*Archive in 24 hrs*-Ellen STEPHENSON (nee GREGORY)

[DavidWilliams]

I wonder if anyone can help me with some research I am doing in connection with a book I am writing on the railway pioneer George STEPHENSON. On 11 January 1848 George took as his third wife Ellen GREGORY his former housekeeper. For months I have been trying without success to find out how old Ellen was when she married. I recently purchased a copy of the marriage certificate from the General Register Office, but was disappointed to find that even this certificate does not give Ellen's age. It simply says that the couple were 'both of full age'. I know she was a good deal younger than the 67-year-old George, but I don't know by how much. What I can tell you about Ellen is that she was born of a farmer called Richard GREGORY, I think in Bakewell Derbyshire. She was George's housekeeper at Tapton House in Chesterfield. They were married at the Parish Church of St John in Shrewsbury. The marriage certificate says that her residence at the time of marriage was St John's Hill, which was presumably her parents' home at the time as she would have actually been living at Tapton House. After George's death on 12 August 1848 she continued to live at Tapton House for a short while before moving to Shrewsbury to live with her sister Mrs THORP, who was the wife of the vicar of Swan Hill Independent Church. I think, though I am not sure, that she died in Shrewsbury, but I don't know when. Nor do I know when or where she was born. The only other thing I know is that she had a brother in Matlock.

I would be most grateful if anyone could shed light on the above. I am also seeking confirmation of when George's brother James STEPHENSON and his sister Eleanor (Nellie) LIDDLE (nee STEPHENSON) died. I am told they both died a year before George in 1847, but I have no verification of that or what the date or place of their deaths were. James was born in 1779 and married in 1811 to Jane CUMMINGS. He worked with George most of his life. Eleanor was born in 1784 and married in 1824 to Stephen LIDDLE, who also worked with the Stephensons at their locomotive firm.

This is my first posting to the forum, so I hope my questions are appropriate.

[mallosa]

Is this her?
(Extracted)
ELLEN GREGORY

Birth:
Christening: 20 FEB 1808 Bakewell, Derby, England

Parents:
Father: RICHARD GREGORY
Mother: ELLEN

[mallosa]

No actual address given but says in the township of Hadden, Bakewell, Derbyshire
1841:
Ellen Gregory 30 Independant (y) born in county
Harriet Gregory 25 independant (y)
Edwin Gregory 5 (y)

Her sister Harriet's marriage?

Marriages Sep 1844

BRAY George Bakewell 19 331
GREGORY Harriet Bakewell 19 331
SMITH Samuel Belper 19 331
TAYLOR Sarah Bakewell 19 331
THORP William Bakewell 19 331

[mallosa]

1851: Kingsland House, Meole Brace, Shropshire
Ellen Stevenson 43 Head Wid Annuitant born Youlgreave, Derbyshire
William Thorp 38 Brother In Law M Independant Minister of Swan Hill Chapel born Youlgreave, Derbyshire
Harriet Thorp 38 Sister Ministers Wife born Youlgreave, Derbyshire
Fanny Thorp 31 (says 'Port' on image) Visitor
Sarah Rowson 31 Servant born Ryton, Shropshire
Mary Silvester 29 Servant born Worksop, Notts
Jane Davies 31 Servant born Kerry, Montgomery
Ann Wastall 17 Servant born Salop, Shrewsbury
Robert Moore 14 Servant born Ballington, Derbyshire
Robert Oswald 33 Coachman M born Scotland
Elizabeth Oswald 37 Coachmans wife M born Salop, Shrewsbury
George Bury 3 Visitor born Wretham, Denbighshire

[mallosa]

1861: Baucharn? House, Frankwell, Shrewsbury, Shrop
Ellen Stephenson 53 Head Wid (looks like Funholder?)
Harriett Stephenson 14 Neice
Elizabeth Alvey 25 Serv
Elizabeth Worrall 26 Serv

[DavidWilliams]

Thanks, folks. From your answers it looks almost certain that Ellen was around 40 at the time she married George Stephenson. Just what I wanted to know.

David

[grangers14]

Can this be archived now David?
Jo

[grangers14]

This thread will be archived
Jo

[DavidWilliams]

Completed, thank you for all your help.

David