John Hudson was born in Shepshed (then called Sheepshed), Leicestershire, in 1770, the son of William and Dorothy Hudson. He was baptised on 30th September at St Botolph’s Church.

On 29th September 1794, John married Mary Alt at St Botolph’s Church. Mary was born in Worthington, Leicestershire, in 1776, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Alt.

After their marriage, John and Mary moved north to Breedon on the Hill, where their first child was born in 1794. Named after his father, John Hudson was baptised on 25th December 1794 at the Church of St Mary and St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill.

Between 1795 and 1798 the family moved back to Shepshed, where John and Mary had five more children. Thomas was baptised on 14th October 1798, Samuel on 4th July 1802, James on 29th July 1804, Elizabeth on 18th May 1806, and Mary on 10th July 1808. All the children were baptised at St Botolph’s Church. The family lived just outside Shepshed, perhaps close to Black Brook, and John may have worked at the nearby Garendon Estate.

John Hudson died on 30th December 1827 aged 57 and was buried in the churchyard of St Botolph’s Church on 2nd January 1828.

Mary continued to live at Shepshed after her husband’s death. On the June 1841 census, Mary was recorded as being a farmer and living at Tickhill Lane. Also at the house were Thomas Blaksley and John Wain, likely working on the farm for Mary.

Between 1841 and 1851, Mary’s son John and his family moved to the property at Tickhill Lane, while Mary moved to Ashby Road, living next door to her son James and his family.

Mary died on 29th December 1855 aged 79. She was likely interred in the St Botolph’s Churchyard with her husband John.

John and Mary Hudson were my great-great-great-great-great-grandparents.