Jane Allen (1835-1856)

Jane was baptised on the 19th July 1835 at St Martins, North Nibley. Confusingly, her baptismal name was Mary Jane. She appears to have been illegitimate, as her mother is recorded as Mary Allin, singlewoman, though on her wedding certificate Harriet’s father appears as Thomas Allen, a shepherd.

In the 1841 Census, she is recorded as living with grandparents William and Hannah Allan, and her aunts and uncles, on Nibley Street.

On the 27th May 1855 Jane, then aged 19, married William Beesley, a miller. She signed with a mark, as did the two witnesses, but William had a fine copperplate signature.

A year previously, Edward had a son, baptised Edward at Horsley on 27th August 1854. The mother was a singlewoman, Ellen, but Edward junior was recorded as being the son of Edward senior in the 1861 Census. I can find no other record of Ellen, and perhaps it was Louisa’s alternative name, as Louisa was living in Horsley at the time. Jane died soon afterwards, aged only 21, of Phthisis, otherwise known as TB. On February 17th, 1856, she was buried in the churchyard of Hawkesbury.

As was common, William quickly remarried, just over a year later, to Louisa Farmilo (spelt Lewisa in the ’41 Census, and her mother was Sinderalla!). They went on to have 6 more children.