Mary Ann Wells
was the mother of ELIZABETH ANN JOHNSON and the maternal grandmother of WILLIAM HENRY FLUEN. 1927 she died age 73 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire - North Riding.
Different UK Census Records are confirming 1853/1854 as her year of birth and give Bradford (area), Yorkshire - West Riding as MARY ANN WELLS' birthplace. But it is unfortunately not quite clear, whose child she was. Although her marriage certificate refers to Christopher Wells, deceased * as father, a corresponding birth certificate of MARY ANN WELLS could not be found in the UK Birth Index. This again could give way to the assumption that this entry could have been made inadvertently wrong, which would leave only the year of birth and birthplace as unequivocal hint to her descent.
Following this train of thoughts an entry in the West Yorkshire Births and Baptisms Records, 1813-1910 seems to be very
promising, because this index provides a record of a MARY ANN WELLS born 08. Jan 1854 and christened in Bradford, St Peter's Cathedral (photo), on 12. Apr 1854. She was the daughter of MATTHEW WELLS (1822-1866) and ELIZABETH ALTON (1818-1867). This MATTHEW WELLS had a younger brother called CHRISTOPHER WELLS (1827-1890), who may have perhaps looked after his minor niece, after her parents had died within a year in 1866/1867.
According to the UK Census 1871, MARY ANN WELLS worked as servant in the household of Henry and Mary Lyon in Durham, Yarm, 151 Stockton Road. MATTHEW WELLS brother, CHRISTOPHER WELLS, resided in the same town at that time, which would support the hypothesis made before.
NOTE: Yarm is a small town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Stockton-on-Tees in North East England. It is on the south bank of the River Tees and for ceremonial purposes is in the county of North Yorkshire.
Only two years later, on the 28. January 1873, MARY ANN WELLS married CHARLES JOHNSON (1850-1894) in Stockton, Durham, perhaps guided to the altar by her uncle, CHRISTOPHER WELLS, taking the position of her late father. This circumstance could also be the explanation and reason, why her uncle instead of her late father got mentioned erroneously in her marriage certificate.
After her husband's death Mary Ann Johnson had to earn her living as housekeeper. According to the UK Census 1901, she lived and worked in the household of Mr Isaac Lawrence, 11 Teane Street, Middlesbrough, then. 1911 she resided in Middlesbrough, 27 Harris Street, together with her youngest son, John Ernest Johnson and her daughter, Martha Hannah Holland plus family. Besides there lived two boarders, too. One of them was the above Isaac Lawrence (widowed), age 67.
MARY ANN (WELLS) and CHARLES JOHNSON had five children:
(1) Richard Henry Johnson (1873-1895)
(2) ELIZABETH ANN JOHNSON (1875-1948) & THOMAS HENDY FLUEN (1873-1916) **
& Thomas Watson Teasdale (1868-1948)
(3) John Ernest Johnson (1880-1882)
(4) Martha Hannah Johnson (1887-1967) & Arthur James Holland (1872-1940)
4.1 Olive May Holland (1908-1975) & Albert Russon (1907-1984)
4.2 Gladys Holland (1910-1965) & George Osbaldeston & Alfred Henry Bartliff
4.3 John E. Holland born 1912
4.4 Elsie M Holland born 1914
4.5 Arthur James Holland (1916-1984) & Marjorie Barnbrook
4.6 William Thomas Holland (1917-1918)
4.7 Margaret Elsie Holland (1919-1987) & William Craddy
4.8 Edith Mary Holland (1921-1995)
(5) John Ernest Johnson (1892-1962) & Holwen Beatrice Moore (1901-1997)
5.1 Leslie Edwin Johnson (1921-1988) & Elizabeth Broadhurst (1920-2005)
5.2 Lawrence Ernest Johnson born 1923 & Marjorie Todd born 1922
5.3 Gordon Leonard Johnson (1925-1992) & Patricia A Clare
5.4 Desmond William Johnson (1929-1991) & Rita Blackburn (1932-1988)
5.5 Holwen Beatrice Johnson & Thomas Spencer Ivison
5.6 John Malcolm Johnson (1936-2005) & Philomena Pink (1936-1988) & Brenda Best
5.7 Harold James Johnson & Marlene A Paterson (or Patison)
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* Details were given by the genealogist Derek Barraclough of Great Horton, Bradford, who died 2009 age 81.
** children see 'Thomas Hendy Fluen / Offspring'