William Darby

     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.


William Darby was baptised at St. Dunstan's on Sunday, 28 June 1795 at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire.² "About two miles north-east from Stanstead, in the same hundred (Braughin), stands the pleasant village of Hunsdon, in the parish of its name. From the church, and other positions in the neighbourhood, some beautiful views may be obtained, including the course of the Stort to join the Lea ... The parish [1839] contains about 600 inhabitants." The church stands close to Hunsdon House, nearly a mile south of the village. The walls are of flint rubble with stone dressings, the south chapel being built of brick. This church possesses some exceptionally good details of fittings of the 16th and 17th centuries.³

He was the son of Thomas Darby and Elizabeth Perry.¹

William Darby married Eliza Webb, daughter of Arthur Webb and Catherine (?), at St. John the Baptist on Monday, 10 January 1825 at Great Amwell, Hertfordshire.⁴ William Darby was a farmer in September 1825.⁴

In Thomas Darby's will Thomas Darby and William Darby were named joint executors by Thomas to handle his estate on 9 July 1830. The will specified that all of his posessions were to go to his wife, and then after her death it was to all be sold and divided amongst his children equally..⁵

In Thomas Darby's will Thomas Darby and William Darby were named joint executors by Thomas to handle the codicil to his will on 5 August 1830. The codicil added that after the will was executed his children were to each generally pay 20 pounds each back to his executors, who would then divide the amount into three and give the resulting amount "for the use of my children which are these three William Darby, Elizabeth Brown and Susannah Bush for their own use and benefit in addition to their shares as before mentioned they not having had so much assistance from me". It is suspected that Thomas did not actually have a daughter Susannah, but referred to another close member of his family. He also bequeathed 40 pounds to the maintenance of Elizabeth, the daughter of his late son Benjamin..⁵

Thomas Darby's will was probated on 9 August 1833. Thomas' wife Elizabeth died less than three years later, and his property was sold (and presumably the proceeds divided up as he specified) in accordance with his will and codicil..⁶

He was recorded as head of household in the 1841 census with Eliza Webb (which other records indicate is his spouse) at Hitsom Hall, Furneaux Pelham, Hertfordshire. He was 45 years old. The 1841 census only recorded adult ages rounded down to the nearest 5 years; his approximate age was recorded as 45 years old. Also in the household were their seven children.⁷ William Darby was an 'agricultural bailif' on 7 June 1841.⁷

In Thomas Darby's will on 23 September 1847 Sarah Perry, Elizabeth Darby, Sarah Darby, William Darby, George Darby and Elizabeth Perry were named as heirs. William was to receive, on the death of his mother, a quarter share of the funds from the liquidation of his father's estate..⁸ William lived on 23 September 1847 at Widford, Hertfordshire.⁸ He was an agricultural labourer in March 1851.⁹

He was recorded as head of household in the 1851 census with Eliza Webb as his spouse at High Trees, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. He was 55 years old. He was recorded as being 57 years old, and also living with three of his children.⁹ Sawbridgeworth is a large parish of about 6,638 acres in extent, divided from the county of Essex on the south and east by the River Stort. The ground reaches an altitude of about 300 ft. in the north, sloping down towards the valley of the Rib on the south and east. From the main road here a view is obtained over the river into Essex. The chief crops are wheat, barley and beans, about half the area consisting of arable land.¹⁰



Thomas Darby's will was probated on 21 January 1853.⁸

He was recorded as head of household in the 1861 census with Eliza Webb as his spouse at Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. He was 65 years old. He was recorded as being 65 years old; also living in the house were two of his adult children.¹¹

He was recorded as head of household in the 1871 census with Eliza Webb as his spouse and children living at Widford, Hertfordshire. He was 75 years old. His age was recorded as 74 years old, and also living in the house were 3 of their sons.¹²

William died circa September 1874 at Ware registration district, Hertfordshire.⁴