Family Left Behind - Elizabeth King and Her Children

When James Kirk was arrested in 1832 for sheep stealing and then transported to Australia aboard the Camden[1], his wife, Elizabeth, was left behind in Buckinghamshire to fend for herself and care for their five young children, Henry, Eliza, Maria, Rebecca and William. You can read about James in my post One Sheep - A Death Sentence. This post is about Elizabeth and their children.

Elizabeth King

When James was arrested in February 1832, Elizabeth was 34 years old[2]. She had been married to James for about 131/2 years. They married on 19 October 1818 at Wendover, Buckinghamshire[3]. At the time of James' arrest, they were living at Drayton Parslow in Buckinghamshire and she and James had five children: Henry (aged 11/2 years); Eliza (aged 31/2 years); Maria (aged 71/2 years); Rebecca (aged 91/2 years) and William (aged 12 years). 

Under the circumstances, it is not surprising that the family ended up reliant on parish relief and poor law support[4]. Prior to 1834, support would have been provided by the parish of Drayton Parslow. Following the introduction of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 surviving family members came under the jurisdiction of the Winslow Union. The Winslow Union consisted of 17 parishes, including Drayton Parslow. 

It was around the time of James’ arrest that a Royal Commission of Inquiry was set up to investigate the operation of the Poor Laws. Its task was to advise on how to change the poor law systems in England and Wales. The Commission was announced on 1 February 1832[5]. Its two-year investigation led to the writing and enactment of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834. Unfortunately, the new law was not well informed. Much of the information that underpinned the Royal Commission’s report was incomplete, inaccurate and/or informed by data that was not statistically significant. For example, the questionnaires sent to 15,000 parishes by the Commissioners were poorly designed and elicited a very poor response. Only 1,500 responses were received. This meant that conclusions were drawn on the basis of information from only 10% of the parishes. The Commissioners either did not realise, or ignored the fact that, most relief went to the 'deserving poor' rather than able-bodied males. Only 20% of those claiming relief were able-bodied adult men. Most who claimed relief were children under 15 years and the rest were sick, aged or infirm[6].

The outcome of the review and new law was that the individual parishes in England and Wales that previously had been making their own arrangements for the poor, were formed into Unions. There was an assumption that work would always be available to those who could work when often it was not and the system was designed around the assumption that people had a choice which many of them did not. The new law, in effect, was designed to create a deterrent that would lead to a moral reformation among the poor[7].

"Each Union had a purpose building called the Poor Law Union Workhouse for paupers. It was a last resort; those who were merely poor were expected to fend for themselves with the help of charity (from church, chapel or individual). It was not a soft option but an uneasy combination of care and deterrence for the destitute which was intended to be harsh. It aimed to make life as unpleasant as possible working on the theory that human action is motivated by the seeking of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. The elderly and sick would be looked after but work would be provided for others"[8].

Life would have been extremely difficult for Elizabeth and her family. Both she and her youngest child, Henry, died a relatively short time after James’ arrest. This was before the new law was enacted. Henry died in August 1833 (see below) and Elizabeth died 10 months later, in June 1834[9]. With their father's absence and their mother's death, Eliza, Maria, Rebecca and William were, in effect, orphaned. It appears that the girls became reliant on the Winslow Union Workhouse while William seems to have fared a little better, perhaps because he was older and better able to find work.

Henry Kirk 

Henry was baptised at Drayton Parslow in Buckinghamshire on 16 January 1831[10] and was probably born in January 1831 or a little before. He died in August 1833, aged 21/2 years, about a year after his father had been transported[11].

Eliza Kirk and her Family

There is quite a bit of information about Eliza Kirk in an online article by Geoff Kirk[12]. Much of what follows about Eliza was taken from there. 

Eliza was born in Drayton Parslow, Buckinghamshire in 1828 and baptised on 7 November 1828[13]. She was 31/2 when her father was arrested and convicted. In the Winslow Union Workhouse records of August 1835 when Eliza was aged 6 years old, she is recorded as being 'friendless' and of being 'given 1s 6d'. A further report in October 1842 she is reported as 'refractory - separately confined’[14].

