Person:Ann Bonser (1)

Ann Bonser was baptised on 8th January 1808 at East Stoke in Nottinghamshire, the youngest of three children of a shoemaker called William Bonser and his second wife Elizabeth Fernihough.

When Ann was eighteen, she had a daughter, Eliza Worth Bonser. Eliza's father is unknown, although the middle name 'Worth' might be the putative father's surname. Six years later, Ann had another child, this time a son named George.

On 14th June 1834, Ann married a shoemaker named William Haywood who was from the neighbouring village of Rolleston. Sadly, he died after just one month of marriage, aged 26. Ann was already heavily pregnant and gave birth later in 1834. However she then died herself, and was buried at Nottingham on 7th September 1834, also aged 26. Her three children were then brought up by her parents at East Stoke, appearing with them in the 1841 census.

1. ↑ Nottinghamshire Family History Society. Nottinghamshire Baptisms Database.

   ch. 8 Jan 1808, St Oswald, East Stoke: Ann daughter of William & Elizabeth Bonser

   This baptism has been linked to the Ann Bonser who had children Eliza and George then married William Haywood, on the basis that all three of Ann's children appear in the 1841 census living at East Stoke with an elderly couple William and Elizabeth Bonser, who were the parents of this Ann baptised in 1808.

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

   St Mary, Nottingham
   When buried: 7 Sep 1834
   Name: Ann Haywood
   Abode: Robinson's Buildings
   Aged: 25 [1808/9]

   This burial has been linked to Ann Haywood formerly Bonser on the basis that her three children appear in the 1841 census living with her parents but with no sign of her, nor her husband William, strongly suggesting that both had died between 1834 and 1841. He will be the William Haywood buried in July 1834 at Rolleston, as his abode was given as Stoke (i.e. East Stoke). Ann would then have been free to marry again, but the most likely marriage found to date in Nottinghamshire can be ruled out; the Ann Hayward who married Job Roworth on 11 Apr 1842 at Arnold, Nottinghamshire, appears in the 1871 census living with Job at Abbotskerswell in Devon, and gave her place of birth as Chudleigh, Devon. This burial of Ann Haywood in Nottingham is a little removed from the East Stoke area, but is about the right age and makes sense of why Ann's children were brought up by their grandparents.