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      Ann's parents haven't been identified, but she may have been baptized in 1797 at Manchester Cathedral, daughter of John and Martha Pownal. She came to New York with her family on the ship Italy, arriving 14 or 15 January 1842. She wrote the following letter that was presented at the New York Monthly Meeting of Friends ("Quakers") on 2 April 1845:

"Dear Friends,

I have attended your meetings a long time with satisfaction and believe fully in the correctness of the principles professed by Friends.

I remain your friend, Ann Hancock"

Meetings were set up to determine if she was to be accepted into the Meeting. After an interview with her, a committee reported that "she appeared to be convinced of friends principles and said she had made the request from a sense of duty and was willing to abide by the decision of the meeting; and upon enquiry it appeared her life and conduct are orderly." She was accepted at the meeting of 1 October 1845.
     The New York Friends recorded her death as the wife of Robert, a "non-member," and that she was buried in Prospect Park Cemetery. The latter was laid out for Friends burials, but Ann was probably not ever buried there. Her death certificate says the burial was at Cypress Hills Cemetery, and that is where her stone can still be found in a family plot. The certificate also says she died at 62 Bedford St. of "pneumonia notha," but also suffered from heart disease. Family tradition says that Ann was not only a Friend but also an "herb doctor." According to Margaret Sinclair, "some insisted on paying and to others she said [using "thee" in the style of Friends] 'If my medicine helped thee, I am amply paid."






Ann's stone in Cypress Hills Cemetery, made in a style typical of Friends markers (round-topped with plain, capital lettering)


children of Ann Pownal and Robert Hancock:

i. Martha, b. abt. 1821, m. Richard W. Clough
ii. Mary, b. 5 June 1823, m. William Hyde Ashton
iii. Mana, b. 9 January 1825, d. by 1842
iv. Margaret, b. 20 January 1829?
v. John, b. 21 December 1828, d. bet. 1843 and 1850
vi. Ann, b. abt 1831, d. after 1851
vii. Sarah, b. abt 1833, m. Alfred Collins
viii. Samuel, b. abt 1838





vital records sources: Ann's marriage is in the records of Manchester Cathedral. See below for her death record.

Brooklyn death cert. #2201, age 71; gravestone, Cypress Hills Cem.
Ann’s death cert. (4/1867) says she had been in the city 26 years (came1840-1).
New York (Friends) Monthly Meeting, Orthodox Men's and Women's Meeting records (separate)

all text and photographs © 1998-2005 by Doug Sinclair unless where otherwise noted