St George's Hanover Square

Photo: John Salmon

Early on in my research I visited St George's Hanover Square in London.  This is the church where John Mayhew and William Ince married the sisters Isabella and Ann Stephenson on 20th February 1762.  The report in The London Chronicle refers to 'Nancy Stephenson', which lends an air of frivolity to her. 

All four signed the entries in the Parish Register, and the witnesses were John Mayhew's father and William Ince, for John and Isabella, and again John Mayhew's father and this time John Mayhew for William and Ann.  The curate, Thomas Vincent, performed the service along with the other three marriages that took place that day. 

The marriages were permitted by licence, rather than the reading of Banns.  As Nancy was only nineteen her mother signed a paper to confirm Nancy had no father living, and she gave her permission for the marriage to take place.  Jean Stephenson wrote that she was too old and infirm to testify in person. 

As many a family historian will relate, to take time to sit quietly in the church where your ancestors were married is a moving experience.  I found it good to ponder on their marriage, how young they all were, still in their teens and twenties, but presumably hopeful and excited about their future together.  Sadly Isabella died within the year, but William and Nancy  survived to the early nineteenth century, producing thirteen children, nine boys and four girls, of whom only six survived them. 

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