Ann Eagle 1794 – 1862 (ES2)
Years 1794 – 1817
Ann was born in Aldwinkle All Saints, Northamptonshire in December 1794 being the second of nine children born to William and Frances Eagle née Sergeant.
She was baptised as Anne Eagle in the neighbouring parish of Aldwinkle St Peter by the Rector Joseph Drury on 21 December 1794. This would not be unusual as the church was probably closer to where the family lived than the All Saints Church.
Ann would have grown up in very similar circumstances as her future husband Henry Timpson as in the baptismal register her father William Eagle is listed as a Labourer. Most likely an Agricultural Labourer. Ann would also have no formal education.
They too would have lived in a similar cottage to the Timpson’s and had to draw water from the village pump.
It no longer exists as such and all manorial rights were lost in the 1700’s.
We therefore have no idea who might have employed Ann’s father William Eagle.
Ann as she grew up would have attended mop or hiring fairs looking for work. Most times she would be successful and get a year’s work and board. Occasionally she would miss out and go back home and help out as much as she could.
In 1817 she went to a fair and a young man introduced himself as Henry Timpson and asked if she would take a walk with him. He seemed pleasant so she agreed and as they walked he told her he had been offered and accepted permanent work on a large estate and would like to settle down with a wife and have a family. Henry asked Ann if she was interested in marrying him. Ann thought as they walked and agreed provided Henry got her father’s approval. Arrangements were made and William Eagle was pleased that Henry had permanent work and they would have a cottage to live and gave his approval. They would be living about twelve and a half miles away.
Henry and Ann visited the Rector and arranged the marriage date and the Reading of the Banns on the three Sundays prior. All this happened quickly as Henry had to take up his new position quite soon.
The wedding day quickly arrived and the wedding of Henry Timpson and Ann Eagle was performed by the Rev Frederic Powys on Monday 22 December 1817 at Aldwinkle St Peter’s Church. In the parish register there were no places to enter ages or occupations. Their names were entered in the registers as Henry “Timson” and Ann Eagle and they both signed by making their mark. The two witnesses were Henry’s sister Charlotte “Timson” and Ann’s first cousin (on her father’s side) William Holden both of whom signed by making their mark.
The newly married couple left the next day to travel to their new home together.