Person:Mary Cain (46)

Watchers
Mary Ann Cain
m. 24 Oct 1808
  1. Elizabeth Cain1809 - 1809
  2. William Cain1810 - 1834
  3. Thomas Cain1815 - 1891
  4. Elizabeth Cain1818 - 1828
  5. George Cain1821 -
  6. George Cain1824 - 1892
  7. Mary Ann Cain1827 - 1878
  • WMary Ann Cain1827 - 1878
  1. Mary Ann Cain1844 - 1905
m. 31 May 1845
  1. Ann Smith1846 - 1849
  2. Sarah Ann Smith1847 - 1919
  3. Ellen Smith1851 - 1894
  4. James Smith1853 - 1910
  5. Esther Smith1856 - 1869
  6. William Smith1858 - 1863
  7. Jane Smith1862 - 1863
  8. Emily Selina Smith1864 - 1864
  9. David Smith1866 - 1941
Facts and Events
Name Mary Ann Cain
Gender Female
Christening[1] 25 Mar 1827 St Paul's Walden, Hertfordshire, England
Census[2] 6 Jun 1841 St Paul's Walden, Hertfordshire, EnglandWhitwell
Marriage to Unknown
Marriage 31 May 1845 Luton, Bedfordshire, EnglandSt Mary
to William Smith
Census[3] 30 Mar 1851 Luton, Bedfordshire, EnglandNew Town (Bailey Field)
Census[4] 7 Apr 1861 Luton, Bedfordshire, EnglandPark Lane
Census[5] 2 Apr 1871 Luton, Bedfordshire, EnglandTower Hill
Death[6] 31 Jan 1878 Luton, Bedfordshire, EnglandTower Hill
Burial[7] 5 Feb 1878 Luton, Bedfordshire, England

Childhood

Mary Ann Cain was baptised on 25th March 1827 at St Paul's Walden in Hertfordshire. She was the daughter of Mary Cain formerly Parsons and her husband Henry Cain, a tanner. The family lived at Whitwell, the main village in St Paul's Walden parish.

When Mary was just seventh months old, her mother died, aged 38. Mary's father Henry was left with five children to look after. Henry does not appear to have remarried.

The 1841 census finds Mary living with her father and her brother Thomas and his family in Whitwell.

Adulthood

In 1844, Mary had a daughter, named Mary Ann, who was baptised at St Paul's Walden. Soon after Mary Ann's birth, Mary left Whitwell and moved to the nearby town of Luton, where she married a labourer named William Smith on 31st May 1845, aged 18.

Mary and William went on to have another nine children together between 1846 and 1866, although only four of these survived to adulthood, as did Mary's daughter from before her marriage. The 1851 census finds the family living at Bailey Field in the New Town area, which was a rapidly growing suburb of modest terraced houses to the south of the centre of Luton. Mary was working as a straw plaiter. By 1861 the family had moved to Park Lane in the centre of the town and Mary was working as a charwoman.

Mary's father died back in Whitwell early in 1862. Mary's daughter Mary Ann married later in 1862, and Mary's first grandchild was born before the end of that year. Mary appears to have had 21 grandchildren born in her lifetime, although some of them died as infants.

The 1871 census finds Mary, William and two of their sons living at Tower Hill, which was a courtyard of cottages on the west side of the road later called Manchester Street in the centre of Luton. Mary was working as a washerwoman at this time.

Mary died at Tower Hill on 31st January 1878, aged 50. She had been suffering with bronchitis. William outlived her, appearing in the 1881 census still at Tower Hill, along with their youngest son David, who had only been twelve when Mary died.

References
  1. Baptisms register, in Church of England. St Paul's Walden Parish Registers. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).
    BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of St Pauls Walden in the County of Hertford in the Year 1827
    No.When BaptizedChild's Christian NameParents NameAbodeQuality, Trade, or ProfessionBy whom the Ceremony was performed
    ChristianSurname
    406Mar[ch] 25Mary Daughter ofHenry & MaryCainWhitwellLabourerChar[le]s Chauncy, Vicar
  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 438; Book 15; Folio 4; Page 5, 6 Jun 1841.

    Address: Village of Whitwell, St Paul's Walden, Hertfordshire
    Henry Cain, male, 55 [1781-6], Tanner, born in county
    Mary Cain, female, 14 [1826/7], born in county
    ~
    Thomas Cain, male, 25 [1811-16], Ag Lab, born in county
    Sarah Cain, female, 25 [1811-16], born in county
    Emma Cain, female, 1 [1839/40], born in county

    Next door to a household of John Cain, a 45 year old tanner, which also had a Thomas Parsons in it.

  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 748; Page 17, 30 Mar 1851.

    Address: New Town (Bailey Field), Luton, Bedfordshire
    William Smith, head, married, male, 27 [1823/4], Farm Labourer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
    Mary Ann Smith, wife, married, female, 25 [1825/6], Straw Plaiter, b. Whitewell, Hertfordshire
    Mary Ann Smith, daughter, female, 7 [1843/4], At Home, b. Whitewell, Hertfordshire
    Sarah Smith, daughter, female, 3 [1847/8], At Home, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
    Ellen Smith, daughter, female, 1mo [1851], b. Luton, Bedfordshire

  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 1014; Folio 50; Page 19, 7 Apr 1861.

    Address: Park Lane, Luton, Bedfordshire
    William Smith, head, married, male, 40 [1820/1], Farmer's Labou[re]r, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
    Mary A. Smith, wife, married, female, 35 [1825/6], Char-woman, b. Whitwell, Hertfordshire
    Sarah Smith, daughter, unmarried, female, 14 [1846/7], Bonnet Sewer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
    Ellen Smith, daughter, unmarried, female, 11 [1849/50], Bonnet Sewer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
    James Smith, son, unmarried, male, 7 [1853/4], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
    Esther Smith, daughter, unmarried, female, 5 [1855/6], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
    William Smith, son, unmarried, male, 2 [1858/9], b. Luton, Bedfordshire

  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 1570; Folio 43; Page 22, 2 Apr 1871.

    Address: Tower Hill, Luton, Bedfordshire
    William Smith, head, married, male, 50 [1820/1], Laborer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
    Mary Smith, wife, married, female, 48 [1822/3], Washerwoman, b. Whitwell, Hertfordshire
    James Smith, son, unmarried, male, 18 [1852/3], Laborer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
    David Smith, son, unmarried, male, 4 [1866/7], Scholar, b. Luton, Bedfordshire

  6. Deaths register, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).
    Registration District Luton
    1878 Death in the District of Luton in the Counties of Beds & Herts
    No.When and where diedName and surnameSexAgeOccupationCause of deathSignature, description and residence of informantWhen registeredSignature of registrar
    240Thirty first January 1878
    Tower Hill
    Luton
    Mary Ann SmithFemale56 years [1821/2]Wife of William Smith LaborerChronic Bronchitis
    2 Months
    Certified by W. Pauli L.R.C.P.
    X the mark of William Smith
    Widower of deceased
    Present at the death
    Tower Hill Luton
    Second February 1878Charles Maffey
    Registrar
  7. Burials in Luton 1813-1904, in Bedfordshire Family History Society. Luton Parish Register Transcript. (Bedford).

    Name: Mary Ann SMITH
    Abode: Luton
    Buried: 5 Feb 1878
    Aged: 56 [1821/2]