▶Date of birth:   1802       Place of birth: St Peter’s, Hereford, Herefordshire

▶Father:  William Hanson     Mother: Sarah

▶Spouse(s):  Mary Lucy Baker    Date(s) of marriage:  I July 1830     Place(s) of marriage: Dixton Newton, Monmouthshire

▶Occupation: Clergyman (Anglican)

▶Lifestory: John Acton Hanson served in several clerical post in the Midlands, before retiring to Cheltenham. He was born in Hereford in 1802, the son of William Hanson of Hereford, and his wife Sarah. Hanson matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford in 1820, Scholar 1820-3, BA 1823, MA 1826. He took holy orders and was ordained Deacon (Chichester) in 1825, and Priest (Hereford) in the same year.

In 1825 he was licensed Curate of Norton Canon, Herefordshire, and also from 1825 Curate of Almeley, Herefordshire; this was also the year in which he preached a sermon in Hereford for all of the Bluecoat Schools in the city. In 1830 he married Mary Lucy, youngest daughter of Robert Baker, of Pershore, Worcestershire, at Dixton Newton, Monmouthshire; he sold his extensive household furnishings and he and his wife left the Almeley area. He became Curate of St Mary, Bridgnorth in Shropshire in 1831, and of Credenhill, Herefordshire in 1834, before being instituted Vicar of Burghill, Herefordshire from 1835. By 1844 he was one of the Guardians of the Poor of the Hereford Union, representing Burghill, and was an active and prize-winning member of the Hereford Horticultural Society. He spent his last years in Cheltenham, and lived at Blenheim House, 1 Evesham Road, Pittville from 1854 until his death in early 1858. Hanson was buried at St Mary’s Church, Prestbury. His wealth at death was sworn at under £14,000.

▶Moved to Pittville from: Burghill, Herefordshire       Moved from Pittville to: (deceased)

▶Date of death:  26 January 1858      Place of death: Cheltenham

▶Date of burial:         Place of burial: St Mary’s Church, Prestbury

▶Notes:        ID: 3867

Contributor(s):  John Simpson/Alan Munden