The Boot Family

John Thomas Boot 1835-1914

Mineral Surveyors and Mining Engineers

John Thomas is a son of John and Ann Boot. His father was often referred to as John senior, although the confusion of sharing names still makes it rather difficult determining when or even if John Thomas actually took over running their established family company called John Boot & Son.

Hucknall Huthwaite census 1871 - District No.13 - Entry 164
John Thomas Boot - Head M35 Mining Engineer  Quarndon Derbys
Harriette        - wife F35         Ashwick Gloucestershire
Arthur Chas John - son  M09 Scholar          Hucknall Notts
Annie Alice      - dau  F08 Scholar          Hucknall Notts
Harold Jas.      - son  M06 Scholar          Hucknall Notts
Maude Julia      - dau  F05 Scholar          Hucknall Notts
John Thomas      - son  F03 Scholar          Hucknall Notts
Lillian Geraldine- dau  F02                  Hucknall Notts
Arthur Adlington - ???  M08 Clerk & ???      London
George ??????    - ???  M16                  ????????

This 1871 census listing finds family numbers do increase, while still not listing all their Hucknall Huthwaite born children later recognised.

The family plus known assistants held former Spring Cottage or Bank addressing. Census entry here simply gives 164 and when noting John seniors household is neighbourly again at 167, that only compounds the mystery behind exactly siting any of the families housing; until finally next recognising The Orchards home.

The Orchards - Hucknall Huthwaite

From Kelly's 1881 commercial directory comes our first known addressing for John Boot & Son being well housed at The Orchards Hucknall-under-Huthwaite. The Orchards date stone J.T.B. 1872 Unfortunately again the once magnificent property no longer remains, following total site demolitions personally witnessed by descendant Mrs Iris Evans around years 1960. Carefully salvaged however, and set into her garden wall in closest proximity its original front entrance is the date stone, clearly reading 1872 below initials J.T.B. Photographed here in 2006, it does at least verify year of construction also being undertaken by John Thomas Boot. According to an 1869 Morris and Co. directory, Mr Boot purchased the land which had belonged to and still contained the private family burial ground of Mr J Burrows. Now housing with status the Huthwaite family complete with stabling and carriage outbuildings, new found evidence also reveals a private school.

John Boot and son professionally helped site Huthwaites last modern coal pit. Negotiations concerning land rights did however cause several years delay before The New Hucknall Colliery company employed Pit Manager Simeon Watson also a qualified Mining Engineer. Perhaps those lengthy troubles influenced or cost the family firm dearly, for the successful name John Boot & Son is no longer mentioned following this journal quote by William Rhodes on 27th Jan. 1879, in liquidation John Thomas Boot, Hucknall.

Respectfully named in Kelly's 1881 coverage of Hucknall Huthwaite are both John senior and son John Thomas Boot. Thereafter they keep recognition as notable residents among other village gentry, until finally listed 1891. Just before then a John Boot is briefly listed secretary at the Gas Works. Other unrelated Boot surnames were already settled in Huthwaite, leaving doubt if 53 year old John Thomas needed employment, except for finding he and wife Harriette continued having children. They also still cared for an aging father living into year 1893. Perhaps then they sought quieter retirement, leaving behind The Orchards for addressing John William Hick by 1900.

My personal findings were abruptly ended here by the families disappearance into unknown relocation. Only by accident later finding these grave inscriptions, helpfully transcribed from the Derbyshire Holy Trinity Church Yard at Matlock Bath. Undeniably detailing proof from previous residential location, their known resting places can bring a satisfactory closure; until tracing children's progress.

Sacred to the memory

of ROGER HUGH BOOT

the beloved son of JOHN THOMAS
and HARRIETTE BOOT born at
The Orchards Hucknall Huthwaite
19th August 1874 died at
Matlock 27th August 1905

Lived beloved died lamented.

In loving remembrance
of JOHN THOMAS BOOT
of Matlock formerly of
The Orchards Hucknall Huthwaite
who departed this life on
May 11th 1914 aged 79 years
also
in loving remembrance
of HARRIETTE the wife
of JOHN THOMAS BOOT
who departed this life
April 16th 1919 age 81 years.

Following the historically influential recognition given these leading Boot family members into Hucknall Huthwaite, this work has pleasingly raised genealogy interests. Readers have further been able to clarify or discover they hold family connections, branching ancestry from the marriage between Ann and John Boot. The children of John Thomas and Harriette can claim village roots for widening future research.