Widow Transfers Blue Bull Licence in Grantham to Her Name in 1859
In 1859, Elizabeth Brown took over the Blue Bull licence after her husband’s passing, ensuring her family’s future.
Grantham, England, Elizabeth Brown, Blue Bull, John Brown, 19th Century
Grantham: Back in 1859, Elizabeth Brown was in a tough spot. Her husband, John, had just passed away, leaving her with six kids to care for. So, she decided to take charge and applied to transfer the licence of the Blue Bull inn into her name.
John had been the inn’s ostler, and with him gone, Elizabeth needed to find a way to support their family. She had four boys and two girls to look after, which was no small feat back then.
Interestingly, John had his own struggles. He lost his father when he was just a baby, so he knew what it was like to face hardship. Elizabeth was determined not to let her family fall into the same situation.
Fast forward to 1868, and Elizabeth sadly passed away, leaving her youngest son, James, only 10 years old. But her eldest, John, stepped up. By the 1871 census, he was running the inn with his wife, Ann, and even farming some land.
They had a servant and a nurse helping out, which must have been a relief. And guess what? Ann was pregnant at the time, because ten years later, they had a nine-year-old daughter.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s other sons were off making their own way. William was a butcher in Southwell, and Joseph was working at another inn. It’s amazing how life carried on for them all.