Mary Ellen Fisher, always known as Polly, was a great great aunt to my wife. She was born in 1865 in Ardwick, Lancashire – a part of Manchester. She lived a long life, for she died in 1961 at Gawsworth near Macclesfield which had been the family home for generations. She was over fifty when she married. This is explained in the report from a Cheshire paper from 1919. I’m afraid I don’t have a brilliant copy.
OK, it’s transcription time!
Gawsworth
On Wednesday last was solemnised in the parish church the marriage of Thomas Edward Fish and Mary Ellen Fisher. It came as a complete surprise, no-one having the least cognisance of the event until the ceremony was over.
There attaches some romance to the union. That it should come about when the fates decreed was an understood thing between bride and bridegroom some thirty years ago. At that time the bridegroom was constrained to go to America where he has lived since. Coming home to England short weeks ago he sought the bride with the result that they are now wedded.
Miss Fisher, as Gawsworth well knows, has been given to good works especially amongst the children in Sunday School and catechism. She was also one of those who volunteered to take the place of the singing men (chanters) for the duration of the war when they were called upon to serve their king and country.
The wedding was of the simplest nature just a few of the bride’s nearest relations only being present. A gathering of the clan, with a friend or two, was held afterwards at Lane Ends Farm which the bride’s father has recently acquired from the Harrington Estate.
The health of bridegroom and bride, seconded by Colonel Pendlebury was proposed and the toast was replied to by both Mr and Mrs Fish.
Here we see the couple, with dog, as they moved into a contented old age.
Actually, Tom died in 1931 after just 12 years of marriage.
In 1950, Polly wrote to congratulate my in laws on the birth of Susan Margaret – my wife. Here’s an extract from her letter.
How sweet of her. Polly had no children of her own but at least we can remember her.
February 14, 2013 at 7:02 am |
I love it! I can’t believe the newspaper reporter didn’t go for the obvious pun, so I will. “Miss Fisher and Mr Fish – What a Catch”.
February 14, 2013 at 7:07 am |
Local papers were very dry back then and stayed so until the 1970s. They did something which would seem alien to all news these days. They stuck to the facts! It would be just the line for today though, thanks.
April 2, 2013 at 5:49 am |
[...] start at the bottom. Regular readers may recall the story of Tom Fish and Mary (Polly) Fisher (click here). We knew they were relatives and the others had the right surname of Fisher but predated our [...]