EDGOOSE:
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ENSOR, James
1779 - 1868 (89 years) Has 2 ancestors and 49 descendants in this family tree.
Abt 1750 - 1833 (83 years)-
Name ENSOR, James Birth 1779 St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex 
Gender Male Death 18 Jan 1868 Kensington Registration District, London Person ID I5683 Edgoose Last Modified 4 Feb 2026
Father ENSOR, Thomas, b. Abt 1740 d. 1820 (Age 80 years) Mother WARD, Elizabeth, b. Abt 1750 d. 1833, Chelsea, Middlesex (Age 83 years) Marriage 29 May 1776 Islington, Greater London, England Family ID F2251 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 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 Children 1. ENSOR, Elizabeth Ann, b. 1801, Wallasey, Cheshire, England d. 7 Jan 1871, Upper Holloway, Middlesex, England (Age 70 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]2. ENSOR, Jane Augusta, b. 1803, Wallasey, Cheshire, England d. 1878, Kensington Registration District, Middlesex (Age 75 years)3. ENSOR, James Rainford, b. 6 Mar 1804, Wallasey, Cheshire, England d. 14 Dec 1877, Nottingham Registration District, Nottinghamshire (Age 73 years)4. ENSOR, Thomas Rainford, b. 24 Jan 1806, St. Pancras, Middlesex, London, England d. 23 Jan 1846, Kentish Town, Middlesex, England (Age 39 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]5. ENSOR, Frederic Rainford, b. 21 Jun 1807, Somers Town, St. Pancras, Middlesex, England d. 13 Dec 1892, Nottingham Registration District, Nottinghamshire (Age 85 years)6. ENSOR, Sidney Rainford, b. 13 Nov 1808, St. Pancras, Middlesex, London, England d. 3 Jul 1876, St. Paul, St. Charles County, Missouri, USA (Age 67 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]7. ENSOR, Samuel Rainford, b. 7 Aug 1809, Wallasey, Cheshire, England d. 9 Feb 1852, Malines, Antwerpen, Belgium (Age 42 years)8. ENSOR, Caroline Rainford, b. 5 Mar 1811, St. Pancras, Middlesex, London, England d. 1 Feb 1831, St. Marylebone, Middlesex, England (Age 19 years)Family ID F2250 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Notes
JAMES ENSOR 1779-1868
James, son of Thomas and Elizabeth ENSOR, clerk of the Chapel, was baptised at St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex, on 11 July 1779.
(PR)
He appears in the Navy Lists as 2 Lt Royal Marines between September 1797 and June 1802.
(Mike Young - see below)
James ENSOR married Elizabeth RAINFORD at Wallasey, Cheshire, on 8 June 1800. In the marriage entry (Cheshire Records Office) James is described as "of HM Navy" (In England the Royal Marines are attached to the Royal Navy).
(FamilySearch)
(Mike Young - ENSOR Message Board on Ancestry 25.02.2009)
James ENSOR was the great grandfather of the Ostend painter James ENSOR. He lived in Ghent from 1824 until 1832 and was a manufacturer and dealer in tulle. In the 1820s he invented and patented a new type of machine for making lace and tulle. The patent expired in 1833. In 1826 he and his family acquired Dutch Nationality (Belgium was then still a part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands). He was a member of the Ghent Horseguards and as such played a small role in the Belgian Revolution of 1830. He left Ghent in 1832.
(Wikipedia - translated from the Dutch)
The 1841 Census of Grove House, Bath Road, Heston, Middlesex:
*James ENSOR, aged 60, Ind(ependent Means), born in Middlesex;
Elizabeth ENSOR, aged 60, NOT born in Middlesex;
Emma DOWSETT, aged 20, F(emale S(ervant), born in Middlesex.
(HO107/658/47/18)
The 1851 census of 15 Park Villas, Hammersmith, Middlesex:
*James ENSOR, aged 73, retired shipowner and Fund holder, born at Lichfield, Staffordshire;
Emma DOWSETT, servant, aged 34, house servant, born at Harrow, Middlesex.
(HO107/1469/541/30)
The 1861 census of 15 Park Villas, Hammersmith, Middlesex:
*James ENSOR, aged 81, widower, Second Lieu'nt Royal Marine half pay, born at Highgate, Middlesex;
Emma DOWSETT, servant, aged 43, unmarried, house servant, born at Heston, Middlesex.
(RG9/23/94/18)
The death of James ENSOR aged 88 was registered in 1868.
(GRO March Q 1868 Kensington 1a 109)
He was buried in Highgate Cemetery. the inscription on his grave reads:
"To the memory of James Ensor, of Hammersmith, Esq., who died January 18th, 1868, in his 80th year". The latter is a mistranscription for 88th year.
(Laura1814, www.findagrave.com)
"James ENSOR
5 February. The Will of James ENSOR late of Park-villas, Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, deceased who died 18 January 1868 at Park-villas aforesaid was proved at the Principal Registry by the oath of James Rainford ENSOR of Royal-road, Ramsgate, in the County of Kent Esquire the Son the sole Executor. Effects under £450."
(National Probate Registry 1868)
NOTES & QUERIES:
Whilst the above references to James ENSOR clearly refer to the same person, and Emma DOWSETT was his servant in 1841, 1851 and 1861, there are some discrepancies:
1) Place of birth:
In 1841 he stated that he was born in Middlesex.
In 1851 he stated that he was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
In 1861 he stated that he was born in Highgate, Middlesex. He was certainly baptised there in 1779.
2) Occupation:
In 1841 he stated that he was of independant means.
In 1851 he stated that he was a retired shipowner and fund holder.
In 1861 he stated that he was a Second Lieutenant Royal Marines on half pay
An Emila (sic) DOWSETT aged 52, born at Heston in Middlesex, was housekeeper to Mary Anne Elizabeth FISHER née ENSOR in 1871.
(RG10/26/53/37)
(revised 19.10.2011)