Historedia
Person

William Wakefield

Events
1
Episodes
4
Years
1826–1827

Every event in Historedia whose sources name William Wakefield, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. The Shrigley abduction of Ellen Turner

    1826–1827

    Role: Accomplice

    1. 1826 · Gretna Green, ScotlandMarriage at Gretna Green

      The couple married in Gretna Green, Scotland, before traveling to Calais, where authorities intervened after being notified by Turner's father.

    2. March 1826 · KendalTravel to Kendal

      The party traveled to Kendal, where Wakefield maintained the deception that Ellen's father was a fugitive, meeting his brother William.

    3. 7 March 1826 · LiverpoolAbduction from Liverpool

      Wakefield sent his servant to Liverpool to lure Ellen Turner from her boarding school using false claims about her father's financial collapse and her mother's health.

    4. March-June 1827 · LancasterTrial and Annulment

      Wakefield and his brother were convicted in Lancaster in March 1827, and the marriage was annulled by Parliament in June 1827.

Sources

  1. Shrigley abduction Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-17