around 12…
  • WHITROD, Elizabeth
    WHITROD, Elizabeth
    Coping with 6 family deaths within 4 months
  • ROBERTS, Benjamin
    ROBERTS, Benjamin
    Benjamin said he had made a harp with 1,000 strings and could play any tune and instrument! He worked as a musician.
  • HOLTON, Emma
    HOLTON, Emma
    The sad story of Emma of whom we know very little. She was born without speech and spent most of her life away from her…
  • BAILEY, Kate
    BAILEY, Kate
    b.1882-d.1914 Kate Bailey née Cheer was born in 1882 in Abingdon, Berkshire to a farming family. Unfortunately, there is little cheer in this family’s story,…
  • REEVE, Jane Sarah
    REEVE, Jane Sarah
    b.1840-d.1912 Jane’s family Jane Sarah Reeve was born on 10th January 1840 and was baptised on 9th February 1840 in St Mary’s Church Marylebone.   Her…
  • MAURISCHE, Marie Theresa
    MAURISCHE, Marie Theresa
    Additional difficulty of not speaking English
  • WILSON, Frederick Leon
    WILSON, Frederick Leon
    The common story of someone with epilepsy whose life was marred by a lack of understanding of the condition.
  • MAPLE, Louisa
    MAPLE, Louisa
    b.1854 - d.1923 What do we know? The address book contains details of a son, Frederick Maple, son Henry & Edith Maple, daughter, E. Redsull…
  • KING, Harriet
    KING, Harriet
    b.1836 - d.1913 Introduction: I took on this story and at first thought it might be a nice easy one to complete, but how wrong…
  • FLAXMAN, Elizabeth
    FLAXMAN, Elizabeth
    The tailoress suffering depression
  • GARLAND, Percy Ernest
    GARLAND, Percy Ernest
    b.1882-d.1916 Percy's parents and siblings Percy Ernest Garland was born in Blackheath, Kent in the 4th Q of 1882, the fourth of six children. No…
  • ROADS, Francis Elliot
    ROADS, Francis Elliot
    Many people will not know what a coprolite merchant is. This story will make all clear.
  • BRYANT, Percy Henry
    BRYANT, Percy Henry
    b.1890-d.1914 Percy’s family and early life Percy was born, the eldest of seven children, on 2nd December 1890 and baptised on 22nd February at St…
  • AITKEN, William
    AITKEN, William
    5½ weeks after he had his head cut open by being knocked down by some roughs in the street, William Aitken suffered a life of…
  • SABEY, George David
    SABEY, George David
    What happened to this Bootmaker?
  • GILCHRIST, Jane 
    GILCHRIST, Jane 
    b.1893-d.1918  Jane’s parents and siblings Jane Gilchrist was born in the Holborn registration district to Charles Edward Gilchrist 1854  1895 and his wife Mary née…
  • FAIRBRASS, Amy (Amey)
    FAIRBRASS, Amy (Amey)
    b.1837-d.1910 Amy’s parents Amy was born in 1837 in Bermondsey, as Amey Presley. There is an entry in the GRO for Amey Presley, March quarter,…
  • CARR, Arthur
    CARR, Arthur
    b. 1874 - d. 1915 Arthur Henry Carr, a twin, was born on the 14th of July 1874 at 10.30 am in Mile End Old…
  • WOOD, Mary Ann
    WOOD, Mary Ann
    b.1837 - d.1911 Mary Ann Wood neé Pearce was born abt.1836 in Hackney, Middlesex, England. Her birth is too early to locate on the GRO…
  • LEWIS, James
    LEWIS, James
    b.1859-d.1912 James's parents and siblings James was born on 30 September 1859 in the Camden Union workhouse and at his baptism on 19 Oct 1859…
  • HONEY, Joseph Thomas
    HONEY, Joseph Thomas
    b.1843 – d.1912 Early Life Joseph Thomas was the fifth of seven children born to Joseph Honey (1804-81) andMargery Couch (1811-66) who were both born…
  • PEDLEY, Byron
    PEDLEY, Byron
    The boisterous, Victorian star of the stage
  • WATERER, Richard James
    WATERER, Richard James
    A 20ft fall led to strange behaviour
  • KOEKKOEK, Hendrick B.
    KOEKKOEK, Hendrick B.
