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ENSOR, James Rainford
1804 - 1877 (73 years) Has 10 ancestors and 19 descendants in this family tree.
1777 - 1844 (67 years)-
Name ENSOR, James Rainford Birth 6 Mar 1804 Wallasey, Cheshire, England 
Gender Male Death 14 Dec 1877 Nottingham Registration District, Nottinghamshire Person ID I5681 Edgoose Last Modified 4 Feb 2026
Father ENSOR, James, b. 1779, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. 18 Jan 1868, Kensington Registration District, London (Age 89 years) Mother RAINFORD, Elizabeth, b. 1777, Wallasey, Cheshire, England d. 10 May 1844, Brentford Registration District, Middlesex (Age 67 years) Marriage 8 Jun 1800 Wallasey, Cheshire, England Family ID F2250 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family ANDREW, Ann, b. Between 1815 and 1816, Finchley, Middlesex d. 16 May 1904, London, England (Age 89 years) Marriage 16 Jul 1833 Stoke Newington, Middlesex, England Children 1. ENSOR, James Frederic, b. 27 Oct 1833, Brussels, Belgium d. 14 Apr 1887, Ostend, Belgium (Age 53 years)2. ENSOR, Mary Ann Elizabeth, b. 1838, Brussels, Belgium d. Aft 1871 (Age > 34 years)3. ENSOR, Caroline Thomasine, c. 5 Jul 1840, Worsbrough, Yorkshire, England d. 1842, St. Pancras Registration District, London (Age ~ 1 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]4. ENSOR, Francis Sidney, b. 1841, France d. 25 Feb 1893, Sheerness, Kent, England (Age 52 years)5. ENSOR, Albert W., b. Between 1843 and 1844, France d. Yes, date unknown6. ENSOR, Andrew Rainford, b. Abt 1846, France d. 5 Jul 1883, Thanet Registration District, Kent (Age 37 years)7. ENSOR, Arthur Rainford, b. 1851, Margate, Kent d. 1929, Kendall, Westmorland, (Cumbria), England (Age 78 years)Family ID F2249 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Notes
JAMES RAINFORD ENSOR 1804-1877
James Rainford ENSOR was born on 6 March 1804.
(Merchant Taylors' School register)
James Rainford, son of Jas. and Elizth. ENSOR, was baptised at St. Hillary, Wallasey, Cheshire, on 7 August 1804.
(FamilySearch)
All five sons of James ENSOR went to Merchant Taylors' School:
*James Rainford ENSOR, born 6 March 1804, in January 1814.
Thomas Rainford ENSOR, born 24 January 1806, in June 1814.
Sidney Rainford ENSOR, dated of birth not stated, in June 1815.
Frederick Rainford ENSOR, date of birth not stated, in June 1815.
Samuel Rainford ENSOR, date of birth not stated, in October 1815.
(source: Register of the Scholars of Merchant Taylors' School, 1562-1874 Volune II)
"London, June 17, 1822.
Notice is hereby given that the Copartnership hitherto existing between William ALLEN, James Rainford ENSOR, and Philip John O'HOOGHE, of Maiden Lane, Wood Street, in the City of London, Merchants, trading under the firm of William Allen, Ensor and Co. will be dissolved on the 3oth instant by mutual consent.
Wm. ALLEN
James Rainford ENSOR
P. J. O'HOOGHE"
(London Gazette 22 June 1822 Issue 17828 page 1038)
"September 1823, trial of WILLIAM CREAMER
1016. WILLIAM CREAMER was indicted for stealing, on the 16th of July , a handkerchief, value 2 s., the goods of James Rainford Ensor , from his person .
JAMES RAINFORD ENSOR . I live at Totteridge. On the 16th of July, at six o'clock in the afternoon, I was on Holborn-hill , and did not perceive my handkerchief taken - but an officer brought it to me, and said he had a boy in custody at the foot of the hill; it was safe shortly before, and has my initials on it. He took me to the prisoner, who was in custody.
