Eliza Griffiths

1851-1898

Eliza, her family and early life:

Eliza’s mother Hannah Giddens (surname later recorded as Giddings and Giddins) was born in the hamlet of Warleigh, in Bathford, Somerset.  She was baptised in 1818 in Bathford, Somerset, the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Giddens. Hannah married William Newman (a Groom) on the 13^th May 1839 at St Mary the Virgin Marlborough, Wiltshire.

They had a daughter, Emma baptised 14^th June 1840, at St Peter and St Paul, Marlborough.

William died aged 27, in 1844, he was buried on the 19^th February at St Mary the Virgin, Marlborough.

Hannah gave birth to Eliza in 1851, in Marlborough, Wiltshire. She was baptised on the 17^th April 1853 at St May the Virgin, Marlborough, the illegitimate daughter of Hannah Newman (father unknown).

Hannah remarried on the 12^th December 1858. Her 2^nd husband was widower, William Gardiner Foot.

Hannah gave birth to a daughter, Florence, in 1860.

In 1861 William Foot (43), a Wood Turner, was living in St Martins, Marlborough, with Hannah (41), a Seamstress, his daughter (from 1^st marriage) Mary Jane Foot (12), Florence Foot (6 months) and his step-daughters, Emma Newman (20) a Laundress and Eliza Newman (9).

Eliza in later life:

Both the 1881 and 1891 census records record Eliza as a Servant working for Edward B. Warren, a Clerk in Holy Orders, at 14 Sydney Place, Bathwick, Bath, Somerset.

Eliza married a widower, Caleb Griffiths in 1893 (marriage registered in Newbury)

(Caleb was a Coachsmith. He was born in Newbury, Berkshire, he was baptised on the 29^th October 1843, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the son of William and Mary Griffiths (nee Powers) who were married on the 17^th October 1824 at St Mary Thatcham Berkshire. Caleb married Susan(nah) Read, in 1865, they had 11 children. Susan(nah) died in 1891).

Eliza died aged 46 on the 3^rd November 1898, she was laid to rest in a private grave in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 7^th November.

Caleb married again in 1900, in Croydon, his 3^rd wife was Sophia Theresa Phillips (nee Slay) a widow.

 (Sophia was born in 1848 in Reading, Berkshire, the daughter of Thomas and Eliza Rebecca Slay (nee Knight) who were married in 1836, in Reading, Berkshire (Eliza Rebecca was recorded as Rebecca at time of marriage).

The 1901 census records Caleb (58) as a Game/Poultry Dealer and Greengrocer, living at 130, Bartholomew Street, with Sophia (52) and his sons, Walter (23) and Alfred (20), both Market Gardeners and his daughter Jessie (18), a Draper’s Shop Assistant.

Caleb (69), Sophia (62) and Alfred (30) were still living at 130 Bartholomew Street in 1911. Caleb was again recorded as a Greengrocer and Game Dealer. Alfred was again recorded as a Market Gardener in the census for this year.

Caleb died aged 79 on the 21^st February 1922, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th February, with Eliza.

Sophia died aged 81 in 1929 (death registered in Kingsclere)

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