Mary Ann Hinchcliffe.
The first of my ancestors discovered to have an undocumented father, was my Gt Gt Grandmother, Mary Ann Hinchcliffe born 1853 in Honley, Yorkshire.
Charles Gillott and Mary Ann marriage 1876.
She married my ancestor Charles Gillott 17th September 1876 at St Marys Church Walkley. At this time, she was a 23 year old widow with a young son, John William Moorhouse born c1873, who was entered on the 1881 census, as stepson to Charles Gillott.
The marriage certificate states her father to be Alfred Corker. This information sent us on a wild goose chase for some time, as we were unable to find a Mary Ann Corker born at the right time. By following census records we discovered Alfred Corker was actually her step father – according to the 1861 census.
It always pays to revisit any previous research done. In the course of his study clear out, my father discovered that we had located the details of her first marriage quite some time ago. This confirms her legal name at birth, but unfortunately also confuses the matter too!
On April 22nd 1872, Mary Ann Jackson 24, father William Jackson, mason, married John Moorhouse 28, father William Moorhouse, Farmer. They both gave their address as Orchard Road Sheffield. However, a later note in the margin by the vicar, explains that Mary Ann was born illegitimate to Ann Hinchcliffe. She also claimed to be 24, when actually she was 19.
“It was found after the marriage of the above Mary Ann Jackson No. 142 that she was an illegitimate child that …. the name of the lawful father, the name that should have been Hinchcliffe, which was her mother’s name”. Signed
Why did she give her surname as Jackson, and father as William Jackson a Mason?
John Moorhouse died July 1873 from pneumonia aged 30, at 156 Bernard Street, Sheffield. He was a Steel furnaceman, and Henry Collingwood was present at the death.
1861 census
Alfred Corker married Ann Hinchcliffe in 1859. I wondered whether Alfred was infact Mary Ann’s father, and she was born before their marriage, but the gap between her birth and his marriage to her mother is rather large. The 1861 census, also states Mary Ann to be ‘wife’s daughter’.
Alfred and Ann, had further children, Lydia 1859, Albert 1860, William George 1864, Elizabeth 1868, Catherine, Henry 1872, Jane 1875, John 1878, and Annie E 1887.
1859, Marriage of Ann Hinchcliffe and Alfred Corker.
Perhaps Ann had been previously been married, to a Mr Hinchcliffe, and Mary Ann was their daughter. The marriage certificate of 25th May 1859, states she was 23 years old, and her father was Henry Hinchliffe a wheelwright. Ann is pretty well documented in census records, as Ann Hinchcliffe, so this is not the case. She was baptised 12th June 1836 at Almondsbury, Yorkshire, to Henry and Rebecca Hinchliffe. Henry a Joiner and living at Halling?
Baptism of Ann Hinchcliffe 1836.
1841 census entry.
In 1841, Henry Hinchliffe aged 32 (born c1809), a joiner, with wife Rebecca, 25, and children, George, 7, Ann, 5, Joseph, 4, and Allen, 1, were all living at Ludhill, Farnley Tyas. Farnley Tyas is a small village between Honley and Almondsbury, near Huddersfield. This place although not well known, may help identify family members.
It appears that both Henry and Rebecca had died by 1851, with their less usual names, they are easier to identify in census entries, but a search of the death entries, reveals a sad, and rather intriguing story.
Rebecca died on 24th March at Ludhill, Farnley Tyas. She was aged 34 (born 1813), and wife of Henry Hinchliffe, Carpenter. The cause of death given as ‘Unknown, not certified, non medical attendant,’ the person present at the death being Henry Hinchliffe. So presumably, the death was sudden, and unexpected. Later the same year, Henry also died, of unknown causes at work.
On 13th September 1847 at Honley, Henry died , the Coroner decided the death was as a result of ‘a visitation of God whilst at work’. He was aged 38 (born 1809).
This left their 5 young children orphans. Between 1833 (marriage), and 1847 death of Henry, Henry and Rebecca, had the following (known) children –
George bapt. October 26th 1834 at Almondbury All Hallows (living at Honley), to Henry and Rebecca. (Henry a Joiner). Married Lydia Taylor 27th March 1853, at Almondsbury All Hallows. Lived at Honley, Father Henry a Joiner. 1841, 1881.
