Person:Mary Woodward (77)

Mary Woodward’s origins have yet to be established. The age given when she died suggests that she was born around 1698.

Mary’s first confirmed sighting is on 7th January 1720 when she married Elisha Lane at Kinwarton in Warwickshire. Neither of them were living at Kinwarton at the time of their marriage: Elisha was living at Studley, about five miles north of Kinwarton, whilst Mary was living at Rous Lench in Worcestershire, about nine miles south-west of Kinwarton. Mary appears to have been about sixteen years younger than Elisha.

After their marriage, Mary and Elisha initially lived at Studley, having a son baptised there later in 1720 and then a daughter in 1724. Elisha was described as a husbandman on his children’s baptisms at Studley.

By 1735 the family had left Studley and moved to Bishampton, a neighbouring parish to Rous Lench where Mary had been living at the time of their marriage. They had a son baptised at Bishampton in 1735 and a daughter in 1737.

Mary died on 4th May 1754, when she was said to be 55 years old. She was buried three days later at Bishampton. Elisha survived her by ten years.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Bishampton, Worcestershire: Monumental Inscription (Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry).

   In memory of / ELISHA LANE / he died November 25th 1764 / aged 82 years [1681/2] / Here lieth the body of / MARY wife of / ELISHA LANE / she died May the 4th / 1754 aged 55 years [1698/9]

2. ↑ Bishampton, Worcestershire: Parish Register Transcript (The Genealogist).

   bur. 7 May 1754, Bishampton, Worcestershire: Mary wife of Elisha Lane