When Eliza was 17 years old she gave birth to an illegitimate daughter, Frances Kirk. Frances was born in the Winslow Workhouse on 19 November 1845[15][16].  As far as I am aware, Frances’ father remains unknown[17]. Further reports from the workhouse about Eliza indicate that in January 1847 she was an ‘inmate of workhouse, disorderly, sub diet, subject to MO, suckling child’ and in April 1847 an ‘inmate, refractory with aggravation, separately confined, sub diet’[18]

It appears that, at some point, Eliza and her daughter, Frances, must have moved to Kent because, on 22 July 1856, Eliza married Charles John Tizzard at St Nicholas Church, Deptford, Kent[19]

London Metroploitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number:p78/nic/025 via Ancestry.com. 

On the marriage record, Charles is shown as a Mariner by profession.  Eliza’s Father’s occupation is difficult to read.  It looks like ‘Soldier’ which we know not to be true although, perhaps a good cover story for someone who had been transported to Australia for life. By this time, her father James was a free man in Australia having received a conditional pardon in 1844. It isn’t clear what he was doing by 1856. He was likely living in the Patrick Plains area of New South Wales. James' pardon was conditional on his never returning to England[20]. Whether or not he knew of his family's circumstances or they of his is unclear. 

Charles and Eliza had a child together, Eliza Tizzard. Census records show that she was 15 in 1881, therefore born in about 1866. She was born in England[21].

On 27 October 1867, Eliza’s daughter Frances Kirk married George Bibby at St Leonard’s, Bromley, Middlesex, England[22].

London Metroploitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number:p88/mry2/030 via Ancestry.com. 

At some time before 1881, the family moved to Ontario in Canada. On the 1881 Census for Canada[23], Charles and Eliza are listed together with their daughter Eliza. They are living at Collingwood, Simcoe North, Ontario, Canada and listed as Methodists. Charles’ occupation is recorded as ‘Night Watch’:

1881; Census Place: Collingwood, Simcoe North, Ontario; Roll:C_13251; Page: 66; Family No: 288 via Ancestry.com

Frances is also recorded on the 1881 Canada Census[24]. It appears that her husband George had died by this time as she is listed as the wife of Henry Cook. Also listed with Eliza and Henry is Frances’ daughter with George Bibby, Alice Bibby now using the name Cook. Unfortunately, the image is not very clear:

1881; Census Place: Collingwood, Grey East, Ontario; Roll:C_13261; Page: 50; Family No: 223 via Ancestry.com

Eliza and Henry Cook did not actually marry until 5 August 1885 at Collingwood, Grey County, Ontario[25].

Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Canada;Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 51 via Ancestry.com

By 1930, Frances had moved to the United States and was living in Colorado[26]. She died in 1943 in La Junta, Otero County, Colorado[27].

In 1884, Eliza became a lighthouse keeper's wife when her husband, Charles Tizzard, became the first keeper of the Hope Island Lighthouse. Hope Island is the northern of three large islands that lie about 20 miles north of Collingwood, Ontario.  In 1884 a lighthouse was placed on the northwest side of the island to mark the water route into Nottawasaga Bay from Georgian Bay, Lake Huron.  The tower was a square white wooden tower and had 52 steps ascending it and was 57 feet high from the ground to the vane on the lantern room. Charles earned £450 per year as lighthouse keeper. When Charles died suddenly in 1886, Eliza continued to operate the light as the lighthouse keeper until 23 May 1887 when a replacement was appointed. During her time as lighthouse keeper, a fierce storm raised water levels to within 2 feet (.6 of a metre) of the lighthouse[28][29][30]. Eliza died in 1887 at the age of 59. 

Trista Madsen, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hope_Island_Lighthouse,_Sep._2015

Eliza lived on Hope Island for three years; the last of which was on her own. This must have been a very solitary life and a long way from her beginnings in Buckinghamshire.

