The Husbands of Jane Ford (Egan, Hall)

[DianaCanada]

I would like to find more information on James Egan, the father of Charlotte Egan, baptised 25 Apr 1827, at St. Mary’s, Whitechapel, London. Address given on the baptismal record is King’s Arms Court and James was a labourer.

Charlotte’s mother was Jane Ford, my ancestor’s sister, born ca Nov 1790 in Bridlington, E. Yorkshire. Jane married 22 Oct 1811, Bridlington. Mary Ann Johnson Elizabeth Hall was baptised 24 Dec 1813, Beverley, E. Yorks., the daughter of Francis and Jane Hall (Jane had a nephew with the middle name of Johnson but I know no connection of this surname to the Ford family). I do not know anything more about Mary or her father Francis Hall or what Jane was up to between 1813 and 1827. I have Jane’s father’s will on order, which I hope will mention Jane – he died in 1828.

In 1841 Jane is found in the census as Jane Mason with Ann Ford and Mary Mason. It is likely she is the Jane Hall who married William Trowsdale Mason in 1833. William died in 1838. Mary therefore is Jane’s step-daughter, born to him and his first wife Ann in 1828. Ann Ford is almost certainly my ancestor’s daughter born in Northowram, Halifax ca January 1818 (parents William Ford and, coincidentally, Frances Hall).

I do not know where Charlotte Egan is in 1841 but two years later she marries Thomas Smith Bowling in Hull. In later censuses Jane is found with Charlotte and/or Thomas, listed as mother. The National Probate Calendar shows she died 29 May 1872 at Hull.
I would like to find more information on James Egan and Francis Hall. And, in my wildest dreams, why the name Johnson appears in the names of two of the grandchildren of Thomas Ford and Ann Watson.

[Raffaele]

I could not find an English marriage for James Egan and Jane but I did find this.

JAMES EGAN
Spouse: JANE MORGAN
Marriage: 27 MAY 1811 Cathedral St Mary, Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Batch M700561

From the IGI and completely speculative but possibly worth some research, if its possible being Ireland

[DianaCanada]

Hi - thanks for this information but do not think there is any connection for Jane to Ireland - she is definitely the daughter of Thomas Ford and Ann Watson of Bridlington, Yorkshire. Yesterday I received Thomas' will and he named all his children (unusually all of Thomas and Ann's children survived to adulthood and had children) - Jane is called Jane Edgin, wife of James Edgin. Her daughter definitely baptized as Charlotte Egan. No mention of where Jane was, but the will was written the same year as Charlotte's birth, so Jane was probably still in London.

The will also creates another brick wall in regards to another daughter - Ann - listed as wife of William Mason. I theorized Jane later married William Trowsdale Mason, from Bridlington. Perhaps she married her widowed brother-in-law. Thought this was illegal in England at the time.

[Yesterday]

Hi,

I stand to be corrected but I believe that changes to the marriages laws over the centuries since Henry 8th meant that on the 1880's only those with a blood tie could not marry. I would be interested to hear from others more knowledgable than me on this - as I have at least 2 who married their sister in law following the death of their wives!

[Jan1954]

The Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act of 1907 allowed a man, if his wife had died, to marry her sister. Prior to that, although against the law, it did tend to happen. I too, have a couple of instances of this occurring.

[valg]

I would like to find more information on James Egan, the father of Charlotte Egan, baptised 25 Apr 1827, at St. Mary’s, Whitechapel, London. Address given on the baptismal record is King’s Arms Court and James was a labourer.

Charlotte’s mother was Jane Ford, my ancestor’s sister, born ca Nov 1790 in Bridlington, E. Yorkshire. Jane married 22 Oct 1811, Bridlington. Mary Ann Johnson Elizabeth Hall was baptised 24 Dec 1813, Beverley, E. Yorks., the daughter of Francis and Jane Hall (Jane had a nephew with the middle name of Johnson but I know no connection of this surname to the Ford family). I do not know anything more about Mary or her father Francis Hall or what Jane was up to between 1813 and 1827. I have Jane’s father’s will on order, which I hope will mention Jane – he died in 1828.

In 1841 Jane is found in the census as Jane Mason with Ann Ford and Mary Mason. It is likely she is the Jane Hall who married William Trowsdale Mason in 1833. William died in 1838. Mary therefore is Jane’s step-daughter, born to him and his first wife Ann in 1828. Ann Ford is almost certainly my ancestor’s daughter born in Northowram, Halifax ca January 1818 (parents William Ford and, coincidentally, Frances Hall).

