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Fanny Sheppard (nee Wilmot) Laura Nicholls December 2018 I work in Box even though I live in south Gloucestershire and I have been researching my family tree. I read with interest the article on the Smith and Sheppard families, especially the part about not knowing what happened to Thomas Sheppard's second wife, Fanny Wilmot. I can reveal that she is my two times great grandmother. She didn't die, but re-married (not sure that she got divorced!) to my two-times great grandfather, John Easton, who was a labourer lodging in the Sheppard household in 1881. My two times great grandmother, Fanny Wilmot, had married Thomas Sheppard (b 1835) in 1876 at Marlborough. She was twenty years younger than her first husband and Thomas appears to have had at least six children by his earlier marriage to Maria Plank in 1860. Maria died in 1876 and Thomas quickly married the twenty-one-year-old Fanny, probably needing a wife to mind the children. They had at least three children of their own, George, Alice and Sidney. The marriage didn’t last and by 1887 they had separated. |
John (Jack) Easton and Sarah Jane Daniels
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John Easton
John Easton, my two times great grandfather was born in 1856 at Monks Risborough, Buckinghamshire, to parents Robert Easton, a labourer, and Eliza Parslow. In 1871 he was a ploughboy, still living with his parents in Monks Risborough but by 1881 he had moved to Preshute, Marlborough, Wiltshire, where he was listed on the census as an agricultural labourer, probably lodging in part of the house occupied by Thomas and Fanny Sheppard (Wilmot) called Temple Farm Cottage. Later John described himself as a plate-layer on the railways dealing with track maintenance, often a very physical job.
John and Fanny were married in Wandsworth, London in 1887. There is a marriage record showing that Fanny called herself by her maiden name Wilmot and there is no evidence that she was divorced from Thomas, who was still alive and living in Box with their son Sidney Sheppard. By 1891, Fanny and her second husband John were living at 32 Patmore Street, Battersea, Wandsworth, with children George (aged 14, working as a shop boy), Alice (13, servant), John (known as Jack) (3 years), William (1), and James (2 months). The first two children were those of Fanny and Thomas and the remainder those of Fanny and John. John and Fanny went on to have two more children: Albert (b 1892), and Florence Annie (b 1894). By 1901, John Easton was a widower. Fanny may have died in 1895, as a record exists for a Fanny Easton in Wandsworth, although her year of birth was given as 1851. John was still living at Battersea with his youngest son in 1911 and working as a plate-layer.
Back to Box
The connection with Box was not broken and two of Fanny’s children with Thomas returned from London to Box. After working as a cook in London, Alice returned to Box by 1901 to marry John William Beckett, a painter and decorator, from Battersea. She gave her surname as Sheppard, and stated that Thomas Sheppard was her father. Frank Sheppard, her half-brother, was a witness. In 1911 she was living at 27 Elmsleigh Road, Wandsworth, London with her husband and one child, and stated that she was born in Box.
John (Jack) Easton was my great-grandfather. He carried on the tradition of marrying next-door neighbours, as in 1911 he was working as a coalminer in the Rhondda at 10 Aberdare Road. He met Sarah Jane Daniels who was living at 7 Aberdare Road. They moved back to London and married in 1915 in Battersea. The marriage was witnessed by John's brother Albert.
John Easton, my two times great grandfather was born in 1856 at Monks Risborough, Buckinghamshire, to parents Robert Easton, a labourer, and Eliza Parslow. In 1871 he was a ploughboy, still living with his parents in Monks Risborough but by 1881 he had moved to Preshute, Marlborough, Wiltshire, where he was listed on the census as an agricultural labourer, probably lodging in part of the house occupied by Thomas and Fanny Sheppard (Wilmot) called Temple Farm Cottage. Later John described himself as a plate-layer on the railways dealing with track maintenance, often a very physical job.
