Martha Wilton and James Pearce

Melbourn High Street
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Sutton - geograph.org.uk/p/6508075

In 1849, Martha Wilton (42), third daughter of Stephen Wilton and Elizabeth Hankin, married widower, James Pearce and gained a ready-made family. 

James Pearce, bap. 29 Apr 1804, son of William and Elizabeth Pearce, in the parish of Foulmire (Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire), had previously married Hannah Jackson, on 10 Nov 1829, in Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire. 

In 1841, when Martha was looking after her late sister Elizabeth's children, James and Hannah Pearce were living in Kneesworth Street, Royston. 

Then Hannah Pearce died in 1848, aged 42. 

In 1851, James and Martha Pearce were in Melbourn, Hertfordshire, with James (47) Wool-stapler (a wool-stapler buys wool from the producer, sorts and grades it, and sells it on to manufacturers), Martha (43), and James' six children: William Pearce (19) also a wool-stapler, Hannah Jackson Pearce (13) dressmaker, Mary (11), James (9), Samuel (7) and Thomas (5).

In 1861, living in Baldock Road, Bassingbourn, Royston, were James (57), Martha (53), with James (19), Samuel (17) and Thomas (15) still at home.

James Pearce died in 1868, aged 64.

In 1871, Martha Pearce (62) was in West Terrace, Baldock Road, Bassingbourn, with step-sons James (29) and Samuel (26).

In 1881, Martha Pearce (70), widow, annuitant, was living alone at Alms House, 8, Kneesworth Street, Royston.

In 1891, at Alms House, Kneesworth Road, Bassingbourne, Royston.

In 1901, Martha was at Mill Yard, Alms House, Kneesworth Street, Royston.

Alms houses in Kneesworth Street are mentioned (with photo) in Royston Register of Buildings of Local Interest (PDF), as a building of local architectural and historic interest, which clearly illustrates important aspects of the social history of the town:

Mrs. Barfield’s Almshouses, Kneesworth Street

Mrs. Barfield was the widow of Reverend Barfield and purchased the land on the west side of Kneesworth Street for 4 Almshouses. These were built in 1833 for poor windows. At a later date 3 others were built opposite from the accumulation of funds with the fourth funded by C. Beldam Esq. The Almshouses were built in 1858 and are constructed of gault brick in Flemish Bond with hip slate roofs. Tall gault brick chimneys project at intervals along the roof line and out of the end hips close to the eaves. The Almshouses are designed as two single storey elongated blocks situated parallel to each other and orientated to end onto the road. A lower central outhouse block is situated at a central point at right angles between the two rows of houses, creating an 'H' shaped layout. The balance and symmetry of the layout, form and design of the Almshouses are key to their local architectural and historic interest and their design contribution within the street scene.

Martha Pearce died in Royston in 1904, at the grand old age of 97. 

Henry Wilton and Martha Douse

Saint Mary the Virgin, Great Shelford

Henry Wilton (bap. 12 Apr 1702), son of Henry and Elizabeth Wilton, farmer, married Martha Douse (bap. 8 Jul 1711), daughter of Philip and Constantia Douse in 1732 in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire. Henry and Martha Wilton had the following children baptised in Stapleford, Cambridgeshire:  

1. Henry Wilton bap. 2 Sep 1733 
2. Richard Wilton, bap. 16 Oct 1737 
3. Martha Wilton bap. 21 Oct 1739

Henry Wilton died and was buried, on 21 Oct 1739, at Stapleford. Martha Wilton died and was buried on 24 Oct 1766, also at Stapleford.

John Day and Ellenor Hannah Wilton

View from Market Square in Hitchin, with St Mary's Church in the background

cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Lucas - geograph.org.uk/p/989830

John Day (b. 27 Dec 1820, bap. 25 Mar 1821 in Hitchin) son of Squire Day and Sarah Hobbs, married Ellenor Hannah (Ellen) Wilton (b. 5 Aug 1812, bap. 11 Jan 1829 in Royston, Hertfordshire), daughter of Stephen Wilton and Elizabeth Hankin, in Royston, Hertfordshire, in 1842. 

John and Ellen Day had six children: 

1. Henry Wilton Day b. 1843 D Quarter in ROYSTON BUNTINGFORD Volume 06 Page 563
2. Martha Hobbs Day b. 24 May 1845 (1845 J Quarter in CAMBRIDGE Vol 14 Page 12), bap. 17 Apr 1872 at St Mary The Great, Cambridge
3. Ellen Day b.  1847 S Quarter in THE HITCHIN UNION Vol 06 Page 487 (Died, aged 9, in 1857 M Quarter in HITCHIN Vol 03A Page 160)
4. Sarah Ann Day b. 1850 M Quarter in THE HITCHIN UNION Volume 06 Page 575. (Died 1850 D Quarter in HITCHIN Volume 06 Page 373)
5. John Alfred Day b. 4 Jan 1852 (1852 M Quarter in BIGGLESWADE Volume 03B Page 336)
6. Arthur Stephen Day b. 1855 J Quarter in HITCHIN Vol 03A Page 216

In 1851, John Day (30) Cabinet Maker Journeyman, Ellen Day (32ish) Dressmaker, Henry W (7), Martha H (5), Ellen (3), George Day (29) Master Tailor (John's brother) and Caleb Burrows (15), Lodger, lived in Dead Street, Hitchin - later renamed Queen Street, but that didn't improve it much. Dead Street was compared to the worst slums of London. Even in 1919: “Some houses had earth floors. The windows and doors were small and in a few cases the only window downstairs opened to a passage where there was no light and very little air. The only bedroom was like a stable loft, reached by a decrepit stairs or a ladder. Tea chests served as tables and 5 or 6 children in one bed was not unusual. It was very much survival of the fittest.”

In 1861, living in Church Yard, in the same squalid, underworld area, of which was said, "Although the area was central, the whole district was taboo for the rest of Hitchin’s inhabitants." ... were John Day (41) Cabinet Maker Journeyman; Ellen Day (46), Henry Day (17) Butcher Journeyman; Alfred Day (9) and Arthur Day (6). Martha Day (14) was a House Maid in the household of Frederick Gillum (27), Cabinet Maker, in Sun Street, Hitchin. 

In 1871, listed as Helen Day (sic) (57) Dressmaker, Married; and Martha Day (24) Dressmaker, were living in Melbourne Street, Royston, Hertfordshire, while Alfred J Day (19) Reporter and Arthur S Day (15) Photographic Artist, were living with their grandfather, Squire Day (74) Upholsterer and Lodging House Keeper, in Back Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

In 1881, Ellen Day (64) Widow, Dressmaker, Mother was living with Daniel Reeve (married to daughter Martha) in Water Lane, Kneesworth. (John Day had clearly died by 1881. It's possible he'd already died by 1871. Perhaps his death was the motivation for Martha's baptism in 1872, however, it hasn't been possible to isolate a suitable death in the relevant period.)

Subject to confirmation, it appears that Ellen Day died, with age estimated to 71, in 1889 M Quarter in HERTFORD UNION Volume 03A Page 278.