Ann Wheelband · Village Girl · 1841

Ann Wheelband (WD3) 1841 – 1899

Ann was born 21 March 1841 at Laxton, Northamptonshire being the third of eleven children born to John Dickins Wheelband and Mary Ann Wheelband née Deacon.

Her baptism took place at All Saints Church Laxton on 14 November 1841 by the incumbent Vicar John Coss Glaves.

1841 Census

The next time Ann was recorded was the 1841 Census taken on 6 June 1841 where Ann is living with her parents and two elder siblings. Surprisingly for 1841 the enumerator was very exact in entering her age as 11 weeks.

The enumerator was not so helpful about their location other than Laxton probably because it is so small. He has listed Laxton Hall and Lodges so we must assume they lived in a small cottage in the township.

1851 Census

Ann next appears in the 1851 Census, which was taken on 30 March 1851. This is the first reasonably accurate census. Ann now aged 10 is listed as a scholar that indicates she is actually attending a school. It is interesting to note in a Directory that there was a small Free School at Laxton.

This census shows that the family are living in cottage number 12 in the village. This could possibly be where they were living in 1841.

Ann meets Henry Timpson

At some stage Ann moved to the town of Kings Cliffe most likely in service.

Ann went to the Kings Cliffe Fair on 29 October in 1859 and met a Henry Timpson and they had an immediate attraction to each other. He told her he was 27 and because she did not want to think her too young she told him she was 20 instead of her real age of 18.

After a brief courtship Henry proposed. She said yes provided he obtained her father’s permission as she was under 21 years old.

Henry set off early one Sunday walking to Kings Cliffe where Ann was waiting and the pair then walked to Laxton where Henry asked for Ann’s hand in marriage. Ann had of course already spoken to her parents and told them that she wanted to marry Henry.

John Wheelband was impressed with Henry and permission was given. The Wheelband’s were pleased that Henry and Ann were going to marry and live in Kings Cliffe less than five miles away.

• Read more about Henry and Ann’s married life together.