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ENSOR, Thomas
Abt 1740 - 1820 (80 years) Has no ancestors but more than 100 descendants in this family tree.
Abt 1750 - 1833 (83 years)-
Name ENSOR, Thomas Birth Abt 1740 Gender Male Death 1820 Burial 15 Mar 1820 Person ID I5685 Edgoose Last Modified 4 Feb 2026
Family 1 WARD, Elizabeth, b. Abt 1750 d. 1833, Chelsea, Middlesex 
(Age 83 years) Marriage 29 May 1776 Islington, Greater London, England Children 1. ENSOR, George, b. 1777, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. 19 Oct 1777 ?2. ENSOR, James, b. 1779, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. 18 Jan 1868, Kensington Registration District, London (Age 89 years)3. ENSOR, Elizabeth, b. 9 Jun 1781, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. 1855 ?4. ENSOR, Edward, b. 23 Jul 1783, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. Bef 1818 (Age < 34 years)5. ENSOR, George, b. 15 Aug 1784, Highgate, Middlesex, England d. 21 Dec 1838, Clerkenwell Registration District, London (Age 54 years)6. ENSOR, John, b. 5 Aug 1786, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. Between 1818 and 1819 (Age 31 years)7. ENSOR, Harriott, b. Abt 1790, St. Pancras, Middlesex, London, England d. 1859, Hackney, Greater London, England (from 01 April 1889) (Age 69 years)8. ENSOR, Eliza, b. 2 Dec 1794, Highgate, Middlesex, England d. Yes, date unknownFamily ID F2251 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
Family 2 GROVES, Mary, b. Abt 1740 d. 1776, Highgate, Middlesex, England (Age 36 years) Marriage 13 Sep 1762 Finsbury, Middlesex, England Children 1. ENSOR, William d. 5 Mar 1776, Highgate, Middlesex, England 2. ENSOR, Mary Ann, b. 1763, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. Bef Nov 1766 (Age < 3 years)3. ENSOR, Thomas, b. 1765, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. Bef 1818 (Age < 52 years)4. ENSOR, Mary, b. 1766, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. Bef 1818 (Age < 51 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]5. ENSOR, Sarah, b. 1768, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. Yes, date unknown [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]6. ENSOR, Edward, b. 1774, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex d. 1776, St. Michael, Highgate, Middlesex (Age 2 years)Family ID F2253 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Notes
THOMAS ENSOR Circa 1740-1820
Thomas ENSOR of the parish of "St. Ann Black Fryars", bachelor, and Mary GROVES, of this parish, spinster, were married at Finsbury St. Luke on 13 September 1762.
(PR)
"Middlesex to wit The Examination of Thomas ENSOR of Highgate in the parish of Hornsby (=Hornsey?) in the County of Middlesex Taylor taken on Oath before me David WILMOT Esqr. one of his Majestie's Justices of the peace for the said County this 20th. day of March 1773.
This Examinant saith that on Thursday the first day of October last about Six oclock the same Evening he with his Child an Infant about two years of age
was coming across Finchley Common in the County of Middlesex in a one horse Chaise when a man on Horseback Rode with him near two hundred yards and Observing the Course Clear Demanded this Examinants money, but this Examinant told him he had nothing to be Robbed off, upon which the man presented a Pistol to this Examinant and told him that was noplace of Delay therefore he Insisted upon his money in a moment, when this Examinant gave him Seven Shillings being all the money he had Excepting one shilling, The man asked him if that was all he had, and this Examinant told him it was, upon which the man not being satisfied told this Examinant
he would search him and if he found him in a Lye he wod. Blow his Braines out Immediately, And thro. Fright this Examinant gave him the one shilling and his Silver watch when the Highway man made off with himself And this Examinant verily Believes Joseph SMITH now in Custody for the same to be the man that Robbed him
Sworn this 20th March 1773
before me Thos ENSOR
WILMOT"
Thomas ENSOR and Elizabeth WARD, both of this parish, were married at St. Mary's, Hornsey Rise, Islington, Middlesex, by licence on 29 May 1776. Witnesses were Elen (?) WARD and Robert WARD.
