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Hi can any one help please.i am trying to find a death for Ellen Ashbrook born 14-1-1854 baptism 14-5-1854.born Davenports yard Knutsford Cheshire.she married in Knutsford 1872 to George Ashbrook.one of their children was called Samuel born 1875 George then went on to marry Sarah Gregory in Weaverham 1880.on wedding certificate says George was a widow so Ellen must of died between 1875 and 1880.but I can not find a death for her,thinking she might have died giving birth to Samuel can you please help thanks

There is this one with surname with an "e" on the end but age looks right:-

First name(s) Ellen
Last name Ashbrooke
Gender Female
Birth day -
Birth month -
Birth year 1853
Age 26
Death quarter 3
Death year 1879
District Northwich
County Cheshire
Volume 8A
Page 134
Country England
Record set England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007

Widowers with young children did tend to marry again quite quickly in those days.

There is always the possibility at that time that the couple just separated (as divorce was almost impossible for ordinary working class people) and then the couple just went on to live with other partners or marry again bigamously (it happened more often than you would imagine).

Kath. x

Thank you Kath very interesting.

I'd say it is quite likely that the death above is the right one. Spelling of names was often quite fluid as people just spelled things as they heard them.

Northwich Registration District where the death was registered covers Weaverham where George re-married.

Kath. x

I was just looking at the 1881 census and was intrigued by the last name Richard who was listed as son but 13 years old? George would only be 15 when he was born and if he's Ellen's son she would only have been 14. I can't see him in 1871.

George Ashbrook 28
Sarah Ashbrook 19
Seary Ashbrook 9
William Ashbrook 8
Meright Ashbrook 8
Samuel Ashbrook 6
George Ashbrook 5 mos.
Richard Ashbrook 13

Thank you I thought it might be wrong as her birth was 14-1-1854 and baptism 14-5 1854

Where were they living in 1881 Margaret as I can't find them on Findmypast.

EDIT - Found them now.

Kath. x

Ellen Groves
England and Wales Census, 1861
Name: Ellen Groves
County: Cheshire
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1861
Event Place: Nether Knutsford, Cheshire, England
Registration District: Altrincham
Residence Note: Swinton Square
Gender: Female
Age: 7
Occupation: Scholar
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Birth Year (Estimated): 1854
Birthplace: Knutsford, Cheshire
Page Number: 48
Registration Number: RG09
Piece/Folio: 2593 / 53
Affiliate Record Type: Household
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
William Groves Head Male 27 Tabley, Cheshire
Rebecca Groves Wife Female 28 Aston, Cheshire
Ellen Groves Daughter Female 7 Knutsford, Cheshire
Matthew Groves Son Male 5 Knutsford, Cheshire
George Groves Son Male 1 Knutsford, Cheshire
John Curbishley Lodger Male 15 Toft, Cheshire

The birth year on a death certificate is just an estimation and depends on who registered the death and how well informed they were.

Kath. x

Thank you for all your help x

I think the 1881 census posted by Margaret was worng with Richard's age - I think he was 13 months rather than years - later census would indicate a birth year of 1880. I think this is his birth before the parents marriage:


Births Mar 1880 (>99%)

Gregory Richard Ashbrooke Northwich 8a 254 Scan available - click to view

They're in Weaverham, Cheshire in 1881, Kath. Address looks like Gorstage? Green.

That makes sense, Flip.

But there is a 5 month old son as well Flip??? George Ashbrook, son, age 5 months. Unless the enumerator put the "months" above the wrong entry and George is 5 years rather than 5 months.

Kath. x

there was a birth in 1879 could it be ellen died giving birth the child died too

Deaths Sep 1879 (>99%)
Ashbrooke Ellen 26 Northwich 8a 134
Ashbrooke Jesse 0 Northwich 8a 135

Also if Ellen died late 1879 and little Richard was born early 1880 it would appear that he was conceived before Ellen died.

Kath, I agree he put the months against the wrong child. George was born in 1876 with mmn Groves confirming this.

HI I think it might be ellen died in 1879 giving birth to jesse who died in 1879. and the two boys George and Richard on the 1881 census was the sons of Sarah the second wife of George Ashbrook who he married in 1880 what do you think thanks

England and Wales Census, 1901
Name: Richard Ashbrook
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 31 Mar 1901
Event Place: Northwich, Cheshire, England
County: Cheshire
Civil Parish: Northwich
Ecclesiastical Parish: Hartford St John
Sub-District: Weaverham
Registration District: Northwich
Residence Note: Huxley Street
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Occupation: GENERAL LABOURER
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Birth Year (Estimated): 1880
Birthplace: Weaverham, Cheshire
Schedule Type: 41
Page Number: 8
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
George Ashbrook Head Male 45 Kelsall, Cheshire
Sarah Ashbrook Wife Female 40 Kelsall, Cheshire
Richard Ashbrook Son Male 21 Weaverham, Cheshire
Mary Jane Ashbrook Daughter Female 19 Gorstage, Cheshire
Emma Ashbrook Daughter Female 15 Gorstage, Cheshire
John Ashbrook Son Male 13 Gorstage, Cheshire
Nellie Ashbrook Daughter Female 11 Delamere, Cheshire
Thomas Ashbrook Son Male 4 Northwich, Cheshire
Annie Ashbrook Daughter Female 2 Northwich, Cheshire

Janette, George was not Sarah's son - he was born 1876 with mmn confirming his mother was Ellen.