Ann c1836 see below.
Joseph bapt. 1st August 1838, at Honley St Mary with Brockholes St George. lived at (Hall ing)?, to Henry a cabinet maker and Rebecca. Married Nancy Fox at Thornhill St Michael & All Angels, 28th December 1857. Joseph a miner, living at Middle Town. Father Henry a labourer. 1841, 1861,1881, 1901
Allen c1840, 1841, 1851, 1861
William c1842, 1851, 1861
Although it is difficult to determine whether the following entries belong to these individuals, due to discrepancies in some ages, other factors do seem to confirm. The Hinchcliffes use both common, and less common forenames, which has made the identification of families difficult. Unfortunately the less common names, tend to be used in most of the local Hinchcliffe families.
1851, it appears the family had been split between various relations. Ann aged 14 and Allen 12 were living with their widowed Grandmother Mary Hinchcliffe aged 63, Aunt Elizabeth (Halstead) 34 and her son Charles aged 4, and Uncle Joe Hinchliffe aged 22. They lived in Huddersfield. The adults were working in the textile trade.
1851 census Ann Hinchcliffe
1851 census Hinchliffe family.
Ann’s brothers, Joe aged 13 and William 7, were living with widowed Aunt, Harriet Hobson, aged 27, and her young children John, Lydia, and Sarah A, also widowed father John Hinchcliffe aged 64 all living in Honley. William born at Farnley Tyas.
In 1861, Joseph aged 23, Allen 19, and William 17, were in the same household as brothers.
However, there is also confusion, as further investigation of the 1841census suggests, Ann, Allen and Joseph were entered into the census twice. In the household of their parents Henry and Rebecca, and of (grandparents), John and Mary Hinchliffe. This is unusual, but not unheard of.
1841 John Hinchcliffe page 1
1841 John Hinchcliffe page 2
It may be taken that Ann, Allen and Joseph were children of John and Mary, in 1841, but it seems strange that in 1851, Joseph and William were entered as nephews, in this same household. As the grandparents were both widowed in 1851, why did they have the same ‘Hinchcliffe’ surname? It would follow that one of them ought to be a ‘Jackson’. At present, the explanation would be that Grandmother, had remarried to a Mr Hinchcliffe.The two families were living in different towns, (Huddersfield and Honley), although in roughly the same part of the country. For several generations, the members of this family, have moved around to different locations in this part of Yorkshire, making confirmation of them difficult. Although they state different places in births, marriages, deaths and census records, these places are close enough to each other, to also be classed under the same umbrella.
The 1851 census shows that Ann was a ‘Hinchcliffe’ and therefore was unmarried at Mary Ann’s birth in 1853.The birth certificate of Mary Ann Hinchcliffe, shows she was born to Ann Hinchliffe at Honley Workhouse on 5th July 1853. This would make Ann just 17 years old. As no father was mentioned, we can presume she was illegitimate, the place of birth – the Workhouse would seem to bear this out.
An online search of the West Yorkshire ‘Bastardy Bonds’, which may reveal a father’s name, does not reveal any information. Back to census’ records for Mary Ann, to confirm her date and place of birth.
1911 Mary Ann Gillott, wife of Charles, aged 58, (c1853), married 35 years, 10 children, 6 living. Born Sheffield.
1901 Mary Ann Gillott, wife of Charles, aged 48, (1853) Born Grenoside. NB John Corker aged 22, in household.
1891 Mary A. Gillott wife of Chas. Aged 37 (1854). Born Sheffield. NB. John William Moorhouse stepson of Charles in household.
1881 Mary A. Gillott wife of Charles. Aged 28 (1853). Born Grenoside. NB. John William Moorhouse stepson of Charles in household.
1871 Mary Ann Hinchcliffe, Aged 17 (1854), A general domestic servant in the house of Widow, Sarah Marsden, and her son, a professor of music, Cemetery Road, Ecclesall Bierlow. Born Sheffield.
1861 Mary Ann Hinchcliffe. Aged 7 (1854), wife’s daughter, to Alfred Corker. 83 Collier Row, Sheffield. Born Honley.
Unable to make any further progress with Mary Ann Hinchliffes father as yet, but as a result of this research, I have corrected the mistake I made as to Ann Hinchliffes parents.