JOHN CARLISLE . I am a night patrol. I saw the prisoner with another, older than himself, in Long-lane, and watched them with Baldry, till he got to Holborn-hill, and saw them go up to Mr. Ensor, and just by Hatton-garden, I saw the prisoner take the handkerchief from Mr. Ensor's pocket, turn back, and go down the hill; the other went down Hatton-garden. I was on the opposite side, and I called to Baldry, who was on the other side - he stopped him. I went after the prosecutor, and found the handkerchief between the prisoner's legs.
(Property produced and sworn to.)
WILLIAM BALDRY . I was with Carlisle, and saw the prisoner in Long-lane, with another boy, and followed them to Holborn, by Carlisle's desire - I saw him attempt a gentleman's pocket on Snow-hill. I afterwards heard Carlisle call out, Stop thief! and stopped him. The handkerchief was found on him. I am servant to Mr. Barnstaple, of Long-lane.
Prisoner's Defence. I saw a boy take a gentleman's handkerchief out of his pocket, and they ran and took me. I know nothing of it.
GUILTY . Aged 12.
Transported for Seven Years."
(www.oldbaileyonline.org, Reference Number: t18230910-25, 13.10.2011)
James Rainford ENSOR of Saint Peter Le Poor, London, bachelor, and Ann ANDREW of Stoke Newington, Middlesex, spinster, were married by licence with consent of guardians on 16 (sic) July 1833. Witnesses were John ANDREW, James ENSOR, Lilney (sic) ENSOR.
(PR)
James Rainford ENSOR was the father of James Frederic ENSOR (1833-1887) whose son
James Sidney ENSOR (1860-1949) was the famous Belgian artist enobled by the King of Belgium.
The 1851 census of 16 Nelson Crescent, Ramsgate, Kent:
*James R. ENSOR, head, aged 46, proprietor of houses, born at Seacombe, Cheshire;
Ann ENSOR, wife, aged 35, born at Finchley, Middlesex;
Mary Ann Eliz(?) ENSOR, daughter, aged 12, born in Belgium, British Subject;
Francis S. ENSOR, son, aged 9, scholar at home, born in France, British Subject;
Albert W. ENSOR, son, aged 7, scholar at home, born in France, British Subject;
Andrew R. ENSOR, son, aged 4, born in France, British Subject;
Marie LINET, servant, aged 19, housemaid, born in Belgium;
Harriot JORDAN, servant, aged 34, cook, born at Birchington, Kent.
(HO107/1630/514/7)
From the 1861 census of 6 Southwick Street, Paddington, Middlesex, where James Rainford ENSOR was lodging with Edward HOUSE:
*James R. ENSOR, lodger, aged 56, house proprietor, born in Cheshire;
Ann ENSOR, wife, aged 45, born at Finchley, Middlesex;
Arthur R. ENSOR, son, aged 9, scholar, born in Kent.
(RG9/8/85/19)
The 1871 census of 42 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire:
*James R. ENSOR, head, aged 66, house proprietor, born at Seecombe (sic), Cheshire;
Ann ENSOR, wife, aged 55, born in Middlesex;
Andrew R. ENSOR, son, aged 24, no occupation, born in Passy (sic), France (British Subject);
Arthur R. ENSOR, son, aged 19, no occupation, born at Margate, Kent;
Sarah A. ROBINSON, servant, aged 19, general servant, born at Grantham, Lincolnshire.
(RG10/3507/74/32)
NB: Arthur ENSOR and Sarah ROBINSON married in 1875.
The death of James Rainford ENSOR aged 73 was registered in 1877.
(GRO December Q 1877 Nottingham 7b 148b)
"James Rainford ENSOR.
5 March. Administration of the Personal Estate of James Rainford ENSOR late of the Town of Nottingham Gentleman who died 14 December 1877 at Nottingham to Ann ENSOR of Shakespeare-street, Nottingham, Widow the Relict. Personal Estate under £200."
(National Probate Calendar 1878)
NOTES & QUERIES:
1841 Census: Untraced.
(revised 13.10.2011)