MARY CHESSON WILSON

She was the youngest daughter of William and Ursula Wilson (née Welsford). From the registration record at the Presbyterian Meeting House, Dartmouth, she was born on 28 October 1800 and baptised on 13 September 1801:

Her godmother was Mary Chesson Welsford (previous married name Hills) who was the wife of her uncle Roger Welsford, brother of her mother Ursula.  Her godmother left her a legacy of £800 in her will of June 1806 which she claimed in 1834 following the death of her uncle in August 1833 in Brighton, Sussex, her godmother having died in June 1810.

Research to date has been unable to find her in the 1841 census.

The next record is the 1851 census and she was visiting the family of Rev. John Owen (born in Taunton), Presbyterian Minister at the Lydgate Chapel, New Mill, Wooldale, in the district of Huddersfield.  The chapel was formerly Presbyterian before becoming Unitarian.

1861 Census - aged 60 years, unmarried, she was living with her 70-year-old spinster sister Ursula at 32 West Street, Newbury. They were both fundholders. Esther Ramsden, aged 13, was employed as a general servant.

She died at home on 31 October 1865, aged 65 years, and she was buried in the family grave beside her brother Rev. William Wilson.  The Rev. Edmund Kell, Unitarian minister, officiated at her interment.

Mrs. P. Code W104, page 19

Sources:  Register of Births & Baptisms, Presbyterian Meeting House, Dartmouth; London Gazette dated 18/2/1834 re will of Mary Chesson Hills; 1851 and 1861 census; Death Index 4Q 1865; E & W Probate.

Sources:as above