Eliza Darby

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Eliza Darby was likely born circa 1804.³ She was the daughter of George Darby and Elizabeth Aylott.¹ Eliza Darby was baptised at St. Andrew's Parish Church on Sunday, 27 May 1804 at Hertford. Her name at baptism was recorded as 'Elizer.^4,5' St. Andrews was a church of Saxon origin, and was added to until the mid 18th century to accomodate a growing population. By this stage it had deteriorated to such a degree that it was torn down and a new church built in 1870.



Her mother died circa January 1821. She was about 15 when this happened.⁶

She married Jerimiah Playl, a tailor, son of Jerimiah Playl and Esther White, in a Church of England ceremony at St. Leonard's on Monday, 7 April 1828 at Shoreditch, London. Eliza was married on the same day as her older sister Lucretia, and they, along with their father, were witnesses for each other. The wedding certificate was also signed by Lucretia Darby. Others who attended the wedding include George Darby as father of the bride; others who may have attended included Esther White as mother of the groom and Jerimiah Playl as father of the groom. Brothers and sisters who may have attended include Mary Ann Darby, William Darby, Martha Darby, Ann Darby, Amelia Darby, Thomas Darby, John D. Darby, Samuel Darby and Elizabeth Darby. Jerimiah and Eliza went on to have six children together.⁷

She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of John Warner and Lucretia Darby in a Church of England ceremony at St. Leonard's on Monday, 7 April 1828 at Shoreditch, London. Lucretia was married on the same day as her younger sister Eliza, and they, along with their father, were witnesses for each other.⁷

She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of John Speller Wright and Martha Darby in a Church of England ceremony at St. Pancras Parish Chapel on Wednesday, 11 January 1837 at St. Pancras, London. John and Martha went on to have two children together.^8,9,10 Eliza Darby was a witness at the wedding of Joseph William Peck and may have Ann Darby at St. Leonard's Joseph and Ann went on to have five children together. on Monday, 1 April 1839 at Shoreditch, London. Sister.^11,6

She may have attended the wedding of her brother in the marriage of Samuel Darby and Mary Ann Taylor in a Church of England ceremony at St. Mary on Sunday, 27 June 1841 at Ealing, Middlesex. Mary and Samuel had no known children.^12,13

She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of William Skerman and Mary Ann Darby in a Church of England ceremony at St. Pancras New Church on Wednesday, 26 October 1842 at St. Pancras, London. This was the third marriage for William. They went on to have 5 children together.^14,15,16

In George Darby's will on 16 May 1850 Elizabeth Darby, Samuel Darby and Mary Ann Darby and Eliza Darby were named as heirs. Of his other children, three other surviving sons (John, Thomas and William) are not named in the will. Perhaps this was because they had emigrated to Australia, but Samuel had also emigrated and is named. In any event, both John and William died in the three years that followed, both before their father's death. Further, George did not name his second wife in the will either, and may have been estranged from her. Elizabeth got the newly constructed house and its grounds, as well as the household goods furtniture and effects that it contained but was required to pay one hundred pounds into the estate (for the ultimate division between her married sisters Mary Ann and Eliza and one of her brothers in South Australia, Samuel)..¹⁷

Eliza Darby was recorded as the spouse of Jerimiah Playl in the 1851 census at High Street, Chipping Ongar, Essex. Also in the household were three of their children.¹⁸

On 26 January 1853 her brother John died at the approximate age of 34 in South Australia.¹⁹

Her father died 4 March 1853 at the approximate age of 74.

George Darby's will was probated on 20 April 1853.¹⁷

Eliza, as the mother of the bride, along with Jerimiah attended the wedding of Emma and Joseph Humphrey at St. Boltoph without Bishopgate on Monday, 13 June 1853 at Bishopsgate, London.. .²⁰

Eliza Darby was recorded as the spouse of Jerimiah Playl in the 1861 census at Chipping Ongar, Essex. Also living in the house were 2 of their children.²¹ She was listed as a beneficiary in Jerimiah Playl's will on 10 October 1867.²²

She was recorded as head of household in the 1871 census at Chipping Ongar, Essex. She was recorded as being 65 years old. Also living in the house was her daughter Harriett and another daughter's two children who had only lost their mother two years previously.²³

Eliza died on 10 June 1871 at Chipping Ongar, Essex.^3,24