Mary Ann Jones (1826 - 1886)

Born 4 Dec 1826 in Holborn, Middlesex, England

Wife of William Butler — married 20 May 1855 in Christ Church, St. Pancras, London, England

Descendants

Died 1886 at about age 59 in Brentford, Middlesex, England

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Biography

Mary Ann Jones was born on 4 December 1826 in Lamb’s Conduit Street, Bloomsbury, and baptized at the church of St Andrew, Holborn as Marianne Jones on 16 February of that year. She was the daughter of a poulterer, John Jones and his wife, Sophia. At one stage, John Jones had a stall in the Hungerford Market, where Charing Cross Station now stands. John was born at St Pancras, and his wife, Sophia came from Edgware on the north western outskirts of London. John and Sophia had six children of whom Mary Ann was the oldest. The others were Charlotte Elizabeth in 1827, Elizabeth Ann in 1829, Thomas in 1832, John Henry in 1835 and lastly, Sophia Prudence in 1835.

The Jones family lived first of all in Lamb’s Conduit Street, a part of Holborn. Shortly after the birth of Mary Ann, they moved to nearby Camden Town, a part of Marylebone in London. Their other children were all baptised at All Souls, St Marylebone.

The Census of 1851 shows John Jones, poulterer aged 45 and his wife Sophia living with three of their children, Mary Ann and Elizabeth, both milliners, and John, a copying clerk at 5 Bellevue Cottages, Camden Street, Camden Town in the northern part of Marylebone. Charlotte, Thomas and Sophia were not with them.

In 1855 Mary Ann married William Butler at Christ Church, Albany Street, Regent’s Park, not far from where she then lived in Camden Street, Camden Town.

She was left a widow in 1867 when William died, with five surviving children, all under the age of twelve. The eldest, Lucy, had already been taken under the wing of her two aunts, Sarah Ann and Ann, and it was not long before the others joined them. At first, Mary Ann lived at 2 Bell Cottages, Grove Road, Hounslow where she was living alone with my grandmother Charlotte in 1871, whilst the other children were all at the post-office. Her occupation was described as dressmaker.

Her father, John Jones died in 1859. Mary Ann’s mother, Sophia, died in 1871. The death of her mother was a severe blow to Mary Ann. She recorded in her father’s prayer book the following words:

“This book is all that’s left me now Tears will unbidden start With trembling limbs and aching brow I press it to my heart

My Father Read this sacred book Also my Mother dear Now they are with the silent dead Their Names are graven here

Her End was Peace

Their mortal remains were Interred at Highgate Cemetery on April 8 there to await the Resurrection of the dead.

She is not dead but sleepeth.”

By 1881, the whole family had moved to the post-office, with Mary Ann described as a retired dressmaker, no doubt supported by her five children who were now all working. She died there on 21 February 1886.

Sources

• Find My Past;

Jones Marianne 1826 England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975 Holborn, London, England

Jones Mary Ann 1828 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census Saint Pancras, St Pancras, London & Middlesex, England

Jones Mary Ann 1855 England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005 St. Pancras, London, England

Butler Mary A 1828 1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Heston, Brentford, Middlesex, England

Butler Mary Ann 1828 1886 England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007 Brentford, Middlesex, England

Butler Mary Ann 1828 1886 1886 Middlesex Monumental Inscriptions Hounslow, Middlesex, England

• Christ Church parish register.

Biography and original research by Merv Shearman.