- ReferenceX991
- TitleDeposit of J Norman
- Admin/biog historyElizabeth Gilbert, daughter of Rebecca Gilbert (buried 5 Nov 1891 aged 92), married Thomas Cleaver, who had been born at Harlington, at Caddington on the 6 September 1846. The 1851 census shows the couple at Toddington but by 1861 Elizabeth is the head of her own household living with four children - given on the census as Thomas 4, John 3, George 2 and a baby 10 days old. The parish records show Elizabeth's children baptised as: James Mann Cleaver baptised 15/3/1857, John baptised 22/3/1858, George baptised 20/11/1859 and Sarah Ann bap 30/11/1861 - all four are described as 'illegitimate'. It is possible that Thomas Cleaver died in 1856 in Flamstead but exactly who the father of Elizabeth's children was remains unknown. By 1871 Elizabeth was the housekeeper to a Baptist Minister and her four children continued to live with her. Elizabeth's eldest son, James (b 5/12/1856 - 1944), married on the 2/10/1880 at Ridgmont Baptist Meeting House, Lucy Garratt (b 8/9/1861-1942?), youngest daughter of Rebecca (d 1898) and William Garrett. James and Lucy had eight children: Ernest 1882, Gilbert 1883, James 1885, Harry 1887, Winifred 1889, Bernard 1891, Hubert 1896 and Clarissa 1901. James was an insurance agent for the Prudential. It is this family that is represented in the collection. Elizabeth's second son John (1857-1921) and his wife Emma (d. 1939) had 5 children; three of them boys who were killed in World War I. John was the publican of the Rising Sun in Harlington. Elizabeth's third son, George married Sarah Anne and lived in Harlington. Elizabeth's daughter, Sarah Anne married Walter Edward Ashby and emigrated to Canada.
- Scope and ContentFamily photographs and documents predominately relating to the family of James and Lucy Cleaver of Toddington.
- Level of descriptionfonds
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