Charles Luxton m. Charlotte Townsend

Charles Luxton
Born 3 Nov 1813 at Taunton, Somerset
Baptised illegitimate son of Margaret Powell, widow at Taunton St James on 9 Jan 1814
Died 8 July 1885 at Western Street, Tiverton, Devon aged 72
Parents Joseph Luxton & Margaret Powell
Married Charlotte Townsend 18 Aug 1833 at Taunton, St James

Charlotte Townsend
Born 25 Jul 1813 at Tiverton
Died 25 Nov 1886 at Western Street, Tiverton, Devon aged 73

Children
Eliza Goar Luxton born 16 Dec 1833 at Taunton died 14 Aug 1845 at Tiverton
William Charles Luxton* born 4 Feb 1836 at Taunton died 15 Jul 1912 at 6 Kentwood Road, Nottingham
Alfred Luxton born 8 Jul 1838 at Taunton died 19 Oct 1840 at Taunton
James Rechab Luxton born 2 Jan 1841 at Taunton died 2 Sep 1886 at Tiverton
Alfred Luxton born 22 Apr 1843 at Taunton died 1875 at Tiverton
Robert Luxton born 12 Sep 1846 at Tiverton died 20 Oct 1847 at Tiverton
Ellen Margaret Luxton born 27 Oct 1847 at Tiverton died 30 Jul 1849 at Tiverton
Elizabeth Luxton born 25 Feb 1850 at Tiverton died 21 Sep 1851 at Tiverton
Emily Luxton born 3 Dec 1852 at Tiverton

We have failed to locate the birth or baptism of Charles Luxton, though we have a date of birth from a book, inscribed "Charles Luxton his book. Tiverton Devon 1846" in which he recorded preachers and their texts from 1846 to 1862. This also gives the dates of birth of his family and some deaths.

According to all four censuses from 1851 to 1881, Charles was born in Taunton: however Brian Luxton (founder of the Luxton FHS) knows of no baptisms at either St Mary Magdalene or St James, Taunton that confirm this.

There is a baptism of Charles Powell (possibly illegitimate) son of Margaret Powell at Taunton St James on 9 Jan 1814, two months after our Charles' birth. Margaret Powell married Joseph Luxton later that year, so we assume this to be our Charles.

(Another possibility is that Charles was born at Tawton near Okehampton, as descendants of a Thomas Luxton born there bear the same unusual names as two of Charles' descendents, Matilda and Henrietta: however no baptism was found at Tawton, and we no longer regard this as a significant possibility.)

He refers to himself in his book as a Bible Christian, a group later incorporated into the Methodists. Details of his marriage were obtained from Briam Luxton.

In 1841 Charles & Charlotte were living at Concord Place, Tancred Street, Taunton: he was a lacemaker & she was a lace mender.

By 1851 they were living at Viney Court, West Exe, Tiverton with their four eldest surviving children, William Charles, James Rechab, Alfred (2) and Elizabeth. Also living there was Charlotte's mother, Mary Townsend, aged 73 and described as a pauper.

In 1861 they were still living at West Exe, Charles was a porter, Charlotte still a lace mender & only two children, Alfred & Emily, remained at home. There was also an 11 year old boarder named Mary Musgrove from Taunton.

By 1871 they were living at West Exe South - probably the same place - and Charles was a draper's porter, Charlotte a lace worker. Only Emily the youngest daughter remained, along with another boarder, Jane Skinner aged 71. West Exe South still exists in Tiverton but contains only 20th century buildings, many of them post war redevelopments.

In 1881, still at the same address Charles was a general labourer now aged 67. Emily, a skeiner in a lace factory was still at home, unmarried and there was a different boarder, Mary Towell, aged 21 - could this be another powell misread or Misheard?

Of Charles' children the first five were born in Taunton, all the others being born in Tiverton. As can be seen from the above five died in childhood & of the others James was a lacehand at the age of 10, Alfred (2) was a labourer at the age of 17 & Emily was a lace worker at the age of 18.

1841 CENSUS
Taunton St James
Tancred Street, Concord Place

Charles Luxton - 25 - Lace maker - yes
Charlotte Luxton - 25 - lace maker - no
Eliza Luxton - 7 - yes
William Luxton - 5 - yes
James Luxton - 5 months - yes

1851 CENSUS
Viney Court, Tiverton, Devon

Charles Luxton - Head - Mar - 37 - Lace Hand - Somerset Taunton
Charlotte Luxton - Wife - Mar - 37 - Devon Tiverton
William C Luxton - Son - Um - 16 - Lace Hand - Somerset Taunton
James Luxton - Son - Um - 10 - Lace Hand - Somerset Taunton
Alfred Luxton - Son - Um - 7 - Scholar - Somerset Taunton
Elizabeth Luxton - Daur - Um - 1 - Devon Tiverton
Mary Townsend - M in L - Wid - 73 - Pauper - Devon Tiverton

1861 CENSUS
West Exe, Tiverton, Devon

Charles Luxton - Head - Mar - 47 - Porter - Somerset Taunton
Charlotte Luxton - Wife - Mar - 47 - Lace mender - Devon Tiverton
Alfred Luxton - Son - Um - 17 - Labourer - Somerset Taunton
Emily Luxton - Daur - Um - 8 - Scholar - Somerset Taunton
Mary Musgrove - Boarder - Um - 11 - Scholar - Devon Tiverton

1871 CENSUS
West Exe, Tiverton, Devon

Charles Luxton - Head - Mar - 57 - Drapers porter - Somerset Taunton
Charlotte Luxton - Wife - Mar - 57 - Lace Worker - Devon Tiverton
Emily Luxton - Daur - Um - 18 - Lace Worker - Devon Tiverton
Jane Skinner - Boarder - Wid - 71 - Devon Tiverton

1881 CENSUS
West Exe (South), Taunton, Devon

Charles Luxton - Head - Mar - 67 - General Labourer - Somerset Taunton
Charlotte Luxton - Wife - Mar - 67 - Lace Mender - Devon Tiverton
Emily Luxton - Daur - Um - 28 - Skeiner in Lace Factory - Devon Tiverton
Mary Towell - Boarder - Um - 21 - Silk winder in Lace Factory - Devon Tiverton

A short history of Taunton in the 19th century:

In 1801 Taunton had a population of 5,794. By the standards of the time it was a fair sized town. A hospital was built in Taunton in 1812. Yet another new market house was built in 1822. After 1821 Taunton had gas street lighting. After 1858 it had piped water and in the 1870s sewers were built. In the late 19th century public parks were laid out. Vivary Park is named after the vivaria or fishponds that existed there in the Middle Ages.

Taunton expanded rapidly. In the 1830s and 1840s the Trinity area was built up. Several new churches were built in the 19th century. Trinity church was built in 1842. St John The Evangelist was built in 1863. St Andrews was built in 1881. The railway reached Taunton in 1842. Queens College was built in 1843. It was named after Queen Victoria. Taunton school opened in 1847. Kings College opened in 1880.