Person:Eleanor Filby (1)

Ellen Filby was baptised on 15th November 1789 at Wheathampstead in Hertfordshire. She was the daughter of Ann Filby, formerly Lawrence, and her husband Joseph Filby, a labourer. Joseph and Ann had only recently moved to Wheathampstead when Ellen was born; they had married and had their first child in neighbouring Sandridge, moving to Wheathampstead some time between 1787 and 1789. Ellen was the second of five daughters.

In 1817, when Ellen was 27 years old, she conceived an illegitimate child by a labourer named Daniel Nicholls. The parish records show that a bastardy order was made on 4th January 1817 for the as yet unborn child. The baptisms registers do not appear to include an entry for this child, but there is a burial for a William Filby, described as an infant from the poorhouse, who was buried on 22nd June 1817. As there appears to be no corresponding baptism for this William, there is a good chance that he was Ellen's baby by Daniel Nicholls.

Two years later, Ellen married John Fensom from Luton at Wheathampstead. Four months after Ellen's marriage her youngest sister, Hannah, married Daniel Nicholls.

Ellen and John settled in Luton, where they appear to have had four daughters between 1820 and 1829. John worked as a shoemaker, whilst Ellen was a plait maker. In both the 1841 and 1851 censuses, they were living at Tower Hill in the centre of Luton.

John died in 1858, aged 82. Ellen survived him by about six years, dying in 1864, aged 74.

1. ↑ Church of England. Wheathampstead Bishop's Transcripts, 1604-1869. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives).

   Folbe Ellen d Jos & Ann bap 15 Nov 1789

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 4; Book 20; Folio 10; Page 15, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Tower Hill, Luton, Bedfordshire
   John Fensom, male, 55 [1776-81], Shoe m, born in county
   Ellen Fensom, female, 55 [1776-81], born in county
   Ann Fensom, female, 21 [1819/20], [occupation unclear], born in county
   John Fensom, male, 20 [1820/1], Ag Lab, 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 1757; Folio 540; Page 6, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Tower Hill, Luton, Bedfordshire
   John Fensom, head, married, male, 73 [1777/8], Pauper Shoe Maker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Ellen Fensom, wife, married, female, 69 [1781/2], Plait Maker, b. Whethamsted, Bedfordshire
   Charlotte Farr, lodger, widow, female, 30 [1820/1], Bonnet Sewer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Jane Farr, lodger, female, 1 [1849/50], At Home, b. Luton, Bedfordshire

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

   d. Ellen FENSOME, June Quarter 1864, Luton Registration District, Volume 3b, page 298, aged 82 [1781/2]

5.   Bastardy, in Church of England. Wheathampstead Parish Registers. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   FILBY unborn of Eleanor of W'stead by NICHOLLS Dan, labr, also of W'stead sworn before Jn CLARKE J.P. 4 Jan 1817