James was born on 25.10.1897 in Leicester to John Norton, a shoe pressman, and Mary (nee Headley). Mary had previously been married to Thomas Headley and brought 3 children from this marriage to her second marriage with John which produced a further 11 children-
Harry 1881
Shirley 1884
Thomas 1885
all Headley
John 1890
Ethel 1892
Jesse 1894
Edith 1896
James 1897
Mary 1900
Ernest 1902
William 1904
3unknown all Norton
In 1901 census the family lived at 145 Mount Rd.
In 1911 census they lived at 74 St Saviour’s Rd. The puzzle on this census is that John is listed as single, Mary’s surname is Headley, all the children have the name Norton. As I can’t find a marriage record for a John Norton and Mary Headley it is possible they never married. There is a possible death record for Thomas Headley in Leicester in 1885.
James (a shoehand) started his service as Private 33366 Leicestershire Regiment but later became Private 50644 Cheshire Regiment. He was Killed in Action, aged 19, on 15.8.1917 and he is buried at Menin Rd. South Military Cemetery, Belgium.