(PR)
Englefield House.
The "schoolmaster" mentioned as tenant in 1783 was John ROSIER, who was still the occupier in 1794 when Mrs. Anne PILTON succeeded on the death of her husband. In 1799 she sold the house to Thomas ENSOR and it continued in the ownership of his descendants until purchased in 1884 by the late Thomas HORSLEY of South Grove, baker.
On the death of Thomas ENSOR in 1820 it came to his son, James ENSOR, who was of Brill Terrace, Somers Town, in 1808, of College Street, Camden Town, in 1813, of Totteridge in 1823 and of Hammersmith when he died on 18th January, 1868, in his 80th year. (ref. 25)
Thomas ENSOR appears to have occupied the house from 1794 to 1819 and was followed successively by William ADDISON, schoolmaster (from 1821), Mrs. MILLINGTON and Miss MILLINGTON, the last mentioned being the occupier in 1884.
(www.british-history.ac.uk)
According to Nick GRIBBLE he was buried on 15 March 1820.
The will of Thomas ENSOR, Gentleman, of Highgate, Middlesex, was proved at London on 23 March 1820 before the Worshipfull John Daberry Dr of Lawe & Surr'e by the oath of Elizabeth ENSOR wo. the Relict & one of the Ex'ors to whom adm'on was granted having been first sworn duly to admin'r. Power reserved to James ENSOR the son and Lewis McHENRY the other Executors:
"This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Ensor of Highgate in the County of Middlesex Gentleman in which I make publish and declare this twenty second day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen in manner following that is to say in the first place I direct to be decently interred in the Vault of Highgate Chapel and I desire that Mr Chandler of Fleet Market in the City of London Undertaker be employed to bury me and in the next place I direct that all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses may be fully paid and satisfied with all convenient speed after my decease by my Executor and Executrix hereinafter named with and out of the residue of my personal Estate and Effects whereas I am possessed of or intitled to a certain annuity or yearly sum of one hundred and twenty pounds for and during the natural lives of myself and my dear
wife Elizabeth Ensor and the life of the survivor of us payable to me by Michael Prendergast of Cloth Fair in the City of London Woolen Draper now do hereby give service and bequeath the said annuity or yearly sum of one hundred and twenty poundds unto my said dear wife Elizabeth Ensor and her assigns to and for her and their own use and benefit absolutely I also give and bequeath unto my said dear wife Elizabeth Ensor one room of furniture and I direct that she shall have the choice oof such room of furniture in my dwelling house at Highgate aforesaid in the state the same is now furnished as she shall think proper and I direct that my said dear wife Elizabeth Ensor shall be permitted to reside in my said messuage tenement or dwelling house at Highgate aforesaid and shall have the use an enjoyment of all the household goods and furniture therein for and during a twelve month and a day from the time of my decease without paying any rent whatsoever for the same respectively and subject to the residence of that my said dear wife Elizabeth Ensor aforesaid in my said copyhold messuage tenement or dwelling house situate standing living and being in the hamlet of Highgate in the Parish of Saint Pancras in the County of Middlesex aforesaid I give service and bequeath my said messuage tenement or dwelling house hereditaments and promises with the appurtenances unto and to the use of my eldest son James Ensor of Sidmouth Street in the Parish of Saint Pancras aforesaid Merchant his Heirs and assigns for ever and subject to the use and enjoyment of the household goods and furniture in my said dwelling house by my said dear wife during a twelve month and a day as aforesaid I give and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my household goods and furniture and all my plate linen and china books prints pictures and musical instruments (except my pianoforte) unto my said son James Ensor his executors administrators and assigns absolututely and I give and bequeath my said pianoforte unto my daughter Eliza Ensor to and for her own use and benefit absolutely I give and bequeath unto my grandson James Rainford Ensor my Coach I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth the wife of Lewis McHenry of Fish Street in the City of London Gentleman one thousand pound three pounds per cent reduced bank annuities I give and bequeath unto my son George Ensor a Lieutenant in one of His Majesty's Regiments of Infantry three hundrred and fifty pounds five pounds per cent navy annuities and I give and bequeath unto my son John Ensor late a Lieutenant in His Majesty's Navy and since a Commander of a Merchant Vessel three hundred and fifty pounds life annuities and do herebreby declare my mind and will to be that in case my said