Ellen Weeton (1776-1850), also known as Nelly or Nellie Weeton, and by the married name Mrs Stock, was a Lancashire school mistress, woman letter writer and governess who was the author of Journal of a Governess, two volumes describing her life as a governess in the years 1807–1825.
Weeton was born in Up Holland in Lancaster on Christmas Day 1776 (or around 1777 according to some sources). [1] She was baptised "Nelly" at St John the Evangelist's Church, Lancaster. She was named after her father's ship at his request. Her father was away when she was baptised. [2] (Some sources call her "Ellen") Her father transported slaves and worked for privateers. [3]
She was very educated for a woman of the time, [4] and was employed throughout her life as a school mistress and governess, one of the few respectable occupations available to a woman during this period.
She is known for writing letters to her brother who she held in very high regard when she started to copy the letters into a journal.
Weeton was well travelled, visiting Yorkshire, the Lake District, North Wales, the Isle of Man, and London. [4] She was also a keen walker, and her exploits included an ascent of Snowdon, which she climbed alone in June 1825, aged 48. [1] On the Isle of Man, she records walking 35 miles in a day, and ascending Greeba. [1]
She married Aaron Stock at Holy Trinity Parish Church in Liverpool in 1814. [5] A daughter, Mary, was born the following year. She had married him at the suggestion of her brother and it worked out poorly. Her new husband abused her and in time he demanded a separation threatening that he would have her confined to an asylum if she disagreed. [3]
In 1821, Stock appeared in court for an assault on Weeton; she and her husband formally separated. Due to this, Weeton surrendered custody of her daughter, whom she would not see again until 1828. [1]
Weeton published nothing in her lifetime. Four volumes of her correspondence [6] and some journals were gathered in 1936 and 1939 by Edward Hall, [7] and were subsequently edited by JJ Bagley in 1969 as Miss Weeton's Journal of a Governess in two volumes. [8]
She died in 1849 and she left her journals to her church minister. They reappeared in a book shop in Wigan in 1925 where they were found by Edward Hall. [3] He edited them and they were published two volumes as Miss Weeton: a Journal of a Governess in 1936. [9]