Hannah Heathcote

1774 - 1838

Hannah was born in 1774 in Flagg, the eldest child of Robert and Sarah, and baptised at St John the Baptist's in Chelmorton on 17th December that year ⁽³⁾. Her brother John was born when she was about 2 ⁽⁴⁾, her sister Elizabeth when she was about 4 ⁽⁵⁾, Jane when she was about 6 ⁽⁶⁾, Martha when she was about 9 ⁽⁷⁾, and Mary when she was about 11 ⁽⁸⁾.

Sometime in the next year or so, possibly in May or June 1887, her family and she moved to Ashford ⁽⁹⁾. Her brother Joseph was born there in 1788 ⁽¹³⁾, sister Sarah in 1790 ⁽¹⁴⁾, and sister Ann in 1793 ⁽¹⁵⁾. (Her youngest sister, Ellin was born in 1795 ⁽¹⁶⁾, after Hannah had married and left home).

Hannah married John Sheldon, on 15th September 1793 at All Saints, Bakewell. She was unable to sign her own name in the register ⁽¹⁷⁾. They set up home in Ashford, and their first child, Betty, was born in 1794 ⁽¹⁸⁾. Unfortunately she lived for less than a year, dying in April 1795 ⁽¹⁹⁾. Their next daughter, Ann, was born in 1797 ⁽²⁰⁾, followed by Jane around 1799 ⁽²⁶⁾, Martha in 1802 ⁽²¹⁾, and Sarah in 1805 ⁽²²⁾. Hannah's father died in May 1806 ⁽³¹⁾. John, her eldest son, was born in about 1808 (or possibly a little earlier) ⁽²³⁾. Her daughter Sarah died in March 1812 ⁽²⁴⁾, and a couple of weeks later a son called Robert also died ⁽²⁵⁾ (but no record of his baptism has been found, so his age at the time is unknown). Her daughter Jane died in January 1816 ⁽²⁶⁾, a few months before her youngest child Joseph was born, towards the end of that year ⁽²⁷⁾.

Hannah's mother Sarah died in April 1836 ⁽³²⁾. Hannah died in Ashford on 18th March 1838 aged 63 ⁽²⁸⁾, and was buried there the same day ⁽²⁹⁾. Her husband John survived her by almost 14 years ⁽³⁰⁾.

• Betty was born in spring/summer 1794 in Ashford, but died in April 1795.
• Ann was born in Ashford in 1797. She married Joseph Downes in Bakewell in 1822, and they had at least 5 children, Jane, Hannah, Matthew, John and Henry. She died in May 1851.
• Jane was born about 1799 in Ashford, and died there in January 1816.
• Martha was born in Ashford in 1802. She married Robert Hutchinson in Bakewell in 1833 and they lived in Pilsley. They had at least 4 children, Thomas, Emily, John and Sarah Anne. She died in 1850.
• Sarah was born in Ashford in 1805 and died there in 1812.
• John was born about 1806 in Ashford. He stayed single, and lived with his father until his father's death in 1852, then married Elizabeth Williamson a couple of years later, when aged about 47. They lived in Litton. He worked as a framework knitter all his life, and didn't have any children. He died in 1872.
• Robert's date of birth is unknown, but he was only a child when he died in 1812.
• Joseph has his own page

