#52 Ancestors - Shadows

​This week’s blog theme for #52Ancestors is Shadows and I thought I would write about someone who was constantly in the shadow of her husband, Esther or sometimes Hester Young.  I have been so desperate since starting my family history to find Corles Baldwin my great x 4 grandfather that I often overlook his wife.

Esther was my great x4 grandmother and this is her story as I know it so far.

She was born in Cork, Ireland in about 1786.  This is according to the records I have so far found for her.  She married Corles Baldwin in 1811, this is according to a number of records found on Ancestry such as the Marriage Licence Bonds for the Diocese of Cork and Ross which lists Corles Baldwin and Hester Young married 1811.

Image of a map of the Diocese of Cork and Ross

It appeared that Corles and Esther moved to England between 1815 and 1823.  We think this because their son Thomas was born 1815 in Ireland, according to the census returns available for him.  He was also a shoemaker.  He married Margaret in 1839 in St Giles in the Fields and stated his father was Corles Baldwin, Shoemaker.  He and his wife Margaret had a son, Corles in 1840 who died in 1844.  He and Margaret and their subsequent children emigrated to Canada after 1851.  

There was also a Henry Baldwin born in Cork in 1812 who married Hannah Darby in Preston, Lancashire who named father as Corles but as yet he has not been definitely connected to Corles and Esther, his marriage certificate showed his father Corles as a Farmer.

If you are interested in reading more about some of the research carried out on this family via a forum called Rootschat.com take a look at my Scavenger Hunt from a few years back KerryB's Scavenger Hunt...Everyone Welcome To Join In (The Common Room) 

Once Esther and Corles arrived in England they had 4 children all in St Giles in the Field:
William born 1823, baptised on 20 February and buried on 18 April 1823
Sarah born in 1824, baptised on 14 November 1824, she married Michael Madigan in 1843.   More about them in #52Ancestors - High and Low - Sussex Genealogist 
William Henry was my great x 3 grandfather and he was born on 6 November 1829 and baptised on 22 November 1829.  He married Emma Buxton on 24 October 1852 in Bethnal Green.
Lastly Henry was born in 1833 and baptised on 8 September 1833 but he died and was buried on 6 August 1834.

Image of the Finsbury area in London

​Esther and Corles appeared with William on the 1841 census at 1 Buckridge Street in Finsbury, sharing the property with 3 other families.  The only Sarah Baldwin I could find during 1841 was a 15 year old pauper in the St Giles and Bloomsbury Workhouse which is a possibility as this was a few streets away from Buckridge Street.

In 1847 Corles died after suffering after having Ashthma for 5 years and by 1851 Esther was living with William who was by now, 21 years old and working as a Gilder.  They were lodging at 25 Fitzroy Place in St Pancras with Ellen Belly, also a widow and her children.  Ellen was a Charwoman and Esther was a Dressmaker.  

Esther died on 7 April 1853 at 22 Fitzroy Place after 4 months of Phthisis.  An unknown woman Elizabeth Kavanagh was present at her death.  Presumably someone she had lodged with.  William who had married Emma Buxton the previous October was living in Bethnal Green.  

I have tried to find many of these dwellings on maps but so far only have approximate places for them.  For instance it would appear Buckridge Street has become Bucknall Street.  Fitzroy Place is believed to be in Fitzrovia, possible on Fitzroy Street.  Certainly on the 1851 census return the next street on the census after Fitzroy Place is Brook Street which does appear over the other side of what is now the Euston Road.  

One day I would like to find Esther or Hester in Ireland and who her family were.  I have a number of questions such as whereabouts in Cork did she live?  Who were her parents and did she have siblings?  One day I may find the answers.

Image of a map showing Fitzrovia in London and Regents Park just off to the left