Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Elizabeth Newell

View full burial details

Elizabeth Newell Née Lane 1822 - 1901

Elizabeth Newell was born on 11th November 1822 in Great Berkhamsted. Her parents James Lane (1797-1826) and Elizabeth (Eliza) Lane Née Tarbox (1800-1890), married on the 22nd February 1819 in Great Berkhamsted. Elizabeth Newell had two siblings; Sarah Lane (1820-1849), and Charlotte Lane (1826-1848). Elizabeth Newell lost her father and gained her youngest sister all within the same year. One can only imagine how hard it may have been for her mother to cope and survive in such a circumstance.

Elizabeth married Joseph Newell (1820-1843) in 1840 at Great Berkhamsted. Their first child  Sarah Newell, was born on 12th January 1840 followed by a second daughter, Fanny Newell born on 16th March 1843.

The census of 1841 finds the Lane and Newell family living at White Hill, Berkhamsted, next to Elizabeth’s relations belonging to the Tarbox family. Elizabeth Lane was now head of the household aged 40, but an incorrect entry to the census had named her ‘Sarah’, which was the name of her daughter and granddaughter. Her daughter Charlotte Lane aged 14, was working as a straw plaiter. Elizabeth Newell aged 19, cared for her six month old daughter Sarah, but also worked as a straw plaiter. Her husband Joseph, aged 22, worked as an agricultural labourer.

Over the next few years Elizabeth Newell would have multiple losses, her husband and daughter passed in 1843. It is plausible that they both died from a contagious illness, due to the fact they both passed in the same year. Later, in 1848 Elizabeth Newell loses her second daughter, and her sister Charlotte Lane.

The loss of family members continued in 1848 when Elizabeth’s elder sister Sarah Waller née Lane lost her husband, Charles Henry Waller (1813-1848), followed by Sarah Waller who passed in 1849, leaving their three children orphans. There had been four children in the Waller family. Richard Waller was the eldest child, born and baptised in 1837 at Berkhamsted. Richard sadly died in Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, and was buried there in the year 1841.

John Waller (1840-1911) was the eldest of the three surviving children, aged 10, a scholar and born in Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. Elizabeth Waller (1843-1887) was aged 8 and born in Brentwood, Essex. The youngest child Mary Jane Waller (1845-1929) was born in The Isle of Dogs, part of the parish Poplar, Middlesex. She was baptised later at the age of 13 at Berkhamsted in 1858 whilst living with her Grandmother and Aunt.

These little children had unfortunately lost their brother, father and mother, in succession leaving them to deal with a very traumatic time of loss and change. 

Despite the awful loss of family and the struggles of financial survival that came with being widowed, Elizabeth Lane and her daughter Elizabeth Newell took in the three children and created a new family unit. By giving them a home with their own relatives, it provided the three young children with some stability and continuation of family roots. 

According to the 1851 census, Elizabeth aged 53 was head of the household at 111 Gossoms End, Berkhamsted. She worked as a straw plaiter, as did her daughter Elizabeth Newell aged 28. Straw plaiting produced in Hertfordshire was known to be of good quality, and would have brought in regular income, which was much needed as these two strong and capable women took on the care of the three orphaned children.

The 1861 census finds Elizabeth Lane as head of the household, a widow and aged 65. She worked as a laundress as did her daughter Elizabeth Newell, also recorded as a widow aged 38, at 100 High Street, Berkhamsted. Elizabeth Waller aged 18 worked as a dressmaker.

By 1871, Elizabeth Lane continued to work as a straw plaiter, aged 73, and her daughter Elizabeth Newell, aged 48, carried out her duties as a laundress. They had moved further along the High Street in Berkhamsted, to number 94.

It is noted that Elizabeth Newell was living with her niece in the 1881 census, Mary Jane Cook née Waller at 12 Park Street, Berkhamsted. Elizabeth is recorded aged 58, a laundress and boarder. Her niece, Mary Jane had married Thomas Cook, a gardener, who was head of the family aged 38. Mary Jane aged 36 worked as a laundress from their home. They had four children:

Charlie Cook aged 13, a gardener, referred to as (learning)

Lizzie Cook aged 8, a scholar

Harry Cook aged 6, a scholar

Willie Cook aged 5

Elizabeth Newell lost her mother Elizabeth Lane, in 1890. She lived to the grand old age of 90, which was quite incredible considering the hardship she endured throughout her life.  

By 1891, Elizabeth Newell had reached the age of 69 and was no longer able to work as a laundress. She acquired support through the parish church and lived in one of the six Almshouses in Berkhamsted. As a regular attendee of church services and having lived in Berkhamsted for more than ten years, she qualified for an Almshouse application. Any widow who was unable to financially support themselves and over 55 years of age, could apply for such support. Each widow would receive a monthly stipend of eight shillings and a cloth gown every three years.   

Elizabeth Newell passed in March 1901 aged 78, at the Union workhouse infirmary. The infirmary had been built as an extension to the workhouse in 1869, providing 40 beds for those who where sick and unable to support themselves financially but didn’t necessarily need to live in the workhouse.

Elizabeth Newell appeared to be a strong women having survived so many challenges within her life and the family around her. She and her mother made a huge difference to three children in their family, what might have happened to them, had the kindness of these two women been absent, would for sure have changed the trajectory of their futures.

Research by Melanie Elliman - Relation to the Newell, Lane, Waller and Tarbox families.