Reuben Austin and Elizabeth Wilsher

Elizabeth Wilsher

Reuben and Elizabeth were my great great grandparents, and married on 26 June 1845 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, so today is their 176th wedding anniversary.

Kelly’s Directory shows Reuben as a farmer at Lane End, Newchapel. He was born in Croxton, Staffordshire in 1818, one of three children. His father, William, was apparently a weaver, although I haven’t found the source for this information.

Elizabeth was born in Biddulph, Staffordshire in 1828. Her family name, Wisher, has also been recorded as Wilshaw or Willshaw. She was one of eleven children, and her father was listed as a labourer. I have little information about her mother, apart from her name – Hannah Bailey.

I have no image of Reuben, and I don’t have a date for this photo of Elizabeth.

They had five children. Their eldest, Mary Ann, was my great grandmother.

Elizabeth and Ann Willshaw

An interesting contact through Ancestry – Lynn S contacted me about Elizabeth Willshaw (or Wilsher), my great-great grandmother. She is descended from Elizabeth’s sister, Ann Willshaw, so I’ve been able to add in some family members there.

Elizabeth Wilsher

Elizabeth was born in 1828 in Biddulph, Staffordshire. She married Reuben Austin, and their eldest daughter, Mary Ann, was my great grandmother. Reuben was a brickmaker and farmer.

Her sister Ann was born in 1823, and died in 1906. Ann married George Holland, and they had eleven children. Lynn is descended from their daughter Fanny, who married Thomas Passant. He was a coal miner, as was my grandfather. There is some interesting information on the recent coal mining history of north Staffordshire at the North Staffordshire Coalfield site.

Matrilinial Monday – Elizabeth Wilsher

Elizabeth Wilsher was born in Biddulph, Staffordshire in 1828. She married Reuben Austin in 1845 in the Wolstanton District of Staffordshire, and they are my great-great-grandparents.

Elizabeth Wilsher

I haven’t traced her death, although her last child was born in 1866, so it was that year or later.

Her maiden name is also recorded as Willshaw.