Eliza Arnold

c1842-1909

Eliza was born in Aldermaston, Berkshire. She was baptised on the 17^th April 1842, in Thatcham, Berkshire, the daughter of Henry and Maria Arnold (nee Blake) who were married on the 18^th April 1830, in Thatcham.

Eliza’s father Henry was an Agricultural/Farm Labourer. Henry was born on the 8^th November 1804, in Thatcham, Berkshire. He was baptised on the 16^th December 1804, the son of George and Maria Arnold (nee Rhodes) who were married on the 8^th September 1801, in Thatcham. Henry died aged 69 in 1873, he was buried on the 29^th January, a St Mary, Thatcham.

According to census records Eliza’s mother Maria Blake was born c1806-c1811, in Thatcham, Berkshire. Maria died aged 72 in 1881, she was buried on the 17^th February, at St Mary, Thatcham.

Henry and Maria also had the following children baptised in Thatcham:

Frederick Blake, 26^th December 1830 (illegitimate son of Maria, known as Frederick Arnold)

Mary Ann, 5^th January 1832

George, 20^th February 1834

Richard, 9^th March 1836

Henry, 5^th March 1837

Maria, 23^rd June 1839

Sarah, 22^nd June 1845

Lucy Martha, 5^th August 1849 (born Lucy in 1847)

Emily, born 1850 (no baptism found yet!)

The 1851 census records Henry (47), Maria (45) and their children, Frederick (21), Mary A. (19), Richard (16), Henry (14), Maria (12), (recorded as Anarea) Eliza (12), (recorded as Elizabeth) Sarah (5), Lucy (3) and Emily (8 months), living in Broad Street, Thatcham.

In 1861 Henry (53), Maria (50), Ann (29) (Mary Ann), Eliza (19) and Sarah (15), all Domestic Servants, Lucy (13), Emily (10) and a granddaughter, Ellen (11 months), were still living in Broad Street.

The 1871 census records Henry (67), Maria (63), Eliza (27), Lucy (22), Emily (19), all General Servants and a granddaughter, Margaret E. Tipping (5), (daughter of Maria and her husband William), living in Turnfield, Thatcham.

In 1881 Eliza (39) was recorded as a Pauper, living with her brother-in-law, William Alder (32), her sister, Lucy Alder (35) and their children, William (6), Louisa (3) and Sarah (10 months), in Midgham Marsh, Midgham, Berkshire.

Sometime between 1881 and 1891 Eliza was placed in the Newbury Workhouse.

The 1891 census records Eliza (46) as an imbecile in the Newbury Workhouse.

The 1901 census also records Eliza (56) as an imbecile, in the Newbury Workhouse.

Eliza died aged 65, in the Newbury Workhouse, on the 24^th February 1909, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 26^th February.

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