George Robinson and Elizabeth Pounder--Old Hartlepool, England

     George Robinson and Elizabeth Pounder are my paternal great great great grandparents who lived in Hartlepool, England.  My friend, Heather, once told me with the Pounder surname that I had "dyed in the wool" old resident of Hartlepool.  The Robinson surname also falls in that category.  In checking Durham County, Hartlepool records go back to the 1600's for the Pounders and the 1500's for the Robinsons.

     

     George Robinson, the son of Francis Robinson and Ann Rowntree was born on January 22, 1804 in Hartlepool, Durham County, England and was baptized at St Hilda's, Hartlepool,  on February 19, 1804.  

     Elizabeth Pounder, the daughter of James Pounder and Elizabeth Horsley, was born on November 23, 1805 in Hartlepool, Durham County, England and baptized on May 3, 1806 at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool.  The Horsley surname is listed in Hartlepool records going back to the late 1500's.

     On May 14, 1826 twenty-two year old George Robinson, a bachelor and fisherman married twenty year old Elizabeth Pounder a spinster at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, England.  Both signed their name with and "X".  One of the witnesses was William Horsley, perhaps a grandfather or an uncle of Elizabeth's.

     It is important to remember that Hartlepool was a small, closely knit, fishing village before the industrial revolution of  the mid 1830's.  Fishermen used nets  and lines working from small boats.  They were at the will of the North Sea and weather.  

     My paternal great great great grandmother, Ann Robinson, was baptized on December 20, 1827 at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool.  Her father is listed as a fisherman.  

  A second daughter, Mary Robinson, was baptized at St Hilda's Church October 3, 1830.

     There is a death record for an Elizabeth Pounder Robinson of Croft, born December 25, 1837 and died on January 21, 1939 in Hartlepool.  She is buried at St Hilda's Church Cemetery.  The death certificate lists Matthew Pounder and Elizabeth Pounder Robinson as her parents.  Was she born after George Robinson's death and he is the biological father or was she born out of wedlock to Matthew Pounder and Elizabeth Pounder Robinson Pounder?

Burials

Hartlepool

1836

George

Robinson

abt 1805

Croft

     There is a death record for George Robinson dated February 9, 1836.  I do not know if he died at sea or of an illness.  I also do not know where he was buried.

1857 Ordinance Map showing the location
of the Croft

     The Croft was an area in Old Hartlepool that was located near the Town Wall and The Sands.  An ideal location for fishermen to live.

     I was somewhat mystified to find a fifty-five year old Elizabeth Pounder listed in her daughter, Ann Robinson Storey's, 1861 census.  Pounder was her maiden name, not her married name.  More research found unmarried, fifteen year old Ann Robinson enumerated with Matthew and Elizabeth Pounder on the 1841 census.  

Marriages

Hartlepool

1838

Elizabeth

Robinson

Croft, Hartlepool

Marriages

Hartlepool

1838

Matthew

Pounder

Croft, Hartlepool

     It appears that Elizabeth Pounder Robinson married a cousin, Matthew Pounder in Hartlepool, during the year 1838.  From Ancestry files, it appears that Matthew Pounder was born on December 20, 1809 in Hartlepool the son of Thomas Pounder and Jane Shepard.

1841 England Census
Hartlepool

Bath Yard

Matthew Pounder, age 30, Fisherman, born in Durham County.

Elizabeth Pounder, age 30, born in Durham County.

Ann Robinson, age 15, born in Durham County.

I have not been able to locate The Bath Yard on the 1857 ordinance map.

1851 England Census
Hartlepool

Shepard's Gate

Stockton Registration District

Matthew Pounder, Head, Married, age 41, Fisherman, born Durham, Hartlepool.

Elizabeth Pounder, Wife, Married, age 46, born Durham, Hartlepool.

Matthew Pounder, Son, Unmarried, age 9, Scholar, born Durham, Hartlepool.

Elizabeth Pounder, Daughter, Unmarried, age 6, Scholar, born Durham, Hartlepool.

Margaret Pounder, Daughter, Unmarried, age 3, born Durham, Hartlepool.

Eleanor Brown, Servant, Unmarried, age 16, House Servant, born Durham, Hartlepool.

Photo from Find A Grave

     Matthew Pounder, age forty-nine, died on September 25, 1858 at his home located in Shepard's Court.  His occupation at death is ferryman.  He is buried at Spion Kop Municipal Cemetery, formerly Old Hartlepool Cemetery.

1861 England Census
Hartlepool

1857 Ordinance map showing location 
of Burdon's Passage

A passage in Old Hartlepool

Burdon's Passage

Elizabeth Pounder, Head, Married, age 55, Fish Dealer, born Durham, Hartlepool.

Elizabeth Pounder, Daughter, age 16, House Servant, born Durham, Hartlepool.

Margaret Pounder, Daughter, age 13, born Durham, Hartlepool.

John Storey, Head, Married, age 36, engine smith, York, Thirsk

Ann Storey, Wife, Married, age 34, charwoman, Durham, Hartlepool

Mary Ann Storey, Daughter, age 8, Durham, Hartlepool--my paternal great great Grandmother

Edward Storey, Son, 2 months, Durham, Hartlepool

Elizabeth Storey, Daughter, age 2, Durham, Hartlepool

     Elizabeth Pounder is living either next door to her married daughter Ann Storey and her family or they are sharing a house.

1871 England Census
Hartlepool

7 Burdon's Passage

Elizabeth Pounder, Head, Widow, age 65, born Durham, Hartlepool.

John Storey, Head, Male, Married, age 46, Engine Smith at Works, born York, Thirsk.

Ann Storey, Wife, Married, age 44, born Durham, Hartlepool.

Elizabeth Storey, Daughter, single, age 17, born Dunham, Hartlepool.

     In October 1872, Elizabeth Pounder Robinson Pounder died in Hartlepool, Durham County, England.  Probably at the house she shared with her married daughter, Ann Robinson Storey.  Some of Elizabeth's children and her second husband, Matthew Pounder are buried at the Old Hartlepool Cemetery.  Perhaps she is too.  Records and stones there are either nonexistent or sketchy.  

Elizabeth and George Robinson's Known Children:

1. Ann Robinson.  1817-1884.  Married John Storey (GGG Grandparents)
2. Mary Robinson.  1830-1897  Married William Sharp
3. Elizabeth Pounder Robinson.  1837-1839

Elizabeth and Matthew Pounder's Known Children:

1. Matthew Pounder. 1841-1855
2. Elizabeth Pounder.  1844-1914.  Married Jonathan Oxley
3. Margaret Pounder.  1847-1869

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