John Swaffield Orton was a twin, born on 17th June 1837 on the Isle of Wight. He was baptised, with his brother, Charles, on the day of their birth at St. Thomas, Ryde. His father was John Swaffield Orton Snr., 27yrs, and his mother was Elizabeth, nee Frampton, 22yrs. John and Charles had 4 siblings, Owen b.1838, Eliza b.1840, Laura b.1844, and Ellen b.1849.
John's father was a man of great wealth, he described himself on various census records as a fund-holder, living on dividend interest, and a solicitor. When he died in 1888, he left estate of £81,000, equivalent to £10.8m. in 2021. John and his brother, Owen, both went into the Church, his twin, Charles, became a member of the stock exchange, they all left estates in excess of £2m. (2021 value).
John studied at King's College, London, and went into the Church; at 23yrs of age he was Curate of Shalfleet, a village on the I.O.W., and a few years later he became Rector of Beeston St. Mary, Norfolk, where he remained for 29 years. On 24th July 1877, when he was 40yrs, John married Rebecca Jane Hendry, 27yrs, at the Parish Church, Beeston. They had 2 children, John Swaffield Orton, September 1886, and daughter, Ellery Swaffield Orton, July 1889. John was also an author, he wrote The Beeston Ghost, today this work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important.
After 1891, John and his family moved to Worthing, Sussex, where they lived at a property they named Beeston, in Wordsworth Road, where, on 24th February 1895, John died, aged 57yrs. Probate was granted to his widow, Rebecca Jane, effects £20776 12s 10d. Value 2021 - £2.8m.