Person:Edward Turner (32)

Watchers
Edward Turner
m. 1 May 1811
  1. John Turner1809 - 1877
  2. Edward Turner1812 - 1879
  3. Elizabeth Gray Turner1814 - 1887
  4. Mary Turner1818 - 1891
  5. Ann Turner1820 -
  1. Elizabeth Turner Ward1833 - 1906
m. 19 Sep 1840
  1. Sarah Ann Turner1840 - 1921
  2. Elizabeth Abbott Turner1841 - 1935
  3. Mary Turner1843 - 1854
  4. Eliza Turner1845 - 1919
  5. Hephzibah Allen Turner1847 - 1918
  6. Naomi Brand Turner1849 - 1938
  1. Elizabeth Ann Priestley1853 - 1924
Facts and Events
Name Edward Turner
Gender Male
Christening[1] 19 Mar 1812 Heckington, Lincolnshire, England
Marriage to Elizabeth Ward
Marriage 19 Sep 1840 Heckington, Lincolnshire, Englandto Naomi Hardstaff
Census[2] 6 Jun 1841 Heckington, Lincolnshire, EnglandHeckington Fen
Marriage to Ann Priestley
Census[3] 30 Mar 1851 Heckington, Lincolnshire, England
Census[4] 7 Apr 1861 Heckington, Lincolnshire, EnglandFen Drove
Census[5] 2 Apr 1871 Heckington, Lincolnshire, EnglandFen Drove
Death[6][7] 27 Dec 1879 Heckington, Lincolnshire, England
Burial[8] 30 Dec 1879 Heckington, Lincolnshire, England


Childhood

Edward Turner was baptised on 19th March 1812 at Heckington in Lincolnshire, son of Sarah Turner, formerly Allen, and her husband John Turner, a farmer. He was the first of the couple's four children to be baptised after their marriage, although there was another son, John, born before their marriage. The family had been farming in Heckington for many years; Edward's paternal grandfather Philip Turner had been described as a farmer of Heckington in 1755, whilst his paternal grandmother's father, John Gray, had been described as a farmer of Heckington in 1741. At the time of Edward's birth his paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Turner, formerly Gray, was still living in Heckington. She died in 1818, when Edward was six years old.

Adulthood

In 1833, when he was 21, Edward appears to have fathered a daughter with a young woman named Elizabeth Ward, a carpenter's daughter from the neighbouring village of Great Hale. The girl was baptised at Heckington and described as "Elizabeth Turner illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth Ward, Heckington, Single woman and the reputed father Edward Turner, Heckington, Farmer". It is not clear whether Edward acknowledged Elizabeth as his daughter or played any part in supporting her upbringing. She was brought up by her mother back in Great Hale. She used Turner as a middle name.

In 1839, Edward's father John died. John's will left his land in Heckington and Asgarby to Edward and his brother John. John's will stipulates that Edward's mother Sarah was to be allowed to live in the "...westernmost room and chamber over the same in the house I now live in..." rent free for her life time.

The following year, on 19th September 1840, Edward was married at Heckington to a Naomi Hardstaff. When they married he was 28 and she 21. She was a farmer's daughter originally from Old Sleaford, a few miles west of Heckington, but her parents appear to have moved the family to Heckington some time before 1840. The marriage was reported in the Stamford Mercury. Edward's brother John was one of the witnesses to the marriage.

The 1841 census finds Edward and Naomi living next door to her parents at Heckington Fen. Between 1840 and 1849 Edward and Naomi had six daughters together, although none was baptised as a baby, possibly indicating non-conformist leanings. One of the daughters was called Elizabeth, giving him two daughters named Elizabeth - perhaps showing how little contact he had with his illegitimate daughter Elizabeth Turner Ward.

Naomi died in 1850, aged just 31. Edward was therefore left a widower at the age of 38, with six daughters aged from ten down to less than two to look after.

The 1851 census finds Edward and his five daughters and three servants living in Heckington. Edward was described as a farmer of 100 acres employing two labourers. Later that year his mother Sarah died.

In 1853 Edward fathered another illegitimate daughter with a woman named Ann Priestley. The girl was called Elizabeth Ann, thus giving Edward three daughters named Elizabeth. The following summer, in July 1854, Edward was charged with assaulting Ann Priestley. She said she had gone to Edward's house for payment of the allowance towards the baby's maintenance and he had assaulted her. The case was settled out of court. Whether the allowance referred to was a voluntary agreement or not is unclear.

