HATTON, Margaret (Grimwade p.751)

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Not illustrated or given in any sections, Grimwade adds her to the Addenda.

She was almost certainly the widow of James Murphy, who as Margaret Grove, was married to him in Westminster on 7th July 1736.

She appears to have been the common - law wife of Thomas Hatton, a smallworkers whose first recorded mark was in 1762 at Frith Street, Soho although it is likely he had earlier marks in the lost smallworkers register.
Thomas Hatton died in early March 1764 and his will, made 6th March 1764 was proved at PCC on 15th March 1764.

One of the executors was Margaret Murphy, Widow to whom he leaves the bulk of his estate.There is a bequest to Robert Grove of Wolverhampton in the county of Stafford, Taylor as the brother of Margaret Murphy.

Margaret was given as resident , like himself, in the Parish of St Annes, Soho and in the will was treated as one would expect if she was his wife. She was described in the will as "the reputed Wife " of Thomas Hatton and her daughter, Mary Murphy was also described as "my reputed daughter". The daughter was under the age of 21 at the time of the will and unmarried.

On the fourth day after proving the will a Margaret Hatton entered a mark as smallworker at Shrift (Frith) Street Soho.
I think there can be very little doubt that Margaret Murphy = Margaret Hatton. As a widow Margaret Murphy may well have had a life interest only in the estate of her late husband, Robert Grove, and she and Thomas may have preferred the income to respectability.