Thomas Bethel Colton

     Thomas Bethel was born on Friday, 17 March 1815 in Brigg, Lincolnshire, England. He was christened there on 19 March 1815 in Wrawby at St. Mary the Virgin Church.^1,2,3 Thomas married Elizabeth Chester, daughter of Thomas Chester and Lucy Rhoads, on 8 November 1838 in Bottesford, Lincolnshire, England, at St. Peter's Church. William Addleshaw, a shoe maker & Lucy Chester were witnesses of their marriage.^4,5,6 The family immigrated from Lincolnshire, England to Canada about 1843 settling in Bronte, Ontario where Thomas was a farmer & a shoemaker. They were both Baptists and belonged to the Walton Memorial Church; they also owned three lots in the line of the church.⁷ 12 January 1852, Thomas and his wife, Eliza, were listed on the Canadian Census at Trafalgar Township. Enumerated in this household were Thomas Colton [37 England][shoe maker], his wife: Eliza [35 England], Thomas [13 England], Sarah [8 England], Mary Ann [6 Canada], Eliza [4 Canada], Jane [2 Canada], Jacob Colton [plumber & ___][25 England], George Colton [laborer][27 England]. All of the above were listed as Episcopalian.⁸ 14 January 1861, Thomas and his wife, Eliza, were listed on the Canadian Census at the Village of Bronte, Trafalgar Township. Enumerated in this household were Thomas Colton [shoe maker][Church of England][46 England], Eliza [42 England] [Episcopal Methodist], Thomas [shoe maker][21 England] [Church of England], Eliza [11 UC][EM], Jane [9 UC][EM], Charlott [7 UC][EM], William [6 UC][EM]. Listed just before this family is the family of William Dixon Polllock. They lived in a one and a half story frame house built in 1840.⁹ 2 April 1871, Thomas and his wife, Eliza, were listed on the Canadian Census at Halton District Trafalgar Township. Enumerated in this household were Thomas Colton [Church of England][56 England], his wife: Eliza [51 England], Charlotte [18 Ontario], William [15 Ontario], Jane [21 Ontario], Maggey [7 Ontario].¹⁰ 4 April 1881, Thomas and his wife, Eliza, were listed on the Canadian Census at Trafalgar Township. Enumerated in this household were Thomas Colton [66 England - Church of Episcopal, English, shoemaker], his wife: Eliza [62 England - Church of Episcopal, English], Jane [33 Ontario - unsound mind], Maggie [17 Ontario].¹¹ Thomas's wife, Eliza, died on 23 September 1884 in the Village of Bronte, Trafalgar Township leaving him a widower.^12,13,14 Thomas made his will on 4 February 1885.

This the Last Will and Testament of me, Thomas Bethell Colton of the village of Bronte in the county of Halton and province of Ontario shoe maker made this fourth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty five. I revoke all former wills or other testamentary dispositions by me at anytime heretofore made and declare this only to be and contain my Last Will and Testament. I direct all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid and satisfied by my executors hereinafter named as soon as conviently may be after my decease. I give devise and bequeath all my real and personal estate of which I may die possessed in the manner following, that is to say: the whole of my shoe maker tools I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Ann Cunneywirth absolutely. My real estate which is composed of all and singular that certain parcel or Trust of land and premises situate lying and being in the Town of Bronte in county of Halton and province of Ontario containing by admeusurement three acres better sum more or less being confered of park lot number twenty four on the south side of John Street in the said town of Bronte and any other lands of which I may die possessed I will and direct that my executors hereinafter named shall as soon as conviently may be after my decease sell the said land and premises the same to the purchaser or purchasers hereof and wit of the proceeds arising from the sale said lands in the first place to pay all my just debts and expenses of every nature or kind and whatever balance be remaining after payment of my said just debts and expenses then I will and direct that my executors shall invest the same in good securities [or place it in the post office savings bank in the province of Ontario] and whatever interest they can derive from the same while so invested or while it may be deposited in the savings bank as aforesaid such interest I will and direct shall paid to my daughter Jane Colton during the term of her natural life and at her death to pay the whole of her funeral expenses and then whatever sum may remain the sum to be divided equally among the whole of my children that may be then living.
And my personal effects of which I may die possessed and not herein before devised I direct my executors to sell the same and to apply the proceeds toward the payment of my debts and expenses.
All the residue of my estate herein before disposed of I give devise and bequeath unto my executors for the use and purposes of my estate.
And I nominate and appoint George Chapman and Muhlver Bray both of the township of Trafalger in the said county Halton, farmers to be the executors of this my last Will and Testament.
In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year first above written.
Signed published and declared by the said Thomas Bethell Colton the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who both present together at the same time in his presence at his request and in the presecence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses. Henry Williams farmer and John B. Mitchell miller
Thomas Bethell Colton.¹⁵

Thomas died on Tuesday, 31 March 1885 in the Village of Bronte, Trafalgar Township at age 70 years and 14 days of disease of the kidneys.^16,17 He was buried at Oakville in St. Jude's Church Cemetery.