Ellen Townsend

Ellen (May?) Townsend was the wife of William Webb-King. She was first married to James Hobbs, of Stroud (11 August, 1861, Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire - where he is said to be age 32 and Ellen, 27 - IGI M049001). Ellen and James Hobbs had a daughter, named Annie (Mary Anne Hobs in 1871 Census). Annie was born in Stroud Water, Gloucestershire. Minchinhampton is located on a hill top 4 miles south-south-east of Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, in the Cotswolds. The town is an ancient market town dating back to pre-1400. Annie Hobbs subsequently married William Pledger. They had a daughter, Winnifred (Winnie) who was born in 1900. She was a nurse who moved to Detroit, Michigan. For some reason, Annie Pledger was known as Aunt Judy (cf. a letter from Frank Burgess to Barry King). According to the 1881 Census of England, Ellen was living with her husband and family at Nether Street, Widford, Hertfordshire. She is age 39, which indicates that her birth was ca 1842 and that the place of brith was Stroud Water, Gloucester. The children of Ellen Townsend and William Webb-King were: 1. Fanny King - born ca 1871, Essendon, Hertfordshire - married (Unknown) Burgess; issue: Syndey, Frank 2. Francis (Frank) King - born 25 February, 1873, Widford, Herts - married Lilian Maria Austin 11 April, 1899, Edmonton (Greater London) 3. Ellen (Nell) King - born ca 1876, Widford, Herts 4. Sarah King - born ca 1878, Widford, Herts - was a greengrocer in Worthing, Sussex. (she had red hair) 5. William King - born ca 1887, Essendon, Herts Ellen May (Townsend) King was a laundress. She died of a heart attack while washing, over a wooden tub. (She was still alive in the 1881 Census.) (According to the Mormon IGI records (Batch #C031743) there is an Ellen Townsend who was christened at South Cerney, Gloucestershire on 14 November, 1841. This is close to Stroud (or Stroud Water) and may refer to 'our' Ellen (i.e. the wife of William Webb-King). Her parents (if this is so) would then be Edmund Townsend (born ca 1808, South Cerney, Gloucester - died 12 March, 1843) and Edith Moss (or Morse), born about 1808, South Cerney -who were married 19 February, 1829, South Cerney, Gloucester.) 1881 England Census Record Name: Ellen King Spouse: William Children: Fanny Birth: abt 1842 in Stroud Water, Gloucestershire, England Residence: 1881 in Widford, Hertfordshire, England Possible . . . England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index: 1837-1983 Elizabeth Ellen Townsend Year of Registration: 1840 Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep DISTRICT: Stroud (1837 Onw) County: Gloucestershire Volume: 11 Page: 373 There is also an Ellen Townsend, 9 months old, in the 1841 Census of Stroud, Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire. Her mother is Sarah, age 30 - a needle worker; also with sons William, age 8 and John, age 9. As 'my' Ellen marries Possible Pedigree (as parents of Ellen Townsend) Edmund Townsend Birth: 1808 Of, South Cerney, Gloucester, England Marriage: 19 FEB 1829 South Cerney, Gloucester, England Burial: 12 MAR 1843 South Cerney, Gloucester, England Wife: Edith Moss Birth: About 1808 Of, South Cerney, Gloucester, England Marriage: 19 FEB 1829 South Cerney, Gloucester, England Children 1. Elizabeth Townsend Christening: 18 OCT 1829 South Cerney, Gloucester, England 2. Anne Townsend Christening: 01 FEB 1835 South Cerney, Gloucester, England 3. Henry Townsend Christening: 05 DEC 1836 South Cerney, Gloucester, England Burial: 12 JAN 1837 4. Ellen Townsend Christening: 14 NOV 1841 South Cerney, Gloucester, England 5. Emily Jane Townsend Birth: 1843 South Cerney, Gloucester, England Christening: 08 JUN 1845 South Cerney, Gloucester, Englan And possibly . . . England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index: 1837-1983 Ellen Emma Townsend Estimated birth year: abt 1843 Year of Registration: 1889 Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar Age at Death: 46 DISTRICT: Edmonton County: Essex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex Volume: 3a Page: 188