Person:Elizabeth Fernihough (1)

Elizabeth Fernihough was baptised on 26th November 1781 at Bottesford in Leicestershire, daughter of Sarah Fernihough, formerly Castledine, and her husband William Fernihough, a labourer. Elizabeth was the eldest of six children, all baptised at Bottesford, although one of the youngest two (who were twins) died young.

Elizabeth's next sighting is in 1800, aged 19, when she married a cordwainer (shoe maker) named William Bonser. He was a widower, having lost his first wife and daughter the previous year. Elizabeth and William married at East Stoke in Nottinghamshire.

Between 1801 and 1808 Elizabeth and William had a son and two daughters baptised at East Stoke.

Elizabeth's first known grandchild was baptised in East Stoke in 1818, being son of Elizabeth's daughter Sarah. Sadly he died as a baby. Sarah went on to marry in 1821, and Elizabeth's next grandchild was baptised in 1822. Elizabeth's daughter Ann had two children before she married, in 1826 and 1832. Elizabeth's son William married in 1828. Back in Bottesford, Elizabeth's mother Sarah died in 1830.

In 1834 Elizabeth's daughter Ann died aged just 26. Her husband had died earlier that year, leaving Ann's three children orphans. Elizabeth and William brought up these three grandchildren.

Back in Bottesford, Elizabeth's father died in 1837.

The 1841 census finds Elizabeth and William living at East Stoke with their three grandchildren.

In 1842 Elizabeth was named in the will of her father's brother Thomas's widow, Elizabeth. She and her sister Sarah and brother William were to split £100 equally between them.

Elizabeth and William were still living at East Stoke in the 1851 census. Their grandchildren had all left home by this point, and William described himself as retired.

William died in 1853, aged 82. Elizabeth outlived him by three years. She died at East Stoke on 11th March 1856, aged 74. She had lived to see at least 17 grandchildren born and had also seen some great-grandchildren born in her lifetime.

1. ↑ Church of England. Parish Church of Bottesford (Leicestershire). Parish registers, 1563-1876. (Leciester: Leicestershire Record Office).

   Baptisms in 1781 / Elizabeth, dau[ghte]r of William & Sarah Farnyhough, Labourer, November 26th

   This baptism has been linked to the Elizabeth Fernihough who married William Bonser on the basis that it is in the parish she gave as her birthplace and at about the right time. Elizabeth is also named in the will of Elizabeth Parrott, who was her father's brother's wife, described as Elizabeth Bonser.

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 867; Boook 1; Folio 6; Page 6, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: East Stoke, Nottinghamshire
   Will[ia]m Bonser, male, 70 [1766-71], Shoe M[aker], born in county
   Elizabeth Bonser, female, 60 [1776-81], not born in county
   Eliza Bonser, female, 15 [1821-26], born in county
   George Bonser, male, 8 [1832/3], born in county
   Will[ia]m Haywood, male, 6 [1834/5], 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 2134; Folio 7; Page 120, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: East Stoke, Nottinghamshire
   William Bonser, head, married, 80 [1770/1], Shoe Maker Ret[ire]d from business, b. Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire
   Elizabeth Bonser, wife, married, 70 [1780/1], b. Bottesford, Leicestershire
   James Lovitt, nephew, unmarried, 50 [1800/1], Shoe Maker, b. Owlthorpe, Nottinghamshire
   William Gardener, unmarried, 19 [1831/2], b. Newark, Nottinghamshire

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

   d. Elizabeth BONSER, March Quarter 1856, Southwell Registration District, Volume 7b, page 172, aged 74 [1781/2]

5. ↑ Nottinghamshire Family History Society. Nottinghamshire Burials Database.

   bur. 15 Mar 1856, St Oswald, East Stoke: Elizabeth Bonsor, aged 74 [1781/2] of East Stoke

   Needs to be confirmed at Nottinghamshire Archives.

6. ↑ Nottinghamshire Guardian, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Thursday 20 Mar 1856.

   DEATHS.
   At East Stoke, on the 11th inst., aged 74, Elizabeth, widow of Mr. William Bonser, cordwainer.