The Rugby School Register includes an 1827 admission of "Richard Ellerton, nephew of Dr Ellerton, Magdalen College, Oxford, 12 June 7" [not sure what the "7" relates to] - it seem likely that this is the Richard referred to, although it could theoretically relate to his cousin Richard (1813-1873) who appears to have lived in Downholme all of his life.
Richard was an officer in the army, and the London Gazette reported on 29/1/1836: "War Office - 14th Regiment of Foot, Richard Ellerton, Gent. to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Carleton, who retires". The 31/8/1839 edition of The Times announced "War Office – 14th Regiment of Foot. Vice Ellerton retires as Ensign".
He had farms at Plas Yn Vivod, Llangollen and Brynfisilio (Wales) and homes in South Kensington (London) and Liss (Hants). His sister Catherine lived at Hambritts House, Painswick (Gloucester) which is believed to be another of Richard's properties.
The census returns reveal that Richard was not one to stay in one place for too long! In 1841 he was living with his widowed mother (born in Scotland), sisters, and 6 servants at "Aberdour House", Aberdour, Scotland. The census on 30th March 1851 showed him at "Erway", Dudlestone (near Ellesmere, Shropshire) with his mother, sister Catherine, and 5 servants - and the Morning Chronicle (London) reported the marriage just nine days later "at Llantysilio, Denbighshire, of Richard Ellerton of Erway, county Salop, to Janet W Wilkinson, only child of the late David Wilkinson Esq. of New Bond-street, London, surgeon, and niece of A Reid Esq. of Llantysilio Hall, Denbighshire". Another report in the Manchester Times reported "... to Miss Janet Walker Wilkinson ... authoress of the well-known novel Hands not Hearts"
The 1861 census recorded them at Maes Yrychen (Merionethshire) with 5 servants. In 1871 he was enumerated at Plas Vivod, Llangollen (Denbighshire) with his wife and 7 servants. 1881 sees both Richard and Janet listed as "boarders" at 8 Cambridge Terrace, Dover (Kent) - possibly while on holiday or "house-hunting" (Janet lived in Kent in her final years).
According to the Archives Network of Wales: "The Vivod estate was made up of the mansion house of Plas yn Vivod and numerous farms, mainly in the townships of Bache and Vivod, in Llangollen. The estate was amassed by Richard Ellerton of Llantysilio Hall in the mid-nineteenth century. In 1871 William Wagstaff of Hyde Park, Middlesex, the solicitor employed by Thomas Brassey, the railway contractor, purchased the estate for £27,000." The estate included a lodge, estate workers’ cottages and a dairy complex.
Several editions of The Times reported legal cases involving Janet: (a) 19/7/1866 - High Court of chancery. "Janet Walker Ellerton against Robert Roy and others" re: the creditors of the late Alexander Reid. (b) 30/5/1877 and 28/6/1878 – High Court of Justice. Ellerton v. Roy. No other details known to date.
Richard's 1887 death certificate shows that he died at his residence Sandford House, Hill Brow, Liss [Hampshire], of "enteric fever haemorrhage exhaustion", aged 72, was a "Retired Officer 14th Foot", and that Janet was present at the time of his death. His Probate states: "... formerly of Plas-yn-Vivod, Llangollen, Denbigh but late of 55 Longridge Road, South Kensington, Middx. Gentleman, died 21/6/1887 in Southampton. Will proved on 28th July by widow Jane Walker Ellerton. Personal Estate of £54,589 in the U.K." [was he buried in Southampton??]
After Richard died Janet moved to Sevenoaks, in Kent. A notice in the Daily News announced her death: "at Sevenoaks ... widow of Richard Ellerton of Sandford House, Liss, Hants". Her death certificate showed the cause of death as "Cancer of the glands in her bowels", and the informant was "Ann Johnson, present at the death". Her Probate states: "... of Woodlands, Mount Harry Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. Widow, died 23/1/1890. Will proved on 19th February by Conrad Wilkinson [Janet's cousin: a stock jobber]. Personal Estate £64,470".
Janet was wealthy in her own right, and was generous to her relatives - leaving money to Martha Alderson of Worksop, Mary Ann, Catherine Gibbes, and various societies giving help through religion or health care, particularly children. She also gave annuities to other relatives: her sister-in-law Barbara Elizabeth Clancy, and Elizabeth Reed of 86 Balmoral Terrace, West Hartlepool £50 during her life.
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Page last updated:
July 2008
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