Hi Lesley
A Mere Coincidence?
I've been for the last few weeks tidying up my data concerning Elizabeth Hawford nee Elizabeth Whitcomb. I especially wished / wish to find her 'status' in Gosport and Family connections. Much I already knew, but owing to 'recycled' names and the early death of her first child, Eliza Hawford, I totally missed the fact that she had another daughter, Frances Eliza Hawford.
This came to light on a visit to the NA and a few letters claiming widows pension, this 'new' discovery led to a further interesting branch in my tree.
Although Elizabeth's children are mentioned in various legal documents I cannot find their baptism records in Family Search, which is fairly good in the Gosport area.
The records I'd like to see are:
1) Eliza Hawford born circa 1789 Alverstoke
2) Henry Hawford born circa 1791 Alverstoke
3) Frances Eliza Hawford born circa 1795 Alverstoke
4) Sophia Hawford born circa 1796 Alverstoke
and two marriages which are on the IGI
5} Sophia Hawford & Heneage William Creswell 17 Dec 1812 Alverstoke
6) Frances Eliza Hawford & Henry Priddle 05 Oct 1820 Alverstoke
On the marriages I'm mainly interested in witnesses etc.
Frances Eliza Hawford and son Henry Creswell Priddle lived with mother Elizabeth Hawford at "Hawford Lodge" possibly after the death of husband Henry Priddle in 1830 - certainly they are together on the 1841 census. Elizabeth died in 1850 and daughter Frances Eliza Hawford appears to have handled the probate? she did give her address as "Hawford Lodge" in a letter claiming some back pension.
I have also been looking very closely as to the exact whereabouts of "Hawford Lodge", was it in fact a public house?? or a separate dwelling? There is an advert in the Hampshire Telegraph Saturday july 27 1850; issue 2651 which offers the late Mrs Hawford's abode for sale - A Freehold detached Residence with Chaise House Stable , partly walled Garden and plot of building land etc etc. If you or any other contributors have any further info' I'd be very grateful.
Looking at Gosport history it seems that this area round the White Hart was crossed by the old stokes bay railway branch which was built circa 1855-1863 This must have altered the look of the area somewhat, now its all gone for many a year and the layout has been corrupted yet again - thus making reference to old maps and photos very 'confusing'!
Finally Elizabeths daughter Sophia married very young, at 17, and her match, Heneage William Creswell was 36! They only had one 'recorded' child, Sophia Matilda Creswell, who was born in 1838 when Sophia would have been 42 - husband William would have been about 62. These dates / ages are a bit extreme, but not impossible. However its very surprising there were no earlier children. I believe the 'only' daughter, Sophia Matilda Creswell, (or her Maid) mentioned that there were some earlier but they died. Its just possible that such children could have been born in Alverstoke upto circa 1826 when Heneage William took his retirement from the RM, Its an unusual name so you may notice it when scrolling the records - if you do remember me!
Incidentally Sophia Matilda Creswell emigrated to Australia shortly after the death of her mother, Sophia, in 1862 - just after being taken to Court by Aunt Frances Eliza Priddle over the inheritances !!!!
Ray
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Originally Posted by Punchs mum
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