William Henry Rainsford (1776 - 1823)

Born 2 May 1776 in London, England

Ancestors

Husband of Dinah (Gammon) Rainsford — married 8 Jan 1806 in Prince's, Lambeth, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 28 May 1823 at age 47 in Madras, India

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Biography

This profile is part of the Rainsford Name Study.

William Rainsford was born in England.

Birth and Baptism

William Henry Rainsford was born on 2 May 1776 at London, Middlesex, England.^[1] He was baptised on 12 May 1776 at St Pancras Old Church, Middlesex, England.^[2][3] William Henry Rainsford was the son of Charles Rainsford and Elizabeth Miles.

Marriage

Col William Henry Rainsford married Dinah Gammon on 8 Jan 1806 at St Mary's, Lambeth, Surrey, England.^[4][5] They had eight children during their marriage, but only two sons survived to adulthood;

• Child: David Rainsford 14 May 1808 - 23 May 1808 Infant Death
• Child: William Rainsford 20 Mar 1810 - Apr 1810 Infant Death
• Child: Mary Rainsford 25 Mar 1810 - 22 Sep 1813 Infant Death
• Child: Joseph Rainsford 1812 - 1887. Rainsford-263
• Child: John Rainsford 12 Feb 1814 - 1 Aug 1817 Infant Death
• Child: William Rainsford 3 Jul 1815 - 3 Sep 1815 Infant Death
• Child: Samuel Rainsford 1817 - 1898. Rainsford-269
• Child: Ebenezer Rainsford 1820 - 1 Jul 1820 Infant Death

Col William Henry Rainsford virtually abandoned his first wife and began a relationship with Lydia Mebbely Downes, the daughter of one of his friends. He did keep relations with his wife, but he lived in Ireland with Lydia Mebbely Downes, their first child Matilda being born in 1812 and their second child Charlotte being born in 1814. Col William Henry Rainsford led a double life after his infatuation with Lydia Mebbely Downes.

Relationship

Col William Henry Rainsford had a second relationship with Lydia Mebbley Downes-1180 in Ireland.^[6] Two young daughters were born from this relationship;

• Child: Matilda Caroline Rainsford-271
• Child: Charlotte Augusta Rainsford-270

A Marriage Licence was issued in Dublin, Ireland in 1808 for Lydia and William Rainsford.^[7] Please refer to Reference Note below.

Death, Burial and Memorial

Col William Henry Rainsford died and was buried on 20 May 1822 at Madras, India.^[8][9]

A Memorial to Col William Henry Rainsford was placed at Southwark Chapel, Long Lane (Wesleyan), Bermondsey, Surrey, England on 18 Aug 1824.^[10]

Reference Note

It should be noted that, according to the Birth records for Lydia Mebbely Downes-1180 she was born on 23 Feb 1798 and baptised on 27 Feb 1798 at Saint Martin in the Fields, Westminster, London, England. She would have been aged 10 when the Marriage License was issued, and aged 14 and 18 years when her daughters were born. Colonel William Henry Rainsford died in 1822 when she was 24 years old.

Sources

1. ↑ England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1970. Source Citation for England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Film Numbers: 597801, 597802, 597803, 597804, 597805.
2. ↑ Source Citation for England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. FHL Film Numbers: 597801, 597802, 597803, 597804, 597805.
3. ↑ Source: S2114 Ancestry.com England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014; NOTEEngland, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
4. ↑ London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921.
5. ↑ Register Type: Parish Register. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973. FHL Film Number: 1041639. Reference ID: p 448 item 1340.
6. ↑ Ireland, Abstracts of Wills and Marriages, 1620-1923. National Archives of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Crosslé, Betham and Thrift Genealogical Abstracts. Rollname: 62059_B1010083.
7. ↑ Dublin, Ireland, Probate Record and Marriage License Index, 1270-1858.
8. ↑ England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1970. Age: 46 .
9. ↑ India, Select Deaths and Burials, 1719 - 1948 William Henry Rainsford. Gender: Male. Birth: 1776. Marital status: Unknown. Death: May 20 1822. Burial: May 20 1822. Madras, Madras, India Indexing Project (Batch) Number:B00200-3. System Origin: India-EASy GS Film Number: 521837.
10. ↑ England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1970. Age: 46. 11 Aug 1824. Piece 4374: Bermondsey, Southwark Chapel, Long Lane (Wesleyan), 1811-1837. Denomination: Wesleyan.

Acknowledgements

To P Gray Howard-18870, H R Newble Arland-35 for researching, compiling and publication of this profile, and contact with the Rainsford families.