Elizabeth Hewer (1852-1937)

1852

Elizabeth was born in Lechlade on 12 March 1852.

1861

Francis and Eliza’s whereabouts at the time of the 1861 census are unknown. It’s seems likely that their base was Chalford as three of their children had been born there. However, the census for Chalford only gives the following:

1871

The 1871 census reveals that the family were on a voyage again, but this time the enumerator caught up with them. They were moored on the canal at Rowley Regis:

Emma is missing but is to be found visiting in Philip Street, Gloucester, her occupation given as domestic servant.

1873

In February 1873, Elizabeth married William Garner [sic] in Birmingham. We know from later evidence that William came from Staffordshire, so it is likely that they met while the Hewers were on a voyage to the Staffordshire coalfields. The marriage certificate states that they were of ‘full age’ though this is not strictly true as Elizabeth was about a month short of her 21^st birthday. (It has not as yet been possible to identify William’s exact year of birth, but it is probably c.1850.) No parents acted as witnesses, so was this marriage with parents’ permission?

William’s surname is given as Garner. Whether this is a mishearing of Gardiner/Gardner we cannot be sure, but after their marriage their name is consistently Gardiner in all records.

Elizabeth and William’s first child, Joseph William Gardiner, was born in Hednesford, Staffordshire in 1874 and it is possible that they had travelled there by canal to collect coal at that time. By 1876 they had settled down to married life in Chalford, Gloucestershire, where William Edward was born in 1876, Emma in 1878 and Alice Eliza in 1880.

1881

In 1882, their fifth child, Mary, was born in Chalford. Her birth certificate states that the family were living at Dimhillsdale (now Dimmel’s Dale), Chalford at this time.

Maud Gardiner was born in 1884 in Cricklade, followed by Kate Lily in 1886 and Frank Walter in 1888, both in Chalford.

1891

The family were in Chalford according to the 1891 census, all except William and William Edward who were to be found aboard a barge Edith on the canal in Gloucester.

Frederick Leonard, their ninth child, was born in Chalford in 1891. The birth of a tenth child, Osborn, was registered in January 1897 but his death was registered the same month. Elizabeth was 45 and had given birth to ten children over 23 years.

1895

In 1895 the family were living at Duck’s Nest Chalford (in Hyde Lane and now demolished).

1901

The 1901 census finds the family together again in Chalford:

1911

The 1911 census shows just two children living at home:

1924

William Gardiner died on 16 April 1924.

1937

Elizabeth died at Bliss Mills Cottages, Chalford on 22 December 1937. Her death was registered by her second son, William Edward Gardiner. From the certificate, it appears that he lived with her. She was buried at Christ Church, Chalford on 28 December, though there is no evidence of her grave in the churchyard so we must assume it is unmarked.