Thomas Barton started a Grocer shop at 22/24 Harrogate Street Central Wigan sometime between 1870 and 1871. The family also lived at the same address. Previously to this he was a Carter. His mother Ellen may have provided the funds to start the business as she had been a Grocer in Princess Street Wallgate Wigan since 1848.
In 1876 Thomas applied for a licence to sell alcohol.
Thomas died in 1880 of Delirium Tremens which is usually connected with alcoholism. His wife Susannah took over running of the business and was referred to as a “Provision Dealer” in the 1881 census (when she also could afford to employ a servant).
Susannah died in 1891 and her son Henry took over running the business.
In 1896 Henry married and moved out to Darlington Street Central Wigan. Henry’s brother Evan was also working in the shop.
Sometime between 1903 and 1906 Henry moved to Colinfield Farm Swinley Wigan and at some point Henry’s brother Evan became the manager of the Harrogate Street Central Wigan shop where he lived for the rest of his life and brought up a family.
During his life Henry was also recorded as a Dairyman (possibly keeping cows at Colinfield Farm Swinley Wigan) and a Potato Dealer, so the business presumably expanded into general dealing in all types of foodstuffs. Henry was also a local Councillor.
By 1926 Henry’s son Evan was married and occupied as a Potato Salesmen for his father.
In 1937 Henry’s brother Evan died at Harrogate Street Central Wigan. From that date the presumption is that no-one lived at the Grocer Shop anymore.
Henry died in 1945, and his wife Elizabeth in 1947. Either their son Evan took over running the business around this time or the business was wound up. Their son Evan moved to Derbyshire at some point to manage a dairy so the likelihood is that the business was wound up, but no record can be found of this.
The only artifact from the 75 year existence of Barton Provision Dealers that could be found on the internet was this simple advert from the Wigan Examiner on 27th December 1919 (which was repeated the following week)
Norman And Marian Barton Family Tree 