1903 wedding – Ernest Stanley & Ellen Sears

Wedding of 20-year-old Ellen Ann Sears (1883-1923) to 20-year-old Ernest Stanley (1833-1922) of Bretforton.  The marriage took place at St James’ Church, Badsey, on 21st October 1903.  The reception was in the garden of the newly-built house, Plas Gwyn, on Badsey Fields Lane (present-day No 21), which was the home of Arthur and Beatrice Sears, and owned by Beatrice’s mother, Elizabeth Evans.

• Back row, left to right:  Arthur Sears (Ellen’s eldest brother), Beatrice Alice Sears (Arthur’s wife), unknown, unknown, unknown, probably Frederick Sears (Ellen’s brother), Benjamin Sears (Ellen’s father), Caroline Sears (Ellen’s mother).
• Front row, left to right:  Robert Pethard (Ellen’s cousin), Samuel Stanley (Ernest’s father), Eliza Stanley (Ernest’s mother), Ernest Stanley (groom), Ellen Ann Sears (bride), unknown, Elizabeth Evans (mother of Beatrice Sears).

Ellen was born at Badsey, the third of four children of Benjamin Sears and his wife, Caroline (née Pethard).  Ernest, a market gardener, was born at Bretforton, the tenth of 11 children of Samuel Stanley and his wife, Eliza (née Robins).  Eliza was a midwife and delivered many babies in the area, including Ernest and Ellen’s two children, born in 1905 and 1907. 

Sadly, both Ernest and Ellen were to die at an early age – Ernest in 1922 aged 39 and Ellen in 1923 aged 40, leaving two teenage children.

We are grateful to Jean Matson (great-niece of Ellen Ann Stanley, née Sears) for allowing us to use this photo.