Around the same time, Edward's daughter Mary died, aged ten years old. Shortly afterwards, in September 1854, Edward had his five surviving legitimate daughters baptised together. They aged from thirteen down to five at the time of their baptisms.

The 1861 census finds Edward living with four of his daughters at Fen Drove in Heckington. Edward's farm had shrunk from 1851; he now only farmed 60 acres and there were no servants living with the family. Come 1871 the farm had shrunk again, to only 40 acres.

Edward's first grandchild was born in 1862, although as he was the son of Edward's illegitimate daughter Elizabeth Turner Ward it is not clear whether Edward knew he had become a grandfather. His first grandchild born to one of his legitimate daughters was born in 1865. Overall, Edward had at least 28 grandchildren born in his lifetime: 16 born to his legitimate daughters and 12 born to his two illegitimate daughters.

Edward died on 27th December 1879, aged 67 at Heckington, where he had lived his whole life. He was buried there three days later.

References
  1. Church of England. Parish Church of Heckington (Lincolnshire). Parish registers, 1559-1968. (Lincoln, England: Lincoln Archives Office, 1993).

    Baptisms for the Year 1812
    Edward Son of John Turner farmer and Sarah his wife baptized March 19

    This baptism has been linked to the Edward Turner who fathered a child with Elizabeth Ward in 1833 on the basis that the 1833 baptism describes the child's father as Edward Turner, farmer of Heckington, and there appears to have been only one Edward Turner farmer of Heckington at that time. He can also be shown to be the man who married Naomi Hardstaff on the basis of their marriage certificate which names his father as John Turner, farmer (deceased). Similarly, he can be linked to the Edward Turner who fathered a child with Ann Priestly in 1853, again on the basis that he was the only Edward Turner farmer in Heckington.

  2. England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
    Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
    The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
    Class HO107; Piece 619; Book 13; Folio 36 & 37; Pages 15 & 16, 6 Jun 1841.

    Address: Heckington Fen, Heckington, Lincolnshire
    William Hardstaff, male, 50 [1786-91], Farmer, born in county
    Naomi Hardstaff, female, 40 [1796-1801], born in county
    Mary Hardstaff, female, 20 [1816-21], born in county
    William Hardstaff, male, 20 [1816-21], born in county
    Joseph Hardstaff, male, 17 [1823/4], born in county
    Hephzibah Hardstaff, female, 10 [1830/1], born in county
    ~ next household~
    Edward Turner, male, 25 [1811-16], Farmer, born in county
    Naomi Turner, female, 20 [1816-21], Farmer, born in county
    Sarah Turner, female, 5 months [1840/1], born in county

  3. England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
    Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
    The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
    Class HO107; Piece 2101; Folio 231; Page 2, 30 Mar 1851.

    Address: Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Edw[ar]d Turner, head, male, 40 [1810/11], Farmer 100 Acres 2 Lab[oure]rs, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Sarah Turner, daughter, female, 10 [1830/1], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Eliz[abe]th Turner, daughter, female, 9 [1831/2], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Mary Turner, daughter, female, 8 [1832/3], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Eliza Turner, daughter, female, 5 [1835/6], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Hephzibah Turner, daughter, female, 4 [1836/7], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Naomi Turner, daughter, female, 2 [1838/9], b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    John H[enr]y Brown, servant, male, 21 [1829/30], Serv[an]t, b. Great Hale, Lincolnshire
    Sarah Macklewain, servant, female, 25 [1825/6], Housekeeper, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Jane Word, servant, female, 18 [1832/3], Serv[an]t, b. Great Hale, Lincolnshire

  4. England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
    Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
    The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
    Class RG9; Piece 2345; Folio 78; Page 18, 7 Apr 1861.

    Address: Fen Drove, Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Edward Turner, head, widower, male, 48 [1812/3], Farmer of 60 acres, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Elizabeth Turner, daughter, unmarried, female, 19 [1841/2], Housekeeper, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    U. Ann Turner, daughter, unmarried, female, 16 [1844/5], Scholar, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Ephsibah Turner, daughter, unmarried, female, 14 [1846/7], Scholar, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Naomi Turner, daughter, unmarried, female, 12 [1848/9], Scholar, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire

  5. England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
    Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
    The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
    Class RG10; Piece 3352; Folio 99; Page 37, 2 Apr 1871.