daughter Elizabeth McHenry said sons George Ensor and John Ensor or any or either of them shall not be living at the time of my decease or shall not be living when their respective legacieies s shall become payable and shall have left or shall leave any child or children lawfully begotten Her Him or Their respectively surviving then such children shall represent and take in equal shares of proportion between or among them (if more thaan one) the respective legacies in which I have hereinbefore bequeathed to their respective parents and that the same legacies shall be payable or transferable to and among such children respectively if and when they shall attain their respective ages of twenty one years and that the interest dividends or income of such legacy respectively shall and may be applied by my Executors in for or towards the support maintenance and education of such children respectively during their respective minorities I give and bequeath unto my said dear wife Elizabeth Ensor and my said son James Ensor and my son-in-law Lewis McHenry their Executors administrators and assigns one thousand two hundred pounds three pounds per cent reduced bank annuities upon the several trusts following that
is to say upon trust that they the said Elizabeth Ensor James Ensor and Lewis McHenry the survivors and survivor of them and the executors administrators and assigns of the survivor shall and do from time to time in their or His direction sell a assign transfer and dispose of the said sum of one thousand two hundred pounds three pounds percent reduced bank annuities and the stocks funds and securities for the same and again pay out and invest the money arising thereby in Their or Her or His names or name in or upon any of the stocks funds or securities of a like or similar nature with full power and authority from time to time to alter change and vary the same as occasion shall be or require and shall and so stand and be ppossessed of and interested in the said one thousand two hundred pounds three pounds per cent reduced bank annuities and the Stocks funds and securities in or upon which the same shall or may by laid out or invested and the dividends interest and annual produce thereof upon the trusts and for the ends intents and purposes following (that is to say) upon trust that they the said Elizabeth Ensor James Ensor and Lewis McHenry and the survivors and survivor or them and the executors administrators or assigns of such survivors shall and do from time to time during the natural life of my daughter Eliza Ensor receive and take the said dividends interest and annual produce and pay out apply and dispose of the same unto such person or peersons in such shares or proportions for such ends intents and purposes and in such manner in all respects and my said daughter Eliza Ensor from time to time and at all or any time during her natural life by any note in writing notes or writinggs signed with her own proper hand shall whether revert or disrovert or appoint and for want or in default of such direction or appointment and in the mean time and until any such shall be made and take effect upon trust to pay the said diviidendnds interest and annual produce or do with thereof as shall remain applies by virtue of the said power in to the proper hands of my said daughter Eliza Ensor to and for her own sole separate and peculiar use and benefit and in order that thhe same shall not be subject or liable to the debts engagements power intermeddling or controul of any husband or husbands with whom she may happen to intermarry and for which the receipt of receipts of my said daughter Eliza Ensor or the receipipt or receipts of Her Appointee or Appointees shall whether rovert or disrovert be a good and sufficient discharge or several good and sufficient discharges and from and after the decease of my said daughter Eliza Ensor I direct my said Trustees or Truustee for the time being to stand possessors of and interested in the said one thousand two hundred pounds three percent reduced bank annuities and the Stocks funds and securities in or upon which the same shall or may be laid out or invested annd the dividends interest and annual produce thereof respectively upon trust for the benefit of all and every the children of my said daughter Eliza Ensor lawfully to be begotten in equal shares or proportions if more than one) and who as to succh of them as shall be a son or sons shall live to attain the age of twenty one years and who as to such of them as shall be a daughter or daughters as live to attain such age or be married which shall first happen and in case there shall be onlly one child who shall live to attain the age or time aforesaid then the whole of the said one thousand two hundred pounds three percent reduced bank annuities and the Stocks funds and securities for the same and the dividends interest and annual produce thereof shall be upon trust for such one or only child who being a Son shall live to attain the age of twenty one years or who being a Daughter shall live to attain that age of be married as aforesaid and I do hereby declare that the part of share of every
