Thomas's Story.
Thomas Newton was born in the spring of 1886, in the parish of Haslington, between Crewe and Sandbach. He was the eighth child of Thomas Newton (1855 - 1925) and Hannah Gibson (1856 - 1918) and brother to Ellen (1879), Edwin (1880), Ethel (1882), Walter (1888), Mary (1890) Sarah (1890– 1905), Olive (1894 – 1968) and Wilfred (1900). His father was a baker, who worked for James Plant of Wheelock Heath. James was a relation, perhaps a brother-in-law.
In 1891, five-year-old Thomas was living with his family in Winterley (Wheelock Heath) just two or three doors down from Haslington Villa and Bridge House.. Ten years later, the census of 1901 shows Thomas (aged 15) employed by the same Mr Plant, who was a farmer in Wheelock Heath. Thomas's brother Walter is listed as a cousin who was visiting the family.
In 1905, his sister Sarah died, aged only 16. By 1911, Thomas was living back with his family at Well Bank, Winterley, and working as a labourer. He was 25 years old. His headstone shows that he had joined the Cheshire Regiment, number 291570, but no records have so far been located to show when he enlisted or where he served. His mother Hannah died in the autumn of 1918, when she was 62, and the following spring, on 1st February 1919, Thomas (33) married Ann Turner (22) at Welles Street Methodist Church in Sandbach. Ann's family had come from Newcastle-under-Lyme but by then lived at 16 Green Street, Sandbach.
Thomas and Ann had one daughter Gladys Newton (1920–2011) born on 10th August 1920 at Heath Cottage, Wheelock Heath. Sadly, Thomas died of influenza and pneumonia on Thursday 31st March 1921 when Gladys was still only a baby. Thomas was thirty five years old. His death took place at 38 Garden Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme (perhaps a cottage hospital or at Ann's relations?), and his death was registered in Staffordshire the following day by his widow. (His headstone and other records wrongly refer to 1st April). His occupation was Boiler Stoker at a chemical works, and ex-soldier.
As a former soldier, Thomas was listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and his grave records his regiment and number. He is buried in Wheelock Heath Baptist Church cemetery, one of three CWGC headstones there. His grave is at the corner of the church building, just inside the cemetery and to the left of the gate.
By June 1921, Thomas's widow Ann had moved back to live with her parents at Green Street, Sandbach. Seven years later, on 4th November 1928, she married widower James Birchenough (1884–1960) at Providence Methodist Church, in Sandbach. By 1939, she and James were living at Melchett Crescent, Northwich. Ann died in 1985, aged 89. She was survived by her daughter Gladys and her step-son Harold Birchenough (1907–1994), the son of James by his first marriage, to Maria Greenwood (1884–1927).
Thomas's sister Olive Newton married Percy Harold Curbishley (1894–1980) and they farmed at Twemlow for many years. Olive died, aged 73, at her home at South Dene, Main Road, Goostrey, Cheshire, in November 1968.
Researched by Shena Lewington (September 2025)
In 1905, his sister Sarah died, aged only 16. By 1911, Thomas was living back with his family at Well Bank, Winterley, and working as a labourer. He was 25 years old. His headstone shows that he had joined the Cheshire Regiment, number 291570, but no records have so far been located to show when he enlisted or where he served. His mother Hannah died in the autumn of 1918, when she was 62, and the following spring, on 1st February 1919, Thomas (33) married Ann Turner (22) at Welles Street Methodist Church in Sandbach. Ann's family had come from Newcastle-under-Lyme but by then lived at 16 Green Street, Sandbach.
Thomas and Ann had one daughter Gladys Newton (1920–2011) born on 10th August 1920 at Heath Cottage, Wheelock Heath. Sadly, Thomas died of influenza and pneumonia on Thursday 31st March 1921 when Gladys was still only a baby. Thomas was thirty five years old. His death took place at 38 Garden Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme (perhaps a cottage hospital or at Ann's relations?), and his death was registered in Staffordshire the following day by his widow. (His headstone and other records wrongly refer to 1st April). His occupation was Boiler Stoker at a chemical works, and ex-soldier.
As a former soldier, Thomas was listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and his grave records his regiment and number. He is buried in Wheelock Heath Baptist Church cemetery, one of three CWGC headstones there. His grave is at the corner of the church building, just inside the cemetery and to the left of the gate.
By June 1921, Thomas's widow Ann had moved back to live with her parents at Green Street, Sandbach. Seven years later, on 4th November 1928, she married widower James Birchenough (1884–1960) at Providence Methodist Church, in Sandbach. By 1939, she and James were living at Melchett Crescent, Northwich. Ann died in 1985, aged 89. She was survived by her daughter Gladys and her step-son Harold Birchenough (1907–1994), the son of James by his first marriage, to Maria Greenwood (1884–1927).
Thomas's sister Olive Newton married Percy Harold Curbishley (1894–1980) and they farmed at Twemlow for many years. Olive died, aged 73, at her home at South Dene, Main Road, Goostrey, Cheshire, in November 1968.
Researched by Shena Lewington (September 2025)