Shep's Place Family Tree

Unfortunately her husband John H. Heslop had died by the first English census in 1841, so we find Sarah on her own in Gainford, aged 60 and independent ‎[of independent means]‎.

By 1851 Sarah is an annuitant aged 75 ‎[ages aren't necessarily accurate; sometimes they are rounded off]‎ who lives with her son Hilton Heslop in East Holme Bank House in Marwood, Durham. Hilton is a farmer of 155 acres who employs two labourers. Hilton's wife Sarah ‎(35)‎ has six children, a mother-in-law and two servants--one for the house and one for the farm--in her care plus Hilton, of course.

The children were Mary Ann 16, Robert 12, John seven, Sarah six, Margaret Elizabeth two and Jane Frances five months. In the Heslop home there were three Sarahs, one for each generation.

Still in Marwood in 1861, Hilton and Jane Heslops family now includes five more children: Robert Peverell 22, John 17, Sarah 16, Margaret Elizabeth 12, Jane Frances ten, George Thomas nine, Martha six, Louisa Carolina four and William two. Their grandmother, Sarah, a widow of 84 ‎[about 1777]‎ was "Formerly a farmer's wife." She was born in Stainmore Chapel, Westmoreland.

The family also has a servant who is William Blackburn, a carter, aged 16.

If only we knew that Sarah's husband's middle name was Hilton for John H. Heslop, we could feel quite confident that this was Robert Greenwood Heslop's mother and brother.

Hilton Heslop's place of birth in 1841 was Barnard Castle. If he isn't Robert's brother, then he is surely a cousin!