such child in the said trust monies stocks funds and securities shall be an interest vested in him or her upon such child attaining the age or time aforesaid in the lifetime of my said daughter Eliza Ensor although the actual payment or transfeer therefor shall be postponed till the decease of her my said daughter and so hereby behave that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said trustees or trustee for the time being in their Her or His discretion from and after the decease of my said daughter Eliza Ensor to pay or apply all or any part of the dividends interest or income of the share of shares of any such child or children in the said trust monies stocks funds and securities in for and towards his her or their maintenance and education during their respective minorities and also if necessary any part not exceeding one third part of the principal of such share or shares in placing him or their out…apprentice or apprentices Clerk or Clerks to any trade businesess or profession or employment or otherwise for their benefit and advantage in the world notwithstanding they shall then be under the age of twenty-one years respectively and shall and so lay out and invest so much of the said dividends interest and income as shall not be wanted for the purposes aforesaid in their her or His names or name in some or all of the public stocks or funds (not being a sinking fund and which shall be transferred to the child or children out of whose such share or shares such savings shall be made at the same time as this or her original share as herinbefore made payable or transferable as aforesaid and in case my said daughter Eliza Ensor shall leave no such child of children her surviving or leaving [living?] such they shall all die before they or any or either of them shall have lived to gain a vested interest in the said trust monies stocks funds and securities then the same respectively shall be upon trust for such person or persons in such shares or proportions for such ends interests and purposes and in such manner in all respects as my said daughter Eliza Ensor at any time or times during the natural life by her last Will and Testament in writing or any Codicil or Codicils thereto or any writing or writings in the nature of or purporting to be her Last Will and Testament or Codicil to be signed and published by her in the presence of and attested by two or more reliable witnesses shall whether rovert or disrovert direct or appoint and for want or in default of such direction or appointment the said one thousand two hundred pounds three percent reduced bank annuities and the stocks funds and securities for the same or so much thereof as shall remain unanapplied by virtue of the said last mentioned power shall fall into and constitute part of the residue of my estate and effects and follow and be subject to the disposition thereof hereinafter contained I give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Ensor James Ensor and Lewis McHenry their executors administrators and assigns two hundred pounds five percent navy annuities upon the several trusts following (that is to say) upon trust that they the said Elizabeth Ensor James Ensor and Lewis McHenry and the survivors or survivor of them and the executors administrators and assigns of such survivor shall and join their her or his discretion either pay or assign and transfer the said two hundred pounds five percent navy annuities ununto and amongst the daughters of my late daughter Sarah lawfully begotten by her husband Joseph Dickman of the parish of Bidstone in the County of Chester Schoolmaster in equal shares or proportions as and when they shall attain their respective ages of twenty one years or be married which shall first happen or apply the whole or any part of the share of any such granddaughters for placing her or their apprentice or apprentices to any business or employment or otherwise for their benefit and advantage in the world notwithstanding they shall be under the
