John Middleton (1800 - 1853)

Born 1800 in Redruth, Cornwall, England

Ancestors

Husband of Eleanor (Thomas) Middleton — married 10 May 1821 in Redruth, Cornwall, England

Descendants

Died 8 Nov 1853 at about age 53 in Newlyn East, Cornwall, England

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Biography

John Middleton was born in Cornwall, England.

John was born in 1800. He was the oldest child born to John Middleton and Elizabeth Eade. ^[1]

He was just nine years old when his father died in 1809. In 1821, he married Eleanor Thomas on 10 May at St. Euny. ^[2]

By 1830, John had become a Mine Agent at the East Wheal Rose Colliery. He and Eleanor now had 5 children: Sally (b.1821), Ellen (b.1824), Elizabeth (b.1825), Jane (b.1828), and John (b.1830). Another son, Martin, was born in 1832. But later that year, daughter Elizabeth died at the age of 7. Another daughter Elizabeth was born in 1833, but died at the age of 1 a year later.

In 1841, the family was living at Shepherd's House in East Newlyn. Five more children had come along: George (b.1834), William (b.1835), Stephen (b.1837), James (b.1838), and Elizabeth (b.1839). ^[3] Two years later, a daughter, Catherine, was born, but died at the age of just six months.

John Middleton sealed his place in history on the morning of 9 July, 1846, when an inrush of water caused the East Wheal Rose mine to flood. At the time, there were 200 men below ground, and he was credited with saving 161 of them.

Less than a year later, he became widowed when Eleanor died in June of 1847. Sadly, his daughter Elizabeth died six months later at the age of 8. John was living with his children at Shepherds in 1851, along with his widowed mother. ^[4]

John passed away at the age of 54 on 8 Nov 1853 ^[5], and was buried at St. Euny four days later. ^[6]

Today, John's home, Shepherds House, has been restored and is now a lovely wedding venue. On 10 May 2021, a celebration took place that marked the 200th anniversary of his marriage to Eleanor. ^[7]

Research Notes

The Find-a-Grave memorials for this family are incorrect. His age at death was 54, not 34. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Karen Duvall, transcriber, "Baptisms" database, 'Cornwall Online Parish Clerks (OPC) http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/home : viewed 12 Aug 2021; baptism of John Middleton, parents John and Elizth., Redruth, 20/16 Ma.
2. ↑ Cornwall : Redruth : St Uny : Parish Register : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5817c302e93790eb7f8698ad : viewed 14 Aug 2021) marriage John Middleton to Eleanor Thomas 10 May 1821
3. ↑ "General Register Office: 1841 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59029465e9379091b184bb00 : viewed 14 Aug 2021), John MIDDLETON in household of John MIDDLETON, Shepherds, Cornwall, England; from 1841 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives HO 107/150, Folio 24, Page 15, Schedule , The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
4. ↑ "General Register Office: 1851 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a1434cef4040b9d6e2229c3 : viewed 14 Aug 2021), John MIDDLETON, Shepherds, Cornwall, England; from 1851 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives /1905, Folio 562, Page 60, Schedule 230, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
5. ↑ Adele Cutlack, transcriber, "Burials" database, 'Cornwall Online Parish Clerks (OPC) http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/home : viewed 14 Aug 2021; death of Capt John Middleton, of Shepherds, in Newlyn, age 54, Royal Cornwall Gazette, 11 Nov 1853. Notes: on the 8th inst., of East Wheal Rose, after a long and painful illness, borne with great patience and resignation.
6. ↑ John Heath, transcriber, "Burials" database, 'Cornwall Online Parish Clerks (OPC) http://www.cornwall-opc-database.org/home : viewed 14 Aug 2021; burial of John Middleton, age 54, Redruth, 12 Nov 1853.
7. ↑ CornwallLive, 25 May 2021, Real life Poldark mine captain's wedding is celebrated 200 years later, by Olivier Vergnault
8. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q23T-Z2P9 : 9 June 2021), John Middleton, ; Burial, Redruth, Cornwall Unitary Authority, Cornwall, England, St. Euny Churchyard; citing record ID 160733303, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.