    Address: Fen Drove, Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Edward Turner, head, widower, male, 59 [1811/12], Farmer of 40 acres, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Elizabeth Turner, daughter, unmarried, female, 29 [1841/2], Farmer's d[aughte]r, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Eliza Turner, daughter, unmarried, female, 25 [1845/6], Farmer's d[aughte]r, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Hephzibah Turner, daughter, unmarried, female, 24 [1846/7], Farmer's d[aughte]r, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Naomi Turner, daughter, unmarried, female, 22 [1848/9], Farmer's d[aughte]r, b. Heckington, Lincolnshire
    Richard Dring, nephew, unmarried, male, 17 [1853/4], Farm Servant, b. Kyme, Lincolnshire

  6. Stamford Mercury, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 4, Friday 4 Jan 1880.

    DIED
    At Heckington, on the 27th ult., Mr. E. Turner, aged 68

  7. Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    d. Edward TURNER, March Quarter 1880, Sleaford Registration District, Volume 7a, page 309, aged 67 [1812/13]

  8. Burials register, in Church of England. Parish Church of Heckington (Lincolnshire). Parish registers, 1559-1968. (Lincoln, England: Lincoln Archives Office, 1993).
    BURIALS in the Parish of Heckington in the County of Lincoln in the Year 1879
    No.NameAbodeWhen buriedAgeBy whom the Ceremony was performed
    498Edward TurnerHeckingtonDecember 30th67G.T. Cameron, Vicar
  9.   Stamford Mercury, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    4 May 1849.

    HECKINGTON, near SLEAFORD, Lincolnshire.
    Absolute REVERSION to valuable Freehold PROPERTY.
    MESSRS. DODD will SELL by AUCTION, at the Mart, Bartholomew-lane, London, on Monday, May 7th 1849, at 12 o'clock, in one lot, the ABSOLUTE REVERSION on the death of a Lady, aged 50, to several Parcels of ARABLE and MEADOW LAND, together about 16 Acres, and to the MOIETY of TWO COTTAGES, the whole situate at HECKINGTON, about 5 miles from Sleaford.-The Land is in the occupation of Mr. Edward Turner, at a rental of 33l. per Annum.
    May be viewed on application to the tenants.
    Particulars and conditions of sale may be had at the Nag's Head Inn, Heckington; at the chief Inns, Sleaford; of G.R. Dodd, Esq., solicitor, 26 New Broad-street and Reading, Berks; at the Mart; and of Messrs. Dodd, 16 New Broad-street, London.

  10.   Lincolnshire Chronicle, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    1 Sep 1854.

    HECKINGTON, Lincolnshire.
    To be SOLD by AUCTION,
    By Mr. BARNES MILLSON,
    At the Nag's Head Inn, in Heckington, in the county of Lincoln, on Monday the 4th day of September next, at Six o'clock in the evening precisely, subject to such conditions of sale as will be then and there produced;
    THE following very valuable FREEHOLD ESTATE, consisting of-
    In HECKINGTON.
    Lot 1, All that Piece or Parcel of Arable Land, as now staked out and divided, being part of a Close, called "Wheat Close," containing by recent admeasurement 5A. 2R. 16P. (more or less), abutting upon Lot 2 on the east, and upon Public Roads on the west, north, & south.
    Lot 2, All that Piece or Parcel of Arable Land, as now also staked out and divided being the other part of the said Close, called "Wheat Close," containing by recent admeasurement 8A. 0R. 3P. (more or less), abutting upon Lot 3, and lands of Mr. Banks respectively on the east, Lot 1 west, and upon Public Roads on the north & south.
    Lot 3. Also all that Piece or Parcel of Arable Land, as now staked out and divided, called "Potato Plot," containing 1A. 3R. 18P. (more or less), abutting upon lands of Mr. Banks east and south, Lot 2 west, and a Public Road north.
    Mr. Edward Turner, the tenant, will show the respective Lots.
    Further particulars may be known by application to the Auctioneer; or at the Office of
    MESSRS. WHITE and CALTHROP, Solicitors, Boston.
    Boston, 21st Aug., 1855.