    A famous Dutch artist from a famous artistic family; yet missing from the historical records. Why did this son end up at the Asylum?
  • EARING, Mary Ann
    EARING, Mary Ann
    There is no hint of any mental health problems until Mary Ann enters the Asylum in 1899. He family remain attentive and visit her many…
  • GORSUCH, Joseph
    GORSUCH, Joseph
    b.1846 - d.1916 Joseph Francis Gorsuch was born on the 7th of May 1846 at City Road, St Luke, Shoreditch, London, England to parents William…
  • TIDYMAN, Samuel
    TIDYMAN, Samuel
    Escaped childhood murder!
  • SPACKMAN, Lily Sophia
    SPACKMAN, Lily Sophia
    The giggling tomboy
  • SIMCOCK, Ellen (Nellie)
    SIMCOCK, Ellen (Nellie)
    We are not sure why Ellen (Nellie) Simcock entered Manor Asylum but she was visited often by family members
  • PFAFFENBACH, Augustus
    PFAFFENBACH, Augustus
    The German Tailor who came to London
  • PENFOLD, Edward Charles
    PENFOLD, Edward Charles
    b. 1853-1908 Early Years 1850s to 1870s Edward Charles Penfold was born on 6 Nov 1853 in Holborn, Middlesex, registration district St Luke’s. His parents…
  • COPPING, Ada
    COPPING, Ada
    An epileptic since birth
  • MILTON, Maria
    MILTON, Maria
    Maria MILTON gave birth to 11 children, a challenging life that ended in Horton Asylum.
  • APPLETON, Caroline Sophia
    APPLETON, Caroline Sophia
    b.1831-d.1911 Caroline’s parents Caroline Sophia Appleton was born Caroline Sophia Barnaschina in the 1st quarter of 1831 in Gravesend, Kent. Her parents were upholsterer Anthony…
  • BOWDERY, Agnes Bessie
    BOWDERY, Agnes Bessie
    b.1844-d.1914 Agnes Bessie Corke was born in the 4th Quarter of 1844 in the Registration District of Camberwell, London, although her actual birth place was…
  • SULLIVAN, Agnes
    SULLIVAN, Agnes
    b.1877 – d.1927 Intro Had it not been for the Manor address book, we would never have unravelled this story. The addresses gave us the…
  • THOMPSON, Samuel Thomas
    THOMPSON, Samuel Thomas
    The Solicitor's Clerk
  • ABBOTT, Mary Winchester
    ABBOTT, Mary Winchester
    The Yale graduate and published author
  • BIGFORD, Emma
    BIGFORD, Emma
    b.1838 - d.1912 Early life – 1830s to 1840s Emma was born on 14th April 1838 in Paddington and lived to be nearly 74 years…
  • KILMINSTER, George Thomas
    KILMINSTER, George Thomas
    The Kensington Plumber
  • HOWARD, Frank
    HOWARD, Frank
    b. 1876 - d. 1912 Frank’s appearance in the Lunacy Register and his hospital admission form do not record his DOB but according to the…
  • MASSEY, Harriet
    MASSEY, Harriet
    b.1832-d.1907 Death I have had to start at the end of Harriet Massey's life and try to work backwards in order to tell her story. …
  • UNDERWOOD, Septimus Rowland
    UNDERWOOD, Septimus Rowland
    b.1873-d.1913 Septimus’s parents Septimus Rowland Underwood was born in Groton, Suffolk, in the 2nd quarter of 1873. He was the seventh of nine children born…
  • WILSON, Eleanor Lydia Kate
    WILSON, Eleanor Lydia Kate
    b.1865 - d.1914 Eleanor Emily Lydia Kate Maule was born on the 11th October 1865 at Westminster, London. She was the daughter of William and…
  • CORKE, Henrietta
    CORKE, Henrietta
    The author says, "This has been such an interesting case to try to unravel and kept a couple of us up to the early hours…
  • STREET, John
    STREET, John
    It is not clear why John entered Manor hospital. His family were interesting. John's brother George, a builder, left £6m in his will. His son…
  • EFFEMEY, John
    EFFEMEY, John
    b.1851-d.1909 John’s family The Effemey name has been quite a challenge to research due to its change of spellings when transcribed. Effamy, Effemy, Efeny, Evamy,…

In total, there are about 9000 stories to be written.