Biography:
Eliza Timson
16/02/1865 –30/03/1940
Eliza Timson
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ELIZA TIMSON; 1865-1940
Eliza was the sixth of seven children born to Alfred and Caroline Saltmarsh. She was born on 16th February 1865. Her father Alfred was a bootmaker and both he and her mother Caroline had been born in Chelmsford and moved to Berkhamsted after having lived in London. Eliza was born in Berkhamsted.
We know from the 1911 census, that of the seven children born to Alfred and Caroline no less than the first four died. The eldest, Clara, was born in 1854 and died in 1858; Sidney was born in 1856 and died in 1871; Alfred, born in 1871, died in 1859; Arthur was born in 1860 and died in 1865. Only Caroline, born in 1862, Eliza born in 1865 and Frank,1868, were to survive childhood.
At the time of the 1871 census the Saltmarsh family were living in Victoria Road in Berkhamsted. Eliza, age 6 years, was attending school,
Eliza must have been a good scholar as ten years later, at the age of 16, the 1881 census, notes she was a “pupil teacher.”
As education became more widespread in the 19th century, the academic training of student teachers in a college system could not meet demand. In 1846 the pupil teacher system was introduced in which intellectually suitable pupils of at least 13 years of age served an apprenticeship, typically of 5 years, after which they would be qualified teachers. As pupil teachers they would teach the younger children and learn from observation and experience. During the apprenticeship they were paid a small salary. In the 1870’s and 1880’s pupil teachers were offered instruction at centres designed to improve their training. Typically, a pupil teacher would spend half his or her time at such a centre and half training in a school.
The log books for the Berkhamsted and Northchurch National School reveal that Eliza was engaged by the school in May 1878 when she was 13 years old. She made a promising start. The log noted in march 1879 that Eliza “manages the little ones very well” and in 1880 she had passed and was noted as pupil teacher for the 1st class. In 1881 she was certified as having been “diligent, obedient and attentive to her duties in school during the past year.” Eliza however seems to have suffered from ill health – “Eliza Saltmarsh was not well enough to come to lessons this morning.” (March 1881) and “Eliza Saltmarsh is in a very delicate state of health- she has gone to see Dr Battersby this morning.The Rector called in the afternoon with a letter from the Dr which states that Eliza is not at present at all fit for her duties as pupil teacher.”
It seems that Eliza did not complete her training and qualify as a teacher; a note in the log dated 19th December 1881 tells us that “Eliza Saltmarsh will continue her duties until Christmas.” She must have left the school that Christmas and the entry of 19th December appears to be the last reference in the school log to Eliza. Perhaps it was ill health that forced Eliza to give up her position as a pupil teacher.
Seven years later in on 16th October 1888, at the age of 23, Eliza married Arthur Timson and by 1891 she had given birth to their first child, Ada, who was then one year old. Arthur, Eliza and Ada were living at 149 High Street from where Arthur worked as a tailor. Arthur and Eliza were to have another seven children; Arthur Charles, born 1892; Marjorie, 1894; Ada Catherine, 1896; Caroline Agnes, 1899; Gertrude Lillian, 1901; Ethel Millicent, 1903; Harold James; 1909. The 1911 census return confirms that Eliza gave birth to eight children and of those eight, one had died, that child being Caroline who died in 1904 at the age of 5 ½.
Eliza and Arthur had been married for 25 years when Arthur died in 1913. Following his death she and her children moved out of 149 High Street. The electoral rolls between 1920 and 1930 show that throughout this period the family was living at 68 High Street.
The 1939 Register tells us that Eliza at the age of 74 was living at 29 Cowper Road, the home of her daughter, Gertrude who had married. Also recorded living at the property are Gertrude’s son, five year old John Sayer, and Gertrude’s older sister Marjorie, a teacher. Eliza is described as being incapacitated and Gertrude and Marjorie were no doubt caring for her.
Eliza died the following year on 30th March 1940 at the age of 75. She was buried in Rectory Lane cemetery, joining her two daughters Caroline and Alice and her husband Arthur who had all been buried together in the same plot.
Eliza’s parents are also buried in the cemetery as is her younger brother Frank Saltmarsh.
