Thomas Charlton was born about 1818 at Chilton Moor near Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham.  He married Charlotte Hedley and they had 9 children.  Thomas was employed as a mining engineer by Bolckow, Vaughan & Co. before he embarked on his own business career.  He and his partners established Thomas Charlton & Co. with coal mining interests in south west Durham, owning collieries at Evenwood, Bitchburn, Tees-Hetton and Storey Lodge.  He also had a commercial interest in the Slapewath Ironstone Mine, near Guisborough.  Thomas Charlton died in 1872 and his 3 sons namely Edward, Robert Hedley and Thomas became trustees of his estate.  Unfortunately, financial difficulties and legal disputes ensued. [1]

Family Details

Thomas Charlton was born about 1818 at Chilton Moor near Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham.  In September 1839, he married Charlotte Hedley, probably at Newcastle-upon-Tyne or Chester-le-Street.  They had at least 9 children: [2]

• Edward bc.1839 at Chilton Moor
• Robert H. bc.1842 at Cassop
• Thomas bc.1846 at Kelloe
• John William bc.1849 at Wolsingham
• William bc. 1852 at Eston
• Charlotte bc.1854 at Eston
• Alfred bc.1856 at Eston
• Margaret Emily bc.1859 at Eston
• Jane Ann bc.1862 at Marton

The family moved to Normanby in 1851 then to Belle Vue House, Eston and then to Marton, all in North Yorkshire.  By 1871, Thomas (aged 53) recorded as a, “Colliery Owner” and his wife Charlotte (aged 51) lived at “Newlands,” Middlesbrough with 4 of their children, Thomas aged 26 a coal merchant, Charlotte aged 17, Emily aged 11 and Jane Ann aged 9.  There were 3 servants.[3]

30 November 1872, Thomas Charlton died, aged 54.[4]  In August 1879, Charlotte Charlton died aged 60, at Oaks House, Evenwood.[5]  The death was registered at Auckland.[6]  She was buried at Middlesbrough cemetery.[7]

Business Career

In 1851, Thomas Charlton was employed as a mining engineer and by 1860 was employed by Bolckow, Vaughan & Co., of Eston which became the largest iron company in Middlesbrough.  Bolckow, Vaughan & Co. originally operated its blast furnaces at Witton Park near Bishop Auckland, County Durham from 1845 to 1884.  After being partly closed in 1878, Witton Park ironworks was shut down 19 May 1884.    and production was moved to the coast near Middlesbrough, thereby avoiding transport costs. The company retained its coal mining interests in south west Durham, notably the collieries at Witton Park, Ecomb and West Auckland.

Thomas Charlton terminated his employment with Bolckow, Vaughan & Co. to pursue his own business career.  His commercial interests included farming, brick manufacture and coal mining. He had an interest in the Norwood Colliery near Evenwood.  In 1860, Norwood Colliery was worked by Messrs. Hedley & Co.  In 1861, William Hedley, of Lands House was recorded as a, “Colliery owner employing 220 men and boys.”  Presumably, William was Thomas’ brother-in-law.

In partnership with his son Robert Hedley Charlton and Thomas Ingledew, they began trading as Thomas Charlton & Co.  The company bought the lease for Evenwood Colliery probably about 1869 from Messrs. Chas. Armstrong & Partners and soon afterwards acquired Bitchburn, Tees-Hetton and Storey Lodge Collieries all in South West Durham.  In 1869, Norwood Colliery was worked by the Old Norwood Coal Company and the manager was William Hedley of Lands House. 

The partners of Thomas Charlton & Co.  also set up new enterprises:

• Thomas Charlton established the Slapewath Ironstone Mines at Hollin Hill Farm near Guisborough. The company built terraced houses for their workers and named the settlement Charltons.
• Robert Hedley Charlton bought the Stranton Ironworks near Hartlepool.
• Thomas Ingledew became a partner in the Acklam Refinery and Eston Grange Ironworks.

30 November 1872, Thomas Charlton died and the following announcement appeared in the local press, 2 December 1872. [8]

“Charlton – At East Newlands, Middlesbrough on the 30th November, Thomas Charlton, aged 54.  The internment will take place in the cemetery, Middlesbrough on the 4th inst., at twelve o’clock.”

Probate was granted on 31st March 1873.  The entry in the Probate Calendar reads:[9]

“CHARLTON Thomas Effects under £40,000

31 March.  Administration with the Will) of the effects of Thomas Charlton formerly of Eston but late of Middlesbrough in the County of York, colliery owner wo died 30 November 1872 at Middlesbrough was granted at York to Edward Charlton of Evenwood in the County of Durham mining engineer, Robert Hedley Charlton of Middlesbrough colliery owner and Thomas Charlton of Middlesbrough coal agent, the sons three of the Residuary Legatees substituted.”  

Thomas Charlton’s financial interests passed to his trustees, namely his sons Edward, Robert Hedley and Thomas.  The iron manufacturing concern failed and eventually brought down the entire Charlton & Co. business.

Subsequent Events

Thomas Charlton & Co. hit financial difficulties and there were legal cases involving the company and the trustees of his estate.[10]  For further details, see the notes on Edward Charlton.

Below: 1852 Bell’s map to show the collieries in the Evenwood area

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Dr Andrew Beards, the former resident of Oaks House, Evenwood, from 2003 to 2020, gave the current occupants, Joseph & Anna Maddison, some notes including references, the most useful being a profile of Thomas Charlton prepared by “Charltons- a Digital Village.”  These documents have been used extensively in preparing these notes.  I have not yet been able to find the website quoted.

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REFERENCES

[1] Charltons A Digital Village at http://charltons.org/thomas-charlton-ca-1818-30-nov-1872/#comment

Dr Andrew Beards, formerly of Oaks House, Evenwood (2003-c2018) provided this source and he believed that Oaks House was built c.1816 as a farm house. Email dated 20 March 2011 to Charltons A Digital Village.

[2] Charltons & 1861 census Note: To date, I have found no record of John William born c.1849 at Wolsingham.

[3] 1871 census

[4] Charltons & Evening Gazette dated 2 December 1872

[5] Northern Echo dated 2 September 1879

[6] England & Wales Death Index 1837-1915 Vol. 10a p.108 Auckland 1879 Q3

[7] Northern Echo dated 2 September 1879

[8] Evening Gazette dated 2 December 1872

[9] Probate Calendar 31March 1873

[10] The Daily Gazette of Middlesbrough published an article 6 January 1880 (page 3) which provides a useful summary of the origin and history of the company.