From the Internet Gun Club database, here is what is known about Hooton & Jones of Liverpool.
In 1885 James Hooton, a schoolmaster and probably a customer and friend of the Jones family, bought a share of the business of Robert Jones when he emigrated to the USA. Robert's son, also named Robert Jones (born 1859), did not emigrate, he remained to run the business. It is possible that James Hooton was related to the Jones family, but not proven.
James Hooton (born 1843 in Sevenoaks, Kent) was recorded in the 1871 census as a schoolmaster living at 1 Admiral Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. He was married to Maria (b.1850 in Liverpool). They had one child, Harriet (b.1870 in Toxteth), also living with them were James' father, Thomas, his mother, Charlotte, and his brother, Arthur. The 1881 census records James as a teacher of English. A daughter and three sons were recorded, James (b.1872), Alfred (b.1875) and Thomas (b.1880).
No record of the family has been found in the 1891 census, but in 1901 they, but not Maria or her son James, were recorded living at 47 Kingsley Road, Toxteth Park, with another daughter and a son, Frederick R (b.1889). In this census, James, aged 58, described himself as a gun maker and a widower. The firm bought their guns from Birmingham makers and some from Belgian makers.
An inscription "Hooton & Jones, Bond Street, Liverpool" has been seen engraved on a gun. When they moved to this address is not known.
James was recorded in the 1911 census living at 1 Heath Bank Avenue, Liscard, Birkenhead with his daughters Katherine, Beatrice and Dorothy and son Frederick. James described himself as a gun maker (Gun Dealer) and Frederick as a marine engineer.
What happened to the firm after they were last recorded in 1913 is not clear. It is reported that the firm was sold to W C Carswell in 1920 but other reports say that at some time it was sold to W Richards (Liverpool) Ltd.
James H Hooton was recorded as a gun maker from 1920 to 1924 at 6 North John Street, but in the 1911 census he described himself as a joiner. In any event, he appears to have traded for only a year or so.
