Eliza French

1834-1914

Eliza was born on the 2^nd May 1834 in Newbury Berkshire, she was baptised on the 25^th May at St Nicolas Church Newbury, the daughter of Thomas (a Barber of Bartholomew Street) and Eliza Crofts (nee Winter) who were married on the 15^th June 1818, at St Nicolas.

Her father Thomas was baptised on the 25^th March 1796 at St Nicolas, the son of Thomas and Mary Crofts. He died aged 53 the Newbury Workhouse in 1844 and was buried on the 13^th September at t Nicolas, Newbury (as Thomas Croft)

Eliza’s mother Eliza was born on the 11^th August 1798, she was baptised on the 2^nd September 1798, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of Jeremiah and Anne Winter. She died aged 44 in 1842

Thomas and Eliza also had the following children baptised at St Nicolas Church Newbury:

Ann Croft, 10^th December 1826 (Thomas, a Hairdresser of Newbury)

George Croft, 3^rd January 1830 (Thomas, a Hairdresser of Newbury)

Henry, 22^nd April 1832 (born 30^th March, Thomas, a Barber of Bartholomew Street)

The 1841 census records Thomas (45) as a Hairdresser, living in Lewis’s Buildings, Bartholomew Street Newbury, with Eliza (40), Ann (15), Henry (9) and Eliza (7).

In 1851 Eliza (17) was recorded as an inmate in the Newbury Workhouse.

Eliza married in 1859

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Newbury

Date: 24^th December 1859

Groom: Robert Taylor, full age, bachelor, occupation, Labourer, abode, Newbury

Bride: Eliza Crofts, full age, spinster, abode, Newbury

Fathers: Joeph Taylor, a Labourer and Thomas Crofts, a Barber

Witnesses: James Newport and Hannah Newport

(Robert was born c1821in Newbury)

The 1861 census records Robert (38) as an Agricultural Labourer living in the City, Newbury, with Eliza (29) and a visitor Jemima Croff (6) (probably Croft)

Robert and Eliza had a daughter, Sarah Jane, born in 1864, she was baptised on the 14^th August 1864, at St Nicolas.

The 1871 census records Robert (48) as a Labourer and Chelsea Pensioner, living at 1 West Mills, Newbury, with Eliza (41) and their daughter Sarah Jane (6)

Eliza was widowed in 1874, Robert died aged 51, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 1^st August.

Eliza remarried in 1874

Marriage details:
Place: St Nicolas Newbury

Date: 6^th December 1874

Groom: Henry Young, full age, bachelor, occupation, Gardener, abode, Newbury

Bride: Eliza Taylor, full age, widow, abode, Newbury

Fathers: William Young, a Labourer and Thomas Crofts, a Hairdresser

Witnesses: Henry Albert Cress(?) and Sarah Stillman

(Henry and his twin brother George were born c1835 in Speen, Berkshire, the sons of William and Emma Young (nee Jones) who were married on the 26^th July 1824 at St Luke, Chelea, London)

Henry died aged 41 in 1878. He was buried on the 11^th August at St Mary the Virgin, Shaw cum Donnington, Berkshire.

Eliza married for the 3^rd time the following year.

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Newbury

Date: 28^th September 1879

Groom: James French, full age, widower, occupation, Labourer, abode, Newbury

Bride: Eliza Young, full age, widow, abode, Newbury

Fathers: James French, a Labourer and Thomas Crofts, a Hairdresser

Witnesses: John R Stillman and Sarah Stillman

(James French was baptised on the 2^nd September 1832 in Thatcham Berkshire, the son of James and Maria French. He married Ann Harris in c1856. They had 5 children, Louisa Maria 1856, William 1858, Jane Maria c1861, James William 1864 and Ellen 1867. James was widowed in 1879)

The 1881 census records James (46), Eliza (45) and Ellen (13) living at 1 Quakers Burial Ground, Newbury. James was working as a Bricklayer’s Labourer.

James and Eliza were again recorded living at 1 Quakers Burial Ground in 1891, James was still working as a Bricklayer’s Labourer, Eliza was working as a Laundress.

The 1901 census again records the couple living at 1 Quakers Burial Ground. James was again recorded as a Bricklayer’s Labourer and Eliza was recorded as a Charwoman.

By 1911 they were living at 14 Church Almshouses, Newtown Road, Newbury. Joseph was recorded as Formerly a Plasterer

Eliza died in 1914 (age at death recorded as 86). She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 4^th July.

James died aged 85 in the Newbury Infirmary, in 1917. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th October.

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