Summary.

Printed document with personalisation:

• Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society Ltd.
• Policy no. 6986760
• Policy holder: Mrs Mary Ann Hodson
• Payable at: Midsummer
• Agency: FJ Burton, 2, Victoria Street, Nottingham.
• Handwritten note: Memo. The interest in the insurance by this policy is now vested in Mr Charles Hodson of Hickling Notts instead of as otherwise stated. Dated the 27^th day of June 1914. FJ Burton, agent, 2, Victoria Street, Nottingham.
• Original policy dates: 19^th June 1911 to 24^th June 1912.
• Sum assured: £100
• Annual premium: £2
• Details of items covered by the policy and some terms and conditions are included.
• A broad description of the property is given, but no address.

Notes:

• Census records in Hickling:
  • 1881 (Mary Ann Corner) – age 52 b.1829
  • 1891 (Mary Ann Hodson) – age 63
  • 1901 (Mary Ann Hodson) – age 74
  • 1911 (Mary Ann Hodson) – age 84
• (see also; Robert Corner probate 1888 for details of her early life)
• Ownership of the Corner’s Yard property was conveyed to Robert Corner in 1853.
• (there is a possible parting of the ways within the Corner family – see Will of John Corner 1869 – which may explain Ann Corner’s reluctance to engage with her Corner relatives following Robert’s death)
• There is a gap in available documents between 1888 (Robert Corner’s probate) and this fire policy; either documents are missing or there were no notable transactions.
• Robert and Ann Corner were childless and Robert’s (second) wife, Mary Ann, was his sole executor and beneficiary (this marriage was also childless).
• In 1889 a marriage is recorded between Charles Hodson (age 21) and Mary Ann Corner (age 63).
• Charles Hodson is recorded in Hickling in the 1891 census; married to Mary Ann and also censuses in 1901 & 1911.
• It is Mrs Mary Ann Hodson who is the policyholder on this fire insurance (1911) which implies that the property is hers and not her husband’s.
• Mary Ann Hodson died on the 17^th June 1914 (her gravestone records her birth date as 19^th Sept 1826).
• Mary Ann Hodson dies apparently leaving the property to her husband, Charles. After his death it is conveyed to Hodson relatives.

“Death Mary Anne, wife of Charles Hodson early Wednesday week aged 87. Been married twice previously, “of a remarkably cheerful disposition and of wonderful vitality”.  To about two years ago able to get about though very feeble. September 1912 broke three ribs and injured an eye but recovered, but then in August she fell and broke her shoulder and never regained strength after this.”

Mary Ann Corner/Hodson (formerly Smith, nee Whittaker of Long Clawson):

• Spellings vary: Witaker/Whitaker/Whittaker
• 24^th Dec 1826: baptism of Mary Ann Whitaker – parents William and Sarah (her birth date is given as 19^th September 1826 on her gravestone in 1914).
• Census 1841 (Nether Broughton): Mary Whitaker (age 14) in the household of her parents William & Sarah (both age 35) with siblings, Harriett (age 12) and Sarah (age 3).
• Mary Anne Whitaker (age 22)marries Freeman Smith in 1848. A record of Banns 29^th Oct 1848 between Mary Anne Whitaker of Nether Broughton and Freeman Smith of Long Clawson.
• Marriage record; Nether Broughton 23^rd Nov 1848. Mary Anne’s father is William Whittaker. Freeman Smith’s father (of Long Clawson) is John Smith.
• Census 1851 Long Clawson): 2 in household – Freeman Smith (age 28, b.1823 Knipton, Leics, agricultural labourer) and Mary A Smith (age 25, b.1826, Nether Broughton, laceworker).
• Census 1861 (Long Clawson): 2 in household – Freeman Smith (age 38, b.1823 Kingston, Leics, agricultural labourer) and Mary A Smith (age 38, b.1823, Nether Broughton, worker of figures on lace).
• Census 1871 (Long Clawson): 2 in household – Freeman Smith (age 48, b.1823 Knipton, Leics, agricultural labourer) and Mary A Smith (age 43, b. 1826, Nether Broughton, no occupation listed).
• 3^rd February 1879: burial record for Freeman Smith, Long Clawson.
• Feb 19^th 1879: Robert Corner’s first wife, Ann Corner (nee Wild) dies aged 59yrs – she is buried with Robert Corner in Hickling Churchyard.
• Dec 29^th 1879: Robert Corner (age 64)marries Mary Anne Smith (age 53) of Long Clawson (widow, nee Whitaker) – see also Robert Corner Probate 1888.
• On the marriage certificate:
  • Both Robert and Mary Anne are recorded as widowed
  • Robert (widowed) is a shoemaker of Hickling and his father, Joseph, is deceased (1862).
  • Mary Anne Smith (widowed) is of Long Clawson and her father is William Whitaker, cattle dealer.
• Robert Corner dies in 1888 and Mary Ann Corner is his sole executor and beneficiary.
• 1889: a marriage is recorded between Charles Hodson (bricklayer’s labourer, age 21) and Mary Ann Corner (age 63).
• In 1900 Mrs C Hodson gives 3s to the Wounded Soldiers fund following the Boer War (Grantham Journal article).
• Census records in Hickling:
  • 1881 (Mary Ann Corner) – age 52 b.1829
  • 1891 (Mary Ann Hodson) – age 63
  • 1901 (Mary Ann Hodson) – age 74
  • 1911 (Mary Ann Hodson) – age 84
• The Grantham Journal published an article following her death:

“Death Mary Anne, wife of Charles Hodson early Wednesday week aged 87. Been married twice previously, “of a remarkably cheerful disposition and of wonderful vitality”.  To about two years ago able to get about though very feeble. September 1912 broke three ribs and injured an eye but recovered, but then in August she fell and broke her shoulder and never regained strength after this.”

• (Wadkin Archive): “March 1912. For sale by private contract, a pair of freehold cottages containing living room, kitchen, pantry and two bedrooms, with out-offices and garden. Apply Mr Charles Hodson, Hickling.” However, no sale appears to have gone through as the properties are still in his possession at his death in 1933.
• Members of the Whittaker family are present at the funeral of Charles Hodson in 1933.
• NB. Following the death of Charles Hodson in 1933; an anniversary memorial is published in the Grantham Journal by Mr & Mrs F Parr in 1934 & 1935.