Maria 

Maria was baptised on 1 December 1824 in Drayton Parslow, Buckinghamshire[31] so probably born in 1824. Maria was 71/2 when her father was arrested and convicted. Like her sister Eliza, Maria also received support from the Winslow Union Workhouse. In August 1835, Maria was ‘given 1s 6d’ and in October 1835 she was given ‘clothing not to exceed 15/-‘[32]

To date, I haven't been able to find either a marriage or death record for Maria. Some family trees, without supporting evidence, suggest Maria died in 1832. However, that cannot be right given that she was receiving support from the Winslow Workhouse in 1835. It isn't clear whether Maria lived into adulthood but the absence of records suggests, perhaps, that she did not? Or, perhaps I just haven't found her yet?

Rebecca 

Rebecca was baptised on 1 September 1822 in Drayton Parslow[33] so probably born in 1822. To date, I have found out very little about Rebecca. She would have been 91/2 when her father was arrested and convicted. It is likely that, like her sisters, she initially received support from the parish. From 1834, she may have received support from the Winslow Union Workhouse. Alternatively, she may have found work? Rebecca was the oldest of the sisters and would have been 12 in the September of 1834. Rebecca's death is registered in the 1st quarter of 1839[34], aged 161/2.

William and his Family 

William is the oldest of James and Elizabeth’s children. He was born about 1820 and baptised at Drayton Parslow, Buckinghamshire on 14 February 1820[35]. William was 12 when his father was arrested and 14 when his Mother died in 1834. Of all James and Elizabeth's children, he was probably the best placed to be able to fend for himself. It is possible that William was able to find agricultural-related work. He lived in Drayton Parslow all of his life and worked as an agricultural labourer. Records show that he lived to the age of 68 and died in Drayton Parslow in 1888[36].

William married Sophia Munday on 25 December 1840 at Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire[37]. Leighton Buzzard is about 8 miles from Drayton Parslow. He was about 20 and she was about 17. Sophia was born in about 1823 in Eggington, Bedfordshire and baptised on 2 March 1823[38]. 
William and Sophia had at least 5 children: Hannah; Ellen; Rebecca (died young); James and Rebecca (named for her deceased sister).

By 1841, William is listed in the England Census as an agricultural labourer living in Drayton Parslow, Buckinghamshire with his wife Sophia, nee Munday and Sophia’s sister Ellen Munday[39]:

The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1841 England Census; Class: HO107; Piece: 49; Book: 8; Civil Parish: Drayton Parslow; County: Buckinghamshire; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 7; Page: 10; Line: 13; GSU roll: 241214 via Ancestry.com

Sophia is listed as being 15 years old. This is inconsistent with other records. As indicated above, Sophia’s baptism date suggests she was 17 when she married William in 1840. At the time of the 1841 census, she would, therefore, have been about 18 and William would have been about 21 rather than 20.

In the 1851 England Census[40], William is listed as an agricultural labourer, age 30. Also in the household are: Sophia, his wife, age 28, Plaiter; daughter Hannah, age 9, Plaiter; daughter Ellenor, age 2, scholar; and daughter Rebecca, aged 8 months. Rebecca died shortly after this at the age of 1. They are living at the Horse and Jockey in Drayton Parslow:

The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1851 England Census; Class: HO107; Piece: 1722; Folio: 203; Page: 7; GSU roll: 193630 via Ancestry.com

In the 1861 England Census[41], William is listed as an agricultural labourer aged 40. Also in the household are: His wife, Sophia, aged 38, Plaiter; daughter Hannah, age 19, Plaiter; daughter Ellen, age 12, Plaiter; son James, age 5, Scholar; daughter Rebecca, age 4, Scholar. They are still living at the Horse and Jockey, Drayton Parslow:

The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1861 England Census; Class: RG 9; Piece: 870; Folio: 32; Page: 4; GSU roll: 542714 via Ancestry.com

In the 1871 census[42], William is listed as an agricultural labourer age 52. Also, in the household are: His wife, Sophia, listed as aged 49, Straw Plaiter and daughter, Rebecca aged 18, Straw Plaiter:

The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG 10; Piece: 1416; Folio: 8; Page: 8; GSU roll: 828770 via Ancestry.com

In the 1881 census[43] William is listed an agricultural labourer, married, age 61. In the household with him is his wife Sophia, age 58:

The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1881 England Census; Class: Class: RG11; Piece: 1477; Folio: 27; Page: 7; GSU roll: 1341358 via Ancestry.com.