I do not know where Charlotte Egan is in 1841 but two years later she marries Thomas Smith Bowling in Hull. In later censuses Jane is found with Charlotte and/or Thomas, listed as mother. The National Probate Calendar shows she died 29 May 1872 at Hull.
I would like to find more information on James Egan and Francis Hall. And, in my wildest dreams, why the name Johnson appears in the names of two of the grandchildren of Thomas Ford and Ann Watson.

is this a sibling of Mary Ann---John Hall-Bridlington-16 July 1821-parents Frances and Jane Hall

There is a burial for a Frances Hall-female-Beverly 30 Sept 1824- could this be a mistake and be your Francis Hall, wouldnt be the first time a record has been mistranscribed....would have to look at original entry

Only burial I can find for a James Egan in the time frame is 24 Dec 1829 Middlesex

Noted Jane is listed as a widow on her marriage to William in 1833 and uses the surname Hall which indicates no marriage to James Egan

[DianaCanada]

Thank you, Valg. John Hall is a new one for me, will have to look for him in the censuses.
I looked at the British Newspaper Archive site and was able to find enough in the index search to confirm William Mason - his death is announced in the 5 Oct 1838 issue of the Hull Packet newspaper - he was 65, of Postern-gate and a grocer and flour-dealer. On the 1841 census Jane Mason is living in Postern-Gate, Hull and listed as a grocer. By 1851 she has moved to Linnaeus Street and is listed as a retired flour factor.

So it does look like Jane was not married to James Egan (but may have told her parents she was, as she is listed as his wife in her father's will) and married William as Jane Hall, widow of Francis.

Now my new brick wall is who is the William Mason who her sister Ann was supposedly married to re their father's will in 1826? The only suitable marriage I can find for Ann is Ann Foord (sic) to John Scrivener in Bridlington in 1803. She would have been about 18. I find no marriage of an Ann Ford or Scrivener to a William Mason in the area.

William Trowsdale Mason was baptized in Bridlington in 1773 (matches his age at death), making him 17 years older than Jane and 12 years older than Ann.

[valg]

Thank you, Valg. John Hall is a new one for me, will have to look for him in the censuses.
I looked at the British Newspaper Archive site and was able to find enough in the index search to confirm William Mason - his death is announced in the 5 Oct 1838 issue of the Hull Packet newspaper - he was 65, of Postern-gate and a grocer and flour-dealer. On the 1841 census Jane Mason is living in Postern-Gate, Hull and listed as a grocer. By 1851 she has moved to Linnaeus Street and is listed as a retired flour factor.

So it does look like Jane was not married to James Egan (but may have told her parents she was, as she is listed as his wife in her father's will) and married William as Jane Hall, widow of Francis.

Now my new brick wall is who is the William Mason who her sister Ann was supposedly married to re their father's will in 1826? The only suitable marriage I can find for Ann is Ann Foord (sic) to John Scrivener in Bridlington in 1803. She would have been about 18. I find no marriage of an Ann Ford or Scrivener to a William Mason in the area.

Agood fit for Ann brn 1821 is on 1841 census..
Ann Mason brn 1821-living Kingston upon Hull working as a servant..HO107; Piece: 1230Folio: 12; Page: 19

William Trowsdale Mason was baptized in Bridlington in 1773 (matches his age at death), making him 17 years older than Jane and 12 years older than Ann.

The first thing that comes to mind, and I am sure you have already thought the same, is that Jane married Anns widowed husband William Mason?? The will was 1826 and Jane married William 1833 Mary Mason u mentioned is on 1841 census appears to be the daughter of William and Ann baptised HOLY TRINITY,​KINGSTON UPON HULL,​YORK,​ENGLAND, there is also a Samuel bptsd same place 1824, Samuel 1823, Ann 1821, burial for a 3 samuels-father William
1821, 1823 and1825.so all must have died, have you found a burial for Ann Mason?
Agood fit for Ann brn 1821 is on 1841 census..
Ann Mason brn 1821-living Kingston upon Hull working as a servant..HO107; Piece: 1230Folio: 12; Page: 19
Marriage Ann Mason-Marshall Naylor-Holy Trinity-Hull 1848-father William
Now a marriage cert for Ann would give you a occupation for William to compare with a occupation on Williams death cert..

[valg]

looking at this couple in 1851 doesnt appear to fit close with the Ann Mason brn Hull...age difference of 6 years..lists birth as West Newton which isnt far from Hull..

[DianaCanada]

Valg, yes, I have thought that Ann Ford might have married William Trowsdale Mason after his wife Ann died. I have not found a marriage record for an Ann Ford or Ann Scrivener to William Mason.

Interestingly, the will of Thomas Ford when he mentions Jane, his daughter, says "to my daughter Jane, wife of James Edgin (sic), without control, or intermeddling, of her present husband, and her receipt alone - shall me a sufficient discharge for the same". I love that word "intermeddling" -wonder if it is a common term in legalese? She is the only daughter alive and married that he says this for.

I haven't had a search for a will for Wiliam Mason, it could shed some more light...I believe the only index for the wills is a pay-for site.