On 07 Mar 1827 Ellen Turner (age 16) was abducted from Margaret Daulby's elite boarding school for girls in Liverpool by, Edward Thevenot, a servant of Edward Gibbon Wakefield (age 30). Edward Gibbon Wakefield (age 30) and Ellen Turner (age 16) were married at Gretna Green, Dumfrieshire, she believing she was marrying to protect her father from financial ruin. After the marriage they set out for France, another jurisdiction, where he intended they settle as man and wife. He was subsequently arrested, tried and imprisoned.