This one had the correct name, similar age, and owned property on Blakeney Hill. What are the chances. And it also begs the question . . . where is my Elizabeth?

Although it does offer clues as to a solution of how Elizabeth and Eliza Windo were related . . . not that that matters particularly at the moment!

Record ID 93506
Entry Number
Year 1819
Month Apr
Day 30
Grooms Surname CLARK
Grooms Forenames William
Grooms Age
Groom Condition Widower
Grooms Occupation
Grooms Residence St. Michael
Grooms Fathers Surname
Grooms Fathers Forenames
Grooms Fathers Occupation
Brides Surname LEWIS
Brides Forenames Elizabeth
Brides Age
Brides Condition Spinster
Brides Occupation
Brides Residence
Brides Fathers Surname
Brides Fathers Forenames
Brides Fathers Occupation
Licence or Banns Licence
Date of Banns
Signature or Mark
Witness 1
Witness 2
Other Witnesses
Officiating Minister
Event Marriage
Memoranda
Notes
Register Reference P154/12
Page Number 80
Parish Chapel Gloucester St Mary de Lode

Record ID 174763
Entry Number
Year 1785
Month Oct
Day 23
Parents Surname LEWIS
Child Forenames William
Fathers Forenames John
Mothers Forenames Sarah
Mothers Surname
Residence
Occupation
Officiating Minister Charles Sandiford Vicar & Curate
Event Baptism
Memoranda [1]S[on] of [2]born Sep[tembe]r 28 privately bapt[ise]d
Notes Blakeney Chapel
Register Reference P30 1 IN 1 Part 2
Page Number 456
Parish Chapel Awre

Record ID 174568
Entry Number
Year 1790
Month Feb
Day 28
Parents Surname LEWIS
Child Forenames Elizabeth
Fathers Forenames John
Mothers Forenames Sarah
Mothers Surname (late Sinderbury S[pinster])
Residence
Occupation
Officiating Minister Charles Sandiford Vicar
Event Baptism
Memoranda D[aughter] of
Notes
Register Reference P30 1 IN 1 Part 2
Page Number 464
Parish Chapel Awre

The witness to Elizabeth CLARK(E)nee GRIFFITHS death is Eliza WINDO.

Eliza was born Eliza JONES in Blakeney/Awre in 1811. Her mother was Hannah JONES, formerly LEWIS, nee GRIFFITHS.

Hannah married William LEWIS 12 Dec 1803 in Newland. Both bride and groom are listed as residents of the Hundred of Saint Briavels. They proceed to have two children together, William, christened 17 Feb 1805 at Blakeney Chapel, and Hannah, 26 April 1807, also Blakeney Chapel.

Presumably, William LEWIS dies, because on 20 June, 1808 Hannah, a widow, marries Henry JONES, a widower, at Newland. Again, both bride and groom are residents of the Hundred of St. Briavels. They proceed to have four children, all baptised at Blakeney Chapel, Anne, 28 May 1809, Eliza, 14 April, 1811, Charlotte, 18 Dec 1812, and James, 5 Jan 1818.

A Henry JONES is buried at Awre, a resident of "Woodside", 29 September 1818, aged 39.

In 1861 there is a Hannah JONES, a 73 year old widowed shopkeeper living on Blakeney Hill. This would put her birth around 1788 in Coleford, Newland -- same year as Elizabeth CLARKE'S. There is no 1788 birth for a Hannah GRIFFTHS, but there is a 1786 birth of Hannah GRIFFITHS to John GRIFFITHS and Sarah HARRISON 12 Nov 1786 at Ruardean. I'm pretty sure the Hannah living on Blakeney Hill is the one born in Ruardean. I can't seem to link John GRIFFITHS back to Valentine . . .
And in the census there's another Hannah JONES living in the area who is not terribly different in age . . . and there were six Hannah GRIFFITHS baptised in the Forest from 1777 to 1794 . . . And Elizabeth's 1788 birth christening was recorded at Lydney, but in the census she lists her birthplace as Awre.

