Great x3 Aunt Elizabeth Spear (formerly Edworthy; nee Edworthy)

My Great x3 Aunt Elizabeth (1848 - 1917), was a child's maid, charwoman, housewife, mother of eight, step mother of five, and an elder sister of my Great Great Grandfather William Edworthy (1852 - 1911).

Elizabeth was born around December 1848 in Coldridge, Devon, to William Edworthy (about 28), a farm labourer, and Mary Edworthy (nee Harris) (about 25).

On 19th December 1848, Elizabeth was baptised privately in Coldridge, Devon. At the time of Elizabeth's baptism, the Edworthy family lived at Hawkridge Bridge, Coldridge.

Elizabeth was the third of eleven children (four daughters and seven sons):

• Ann  1841 - 1882  (about 41)
• John  1844 - 1910  (about 65)
• Elizabeth  1848 - 1917  (about 68)
• William  1852 - 1911  (about 59)
• George  1854 -
• Samuel  1856 -
• Ellen  1858 -
• Louis/Lewis  1861 -
• Frederick  1863 -
• Frank  1866 -
• Mary  1869 -

1851 Census:

By the age of twelve, little Elizabeth was no longer living at home with her family, but living with and working as a child's maid for the Reed family, headed by Henry Reed, a farmer of 300 acres, at Uppcott in Chawleigh. In 1861, Henry and Jane Reed had seven children, aged between 1 and 18 (Henry 18, Mary Ann 16, Richard 11, John 8, Fanny 6, Thomas 4 and Emma 1). It seems likely Elizabeth helped looked after the younger children, though only a child herself.

1861 Census:

Around December 1868, Elizabeth (about 20) gave birth to an illegitimate child, a son she called John, in East Worlington. Elizabeth brought one Sidney Chard of Thelbridge, the father of her child, to the County Magistate Sessions to apply for child maintenance. An order of 1s per week from the day of sessions was granted, with £1 8s cost.

• John Edworthy  1868 -

On 12th November 1870, Elizabeth (about 21), a servant and single mother of one, married William Edworthy (about 26), a farm labourer, in East Worlington. With the bride and groom having the same surname - Edworthy - they may well have been related, perhaps distant cousins. It seems William brought up Elizabeth's son John as his child (John is recorded as William's son on later censuses).

Elizabeth and William had seven more children (three sons and five daughters):

• William Henry  1872 -
• Mary Jane  1873 -
• Emily  1875 -
• Samuel  1878 -
• Eda Ellen  1880 -
• Bessy  1882 -
• Frank  1884 - 1884  (13 days old)

Sadly, young Elizabeth, William and toddler John's address is given on the 1871 Census as the Poor House, West Worlington. 

1871 Census: 

1881 Census:

In 1884, thirty-five-year-old Elizabeth suffered too great losses...

Her husband William passed away, aged thirty-nine, in Crediton. He was buried on 24th February 1884 in Crediton. Now Elizabeth was either gave birth to the couple's youngest child, Frank, either just before or just after her husband's passing. Sadly baby Frank passed away too, at only thirteen days old. He was buried on 7th March 1884, in Crediton.

After their deaths, Elizabeth supported herself and her younger surviving children by working as a charwoman. Her son William also lived with her and brought in money as an agricultural labourer. The 1891 Census also shows Elizabeth had a boarder, Albert Sanders a young gardener. Having a border or two would have brought in a little extra income.

1891 Census:

In Jan/Feb/Mar 1896, twelve years after the death of her first husband William Edworthy, Elizabeth (47), a charwoman, widow and mother of seven surviving children, remarried. She married William Spear (about 47), a shepherd and agricultural labourer and himself a widower, in Crediton.

William had five children from a first marriage; thus Elizabeth gained five step-children:

• Alice  1873 -
• Ellen  1875 -
• Mary Jane  1879 -
• Eliza  1881 -
• John  1884 -

1901 Census: 

1911 Census: 

In Oct/Nov/Dec 1917, Elizabeth passed away, aged about 68.