John Samuel Holton and Ann Scroxton – Fred White’s Grandparents
John Samuel Holton was born June 11, 1822, in
Northampton, England. He was a jovial and common sensed man.
He was good looking, had black hair which retained its color
to the last, and had a full set of good teeth upon his death
at age 63. He died before the missionaries converted his
family to the LDS Church. He died from asthma on June 13,
1885, in Northampton.
Ann Scroxton was born June 11, 1825, in Podington, Bedsford,
England. She was gentle, quite, and peace loving. She died
on March 28, 1904, at the home of her son, Fred J. Holton,
and was buried in Brigham City cemetery.
John and Ann were married probably before 1843; however, the
exact date is not know. Their ten children were all born in
Northampton, England. There first child was Sarah who was
born on October 14, 1843, and who died on October 20, 1843,
living only six days. Henry was born on July 7, 1845, and
died on July 12, 1845, living only five days. Edward
Eusebius was born on Jan 27, 1847, and died on November 13,
1849, living two years and ten months. Louisa Ann was born
on Feb 2, 1850, and died on April 13, 1856, living six years
two months. Hannah Wilson was born on May 20, 1852, and died
in Brigham City, Utah on July 19, 1922. Jane Elizabeth was
born on November 4, 1854, and died on September 3, 1857,
living two years ten months. Sarah Ann, our great
grandmother, was born on July 3, 1857, and was the second
child to live into adulthood. Cicely Louisa was born on
November 27, 1859, and died on September 29, 1863, living
three years ten months. Frederick John Holland was born on
March 17, 1864, was a judge in Brigham City, and died August
6, 1958, in Orem, Utah and was buried in Brigham City. John
Samuel was born on January 13, 1867, and died on June 10,
1943, when a car ran him over in front of his grocery store
in Perry, Utah. Six children died in Northampton; this
deeply saddened Ann. The four children that lived to
adulthood were converted to the LDS Church and died in Utah.
The family lived in a brown stone cottage, two stories high
at No. 22 George Street. The home was surrounded on the east
by a court yard planted with lawn and trees. This court yard
was the entrance to a big shoe factory owned by a man named
Clark. The premises were very beautiful and ran east and
west. The west was bordered by the Nene River. It was here
that Sarah Ann Holton was born. Later, the family moved to
No. 2 Fitzroy Street.
The family were active members of the Church of England, St
Peter’s and St. Katherine’s Parish. Fred J Holton wrote, “To
reach our chapel we would go to the top of George Street,
then go to Regent Square, beginning of Sheep Street (up on
street and south) about half a mile to St. Sepulcher, a
gothic structure with a large steeple, one great spire, and
eight bells in the steeple. They were very skilled in
playing tunes. The edifice was larger than our chapels. The
stone work was cut into beautiful flowers; where the choir
sat it was carved oak; the pews and pulpit were carved. The
pastor was Reverend William Butlin; his assistant was
Reverend Thornton. Later, we lived near St. Peter’s Church,
presided over by Reverend Tom. The family was very fond of
their various ministers, especially Reverend Tom. The
Reverend S. J. Sanders had charge of the grammar school; he
was an ordained Church of England Minister. He used to
preach at other parishes on request. If Sarah knew he was
going to preach elsewhere, she would follow him.”
The home conditions of the family were pleasant and
industrious, and the children were brought up in great love
and devotion to their God and to their family. There was a
sincere, deep spiritual atmosphere within the circle and
great respect was taught for the Sabbath Day. The children
attended regularly Bible classes, Sunday School, and other
services and were taught to memorize passages of Holy
Scripture. Family prayer was observed. Sunday was considered
a day of worship and rest. Economic conditions in the home
were observed. The children were taught not to waste
anything that could be made usable.
Northampton was a shoe manufacturing town and at that time
supplied Russia with shoes for her army. John was an
industrious shoemaker. He could complete a shoe from
beginning to end, by hand, no machinery. Some of the people
got the leather from the factory and made the shoes in their
own homes. Children, in those days, worked at a very tender
age, depending on private schools for further education.
At the age of fourteen, Sarah Holton went to work in a shoe
factory. John trained her to do very precise, neat and
careful work.
Written by Florence White
John Samuel Holton
Ann Scroxton
Jane Scroxton, Ann’s Sister (mentioned in Sarah Ann Scroxton’s history)