Elopements were not always based on love and desire. The Gretna Green histories chronicle some tales in which
marriages were accomplished through force and/or lies. Indeed, deception and
greed was at the helm of the 1826 elopement of Edward Gibbon Wakefield and fifteen-year-old
Ellen Turner.
Although he had received a settlement of seventy
thousand pounds from his first marriage, Wakefield was greedy. He needed more
money if he was to live the way he wished and someday become a member of Parliament.
Enlisting his brother’s help, Wakefield devised a plan in which he would lure the wealthy mill’s
daughter, Ellen Turner, away from her girl’s school in Liverpool with what
appeared to be an official doctor's letter stating her mother was ill and calling for her.
The cruel plan worked. Eager to see her mother, Ellen
left the school accompanied by her family’s butler to Manchester.
There, she was led to private rooms where she met with Mr. Edward Gibbon
Wakefield, a handsome, charming man who claimed to be a friend of her father’s.
Edward not only calmed and assured young Ellen that
her mother was quite well, but he won her over with his smile and
polite manners. She was immediately smitten. When he told her that her father
insisted they travel together to Kendal to meet him, Ellen obliged. Once in
Kendal, Wakefield informed her that her father would not be coming. Instead, he
had terrible news. Her father’s business was ruined. Wakefield produced a supposed letter from
a solicitor suggesting Ellen and Wakefield marry at once in order to preserve her
father’s failing fortune. Ellen eagerly obliged. She wanted to help her father,
and it was in no way a hardship since this man was good-looking and seemingly
benevolent of spirit. She agreed, and off they went to Gretna Green.
The marriage took place and the couple left
immediately, bound for Calais, France. Fortunately,
they were intercepted by Ellen’s uncles. One can only imagine the scene that
took place in Calais as the uncles explained that her father was perfectly
well, his money in perfect order. Much to her horror, they detailed for the young woman the con man’s intentions to lay hold of
her fortune.
A national scandal ensued known as the “Shrigley
Abduction” as Wakefield stood trial in March of 1827. Convicted of kidnapping
and felonious marriage, he was sentenced to three years in Newgate Prison and
the marriage was annulled.
Even after this, he committed forgery (although it was
never proven) in an attempt to extract more money through his deceased wife’s
father’s will, but the plan failed.
Despite a sullied reputation, in the 1830s Wakefield became
a politician responsible for orchestrating British immigration to Australia and
New Zealand as a solution to overcrowding. He spent much of his later years in
New Zealand as an influential politician and Member of Parliament.
Ellen Turner married legally and by choice at the age
of seventeen to a man who shared her status and position.
Just as they have done since the beginning of time,
con artists still swindle unsuspecting folks today. What do you think is the reason
people fall for a con artist’s ploy?
Other sites on the topic of Regency elopement:
Fascinating story, especially that he was able to be successful in politics after his brief time in prison!
ReplyDeletebetty
I know! Even in the Regency era...
DeleteWe fall for a con artist's ploy for varied reasons: We want to believe; The con artist is charming; We're fifteen years old and easily frightened; Mental illness.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Haha! Yes, Janie. I think you're right. I fell for some doozies when I was fifteen. :)
Delete