Margaret Gardner (née Hilton)

Awarded compensation for the ownership of 6 enslaved people in St James, Jamaica, with Rev. Thomas Gardner, Adam Cliff and James Phillips.

1. A family tree on Ancestry.com gives Margaret as the daughter of Samuel Hilton, born in Montego Bay in 1811.

2. Adm. pens. at QUEENS', June 20, 1827. Of Lancashire. Matric. Michs. 1828; B.A. 1831; M.A. 1842. Ord. deacon (Chester) 1831; priest, 1832; P.C. of St Anne's, Stanley, Liverpool, 1831-80. Lived latterly at Glen Hylton, Southport. Disappears from Crockford, 1887. Father of Hilton (1856). (Clergy List.)

3. Thomas Gardner, clerk, bachelor, married Margaret Hilton, spinster, in Walton-on-the-Hill, Lancashire, 23/09/1834. In 1841 they were living at Poplar Grove, West Derby, Thomas age 40, Clerk, Margaret age 30 and children Gertrude age 5, Hilton age 4, Samuel age 3 and Constance age 1 month. In 1851 they were at Hanley Parsonage, Prescot Road, West Derby, Thomas age 50, Perpetual Curate, born Toxteth Park, Margaret age 40, born Montego Bay, and children Gertrude age 15, Hilton age 14, Samuel H. age 12, Margaret E. age 11, Frances M. age 9, Clara H. age 8, Constance M. age 4, Sarah F. age 3, Thomas A. age 1, sister-in-law Sarah Hilton (born Montego Bay), a nurse, a cook, a house servant and a butler.

4. In 1861 they were at the same address with children Gertrude A age 25, Samuel H. age 22, Margaret age 21, Frances M age 19, Clara H age 18, Constance M. age 14, Sarah F. age 13, Charlotte E. age 8, 3 female servants and 1 male servant. At the same address in 1871 and at 9 Morley Road, South Meols, Ormskirk, Lancashire in 1881.

5. The will of the Reverend Thomas Gardner formerly of Stanley near Liverpool but late of Morley Road, Southport, Lancashire, clerk, who died 19/05/1881 at Morley Road was proved at Liverpool by Margaret Gardner of Morley Road, widow, the relict and one of the executors. Personal estate £4,643 16s 2d. The death of Margaret Gardner has not been found but her spinster daughters were living at a boarding house in Southport in 1891.

1. Family tree by ClaraRays, Ancestry.com.

2. Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 [database online].

3. Ancestry.com, Lancashire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1936 [database online]; 1841, 1851 censuses online.

4. 1861, 1871, 1881 censuses online.

5. National Probate Calendar 1882.

We are grateful to Peter Bell for his assistance with compiling this entry.