1. N/A
2. N/A
3. Baptism entry in Parish register of St John the Baptist's, Chelmorton reads:
   [1774, 10^ber] 17^th Bap. Han^h D of Rob^t Heathcote of Flagg & Sarah
4. John's baptism hasn't been found, but he was 11 years old when his father's settlement certificate was issued on 16th June 1787 ⁽¹²⁾.
5. Elizabeth's baptism hasn't been found, but she was 9 years old when her father's settlement certificate was issued on 16th June 1787 ⁽¹²⁾.
6. Jane's baptism hasn't been found. However she was 7 years old when her father's settlement certificate was issued on 16th June 1787 ⁽¹²⁾.
7. Parish Register of St John the Baptist's, Chelmorton includes the entry:
   [1783] Nov 30 Bap^d Martha D^r of Rob^t & Sary Heathcote       D^o[Flagg]
8. Parish Register of St John the Baptist's, Chelmorton includes the entry:
   [1786] Jan^y 29^th Bap^d Mary D^r of Rob^t & Sary Heathcote         Flagg
9. Hannah's father, Robert Heathcote, lived in Flagg at the time of his daughter Mary's baptism on 29th January 1786 ⁽⁸⁾, but had moved to Ashford by the time of his settlement exam on 1st June 1787 ⁽¹⁰⁾. Flagg was deemed to be his place of legal settlement on 11th June ⁽¹¹⁾, and a certificate was issued on 16th ⁽¹²⁾. Whether Robert took his family to Ashford straight away, or "checked it out" alone first is unknown, so its impossible to state with certainty when Hannah herself moved. What is certain is, that the township of Flagg having accepted responsibility for them, the overseers of the poor in Ashford had allowed the family move there. They were certainly living there by the time of son Joseph's baptism on 18th May 1788 ⁽¹³⁾.
10. Settlement examination of Robert Heathcote, Ashford, 1st June 1787 (Derbyshire Record Office ref: D747 A/PO 2/15) reads:
    Derbyshire           The examination of Robert Heathcote of
                        Ashford in the said County Labourer touching
                        his settlement, Taken the 1st Day of June 1787.
                                                  Who saith he was born at Flagg
    in the said County Where he believes his father was legal[ly]
    settled. When he was about Ten years of age his Father hir[ed]
    him to Mr Birdekin of Flagg aforesaid for one year, where
    he staid Two years Then left and went to live with John Allen
    of Eyam Where he lived three years Then went to live with
    William Fanshaw of Ashford Where he staid one year Then
    went to live with Joshua Flint of Great Longstone Where he
    only stay'd three Quarters of year. From thence he return'd
    to Flag aforesaid and hired himself to John Redfearn of
    that place for one year for the wages of five guineas in which service he staid that
    year and Received his years wages. Since then Hath done
    no other act that may affect his settlement.        His
                                                                        Robert   X   Heathcote
    Taken & sworn the day and \                             Mark
    year above written before     >
                       me    R Wright    /
    
11. Removal order of Robert Heathcote, Ashford to Flagg, 11th June 1787 (Derbyshire Record Office ref: D747 A/PO 3/7) reads:
                           \    To the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Hamlet
                           |    of Ashford and Parish of Bakewell
    County of      |    in the said County of Derby and to the
    Derby            >   Churchwardes and Overseers of the Poor of the Hamlet of
    To Wit           |    Flagg and Parish of Bakewell
                           |    in the ... County of Derby aforesaid and to all and
                          /     every one of them.
    Upon the Complaint of the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor
    of the Hamlet of Ashford and Parish of Bakewell
    in the said County of Derby unto us whose Names are
    hereunto set and Seals affixed, being two of his Majesty's justices of the
    Peace in and for the said County of Derby and one of us of
    the QUORUM, that
    Robert Heathcote is
    come to inhabit the said hamlet of Ashford in the
    Parish of Bakewell not having gained a legal Settlement
    there, nor produced any Certificate owning himself
    to be settled elsewhere, and that the said
    Robert Heathcote is
    likely to be chargeable to the Hamlet of Ashford in the
    Parish of bakewell We the said Justices, upon due proof made
    thereof, as well upon the Examination of the said
    Robert Heathcote upon Oath, as otherwise,
    and likewise upon due consideration had of the Premises, do adjudge the
    same to be true; and we do likewise adjudge that the lawful settlement of
    the said
    Robert Heathcote
    is the said Hamlet of Flagg and Parish of Bakewell
    in the said County of Derby. We do therefore
    require you the said Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said
    Hamlet of Ashford in the Parish of Bakewell
    or some or one of you, to convey the said
    Robert Heathcote
    from and out of the said hamlet of Ashford in the Parish of
    Bakewell to the said hamlet of Flagg in
    the Parish of Bakewell and him to deliver to the Church-
    wardens and Overseers of the poor there, or to some one of them, together
    with this our order, or a true copy thereof, at the same time shewing to
    them the original. And we do hereby require you the said Churchwardens
    and Overseers of the Poor of the said Hamlet of Flagg
    in the Parish of Bakewell to receive and provide for him
    as an Inhabitant of your Hamlet. Given under our Hands and Seals the
    11 Day of June in the 27 year of the reign of his
    Majesty King George the Third, and in the Year of our Lord 1787
    