Some historical photographs of Drayton Parslow[44], including mention of the Horse and Jockey public house where William and his family lived for some years, can be found here

Sophia died in 1886 in Drayton Parslow[45] and William not long after in 1888[46]

James and Elizabeth's Descendents

It appears, then, that, of all of  James and Elizabeth's children, only William and Eliza survived to adulthood. Their descendants, as far as I can determine, are spread across England, Canada, United States and New Zealand.  To date, I haven’t found any evidence to suggest that James Kirk had any further children in Australia.  

Postscript

William and Sophia [Munday] Kirk are my 4th Great Grandparents. 

N.B. I have now moved by blogging efforts from this platform to We Are.xyz so that I can integrate building my family history archive with blogging. This post, or a similar version of it, can be found at: Family Left Behind - Elizabeth King and Her Children

Related Posts

One Sheep - A Death Sentence

Notes

[1] Home Office: Convict Transportation Registers; (The National Archives Microfilm Publication HO11); The National Archives of the UK (TNA), Kew, Surrey, England Image via Ancestry.com. Australian Convict Transportation Registers – Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Accessed 29 Feb 2020

[2] Index to Baptism records shows that Elizabeth was baptised on 1 March 1798 at Drayton Parslow in Buckinghamshire and so was probably born about 1798. However, the record of her burial suggests she was born in 1800 - England Births and Baptisms 1538-1975 - Transcript via FindMyPast [Website] Accessed 1 Mar 2020.

[3] FindMyPast - Marriage Index Transcription  Transcript via FindMyPast [Website] Accessed 20 March 2020

[4] Geoff Kirk Eliza Kirk - Winslow Workhouse to Hope Island Lighthouse via Winslow History [Website] Accessed 18 January 2018

[5] Wikipedia Royal Commission of Inquiry into theoperation of the Poor Laws 1832 Accessed 2 Mar 2020.

[6] Marjie Bloy The 1832 Royal Commission of Inquiry into the operation of the Poor Laws The Victorian Web [Website] Accessed 15 Mar 2020.

[7] Marjie Bloy - See Note 6.

[8] Glenys Warlow Worksheet pdf (Winslow Workhouse for History project) via Winslow History [Website]. Accessed 26 April 2021

[9] FindMyPast - Burial Index Transcription via FindMyPast [Website] Accessed 12 Mar 2020. See also: Geoff Kirk Eliza Kirk - Winslow Workhouse to Hope Island Lighthouse via Winslow History [Website] Accessed 18 January 2018

[10] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013 Transcript via Ancestry.com England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014 Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 12 Mar 2020.

[11] FindMyPast - Burial Index Transcription via FindMyPast [Website] Accessed 2 Mar 2020.

[12] Geoff Kirk Eliza Kirk - Winslow Workhouse to Hope Island Lighthouse via Winslow History [Website] Accessed 18 January 2018

[13] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013 Transcript via Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014 Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 12 Mar 2020.

[14] Geoff Kirk Eliza Kirk - Winslow Workhouse to Hope Island Lighthouse via Winslow History [Website] Accessed 18 January 2018

[15] Geoff Kirk in Eliza Kirk - Winslow Workhouse to Hope Island Lighthouse – See Note 14.

[16] Registered Q4 1845. RD: Winslow. Inferred County Buckinghamshire. Volume 6. Page 372 - Image via FreeBMD England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Accessed 5 Mar 2020.

[17] On the 1930 census Frances indicates that her father was born at sea - Year: 1930; Census Place: Precinct 114, Pueblo, Colorado; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0082; FHL microfilm: 2339985 Image via Ancestry.com 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Accessed 15 Mar 2020. Perhaps now with the availability of DNA testing, one of her descendants will be able to figure out who he was?

[18] Geoff Kirk Eliza Kirk - Winslow Workhouse to Hope Island Lighthouse via Winslow History [Website] Accessed 18 January 2018

[19] London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: p78/nic/025 Image via Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accessed 5 Mar 2020.

