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Farewell Hannah

 Now this Hannah is still in the runnings until I can determine what happened to her. Sadly she just vanishes so a question mark remains over her fate. She was born in Chorley, Staffordshire, and baptised with her sister Mary in St Bartholomew’s, Farewell on 11th November 1821. Their parents were John and Lucy Genders. 

Hannah’s baptism record (1821)

Lucy (nee Muckley) was born c.1795 in Burntwood, Staffordshire, and was baptised in Hammerwich that year. In 1819 she gave birth to an illegitimate daughter named Mary, who was baptised in Farewell on 21st February that year. I strongly suspect this is the same Mary who was baptised with Hannah in 1821, and that she was baptised a second time after her parents had married.

John Genders was born c.1787 and was baptised in Hammerwich on the 30th December that year. He married Lucy Muckley on 3rd March 1821 at St Michael’s in Lichfield. So far I have found eight children:

Mary (1819-?); Hannah (1821-?); William (1824-1906); Sarah (1826-1873); Charlotte (1829-1875); John (1831-1831); Lucy (1832-1833); Caroline (1833-1836).

John died aged 48 in 1836 and was buried in Baswich on 11th January. In his earliest children’s baptism records his occupation is given as labourer, though from Sarah’s onwards he is listed as a blacksmith.

In the 1841 census, Lucy is living with her daughters Mary and Charlotte (though Mary’s name is given as Maria) on School House Lane in Brockton. Lucy is the school mistress.

Lucy in the 1841 census

I have not been able to account for Hannah, William, or Sarah’s whereabouts in 1841. However, I have been able to trace the rest of William and Sarah’s lives. The two siblings whose fates remain a mystery are Mary and Hannah. 

Sarah Genders relocated to Warwickshire and married James Gilbert in Polesworth in 1851. It is not inconceivable therefore that Mary and Hannah could have moved away. Investigations are ongoing, and until I can prove otherwise, Farewell Hannah remains a contender.

Naturally I have looked for evidence of her living with siblings but I have found no trace yet. Lucy and William are both living in Walton in 1851. Lucy is listed as a blacksmith’s widow and she is lodging with the Johnsons, and the situation is the same in 1861. Lucy died on 23rd February 1862 aged 66.


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