Ellen Wilson 1794-1874

Ellen Wilson was born in Richmond, North Yorkshire, England in 1794, the daughter of labourer Matthew Wilson and his wife Jane Richardson. She was baptised Eleanor Wilson in St Mary's Church, Richmond on 25 May 1795.

On 25 November 1816 she married Thomas Mossom at St Mary's Church. At the time of his marriage, Thomas was living in Patrick Brompton parish, but by the birth of their first child, William, the couple were living in the parish of Easby. The second, Thomas, was born in Middleton Tyas, and by the time Mary Jane was born in 1824 the couple had moved into Co Durham and were living in Darlington.

Thomas Mossom senior died in April of 1824 and was buried at St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington.

Within a couple of years of Thomas' death, Ellen had formed a relationship with John Heighington. The couple didn't marry (I assume he was already married, and divorce was virtually impossible at this time in England) but they had several children together and lived together at Church Row in Darlington (opposite St Cuthbert's Church).

The 1841 census shows the family living at Church Row, with Ellen and the younger children using the surname Heighington, while her two older surviving children use Mossom. The girls (in their late teens) are working as wool spinners, while the younger boys are also working in the wool industry (I can't read/figure out the abbreviation).

John Heighington isn't present on the 1851 census. Ellen is the head of the household, still living on Church Row. The remaining children are all using the name Mossom now. It's not clear if John died or left - there is a death registered for a John Heighington of Church Row, but the age on the death certificate and burial record doesn't tie in with the census by about 30 years.

During the 1850s several of Ellen's children moved to the nearby boom-town of Hartlepool. Ellen also moved there and appears to have spent the rest of her life living with her daughter Mary Jane, who had married William Ashcroft.

Ellen died on 5 October 1874 in Hartlepool, and was buried in the town's Spion Kop Cemetery.

Ellen's children from her marriage to Thomas Mossom:
William Mossom 1819-1846
Thomas Mossom 1822-??
Mary Jane Mossom 1824-??

Ellen's children from her relationship with John Heighington:
Eleanor Mossom 1826-1876
John Heighington Mossom 1829-1866
Wilson Mossom 1832-1896
George Mossom 1837-??