[20] Jane Chapman One Sheep - A Death Sentence (posted 12 April 2022) BJNL'sGenealogy Accessed 18 April 2022

[21] 1881; Census Place: Collingwood, Simcoe North, Ontario; Roll: C_13251; Page: 66; Family No: 288 Image via Ancestry.com 1881 Census of Canada. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2009. Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 12 Mar 2020.

[22] London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: p88/mry2/030 Image via Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accessed 5 Mar 2020.

[23] 1881; Census Place: Collingwood, Simcoe North, Ontario; Roll: C_13251; Page: 66; Family No: 288 Image via Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1881 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. Accessed 12 Mar 2020.

[24] 1881; Census Place: Collingwood, Grey East, Ontario; Roll: C_13261; Page: 50; Family No: 223 Image via Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1881 Census of Canada [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.

[25] Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 51 Image via Ancestry.com and Genealogical Research Library (Brampton, Ontario, Canada). Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1826-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accessed 12 Mar 2020.

[26] Year: 1930; Census Place: Precinct 114, Pueblo, Colorado; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0082; FHL microfilm: 2339985 Image via Ancestry.com 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Accessed 15 Mar 2020

[27] Find a Grave -  

URL:	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89399500/frances-cook

 via Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Accessed 1 Mar 2020.

[28] Geoff Kirk Eliza Kirk - Winslow Workhouse to Hope Island Lighthouse via Winslow History [Website] Accessed 18 January 2018

[29] Hope Island, Ontario via Lighthousefriends.com [Website] Accessed 24 April 2021

[30] Hope Island Lighthouse via Lighthouse Digest [Website] Accessed 1 March 2020

[31] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013 Transcript via Ancestry.com England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014 Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 12 Mar 2020.

[32] Geoff Kirk Eliza Kirk - Winslow Workhouse to Hope Island Lighthouse via Winslow History [Website] Accessed 18 January 2018

[33] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013 Transcript via Ancestry.com England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014 Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 12 Mar 2020.

[34] Registered Q1 – RD: Winslow, Inferred County: Buckinghamshire, Volume: 6, Page: 277 Image via FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Accessed 5 Mar 2020.

[35] England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013 Transcript via Ancestry.com England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014 Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 12 Mar 2020.

[36] England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915 Transcript via FindMyPast [Website]  Accessed 12 Mar 2020

[37] England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005 Transcript via FindMyPast [Website] Accessed 12 Mar 2020

[38] England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975 Transcript via FindMyPast [Website]. Accessed 12 March 2020

[39] The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1841 England Census; Class: HO107; Piece: 49; Book: 8; Civil Parish: Drayton Parslow; County: Buckinghamshire; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 7; Page: 10; Line: 13; GSU roll: 241214 Image via Ancestry.com. 1841 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Accessed 1 March 2020.

[40] The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1851 England Census; Class: HO107; Piece: 1722; Folio: 203; Page: 7; GSU roll: 193630 Image via Ancestry.com 1851 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Accessed 1 March 2020.

[41] The National Archives; Kew, London, England 1861 England Census; Class: RG9; Piece: 870; Folio: 32; Page: 4; GSU roll: 542714 Image via Ancestry.com 1861 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Accessed 5 Mar 2020. 

[42] The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 1416; Folio: 8; Page: 8; GSU roll: 828770 Image via Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Accessed 5 Mar 2020.

[43] The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1881 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 1416; Folio: 8; Page: 8; GSU roll: 828770 Image via Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Accessed 5 Mar 2020

[44] HistoricalPhotographs via Drayton Parslow Buckinghamshire [Website] Accessed 1 March 2020

[45] Death registered Q4 1886. RD: Winslow. Inferred County Buckinghamshire. Volume 3a. Page 381 via Ancestry.com - England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915. Image via FreeBMD. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2006. Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 5 Mar 2020.

[46] Death registered Q1 1888. RD: Winslow. Inferred County Buckinghamshire. Volume 3a, Page 489 Image via Ancestry.com - England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915. FreeBMD. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2006. Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 5 Mar 2020.