Mary Pickering (1794 - 1865)

Born 2 Jun 1794 in Yorkshire, England

Wife of Robert Woodill — married 1818 in West Heslerton, Yorkshire, England

Descendants

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Biography

Mary Pickering is probably born on June 2, 1792 in Yorkshire, England and she was probably baptised in Heslerton (as her marriage record shows her “of this parish.”) There are actually two villages – East Heslerton and West Heslerton – in what used to be the East Riding of Yorkshire. (Subject to check, the church was in West Heslerton.) These villages are 381 kilometres by road north of the centre of London. They are on the road (the A64) that runs between Malton and Scarborough.

On December 22, 1818 Mary marries Robert Woodill (1794-1871) in Heslerton. Robert’s mother is Ann Pickering (1774-1834) but as of yet no family connection has been made between Ann Pickering (1774-1934) and Mary Pickering (1792-1865). Mary and Robert likely sail with Robert’s parents (John Woodill and Ann Pickering) and two brothers (younger brothers William and John) to Upper Canada in 1819, shortly after they are married. They arrive in Little York (the future Toronto) sometime in 1819 and in the fall of 1820 the Woodill families purchase 400 acres of land in the Toronto Gore Township (or, as it is often called, Gore of Toronto) to the northwest of York. Mary Pickering and Robert Woodill spend their first five years in Upper Canada in Little York before moving out to the new homestead.

The rest of what is known about the life of Mary Pickering can be found in the biography for Robert Woodill.

Mary dies on November 12, 1865 and is buried in the Providence Primitive Methodist Cemetery on one of the original Woodill farms (the one farmed by Robert’s younger brother, William). In today’s geography, this is located on the east side of Airport Road a few hundred metres south of the intersection with Queen Street in Brampton, Ontario. Robert dies on May 25, 1871 and he is buried with Mary.

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Sources

[1] Hazel Pickering’s website at http://www.pickeringsofyorkshire.com/family-trees/1750-1799/william-pickering-married-1784-sledmere (visited June 2016): “1.1.1. Robert WOODILL baptised 28 December 1794 Sherburn, North Yorkshire, died 25 May 1871 Brampton, Peel County, Ontario, Canada, married 22 December 1818 Heslerton, North Yorkshire Mary PICKERING baptised 2 June 1792 Heslerton, North Yorkshire, died 12 November 1865 Brampton, Peel County, Ontario, Canada.”

[2] Mary Pickering’s birth date/place: Hazel Pickering (source note [1]) got her information about a June 2, 1792 baptism date from a J. Simpson, a Woodill descendent. It is more likely that June 2, 1792 is the birth date for Mary Picking and this can be calculated from her gravestone (73 yrs, 5 mos, 10 days from Nov, 12, 1865 is roughly June 2, 1792).

[3] Woodhill Cemetery (“Providence Primitive Methodist Cemetery”) headstone: “In the memory of Mary wife of Robert Woodill who died Nov. 12th, 1865, 73 yrs., 5 mos., 10 days.” “In memory of Robert Woodill who died May 25th, 1871, 76 yrs., 6 mos.”