‘Mrs Worthington’, born Frances LAWSON, 1807, daughter of John and Frances LAWSON, Stamford.

John was a coach proprietor when he married his first wife, Hannah APETHORPE in 1802 but by 1803, he was a widower without issue. He went on to marry Frances NORTON of Wansford on 15 October 1805 at St Mary’s Church, Stamford. The same year, the Stamford Mercury reported John was a coach builder who had the Royal Mail Coach run and leased many plots of land to house his horses. Frances’ younger brother, John, was born in 1809.

Frances’ father, John, died in 1828 aged 67 and her mother in 1831 aged 57, they are both buried in St Martin’s Churchyard, Stamford. Their 36 coach horses and farming stock were sold.

Frances Lawson married Rev. William Worthington on Tuesday 9 July 1833 at St Mary’s Church, Stamford. William was born 1806 in Huntingdon to James and Ann Worthington. William and his father are living in Stilton in 1830.

In 1840, Frances’ brother, John, a ‘Coach Guard’ died of ‘Decline’ aged 31. The following year, William’s mother Ann died.

In 1841, William Worthington (34) is recorded as an Innkeeper, living with his wife Frances (33) and six other people (including servants) in High Street, Stilton. William’s parents are also living in High Street. Ten years later, William is a ‘Landed Proprietor’, living with Frances and a general servant on High Street, Stilton. Next door is Charles Stokes (43), general officer postmaster and his wife Mary Ann (32). His other neighbour is Margaret Pocklington (57), widow, grocer and general dealer. William’s father, James (66) lived in Church Street, a farmer of 450 acres employing 14 labourers. James died in 1857.

By 1861, William (54), a landed proprietor is living with Frances in High Street. Their neighbours are Charles Stokes (53) Postmaster and family one side and the other is John Austin (33), Widower, Innkeeper, Blacksmith, with his 3-month-old daughter, mother (60) and brother (19), a Blacksmith.

William Worthington died in Stilton aged 59 on 9 July 1866, his 33^rd wedding anniversary. His Will records William Worthington late of Stilton in the County of Huntingdon Gentleman deceased who died 9 July 1866 at Stilton aforesaid was proved at the Principal Registry by the oaths of Edward Lawson on St Mary at Hill in the City of London Wine Merchant and William Norton Lawson of Lincoln’s Inn in the County of Middlesex Barrister-at-Law the Executors. Effects under £12,000 later re-sworn at the Stamp Office August 1868 under £14,000

The Home News for India, China and the Colonies dated Wednesday 3 October 1866 reported “The late William Worthington, Esq of Stilton, Huntingdonshire, has bequeathed to each of the following institutions a legacy of £200:- The British and Foreign Bible Society, Church Missionary Society, Religious Tract Society, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews, Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, Church Building Society, London Missionary Society, Wesleyan Missionary Society, Huntingdon Infirmary or Hospital, and the Wesleyan Chapel at Stilton. Also, a sum of £800 for the poor of Stilton to be laid out in clothes, etc.”

On Saturday 27 June 1868, the Cambridge Chronicle and Journal ran an article “To Builders: Persons desirous of tendering for the erection of six alms houses at Stilton, Hunts, for Mrs Worthington, may see the Plans and Specification at my office, Huntingdon, on and after Tuesday, the 30^th day of June 1868. Tenders to be delivered to me on or before Twelve o’clock of Saturday, July 4^th 1868. The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted. Robert Hutchinson, Architect, Huntingdon, June 25 1868”. The six alms houses were built and remain today although now transformed into four.

Frances moved to Skirbeck, Boston following William’s death and in 1871 aged 65, was living on Spilsby Road, Skirbeck with Emma Rollerson, 21, Servant and Cook from Glatton. On 2 October 1879, the Will of Frances Worthington formerly of Stilton in the County of Huntingdon but late of Skirbeck in the County of Lincoln widow who died 10 September 1876 at Skirbeck was proved at Lincoln by Martin Hunnybun of Huntingdon in the County of Huntingdon Gentleman and John Bird the Younger of Farcet in the County of Huntingdon Esquire the Executors. Effects under £5,000.

On 21 August 1923, the Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer newspaper published an article “Famous Coaching Inn Burned Down. Tenements Destroyed. Four Families Homeless Near Peterborough... A disastrous fire at Stilton, a village on the Great North Road, six miles from Peterborough, early yesterday morning, destroyed the Angel Inn – a famous place of call in the old coaching days – two tenements, and a motor garage and residence. Four families and fourteen people were rendered homeless. The fire which was first discovered by a passing motor cyclist spread with such rapidity that all the inmates of the premises involved had time to escape only in their night attire. William Beech an ex-sergeant of the Scots Greys was awakened by suffocating smoke, and going to his bedroom door found the staircase alight and his escape cut off. Grasping his trousers he opened a window, threw the trousers out, and took a flying leap on to the road below. Luckily, he received only slight injuries to his leg. Considerable consternation was occasioned by the fact that beneath the garage was a tank holding 200 gallons of petrol, and it was providential that the fierce heat did not cause this to ignite. The only water supply was from a pond, but that gave out after a short time. Adjoining property, including the Wesleyan Church, was saved only after great efforts on the part of the Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade. The damage is estimated at about £3,000. With the exception of a suite of furniture, everything was destroyed. Mr Glitheroe, whose tenement was burnt out, lost savings of £60 in gold and notes, and a Mr Beech lost a highly-prized chocolate box given by Queen Victoria to troops who fought in the Boer war and Queen Mary’s gift box to soldiers in the late war, as well as his war medals.”

Mrs Worthington Almshouses