George Borrell and Ann Corden

St Nicholas Church, Grainsby
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Ian S - geograph.org.uk/p/4160012

George Borrell (20), with consent of parents (not identified) and Ann Corden (21) (bap. 5 Jan 1756 in Grainsby, Lincolnshire), daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Corden, both of this parish, married by Licence, at St Nicholas Church, Grainsby, Lincolnshire on 19 Aug 1778. Witnesses were Ann Scrivener & William Brown.

George and Ann had at least eight children, all baptised in Grainsby:

1. John Burwell (sic) bap. 26 Oct 1780. Buried 26 Jun 1804.
2. Mary Borrill (sic) bap. 23 Feb 1785. Buried 17 Apr 1785.
3. Ann Borrill (sic) bap. 21 Apr 1786. Buried 10 Sep 1805.
4. Mary Borril (sic) bap. 19 Sep 1788. Buried 4 Oct 1789.
5. Eleanor Borrell bap. 16 Aug 1790
6. George Borrell bap. 8 Dec 1792
7. Sarah Borrill (sic) bap. 25 Dec 1794
8. Margaret Mary Hannah Burrell (sic) bap. 26 Jan 1800

Eleanor Borrell married William Johnson, in North Thoresby, on 12 Jan 1815.

Sarah Borrell married John Smith, in North Thoresby, on 15 May 1817.

The George Borrell, born in 1758, was buried, in Grainsby, in 1826. 

(Note: there are various burials of a George Borrell in 1825, 1826 and in 1827 in Grainsby. Certainly more deaths than there are baptism records available for, so it would be unwise to attribute any particular one just because it's there.)

In 1841, Ann Burwell (sic) age estimated to 80, was living in Tetney, Lincolnshire, in the household of John and Margaret Haith. John Haith, Batchelor, Blacksmith, son of William Haith (also living with them), had married Margaret Borrell, Spinster, daughter of George Borrell, in Old Clee, Lincolnshire, on 4 Feb 1841. Margaret's marriage certificate reveals that her father's occupation had been Labourer.

Ann Borrill (sic) died, aged 87, in 1844 S Quarter in LOUTH UNION Volume 14 Page 275, and was buried on 29 Jul 1844 in Grainsby, Lincolnshire.

Grainsby Hall Lincolnshire

Seeing the existence of this estate, it merely occurred to me that it would provide ample work for the residents of the village, but then read that, "In the 18th century Grainsby Hall was owned by the Nettleship-family. Francis Nettleship, who was the last member of the family, died in 1797. He left most of his property to his servant Elizabeth Borrell, who already owned land and the mansion house. When she died in 1826, the property was inherited by her niece Elizabeth Charlotte Borrell, who married William Haigh of Halifax in 1827." [Source]

"Francis left the estate to his servant Elizabeth Borrell who had actually bought the house and 313 acres for £5,800 in 1795 before his death. Elizabeth in turn left the estate to her great niece Elizabeth Charlotte who married a Yorkshire land owner William Haigh of Norland, Halifax in 1827 ..." [Grainsby Hall Lincolnshire]

The Elizabeth Borrell who died in 1826, was buried, on 8 Sep 1826, in the nearby hamlet of Waithe, Lincolnshire (as was Francis Nettleship). Her age given as 84, her year of birth was estimated to 1742. Unfortunately, we don't know if she was a Miss or Mrs Borrell and her birth is too early for currently available records.

Of course, the other questions that instantly arise are, a) where does a servant get £5,800 in 1795 (Close to a million GB£ today). And, b) exactly what service had she rendered to her master to become such a favoured beneficiary?

(There were no illegitimate children born to Elizabeth Borrell.) 

Elizabeth Charlotte Borrell did indeed marry William Haigh from Halifax, in Grainsby, on 9 Jan 1827. Elizabeth Charlotte Borrell (bap. 12 May 1805, in Grainsby), was the daughter of Benjamin and Eliza Lyonella Borrell. And in turn, Benjamin Borrell had married Eliza Lionella Charlotte Caton on 11 Jun 1804, also in Grainsby. Benjamin Borrell, who had died, aged 38 and was buried, also in Waithe, on 28 Nov 1822, had been baptised, in Waithe, on 8 Aug 1784, the son of John and Hannah Burril (sic). John Burrell (sic) (b. 1754) had married Hannah Basnip (née Hawkney), Widow (b. 1748), on 13 Feb 1781, in Waithe. How Elizabeth Borrell (1742-1826) is related to them or the rest of the Borrell family, however - they are of ages where Elizabeth, John and George could be siblings, but there are no records this far back to confirm - is still very much a mystery (although, in such small, rural communities, it would be difficult to believe they were not.)

• Grainsby Hall Lincolnshire - The lost Italianate mansion
• Historic photographs of Grainsby Hall and its former Stable Block
• George Henry Caton Haigh (Grandson of Elizabeth Charlotte Borrell)