age of twenty-one years I give and bequeath unto my said wife Elizabeth Ensor and my son James Ensor and my son-in-law Lewis McHenry their executors administrators and assigns four hundred pounds three pounds percent reduced bank annuities upopopon the several trusts following that is to say upon trust that they the said Elizabeth Ensor James Ensor and Lewis McHenry and the survivors and survivor of them and the executors administrators or assigns of such survivors or survivor shall and so from time to time in their or his discretion sell assign transfer and dispose of the said sum of four hundred pounds three pounds percent reduced bank annuities and the stocks funds and securities for the same and again lay out and invest the money arising thereby in their or her or his names or name in or upon any other stocks funds or securities of a like or similar nature with full power and authority form time to time to alter change and vary the same as occasion shall be or require and shall and do stand and be possessed of and interested in the said four hundred pounds three pounds percent reduced bank annuities and the stocks funds and securities in or upon which the same may be laid out or invested and the dividend interest and annual produce thereof invested upon the trusts and for the subintents and purposes following that is to say upon trust that they the said Elizabeth Ensor James Ensor and Lewis McHenry and their survivors or survivor and the executors administrators and assigns shall do and from time to time receive and take the said dividends interest and annual produce and pay the same to my daughter Harriot the wife of John Ramsey late of Muswell Hill in the parish of Hornsey Schoollmaster for her sole proper and separate use and benefit and in order that the same shall not be subject or liable to the debts and engagements power or controul of her present husband or any husband with whom she may hereafter intermarry and fofor which the receipt or receipts of my said daughter Harriott shall whether rovert or disrovert be a good and sufficient discharge and after the decease of my said daughter Harriott it is my will and direction that my wife Elizabeth my son James Ensor and my son-in-law Lewis McHenry the survivors or survivor of them and the executors administrators and assigns of such survivors should continue to receive the dividends of the aforementioned four hundred pounds three percent reduced bank annuities and should invest them from time to time as the same may be received and add it to the said principal stock of four hundred pounds three pounds per cent reduced bank annuities and so continue to accumulate the same till the youngest child of my daughter Harriott by her husband John Ramsay lawfully begotten and her surviving shall have attained the age of twenty one years when it is my direction that the said sum of four hundred pounds three pounds percent reduced bank annuities with its accumulations shall be actually divided amongst the said children share and share alike and if at the time of decease of my said daughter Harriott her youngest child as aforesaid shall then have attained the age of twenty-one years it is then my direction that the distribution herinbefore directed to take place one twelvemonth and a day after the decease of my said daughter Harriott further if any of the children of my daughter Harriott shall have departed this life before they have received their portion of the aforementioned sum of four hundred pounds three pounds percent reduced bank annuities and should have left any child or children is to represent their parent and to receive amongst them that portion their parent would have been entitled to receive if him or her had survived my daughter Harriott in equal shares if more than one and if only one
then that one to receive the whole and payment of the same to take place when him or her or them shall have attained the age of twenty-one years and if my said daughter Harriott shall depart this life and leave no child lawfully begotten by her husband John Ramsay her surviving then it is my will and direction that the said sum of four hundred pounds three pounds percent reduced bank annuities at the expiration of the twelvemonth and a day after the decease of my said daughter Harriott be divided in equal proportions among the surviving children or my son James Ensor and my daughter Elizabeth the wife of Lewis McHenry lawfully begotten in equal proportions that is share and share alike provided always and I do hereby declare my mind and will to be that in case any or either of my said Trustees herinbefore named shall happen to die or be desirous to be discharged of and from or shall refuse or decline or become incapable to act in the execution of the several trusts thereby reposed in them respectively then and in such case and so often from time to time as the same shall so happen it shall and may be lawful to and for the surviving or continuing trustees or trustee by any deed or deeds writing or writings to be sealed and delivered b her him or them in the presence of and attested by two or more reliable witnesses to nominate and appoint any person or persons to be a trustee or trustees in the pace or stead of the trustee or trustees so sittinting or desiring to be discharged of and from or refusing or declining or becoming incapable to act as aforesaid and that when and so found as any such new trustee or trustees be so nominated and appointed as aforesaid such acts deeds matters and t things shall be made out and executed and performed as shall be necessary or expedient for effectually assigning or transferring the said trust monies stocks funds securities unto such new trustees or trustee jointly with the old or surviving or continuing trustees or trustee (if any such there shall be) or unto such new trustees or trustee wholly as the…shall happen upon the trusts herinbefore declared thereof respectively or such of them as shall be ……….etc administration instructions only
