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Record #4648
Name :
: Alfred Henry DAINTON (1877 - 1975)
  aka : Alfred Dainton


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 16 Dec 1877

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 28 Mar 1975
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Somerset, Bath
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Burnaby
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 9 Jul 1894
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Sardinian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesAlfred Dainton's father, Alfred Henry Dainton ("Harry"), was originally from Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire. He moved to Bath, Somerset where he met a local Bath girl, Hannah Rachel Hardick. Hannah was still living with her parents, who were at 66 Avon Street, in 1871 and working as a nurse girl. She married Alfred Henry "Harry" Dainton from Limpley Stoke, (a few miles south of Bath), on the 17th May 1877 in Bath in the presence of John and Amelia Cowley. Presumably Harry and Hannah met as Harry was in the family trade, another mason.

They had moved by the time the 1891 census was taken, but only a few yards to a cottage in the rear of 21 Milk Street which was a street which ran parallel to Avon Street. Hannah did not have an occupation at that time, according to the census.

It was not a happy marriage. Hannah had been seeing another man and she used to flirt a great deal with many men. Hannah was also found in bed with another woman. She was a well known drunk to the police and pawned the childrens clothes to get gin or beer. Her own father testified at her murder trial that "She was no good." Harry was a violent man and beat Hannah one night after finding her in bed with another woman.

Harry drowned his wife in the River Avon near Green Park about a quarter of a mile from her home on the 8th September 1891 when aged just 35, after a violent row and heavy drinking. Hannah was buried in the dissenters section of Locksbrook cemetery. An inquest was held on the 11th September and the cause of death was given as 'Drowning in the River Avon on Tuesday 8th September 1891. Wilful Murder against Henry Dainton'.

Harry had only been released from gaol five days before after being sentenced for beating Hannah and only five months previous to that had been before the magistrates for a similar offence, apparently the third or fourth time that this had occurred. Harry was tried for murder at Wells Assizes on Tuesday the 24th November 1891. The jury took 12 minutes to reach the verdict without even leaving the court and he was found guilty after a trial lasting a whole day. Not surprising as both the coroner at the inquest and the judge at the assize virtually told the juries what the verdict should be.

Three weeks later Harry was hanged by James Billington on Tuesday 15th December 1891. Most of the evidence was circumstantial so it is possible that the death was an accident as no one, except probably Harry, actually saw Hannah die.

The other family members were also poor and living in single rooms. Harry's family were living in Bradford-on-Avon and seem to have turned their back on him. It is interesting to note that his father-in-law spoke up for him at his trial.

Alfred "Harry" Henry Dainton signed his name to several pre-trial documents, which were used at his trial. Harry could both read and write as he was a skilled stone mason and not a general labourer.

They had six children. Alfred Henry Dainton was born on the 16th December 1877, almost exactly seven months after his parents married. He was working for Mr Pratley, a fishmonger in Southgate Street, in 1891 and saw his father shortly after his mother died and gave evidence at the trial. Because of this he was bullied by other boys and Mr Pratley adopted him and later on he was sent to Canada and was living at Wallaceburg in July 1894.

Charles William Dainton, "Charlie", was born 2 years later on the 1st November 1879 and the third son, George Thomas followed in 1881, probably after the census in March.

Then followed the first girl - Elizabeth who was born in the second quarter of 1884 and was living at the Blind, Deaf and Dumb School, 8 & 9 Walcot Street, Bath in 1891. The census entry says that she was blind from childhood, (at that time she was age 7). The matron of the school was Juliet Peebles Harrison, age 45, from Suffolk and there were 2 governesses - Fanny M New, 30, from Langley, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire; and Mary Ann Hawkes, 33, from Stamford Hill, Middlesex. There was also a cook, parlour maid, house maid and an organist / teacher in residence. In all there were 28 inmates of both sexes aged from 7 to 20. Elizabeth died in the winter of 1894, probably still living at the school.

The last two children were Edward in 1885 and Ellen who was only 3 when made an orphan. Ellen ended up in Mullers Orphanage, Ashley Down, Horsfield, Bristol, possibly being sent there just after her parents died. 
ContributorsCreated : 2009-01-26 20:46:49 / From original database

Last Updated :

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IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
4648 DAINTON, Alfred Henry1877ENG, SOM, Bath Jul 1894 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
4646 DAINTON, Charles William1879ENG, SOM, Bath Mar 1893 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
4647 DAINTON, Edward1885ENG, SOM, Bath Mar 1893 : Labrador CAN Barnardos