Eliza Ward - is this the answer? (General)

by holly , Tuesday, November 02, 2010, 20:49 (5140 days ago)

I am hoping you don't mind me writing it all on here to clear my head and to clarify things.

Firstly, on the 1851 census Charlott and Charles Ward of Joyford have a daughter Eliza born 1849. I have found a burial on 19 November 1854 in Christchurch for an Eliza Ward of Joyford - aged 6. (I can find no baptism for Eliza, daughter of Charlott and Charles.)

On subsequent censuses Charlott and Charles have a daughter Eliza/Elizabeth born 1856/1857. Must be another daughter implying that the first Eliza did die as she never again appears on a census with them. I have traced the family and on the 1901 census the second Eliza is now married to James Powell and I have traced them to the 1911 census.

On 19 April 1846 the illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth (no surname given) - the child's name is given as Eliza Ward - is christened in Christ Church. I cannot trace any Eliza Ward born 1845/46 on any census. Although Eliza was baptised on that date she could have been born in 1845.

I have looked at marriages for various Elizabeth Wards after 1845, the date of birth of the illegitimate daughter, and there is no Eliza Ward on any of the subsequent censuses with them and their husbands.

On 19 December 1845 Richard Webb married Elizabeth Ward (John Burns is her father) and on the 1851 census they list a daughter by the name of Eliza Webb! She appears with them on the 1861 census and then disappears. I can find no baptism for Eliza Webb.

On 21 June 1868 Peter Webb marries Eliza Ward (father listed as Richard WARD). If this was Richard Webb he may have used the surname Ward because it is Eliza's surname inherited from her mother plus record keeping wasn't as scrupulous then as it is today. Throughout her life Eliza consistently puts her birth year as 1846 and the place of her birth as Joyford/Berry Hill/Coleford.

Would anyone like to comment on my deductions - please, please do so - I would be so grateful.