Biography

Ellen was born about 1809. She was baptised at St Mary's, Bury, Lancashire on the 26th February 1809 ^[1]

Thomas Aston was a wealthy mill owner in Lancashire. In 1825, at the surprisingly young age of 17, Ellen married another mill owner named William Brocklehurst. Both were single and the marriage was by Licence with consent of parents ^[2]

Despite marrying so young, no children came of this union until some 11 years later and then both of those born died as infants. This is reflected in William Brocklehurst's will written in 1846 in which he lambasts his wife for not giving him an heir. He constructed this will so that she would not benefit substantively unless she managed to deliver him a child, in effect leaving her with the right of abode in his house until such time that she remarried, plus the contents of the wine cellar.^[3]

On 24 June 1852 George Freeth, of full age, bachelor, a Gentleman of London, son of Daniel Freeth, Gentleman, married Ellen Brocklehurst, of full age, widow of Limefield, daughter of Thomas Ashton, Gentleman. ^[4]

George built a new mansion house for his wife Ellen at the village of North Clifton in Nottinghamshire. In 1861 ^[5] and subsequent censuses George always appears to be living at his manor house in Duporth, whereas his wife was living at the new house in Nottinghamshire ^[6]

George wrote his will in September 1881 and it went to probate almost exactly a year later. It is notable that the largest beneficiary of his substantial estate was his daughter, by then Mrs Caroline Hodge, who inherited his estate in Duporth and significant sums of money.

His wife, Ellen, was given the furniture in North Clifton Hall and the right to live there for the rest of her life. ^[7]

Ellen wrote her own will in 1887 which was proved in 1892 ^[8]

She passed away in 1892 ^[9] and was buried under the east window of the Church of St George the Martyr of North and South Clifton, Nottinghamshire ^[10]. She had been a major benefactrix of that church while she lived in the village.

Sources

1. ↑ Parish Register Abstract, FamilySearch.org, d/o Thos
2. ↑ Parish Register, FamilySearch.org
3. ↑ Space:Will_of_William_Brocklehurst
4. ↑ Marriage Certificate, Bury, Q2 1852, Vol 8c Page 459
5. ↑ 1861 census, St Austell, 1548/11/16
6. ↑ 1871 census, North Clifton, 3539/129/1
7. ↑ Space:Will_of_George_Freeth
8. ↑ Space:Will_of_Ellen_Ashton_Freeth
9. ↑ England and Wales Civil Registration Index, Newark, Q2 1892, Vol 7b Page 223, aged 84
10. ↑ Monumental Inscription