Mary (Spry Shute) Allen (abt. 1850 - abt. 1916)

Born about Jun 1850 in Merton, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Wife of George James Allen — married 30 Nov 1873 in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died about Oct 1916 at about age 66 in Croydon, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Mary was born about 1850 to parents William Spry and Mary Babb.

In the 1851 census, Mary was living in Merton, Devon with her parents, two older sisters, Ann (7) and Elizabeth (3), and her cousin John Babb (13). Her father was an agricultural labourer and her mother a glover.^[1]

At the time of the 1861 census, ten people are now living together at Merton Mill. Mary (11) now has a brother John (8) and three more sisters Susannah (6), Emma (4) and Thirza (1). Mary's grandmother Mary Babb (75) is also living with the family.^[2]

By the time of the 1871 census, Mary's father and sister Emma had passed away, both in 1870. Emma had been with her uncle Mr Babb when a boiler exploded and she was fatally injured.^[3] Mary is listed as a domestic servant in 1871, while her mother is a labourer in the gardens. Mary has another brother William (8) and a granddaughter Alice (1) is also living with the family. Is Alice the daughter of Mary?^[4][5]

Mary must have decided she wanted to move away from Merton so she is next found in records marrying George James Allen in London in 1873. ^[6]

In 1874, her sister Ann also marries in the same church.^[7]

George and Mary's children:

1870 Alice E Spry Shute

1876 Jane

1880 Maud Ellen Mary

1881 William Elvis

1884 Thirza

1887 John Henry

1889 James Ernest

1892 Harold Edgar

Mary's husband was a boot shop manager. They lived in the Hornsey/Stoke Newington area of London until about 1885 when they moved to Croydon, south of the Thames River. Thirza, John, James and Harold were born in Croydon.^[8]

By 1901, Mary's husband has his own boot translator job working for himself from home at 39 Wilford Road, Croydon. There are still four children living at home.^[9]

In 1911, the census says Mary has been married to George for 37 years and has given birth to nine children. Six have died but Jane, Thirza (Teresa) and James are still living. They are living in a 5 room house at 16 Princess Road, West Croydon. George is a boot repairer but is now an employer.^[10]

Mary's mother passed away in 1908 at Preston, Sussex where she had been living with her daughter Thirza and her husband Stephen Irwin.

George died in 1914 and Mary passed away about 1916. It is not known where they were buried.

Sources

1. ↑ 1851 Census: "1851 England Census"
   Class: HO107; Piece: 1894; Folio: 314; Page: 23; GSU roll: 221045; ED, institution, or vessel: 3; Household schedule number: 80
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 8860 #6930317 (accessed 16 May 2024)
   Mary Spry (1) daughter in household of William Spry (40) in Merton in Torrington registration district in Devon, England. Born in Merton, Devon, England.
2. ↑ 1861 Census: "1861 England Census"
   Class: Rg 9; Piece: 1499; Folio: 65; Page: 27; GSU roll: 542822; ED, institution, or vessel: 4e; Household schedule number: 119
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 8767 #18955542 (accessed 16 May 2024)
   Mary Spry (11) daughter in household of William Spry (50) in Merton in Torrington registration district in Devon, England. Born in Merton, Devon, England.
3. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #232816389 (accessed 16 May 2024)
   Memorial page for William Spry Shute (1810-7 Mar 1870), citing All Saints Churchyard, Merton, Torridge District, Devon, England; Maintained by Lost Ancestors (contributor 48778889).
4. ↑ 1871 Census: "1871 England Census"
   The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 2196; Folio: 61; Page: 25; GSU roll: 834863; ED, institution, or vessel: 4; Household schedule number: 130
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 7619 #9248530 (accessed 16 May 2024)
   Mary S Shute (21) daughter in household of Mary S Shute (46) in Merton in Torrington registration district in Devon, England. Born in Merton, Devon, England.
5. ↑ Baptism: "Devon, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1920"
   Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at South West Heritage Trust; Taunton, Somerset, England
   Ancestry au Record 62286 #580238 (accessed 16 May 2024)
   Alice Spry baptism on 16 Mar 1870, child of Mary, in Merton, Devon, England.
6. ↑ Marriage: "London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938"
   London Metropolitan Archives; London, England, UK; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P84/PHI/007
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 1623 #7003924 (accessed 16 May 2024)
   Mary Spry Sheate (23) marriage to George James Allen on 30 Nov 1873 in Saint Philip, Kensington: Earls Court Road, Kensington and Chelsea, England.
7. ↑ Marriage: "London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938"
   London Metropolitan Archives; London, England, UK; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P84/PHI/007
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 1623 #7003937 (accessed 16 May 2024)
   Ann Spry Shute (30) marriage to Richard Drew on 23 May 1874 in Saint Philip, Kensington: Earls Court Road, Kensington and Chelsea, England.
8. ↑ 1891 Census: "1891 England Census"
   The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 587; Folio: 52; Page: 45; GSU roll: 6095697
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 6598 #18395999 (accessed 16 May 2024)
   Thirra Allen (6) daughter in household of George J Allen (41) in Croydon registration district in Surrey, England. Born in Croydon.
9. ↑ 1901 Census: "1901 England Census"
   Class: RG13; Piece: 643; Folio: 178; Page: 37; ED, institution, or vessel: 56; Household schedule number: 272
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 7814 #4846453 (accessed 16 May 2024)
   Mary Allen (51), wife, in household of George James Allen (51) in Croydon registration district in Surrey, England. Born in Merton, Devon, England.
10. ↑ 1911 Census: "1911 England Census"
    The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911; Registration District Number: 39; ED, institution, or vessel: 21; Piece: 3343
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 2352 #41901119 (accessed 16 May 2024)
    Mary Allen (61), wife, House Work, in household of George James Allen (61) at 16 Princess Road, West Croydon, Croydon, Surrey, England. Born in Merton, Devonshire, England.