05/04/1849 –1915
Wife of Josiah Welch
Relatives
Research:
- Melanie Hilton
- Valerie Loczy
Unmarked grave Elizabeth Ann Welch (1849-1915)
Elizabeth Ann was born 5th April 1849 in Horton cum Studley, Oxfordshire, the daughter of Elisha and Jane Nappin. Her father was an agricultural labourer.
At the time of the 1851 census the family were living in Brill, between Aylesbury and Oxford. By 1861 they had moved to Boarstall, a nearby hamlet.
Elizabeth married Josiah Welch, a police constable, on 24th February 1868 in Whitchurch, just north of Aylesbury. They moved to Wraysbury where their son John was born in 1870. The hamlet is now just west of Heathrow airport.
Ernest was born in 1872, Beatrice in 1874 and Frederick in 1876, all in Wraysbury.
By 1877, when Albert Edward arrived, they were living in Denham, Bucks, but had moved again by late 1880 to Chalfont St Peter. The 1881 census reveals that Josiah was by then employed as a gamekeeper and that twins Lily and Elizabeth Rose had been born in December 1880.
On 19 December 1890 the Welch’s life fell apart. Josiah was arrested on a charge of “Feloniously and carnally knowing Ellen Rice, a girl under the age of 13, at Berkhamsted, on 25th October.” He was tried on 17 March 1891 and pleaded Guilty to “attempting the act”. He was sentenced to 12 months hard labour in St Albans gaol.
At the time Elizabeth and the family were living at 35 Highfield Road, Berkhamsted. Ernest and Frederick were employed as agricultural labourers and twelve year old Albert as a gardener’s labourer.
Despite the nature of his crime, Elizabeth stayed with Josiah and at the time of the 1901 census they were at 23, Highfield Road. Josiah was now a bricklayer and Ernest a bricklayer’s labourer. Beatrice was a dressmaker and Albert a packer at Cooper’s chemical works. The twins were also still at home.
Josiah’s behaviour was to cause the family more grief. In August 1892 a case was heard at the Perry Sessions. According to The Bucks Herald, “Josiah Welch, Berkhamsted, was charged with assaulting his son Ernest C Welch. Complainant said defendant was away from home and he [Ernest] kept home for his mother. The defendant came home and pulled the things about, and his mother objected. They disagreed, and he and his father fell together. Defendant said they were all at him: when he was down all his children were punching and kicking him and his son asked him to pack up and go. Mrs Welch, who was sent for, said she did not want anything to do with the matter: her husband had been better since he had received the summons. Defendant was bound over to keep the peace for six months and had cost of 11s 6d to pay.”
The Bucks Advertiser 4 November 1893 reported on that a case at the Petty Sessions. “Josiah Welch, of Berkhamsted, was charged with threatening his son [Ernest] Charles on the 29th [October]… Charles Welch said that his father threatened him, and his mother and two brothers and sisters, with the poker and the razor produced as they were sitting quietly at super on Sunday at about 10pm. He said he would bash their brains out and they all left the house and slept at a neighbour’s. … The defendant was bound over to keep the peace towards his wife and family in £10, for six months, and has 12s and 6d costs to pay.”
Josiah died in February 1909 (he is buried in this cemetery) and by April 1911 Elizabeth was living at 23, Highfield Road with Lily. They also had a boarder and two of Elizabeth’s grandchildren were living with them. The census reveals that Elizabeth and Josiah had ten children in all, of whom seven were still alive in 1911.
Elizabeth died in February 1915, aged 67.
Elizabeth Ann Nappin born 5th April 1849 in Horton cum Studley
1851 census living in Brill aged 2
Married Josiah Welch on 24th February 1868 in Whitchurch
1871 census living in Wraysbury aged 21
1881 census living in Chalfont St Giles aged 34
1891 census living at 35 Highfield Road, Berkhamsted aged 41
1901 census living at 23 Highfield Road, Berkhamsted aged 52
Died 1915 aged 67 in Berkhamsted
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