Died
John: 14 December 1839
Ann: 9 February 1842
Sources
Lancashire Online Parish Clerk
Cumbria BMD
Ancestry
Place
Walks
Themes
John and Ann Marr
An interesting stone for its eclectic use of capital letters. Note especially the L in also in line six.
A death of this date is difficult to research without going back to Parish Records. The first Census of modern times was 1841, and had limited information collected.
Similarly, information about his wife, and her time as the school mistress, will be difficult to find unless the School Log Book has survived. Unfortunately, they go no further back than 1875.
Another challenge is to find out who I.S. was, who erected the headstone as a tribute. This proved beyond me. I have two suggestions: (a) that the “I” is an old-fashioned use replacing a “J”, and it is Rev. John Stonard, who died in 1849 after nearly 35 years as Rector of Aldingham. In this role he would have had close contact with Ann Marr, schoolmistress of Aldingham Parochial School at Scales. Alternative (b) is that it is Isabella Stables of Scales, who died in 1877. She was born Isabella Simpson in 1806 in Leece, married James Stables of Scales, Husbandman, in Aldingham on 23 August 1845, and was buried in Aldingham 4 September 1877, aged 71 yrs.
The Lancashire Online Parish Clerk records show John Marr, son of James Marr and Margaret, being baptised at St. Cuthbert’s, Aldingham, on 26 September 1768. His brother William Marr, presumably his twin, was baptised with him. About 27 Marr’s are recorded as being baptised at Aldingham between 1663 and 1812, with abodes including Sunbrick, Scales Park and Beickliff (sic).
John Marr (43) Husbandman of this Parish, married Ann Jackson (40) Spinster of this Parish, on 26 December 1812, at St. Cuthbert’s. Her baptism is not recorded. On Ancestry the Marriage Bond is dated 17 December 1812, and signed by Rev. Sunderland, after whom Sunderland Terrace in Ulverston is named.
From Ancestry we can find out that John Marr appears on various legal documents, e.g. Land Tax Redemption, for Lower Aldingham, 1798, occupying land owned by George Ashburner, of Holme Bank.
Ann Marr is living on her own in Scales in the 1841 Census. Her occupation is unreadable.
John Marr’s Will had Probate granted on 14 March 1842, i.e. after the death of his widow. He is described as a Land Bailiff.
