John'2 Towns

  Noted events in his life were:

• Notes for JOHN TOWNS. There is a lot of'TOWNS' history from Lincolnshire, which is a maritime county in the East of England, bounded north by Yorkshire, East by the North Sea, south by Northhamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk and west by ~ Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutland. Lincolnshire is the second largest county in England. The land is generally low and flat near the coast which in some parts requires an embankment to check the encroachment of the sea. The chalk hills in the northeast are about 47 miles long and 6 miles broad. George, John and Thomas Towns came from Asgarby which is about 5 miles from the large "South Forty Foot Drain" and only a few more miles from the North Sea. The land around Asgarby is described as low and heavily bordered by Dykes and Fens. However, the immediate area is slightly rolling and appears to be good farm land.

John Towns was born at Aunsby, a very small place, 4.4 miles south and slightly west of Sleaford, an area of rolling hills and beautiful farmland. He was baptized on 26 April, 1818 at Aunsby by the Rector, Michael Thorold. His wife, Ann Bradley, was born at Helpringham, another very small place, 6 miles to the east and about 1 mile to the north of Aunsby. They raised their family at Asgarby which was a move of about 5.6 miles for John and 3.2 miles for Ann, with Sleaford being the closest larger town, approx. 3 miles to the west and slightly north of their home at Asgarby.

In 1856, Asgarby is a small village which encompasses 91 souls and 838 acres of land, farmed by Bruce Tomlinson (Asgarby) and Thomas Sneath (Boughton), a small hamlet within Asgarby. (John Towns must have worked for Bruce Tomlinson). The Marquis Of Bristol is lord of the manor, owner of nearly all of the soil, and patron of the church (St. Andrew), which is a neat gothic fabric with a handsome spire. The chancel has lately been newly roofed and new pinnacles put on the tower. The parish is entitled to send children to Ewerby free school, and a poor man to Sleaford hospital".

The tombstone at Asgarby reads:

In loving memory of John Towns
who died 9 May, 1885,
aged 66 years,

Ann, his wife
who died 8 August, 1904
aged 88 years

Immediately to the left of the above is an identical white limestone? tombstone. engraved:

In loving memory of
Lizzie daughter of John and Ann Towns
Died 8 September, 1882
aged 24 years,

Also, of Annie,
Sister of the above,
died 21 February, 1882, aged 19 years

On the left side of the stone:

Sarah Towns
died 18 Oct, 1886
Aged 30 years


In the 1861 Census this family is at Asgarby, with children George, Susan, William, Thomas, Sarah, Elizabeth and 2 week old daughter Ellen. Annie was not born at this time, and older members Frances, John and Mary were obviously elsewhere's earning their keep even though Mary was only 16. A nurse, 63 year old Betty Heall, was with the family; this thought to be due to the mother having given birth within the past two weeks.

In the 1871 Census, the family is at Asgarby, showing John as a Cottager and Agr. Laborer, thought to indicate that he was partially retired and therefore may not have been in perfect health at the age of 52. Wife Ann, son Thomas (17), daughter Sarah (14) and daughter Ellen (10) are with the family. A visitor, Sarah Jane Tryner, aged 11, is there from her birth place of Denton.

In the 1881 Lincolnshire Census, this family is located at Asgarby. This is the only Towns family in the census ~ within 10-12 miles of Sleaford. Occupation is listed as 'cottager' which indicates a retired worker who lives in a 'cottage' on the landowner's property.

John died 4 years later and was buried on 11 May, 1885 at St. Andrew, Asgarby.

John'2 married Ann Bradiby on 29 Sep 1840 in St. Thomas A Beckett Parish, Aunsby, Lincolnshire, England.