12. Settlement certificate of Robert Heathcote, Flagg, 16th June 1787 (Derbyshire Record Office ref: D747 A/PO 3/6) reads:
    Derbyshire \ To the Church-wardens and Over-
                        / seers of the Poor of the Township of Ashford
                          in the County of Derby
       We the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the
       Township of Flagg in
       the Parish of bakewell
       in the said County do hereby certify
       own and acknowledge
       Robert Heathcote and Sarah
       his wife and their six children Viz: Hannah
       aged 13 years, John 11 years, Elizabeth 9 years
       Jane 7 years, martha 4 years and Mary
       about one year old.
       to be inhabitant legally settled in the said Township
       of Flagg. In witness whereof we
       have hereunto set our hands and seals, the sixteen
       day of June in the year of our
       lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven
    Witness
       Joseph Needham         Thomas Lingard
          the   X   mark
        of Joseph Harrison         John Skidmore
    We whose names are hereunto subscribed, two of his ma-
    jesty's justices of the peace in and for the County
    of Derby aforesaid, do allow of the above-
    written certificate. And we do also certify that Joseph
    Harrison one of the witnesses who attested the execu-
    tion of the said certificate, hath this day made oath before the said
    justices that he did see the churchwardens and overseers of the
    poor whose names and Seals are thereunto subscribed and set, seve
    rally sign and seal the same; and that the names and mark of
    Joseph Needham and Joseph Harrison
    who are the witnesses attesting the said certificate, are respectively
    of their own proper hand-writing. Given under our hands the
    sixteenth day of June in the
    year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven
                                          J Denman
                                          John Barker
13. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [18th May 1788] Bap^d Joseph Son of Rob^t & Sarah Heathcote
14. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [30th May 1790] Bap^d Sarah Daug^r of Rob^t & Sarah Heathcoat
15. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [1793] Feb^y 10 Bap^d Sarah Daug^r of Rob^t & Sarah Heathcoat
16. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [September 1795] the 20 Bap^d Ellin Daug^r of Robert & Sarah Heath[coat]
17. Marriage entry in the parish register of All Saints, Bakewell states :
    John Sheldon & Hanah Heathcote
    both of Ashford in this Parish were
    Married in this Church by Banns
    this fifteenth Day of September in the Year One Thousand seven Hundred
    and ninety three By me Richard Chapman Vicar
    

    The Marriage was solemnized between Us	John Sheldon   His X Mark
    	Hannah Heathcote   her X Mark

    In the Presence of	Matthew Thorpe
    	Philip Roe

18. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [15th June 1794] Bap^d Betty Daug^r of John & Hannah Sheldon
19. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [April 1795] the 12 Bur^d Betty Daug^r of John & Hannah Sheldon
20. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [23rd April 1797] Bap^d Ann Daug^r of John & Hannah Sheldon
21. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [December 1802] the 25 Bap^d Martha Daug^r of John & Hannah Sheldon
22. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [9th June 1805] Bap^d Sarah Daug^r of John & Hannah Sheldon
23. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [12th February 1808] Bap^d Martha Son of John & Hannah Sheldon.
    However, later declarations of his age on censuses imply he was born around 1806. He may not have been baptised until a year or two after birth for some reason.
24. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [1812] Mar 8 Bur^d Sarah Daug^r of John & Hannah Sheldon
25. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    [Mar 1812] the 28 Bur^d Rob^t Son of John & Hannah Sheldon
26. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford contains the entry:
    

    Name	Abode	When buried	Age
    Jane Daughter of John & Hannah Sheldon	Ashford	January 28th 1816	16

27. Baptism entry in parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
    

    When baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Christian Name	Parent's Surname	Abode	Quality, Trade or Profession
    17th November   [1816]	Joseph Son of	John Hannah	Sheldon	Ashford	Frame Work Knitter

28. Death Certificate from Registration District of Matlock, Bakewell and Tideswell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    1838, March 18, Ashford	Hannah Sheldon	Female	63	Wife of John Sheldon, Gardener	Decline	The mark of Jane Downes, Grandaughter to the deceased, Ashford	1838, March 28

29. The Parish Register of Holy Trinity, Ashford (Transcription by Val Neal) lists the burial of Hannah Sheldon age 63 on 18th March 1838.
30. Death Certificate from Registration District of Bakewell states:

    When and where died	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered
    Twenty sixth February 1852 Ashford	John Sheldon	male	81 years	Framework Knitter	Old age, no medical attendant	The mark of John Sheldon, Present at the death, Ashford	Twenty seventh February 1852

31. Burial entry in Parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
    [1806] May 30 Bur^d Rob^t Heathcote
32. Burial entry in Parish register of Holy Trinity, Ashford reads:
    

    Name	Abode	When buried	Age
    Sarah Heathcote	Ashford	[1821] Apl. 29	84