Christopher Pickersgill & Elizabeth Smithson

I believe Christopher Pickersgill was baptised on 24 May 1773 in Ripon, Yorkshire, the son of Paul Pickersgill. He married Elizabeth Smithson on the 21 December 1799 in Ripon. I believe she was the daughter of Ralph Smithson and Elizabeth Reader baptised 7 September 1776 at St Mary’s, Cundall.

Christopher died on 26 January 1843 at Sharow and was buried on the 29 January at St John’s, Sharow. It is not yet known when or where Elizabeth died other than it was before 1841.

This Christopher and Elizabeth are not the couple buried at St Lamberts, Burneston. Our Christopher is buried at Sharow and bear in mind he’s in Sharow on the 1841 census! There’s no record of Elizabeth being buried at Sharow but she may have died prior to St John’s being consecrated in 1825.

I’ve found four children so far.

  • Ralph Smithson Pickersgill baptised 24 November 1800 at the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, Ripon. He commenced as a private in the 1st Regiment of Lifeguards on 1 March 1820 and was discharged on 9 November 1836. He died on 26 January 1839 at 10 John Street, Westminster and was buried on 30 January 1839 at St Marylebone.
  • Elizabeth Pickersgill baptised 4 October 1805 at the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, Ripon. She had two illegitimate children James (who ended up in prison) who married Annie Walls and Jane who married Joseph Thackway and after his death, Mark Beckwith. Elizabeth subesquently married William Lancaster on 23 February 1852 at St Columba’s, Topcliffe. She died on 4 September 1883 at Bishop Monkton and was buried on 7 September at St John the Baptist, Bishop Monkton.
  • Jane Pickersgill baptised on 13 June 1807 at the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, Ripon. She married George Hardy on 4th December 1826 at the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, Ripon.They had eight children. Jane died on 23 May 1884 at 6 Bishopton Lane, Stockton-on-Tees (Informant: Jane Stillborn of 6 Bishopton Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, daughter, present at death) and was buried at St John’s, Sharow on 26 May 1884.
  • Ann Pickersgill baptised on 19 November 1808 at the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, Ripon. She married Stephen Smithson on 13 February 1836 at St Columba’s, Topcliffe. They had three children. She died on 29 November 1869 at Copt Hewick and was buried at St John’s, Sharow on 3 December 1869.
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