Yesterday, I made a terrible discovery about my Hignell ancestors. I used the newspaper database in the National Library of Wales, and found my 3rd Great Grandfather, Henry Hignell, was tried in 1853 for beating his wife, almost to the point of death. The story said Mary Ann Hignell ( only known as Mrs. Hignell in the story) was in poor health ( she had given birth to two daughters in a three year period). My G3 Grandmother is not in any of the death registers, but is not with the family in the 1861 Wales Census--Henry and his daughters, Mary Jane and Sarah were living with their Aunt, Mary Elizabeth Hignell.
I wonder if Mr. Hignell murdered his wife? The odd thing was, I was looking for information about Sarah Hignell when I searched the database. She must have been traumatized by her childhood because she had two arrests for theft; ( one from her dear old Dad) and was raped in 1870. No wonder my GG Grandmother, Mary Jane Hignell, moved out of the family home by 1871, married and went to America.
I would love to find the missing Mother and Daughter. Any suggestions? I am sending away for the one death record I found for a Mary Ann Hignell, ( Oxford 1861) but have no idea what happened to Sarah Hignell after her incarceration in 1871.
