Person:Eleanor Turnham (1)

Eleanor Turnham was baptised on 17th July 1791 at Totternhoe in Bedfordshire, daughter of Mary Turnham, formerly Purton, and her husband Thomas Turnham. She seems to have been known as Nelly. Her father died in 1804. It has not been possible to establish when her mother died, as there are too many Mary Turnham or Turner burials in Totternhoe.

Nelly was married on 28th February 1810 to George Gates, an agricultural labourer who was also from Totternhoe. He later gave his birthplace as Sewell, a hamlet in the north of the parish, a little way removed from the main village. They appear to have had five children together between 1810 and 1821. Their eldest child was baptised in the neighbouring parish of Houghton Regis, and later gave her birthplace as Thorn, a hamlet in Houghton Regis parish which is quite close to Sewell. Nelly and George's younger four children were all baptised back at Totternhoe.

Nelly died in 1836, aged 45. She was buried at Totternhoe on 2nd December 1836. George survived her by over 23 years.

1. ↑ Church of England. Parish Church of Totternhoe. Parish register transcripts, 1559-1812.

   Baptisms
   17 Jul 1791: Elnr d Thos & Mary Turner

2. ↑ Church of England. Parish Church of Totternhoe. Parish register transcripts, 1559-1812.

   bur. 2 Dec 1836, Ellen GATES, 45 [1790/1]