So, I don't know if I went wrong in tracing James, or if I'm barking up the wrong (family) tree with Hannah. Or maybe there's no link to be made between Elizabeth and Hannah.I have made eleven pages of notes trying to untangle this since Friday, and now I am more confused than I was when I started. Eliza and Hannah's lines must cross somewhere, but Elizabeth only had two sisters, Mary and Sarah, no Hannah. I think Elizabeth's father, James, was an only child of Valentine GRIFFITHS and Elizabeth POWELL, but Valentine dies shortly after James' birth, so, not first cousins at any rate.

The 1851 census shows that Hannah to be married to someone named John Jones, which is major complication. Additionally, there is someone named Amelia Powell, age 37, living with them. Elizabeth CLARKE'S grandmother was Elizabeth POWELL. Next door are Morses (Elizabeth CLARKE'S sister in law Ann nee CLARKE married George MORSE, and to the other side are Henry and Mary GRIFFITHS.

And where does John JONES fit in to this whole thing? Goodness knows the enumerators aren't always competely accurate. Then there's always the possibility that this isn't my Elizabeth CLARK(E) after all.

I know there's a common thread in here somewhere, I just can't seem to find it.

1851 Census, Ross, herefordshire

Daniel VINDOR - 49 - Joiner, Lodger, born West Wood Wilts. (Rueben PARKER, Innkeeper)

I'm fairly certain it's Daniel and Eliza. The census information supports it; and even though the FOD record says David and Elsie, the LDS site says Daniel and Eliza, and comes from the BMD database, so I think "David and Elsie" may be a minister or clerk with less than stellar penmanship, since the dates all match and the census data supports Daniel and Eliza.

As for Elizabeth, the will will be the definitive evidence, but nothing I've found relating to her death cert rules this Lizzie out as mine, so I am cautiously optomistic. Well, okay, more optomistic than cautious but not quite ready to claim her quite yet.

1841 Census, Glos, St John the Baptists

WINDOW

David/Daniel - 40 - not born in County
Eliza - 36 - born in County
Charlotte - 4
Ann - 2
Ann LEWIS - 60 - Ind - not born in County

Gloucestershire Marriage Index

David WINDOW married Ann PLUMMER - at Horsley, 28 August 1826

Gloucestershire Burial Index - Glos. St. Nicholas

Ann WINDOW - died/buried elsewhere - 26 August 1832

--------

Gloucestershire Baptism Index - Cheltenham St Mary

Charlotte WINDO - address: 57 Burton Street - 20 August 1837

Daniel (Joiner) and Eliza

---

Gloucestershire BDM

WINDO Charlotte - Cheltenham 1837 - mother's maiden name JONES (Eliza JONES born Awre)

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1851 Census St John the Baptists
34 Alvin Street

WINDO

Eliza - 39 - Carpenter's wife born St Brevels Glos
Charlotte - 13
Ann - 11
Danl - 9
Henry - 8
John - 5
Jane - 2
Ann LEWIS, Visitor, age 70 Annuitant - born Neal Kapel? Herefordshire

1861 Census Glos St John the Baptists
35 Alvin Street

WINDO

Daniel - 58, Carpenter, born Wilts, Westwood (which is Bradford Upon Avon)
Eliza - 50 - born Forest of Dean
Charlotte - 23 - Miliner, born Cheltenham
Henry C - 18 - Carpenter - all born Glos
Jane - 12
Eliza C - 9 (Eliza Carrington WINDO - age 19 - sister-in-law with William & Ann PHELPS - 1871 census)

The death certficate for Elizabeth Clark(e) who died 29 May 1861 in Eastgate Street, Gloucester arrived today. The news was encouraging. It lists this Elizabeth as the widow of William Clark, Plasterer/Forester.

At least it doesn't exclude her, and the executors listed in the probate summary link her back to Blakeney Hill, so it is looking promising.

The informant was an Eliza Windo, 35 Alvin St, Gloucester. The 1861 census shows her born in the Forest of Dean, another year specifies St. Briavels. Her husband is Daniel. They were married 10 Oct 1836, Gloucester, St. Nicholas. Eliza was born Eliza Jones in Awre.

Her parents were Henry Jones and Hannah Lewis (nee Griffiths). Hannah's first marriage to William Lewis was St. Briavels, Newland.

So the informant brings us back to the Griffiths of Newland Parish. The evidence seems to be fairly compelling that this is "my" Elizabeth at this point.