View this burial in the cemetery
ELIZA TIMSON; 1865-1940
Eliza was the sixth of seven children born to Alfred and Caroline Saltmarsh. She was born on 16th February 1865. Her father Alfred was a bootmaker and both he and her mother Caroline had been born in Chelmsford and moved to Berkhamsted after having lived in London. Eliza was born in Berkhamsted.
We know from the 1911 census, that of the seven children born to Alfred and Caroline no less than the first four died. The eldest, Clara, was born in 1854 and died in 1858; Sidney was born in 1856 and died in 1871; Alfred, born in 1871, died in 1859; Arthur was born in 1860 and died in 1865. Only Caroline, born in 1862, Eliza born in 1865 and Frank,1868, were to survive childhood.
At the time of the 1871 census the Saltmarsh family were living in Victoria Road in Berkhamsted. Eliza, age 6 years, was attending school,
Eliza must have been a good scholar as ten years later, at the age of 16, the 1881 census, notes she was a “pupil teacher.”
As education became more widespread in the 19th century, the academic training of student teachers in a college system could not meet demand. In 1846 the pupil teacher system was introduced in which intellectually suitable pupils of at least 13 years of age served an apprenticeship, typically of 5 years, after which they would be qualified teachers. As pupil teachers they would teach the younger children and learn from observation and experience. During the apprenticeship they were paid a small salary. In the 1870’s and 1880’s pupil teachers were offered instruction at centres designed to improve their training. Typically, a pupil teacher would spend half his or her time at such a centre and half training in a school.
The log books for the Berkhamsted and Northchurch National School reveal that Eliza was engaged by the school in May 1878 when she was 13 years old. She made a promising start. The log noted in march 1879 that Eliza “manages the little ones very well” and in 1880 she had passed and was noted as pupil teacher for the 1st class. In 1881 she was certified as having been “diligent, obedient and attentive to her duties in school during the past year.” Eliza however seems to have suffered from ill health – “Eliza Saltmarsh was not well enough to come to lessons this morning.” (March 1881) and “Eliza Saltmarsh is in a very delicate state of health- she has gone to see Dr Battersby this morning.The Rector called in the afternoon with a letter from the Dr which states that Eliza is not at present at all fit for her duties as pupil teacher.”
It seems that Eliza did not complete her training and qualify as a teacher; a note in the log dated 19th December 1881 tells us that “Eliza Saltmarsh will continue her duties until Christmas.” She must have left the school that Christmas and the entry of 19th December appears to be the last reference in the school log to Eliza. Perhaps it was ill health that forced Eliza to give up her position as a pupil teacher.
Seven years later in on 16th October 1888, at the age of 23, Eliza married Arthur Timson and by 1891 she had given birth to their first child, Ada, who was then one year old. Arthur, Eliza and Ada were living at 149 High Street from where Arthur worked as a tailor. Arthur and Eliza were to have another seven children; Arthur Charles, born 1892; Marjorie, 1894; Ada Catherine, 1896; Caroline Agnes, 1899; Gertrude Lillian, 1901; Ethel Millicent, 1903; Harold James; 1909. The 1911 census return confirms that Eliza gave birth to eight children and of those eight, one had died, that child being Caroline who died in 1904 at the age of 5 ½.
Eliza and Arthur had been married for 25 years when Arthur died in 1913. Following his death she and her children moved out of 149 High Street. The electoral rolls between 1920 and 1930 show that throughout this period the family was living at 68 High Street.
The 1939 Register tells us that Eliza at the age of 74 was living at 29 Cowper Road, the home of her daughter, Gertrude who had married. Also recorded living at the property are Gertrude’s son, five year old John Sayer, and Gertrude’s older sister Marjorie, a teacher. Eliza is described as being incapacitated and Gertrude and Marjorie were no doubt caring for her.
Eliza died the following year on 30th March 1940 at the age of 75. She was buried in Rectory Lane cemetery, joining her two daughters Caroline and Alice and her husband Arthur who had all been buried together in the same plot.
Eliza’s parents are also buried in the cemetery as is her younger brother Frank Saltmarsh.
Relatives
Historical Connections
The following local places of interest are linked to Eliza Timson:
St Peter’s Church
Military graves