Hi Veronica
As far as the Sheffield Flood is concerned, I can tell you that this lady's name was reported as Etches, Etching and Etchell.
According to the account written at the time by Samuel Harrison, he tells us:
"On the left hand side of the river, facing downwards, stood a row of twelve cottages and two shops, the whole of which were washed away so completely that no one would have imagined the site had ever been occupied by human dwellings. Among the families drowned here were Joseph Crapper, shoemaker, his wife, and a child, Mrs. Etchell, a widow, who kept a school; Joseph Goddard, his wife, and two or three children; William Sellars and wife; Henry Jevisson, his wife, and son; George Barrett, shoemaker, his wife, child, and a lodger named Ann Pearson".
I have found her in the 1861 census living at Malin Bridge at enumerator's reference RG9/3459 11F (Ann Etchells)
A search of the compensation claims lodged after the flood shows a claim for damage to property which included '4 houses occupied by Joseph Crapper, Ann Mount, Charlotte Taylor, Ann Etchells, Price, Armitage, Sellars, Simpson and Bradshaw.'
I have also found claim number 5390 that was placed by Francis Gooderick Tester, a messenger at the Army and Navy club aged 17 years of 24 Grafton Street Soho, and Charlotte Elizabeth Tester, laundress of London, in their capacity as 'only surviving nephew and niece and next of kin of Ann Etchells, late of Malin Bridge'. Their claim was for £37-2-0 for damage to personal property {again if you want full details let me know}. The claim was 'assessed by agreement including costs' at £35-0-0 and settled on 14th July 1865.
A search of the National Burial Index found only one match for Ann Etchells in 1864 but she was buried at Ecclesall All Saints on 24th December 1864 at the age of 66. This burial was obviously too late in the year to be that of Ann who drowned in the flood so I was beginning to think her body was amongst those never found but I have since discovered that a body was found at Doncaster and buried in Hyde Park Cemetery, without having been identified. I now believe that Ann Etchells is one of two possible candidates for this unidentified body.
Accounts in the newspapers 'The Doncaster, Nottingham & Lincoln Gazette Supplement' and the 'Doncaster Chronicle' both dated Friday March 18th 1864 reported the finding of a body in Crimpsall about 11 o' clock on Saturday morning. It was apparently that of a middle-aged woman who had rings on her fingers, and earrings, but no clothing other than her nightdress. She was immediately removed to the New River Tavern, to await an inquest. {Once again let me know if you want full details from the paper}.
I have also been in touch with a lady who is researching the names Etchells and Etches but who has not yet made a connection between Ann and her ancestors. She tells me that she believes Ann was the widow of Benjamin Etchells who died at Waterloo Gardens in Sheffield North on 29th January 1855 at the age of 62. The informant on his death certificate was an Eliza (Elizabeth?) Walker of the same address although her relationship to Benjamin was not stated but it seems strange the informant was not Ann, his wife.
She found two death records for Benjamin Etchells in Sheffield and, by purchasing both death certificates, she believes that Ann's husband was born in Hadfield and was shown as 'soldier and pensioner 2nd foot guards'.
Hope this is of interest - would love to hear from you if you think this lady may appear in your tree!
Best Regards
Karen Lightowler