John and Fanny were married in Wandsworth, London in 1887. There is a marriage record showing that Fanny called herself by her maiden name Wilmot and there is no evidence that she was divorced from Thomas, who was still alive and living in Box with their son Sidney Sheppard. By 1891, Fanny and her second husband John were living at 32 Patmore Street, Battersea, Wandsworth, with children George (aged 14, working as a shop boy), Alice (13, servant), John (known as Jack) (3 years), William (1), and James (2 months). The first two children were those of Fanny and Thomas and the remainder those of Fanny and John. John and Fanny went on to have two more children: Albert (b 1892), and Florence Annie (b 1894). By 1901, John Easton was a widower. Fanny may have died in 1895, as a record exists for a Fanny Easton in Wandsworth, although her year of birth was given as 1851. John was still living at Battersea with his youngest son in 1911 and working as a plate-layer.
Back to Box
The connection with Box was not broken and two of Fanny’s children with Thomas returned from London to Box. After working as a cook in London, Alice returned to Box by 1901 to marry John William Beckett, a painter and decorator, from Battersea. She gave her surname as Sheppard, and stated that Thomas Sheppard was her father. Frank Sheppard, her half-brother, was a witness. In 1911 she was living at 27 Elmsleigh Road, Wandsworth, London with her husband and one child, and stated that she was born in Box.
John (Jack) Easton was my great-grandfather. He carried on the tradition of marrying next-door neighbours, as in 1911 he was working as a coalminer in the Rhondda at 10 Aberdare Road. He met Sarah Jane Daniels who was living at 7 Aberdare Road. They moved back to London and married in 1915 in Battersea. The marriage was witnessed by John's brother Albert.
Family Tree
Thomas Sheppard, 1834 – 1909
Thomas Sheppard married twice:
1. Maria Plank (1839 - 1876) on 18 February 1860 at Marden, Devizes with whom he had at least six children:
Sidney (b 1865);
Charles (b 1867);
Hannah (sometimes called Ann) (b 1869);
William (b 1871);
John (b 1872);
Frank (b 1873);
Bertha (b 1875).
2. Fanny Wilmot (see below)
Wilmot Family
Parents: John Wilmot (1822 – 1902) married Harriet Carpenter (1813 – 1881). Children:
Caroline (1840 – 1870); Ralph (1841 – 1910); James (1844 – 1905); Jane (1845 – 1918); Martha (1847 – 1912); Alfred (b 1850); Fanny (1854 – 1895); Frank (b 1856); and Emily (1858 – 1859)
Fanny Wilmot (1854 – 1895) also married twice:
1. Thomas Sheppard (1834 – 1909) in 1876. Children:
George (b 1877);
Alice (1878 - 1928); and
Sidney (b 1879).
2. John Easton (1857 - 1938) in 1887 at Wandsworth, London. Children:
John H (known as Jack) (1887 - 1973), my great grandfather who married Sarah John Daniels (1892 - 1960);
William (1889 - 1954);
James (b 1891);
Albert Bertie (b 1893);
Florence Annie (b 1894).
Thomas Sheppard, 1834 – 1909
Thomas Sheppard married twice:
1. Maria Plank (1839 - 1876) on 18 February 1860 at Marden, Devizes with whom he had at least six children:
Sidney (b 1865);
Charles (b 1867);
Hannah (sometimes called Ann) (b 1869);
William (b 1871);
John (b 1872);
Frank (b 1873);
Bertha (b 1875).
2. Fanny Wilmot (see below)
Wilmot Family
Parents: John Wilmot (1822 – 1902) married Harriet Carpenter (1813 – 1881). Children:
Caroline (1840 – 1870); Ralph (1841 – 1910); James (1844 – 1905); Jane (1845 – 1918); Martha (1847 – 1912); Alfred (b 1850); Fanny (1854 – 1895); Frank (b 1856); and Emily (1858 – 1859)
Fanny Wilmot (1854 – 1895) also married twice:
1. Thomas Sheppard (1834 – 1909) in 1876. Children:
George (b 1877);
Alice (1878 - 1928); and
Sidney (b 1879).
2. John Easton (1857 - 1938) in 1887 at Wandsworth, London. Children:
John H (known as Jack) (1887 - 1973), my great grandfather who married Sarah John Daniels (1892 - 1960);
William (1889 - 1954);
James (b 1891);
Albert Bertie (b 1893);
Florence Annie (b 1894).