and I give and bequeath all and every my shares in the Kentish Town Junction Road and in the Golson Lane Brewery and seventy five pounds per annum short annuities and all other my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what naturre kind or quality so ever not herinbefore disposed of unto the said Elizabeth Ensor James Ensor and Lewis McHenry their executors administrators and assigns upon the several trusts following that is to say upon trust that they the said Elizabeteth Ensor James Ensor and Lewis McHenry and the survivors and survivor of them and the executors administrators and assigns of such survivor shall and do in their her or his direction with all convenient speed after my decease absolutely sell anaand dispose of the same respectively either by public auction or private contract and either in one Lot or several Lots for the most money that can reasonably be obtained and shall and do stand possessed of the money to arise or be produced by or from such sale or sales and from the receipt of the dividends and income of such of the aforesaid legacies as I have herinbefore directed shall not be paid till a twelvemonth and a day after any decease in trust thereout respectively to pay and satisfy all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses and from and after all my said debts and funeral and testamentary expenses shall be fully paid and satisfied upon trust to pay and divide the surplus (if any) of the said trust monies in manner following (that is to say) unto between or among all and every the children of my said son James Ensor lawfully begotten my daughter Elizabeth McHenry lawfully begotten and my daughter Harriott Ramsay lawfully begotten living at the time of my decease in equal proportions share and share alike but in case the fund I have hereinbefore provided for the payment of my said debts and funeral and testamentary expenses aforesaid shall proved deficient for that purpose then I diirect that the several legacies herinbefore by me directed not to be paid till a twelvemonth and a day after my decease shall not be paid until a sum shall accumulate from the dividends and income of the same several legacies sufficient to answeer and pay such deficiency of my said debts and funeral and testamentary expenses and I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said wife Elizabeth Ensor and my son the said James Ensor and my son-in-law Lewis McHenry Executrix and Executors of this my last Will and Testament whereas shortly after the marriage of my daughter Harriott with her present husband James Ramsay Schoolmaster I lent and advanced the said John Ramsay the sum of five hundred pounds upon his bond but which he has never repaid me now my will and intention is that the said bond should be considered as annulled and null and void to all intents and purposes as if the same had never existed and I direct that no claim whatever be made upon the said John Ramsay his heirs executors or assigns for or an amount of the same or for any interest due or in supposed to be due thereon as I hereby cancel the said bond and freely release him from all claims or amount of the same And lastly I hereby revoke annnul and make void all and every Will and Wills testament and testaments Codicil and Codicils by me at any time or times heretobefore made in writing whereof I the said Thomas Ensor have cast this my last Will and Testament contained in ten sheetets of paper have put my hand and seal that is to say my hand to the first nine sheets and my hand and seal to this tenth and last sheet - Thomas Ensor && - Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Ensor the testator as and for HiHis last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses Timothy Boston Whitesmith Highgate - Thos. Townshend Bricklayer Highgate - Mary Parkinson Spr. Highgate -"
Proved at London 23rd March 1820 before the Worshipful John Daubeny Br. of Laws & Li… by the oath of Elizabeth Ensor wife the relict & one of the Executors to whom administration was granted having been first sworn duly to administer power reserved to James Ensor the son and Lewis McHenry the other Executors.
(National Archives PROB 11/1626 transdcribed by Nick GRIBBLE)
NOTES & QUERIES:
Thomas ENSOR of High Street, St.Marylebone, pawnbroker against two convictions by Nathaniel CONANT and John SCOT, esqs., J.P.s, for taking profit on pledges of silver teaspoon and waistcoat.
(LMA Middlesex Sessions of the Peace MJ/SP/1794/APR/031a-b dated April 1794)
(See also www.londonlives.org for 14 references to a Thomas ENSOR)
(revised 01.05.2012)