Abraham Shelford had previously married
Caroline Kitty Collin in the Essex village of
Tilty, on 31 Oct 1846, with whom he had a daughter, Mary Ann Shelford, b. 1846 D Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 12 Page 88, bap. 17 Jan 1847 at
St Mary the Virgin, Tilty. However, Caroline Shelford had died, aged just 27, in 1854 J Quarter in DUNMOW UNION Volume 04A Page 219 and was buried, on 11 May 1854, at
St John & St Giles, Great Easton. Their daughter, Mary Ann Shelford died, at 15, in 1862 M Quarter in CLERKENWELL Volume 01B Page 424 and was buried, on 5 May 1862, in Hackney, Middlesex.
Abraham and Sophia added three children:
- William Shelford b. 1862 J Quarter in CLERKENWELL Volume 01B Page 550, bap. 6 May 1862 at St James, Clerkenwell
- Alice Shelford b. 1863 D Quarter in CLERKENWELL Volume 01B Page 579, bap. 11 Dec 1863 at St James, Clerkenwell (Nothing after 1881)
- Emily Shelford b. 1869 J Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 155, died in 1870 M Quarter in SHOREDITCH Volume 01C Page 149
In 1861, Abraham Shelford (35) Deputy turncock n r co and Sophia Shelford (34) Deputy turncock's wife - such was the importance of the office - were living at 27, Rodney Street,
Clerkenwell, London. Abraham's daughter Mary, listed as 16, was a Domestic servant in the household of William Paton, Upholsterer at 88,
Pentonville Road, St James, Clerkenwell.
In 1871, Abraham Shelford (44) was living at 43 Gifford Street, St Leonard, Shoreditch. On this census, his occupation is listed as Labourer, but I'm not sure I trust its veracity. His place of birth has been written as Great Eastern instead of Great Easton, which they've obviously confused with the
SS Great Eastern, because, then someone has added 'At Sea' on the end of it, which is all that got transcribed. :) With him were wife
Sarah Shelford (44) from Broxted, Essex and William Shelford (9) and Alice Shelford (7), both born in
Pentonville, Middlesex.
In 1881, living at 23, Mary Street,
Shoreditch, London, were Abraham Shelford (56) this time his occupation is listed as Waterman, but I'm certain, given his history, that this is as in someone who works for the water company, not the
ancient waterways taxi driver. With him were
Sarah Shelford (54), William Shelford (19) Carpenter and Alice Shelford (17) Laundress.
Then Sophia Shelford died, aged 56, in 1882 M Quarter in Shoreditch.
In 1891, Abraham Shelford (69) Water turncock, Widower, was living at 69
Tottenham Road, Hackney, London with son, William Shelford (29) Water inspector; Alice Shelford (27) Daughter-in-law and grandchildren: Edith (7), William J (5) and Ernest Shelford (3). (William Shelford married his 1st cousin, Alice Mason, daughter of
John Mason and Mary Ann Turner in 1883.)
In 1892, Abraham Shelford married Sarah Maria Wilcox in Hackney.
Sarah Maria Shelford remarried, in Bethnal Green, in 1898.