Mary (Shepherd) Brenton (bef. 1773 - 1848)

Born before 11 Jul 1773 in St Issey, Cornwall, England

Wife of John Brenton — married 19 Feb 1798 in St Issey, Cornwall, England

Descendants

Died 3 Feb 1848 after age 74 in St Issey, Cornwall, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jessie Gregor [send private message]

Biography

Written from the perspective of Jessie Gregor.

My great x4 grandmother, Mary Shepherd, was baptised in St Issey, Cornwall England on the 11th July 1773.^[1][2] She was the fourth of five children born to the couple, Martyn Shepherd and Elizabeth Holman.

The banns of marriage were read in St Issey on the 28th January, and the 4th and 11th February 1798 between Mary and John Brenton.^[3] They married there on the 19th February 1798 in St Issey. John was originally from the neighbouring parish of Padstow but they were recorded as a bachelor and spinster of the parish and both marked their names with a cross. The witnesses were John Shepherd and William Lang.^[4]

The couple had at least three children beginning with George Brenton who was baptised in Padstow on the 20th July 1800. Daughter, Elizabeth Shepherd Brenton, was baptised on the 15th August 1802 at St Issey, and son, Francis Brenton, was baptised there on the 24th November 1805.

In the 1841 Census (in which the adult ages were rounded down), John 'Brinton' is recorded as a carpenter, 70, and wife, Mary, was recorded as 65. They are living in Church Town, St Issey.^[5]

Nearly seven years later, Mary passed away on the 3rd February 1848 at Church Town, St Issey, and her husband John soon followed on the 13th March 1849 at The Union Workhouse in St Columb Major. According to her death certificate, she was aged 75, wife of John Brenton, carpenter. The cause of death was given as a 'Parilitic Seizure first attack, not certified'. The death was registered on the 4th February 1848 by John 'Sheperd', present at death.^[6]

She was buried on the 5th February 1848 at St Issey.^[7] Not surprisingly, they were a poor family so I haven't been able to find any headstone but I hope they're both resting in peace ...

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NGBS-VBZ : 24 March 2020), Mary Shepherd, 1773.
2. ↑ England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGL2-Z9DD : 25 March 2020), Mary Shepherd, 11 Jul 1773; citing Baptism, St Issey, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Cornwall Records Office, Truro.
3. ↑ "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLK-K1T4 : 2 February 2018), John Brenton and Mary Shepard, 11 Feb 1798; citing Marriage, St Issey, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Cornwall Records Office, Truro.
4. ↑ "England, Cornwall Parish Registers, 1538-2010," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLK-R768 : 2 February 2018), John Brenton and Mary Shepherd, 19 Feb 1798; citing Marriage, St Issey, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Cornwall Records Office, Truro.
5. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQB3-P35 : 23 May 2019), John Brinton, St Issey, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
6. ↑ UK death registration: St Columb Vol 9, Page 50, March quarter 1848 (age given 75).
7. ↑ "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J86S-J6G : 16 March 2020), Mary Brenton, 1848.

• Death Certificate held by great x4 granddaughter, Jessie Gregor.
• The original images from the St Issey parish registers of baptisms, marriages and burials may be seen for free on Family Search.