Elizabeth Ayres

c1836-1900

Elizabeth, her parents, siblings and early life:

Elizabeth was baptised on the 18^th September 1836, in Ellisfield, Hampshire, the daughter of David (a Copse Dealer***) and Ann(e) Jones (nee Duck) who were married on the 18^th January 1834, in Ellisfield (David was a widower)

(***A Copse Dealer (also known as an underwood dealer) was a historical tradesperson who managed, harvested, and sold small, renewable woods known as copses. They supplied raw timber to local craftspeople, builders, and industries for fencing, fuel, furniture, and tool making.)

Elizabeth’s father David was baptised on the 5^th July 1807, Ellisfield the son of John and Elizabeth Jones. David married Mary Kimber on the 5^th January 1832, in Chilton Candover, Hampshire. (David was from Ellisfield). David was widowed in 1833, Mary died aged 22, she was buried on the 17^th December, in Ellisfield.

Elizabeth’s mother Ann was baptised on the 27^th September 1812, in Ellisfield, the daughter of Stephen and Sarah Duck (nee Walden) who were married on the 12^th October 1807, in Herriard, Hampshire.

David and Ann also had the following children baptised in Ellisfield:

William, 20^th October 1834 (dad a Copse Dealer)

Edwin Duck, 16^th September 1838 (dad a Clerk)

Sarah Anne, 12^th September 1841 (dad a Clerk)

Alban, 6^th August 1843 (dad a Clerk)

Matilda, 18^th January 1846 (dad a Clerk) (Matilda died aged 11 months, buried 29^th November 1846, in Ellisfield)

In 1841, Elizabeth (4) was living in Ellisfield, with her father David (33), a Dealer, her mother Ann (28) and her brother Edwin (2). Her brother William (6) was living with his grandparents, Stephen and Sarah Duck (9).

The 1851 census records Elizabeth (14) living with her father David (43), a Farmer of 114 acres, her mother Ann (45) her brothers William (16), Edwin (12) and Alban (7) and her sister Sarah (9) in Ellisfield.

Elizabeth in later life:

Elizabeth married in 1856

Marriage details:

Place: Overton, Hampshire

Date: 26^th January 1856

Groom: George Geater, aged 35, bachelor, occupation, Hawker, abode, Overton

Bride: Elizabeth Jones, aged 27, spinster, abode, Overton

Fathers, David Jones, a Farmer and Lawrence Geater, a Bricklayer

Witnesses: William Waldren and Lucy Nash

George and his twin brother Thomas, were baptised on the 28^th August 1820, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, the sons of Lawrence and Mary Geater (nee Blackman) who were married on the 29^th July 1811, in East Woodhay, Hampshire. (Both were from Newbury).

Elizabeth and George had the following children:

George William, 1856, in Overton, Hampshire

David, c1860, baptised 1^st April 1860, at St Nicolas, Newbury

Edwin Charles, born 1865, baptised 16^th July 1865, at St Nicolas, Newbury

Lizzie Alice, 1866, baptised 10^th February 1867, (as Elizabeth Alice) at St Nicolas, Newbury

Eli James, c1869, baptised 4^th April 1869, at St Nicolas, Newbury

In his early life George worked as an Agricultural Labourer. By 1856 he was working as a Hawker. By 1861 he was blind.

The 1861 census records George (40), Elizabeth (24), a Laundress, George William (4), David (1) and George’s married brother Charles (38), a General Labourer, living in Union Chapel Yard, Newbury.

In 1871 Elizabeth (34), was Mangling (presumably operating a laundry mangle) to support her family, George (50), David (11), Edwin Charles (6), Elizabeth Alice (4) and Eli James (2), who were living in Gibbs Yard, Bartholomew Street, Newbury.

The 1881 census records George (60), Elizabeth (44), a Charwoman/Cook, David (21), a Gas Fitter & Locksmith, Edwin Charles (15), a General Labourer, Elizabeth Alice (14), an unemployed Nursemaid and Eli James, an Errand Boy, were living in Howard Place, Newbury.

Elizabeth was widowed in 1890, George died aged 69, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 5^th July. Elizabeth remarried later that year.

Marriage details:

Place St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date: 23^rd December 1890

Groom: William Ayers, aged 54, widower, occupation, Gardener, abode, Newbury

Bride: Elizabeth Geater, aged 54, widow, abode, Newbury

Fathers: James Ayers, deceased, Labourer and David Jones, deceased, Farmer

Witnesses: J. Edgar Stillman and Sarah Stillman

(William was baptised on the 10^th September 1832, in East Woodlhay, Hampshire, the son of James and Anne Ayres. He married Elizabeth Kewell on the 25^th September 1858, at St Thomas, East Woodhay. Elizabeth had a son William born c1857, before she married. William and Elizabeth had the following children: Alice Ann, c1859, Jane, c1861, James Frederick, c1862, Alfred John, c1864, Harry, c1867, Isabella, c1869, Albert Edward, c1871, Reginald Douglas, c1874 and Rhoda Emily, c1877. William was widowed in 1879.)

The 1891 census records William Ayres (54), a Gardener, Elizabeth (54), William’s daughter Rhoda Emily Ayres (14) and his grandson, Charles Henry Ayres (1), living at 1 Howard Place, Newbury

Elizabeth Ayres died aged 63, on the 24^th March 1900, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 27^th March.

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