Sarah Hudson

Sarah Hudson's connection to the family tree is only through the granting of probate on her will to the executors Eli John CLOSE and Walter Robert HADWEN.

Let's start the story 31/7/1814 when Robert HUDSON married Mary ASHMAN at St.Mary de Crypt in Gloucester. Robert appears in Pigot's 1830 directory of Gloucester as "Hatter Southgate Street". Three children, Mary, Henry, and Sarah were christened on the same day, 18/8/1833, at St. Mary-de-Lode Gloucester.

By 1841, it seems that Robert had hung up his hat for the last time, although I can't find a record of his death. There is an entry in the London Gazette of 13/3/1840: "Robert Hudson the elder, late of 10 Westgate Gloucester, Hatter - In the gaol of Gloucester". Wife Mary (45) is in Southgate Street as "Hat Seller" with three children: Eliza (20), Henry (18) and Sarah (12). Child Mary has been replaced with Eliza, which could mean that the record of Mary's christening is an error; alternatively Eliza changed her name.

In 1851, Mary is still a Hatter, Henry is a Clerk in the Post Office, and the two daughters have no occupation listed, but presumably helped in the shop.

Henry married Jane EGGERTON in 1853; they had two children: Sarah Jane (1855) and Mary Ann (1858)

Wife Mary hung up her hat in 1859, so in 1861 Eliza (now Eliza A.) and Sarah are Hatters in Southgate Street.

Nothing changed by 1871, except we now know that they are at 3 Southgate Street; and they were still there in 1881.

By 1891 they have retired "Living on own means" and moved to 30 Stroud Road. Seems that this may have happened soon after 1881, see Burglary.

In 1901, they are at 34 Stroud Road as "Retired Hatters", and still spinsters.

Eliza Ann died Q3 1906, aged 88; Sarah died 16/4/1907 aged 77; her address was then 41 Wellington St, Gloucester.


Walter Robert Hadwen

Walter Robert Hadwen was born in Greenwich in 1854. He married Alice Caroline McKenzie HARRAL in Wandsworth, London, in 1878. Alice was born about 1851 at St Heliers, Jersey. In 1911 they lived in Gloucester.

Walter travelled to The U.S.A., sailing from Southampton on the "Olympic", arriving in New York 20/9/1922, listing Gloucester as his last place of residence and stating he was married; however Alice wasn't with him.

Walter Robert Hadwen MD MRCS MRCP died 27 December 1932.
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So what was the connection between these two and Eli John Close?