Susannah Darby

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Susannah Darby was born circa January 1772. She was the daughter of Richard Darby and Sarah Peachy.¹ Susannah Darby was baptised at St. Peter's on Sunday, 16 February 1772 at Roydon, Essex.¹ The church has walls of flint and rubble, and probably dates back to at least 1260. Historically, Roydon was a parish of scattered farms and cottages, with open fields and common meadows. There were 105 ratepayers named in 1734, and the population was 667 in 1801. On the north and west, rivers form the parish and county boundaries.²



She may have attended the wedding of her brother in the marriage of Richard Darby and Anne Brett in a Church of England ceremony at St. Peter's on Thursday, 8 June 1775 at Roydon, Essex. Both Richard and Anne signed the wedding certificate. They went on to have four children together.^3,4

She may have attended the wedding of her brother in the marriage of Thomas Darby and Elizabeth Perry in a Church of England ceremony at St. Peter's on Monday, 14 September 1778 at Roydon, Essex. Elizabeth and Thomas went on to have 11 children together over 17 years.^5,4

She married Matthew Bush, in a Church of England ceremony at St. Dunstan's on Monday, 9 August 1790 at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire. Matthew was 20 years older than Susannah. A labourer. The wedding certificate was also signed by Sarah Darby. They went on to have eleven children over the next 20 years.^5,6 "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.⁷



Her husband Matthew died 28 December 1818, leaving her a widow.⁶

In Richard Darby's will on 27 January 1821 Richard Darby, Jacob Bush, Martha Darby, Susannah Darby and Jane Darby were named as heirs. Susannah was to be given £200 Stock invested in a consolidated fund at three percent..^8,9

Her father died February 1821 at the approximate age of 90.

Richard Darby's will was probated on 20 March 1821 at the Consistorial and Episcopal Court, London. Further to his will, the beqests were all granted along with a further £800 in consolidated stock which was granted to the executors George Darby, Thomas Darby and Joseph Munns. This £800 was redeemed shortly afterwards but it isn't known what was done with it.⁸

She married John Taylor, a farmer, in a Church of England ceremony at St. Luke's in Old Street on Wednesday, 10 November 1830 at Finsbury, London. John was 35 years younger than Susannah..⁶

Susannah Darby was recorded as living with John Taylor in the 1841 census at Roydon Hamlet, Essex, and other records indicate this was her spouse. The 1841 census only recorded adult ages rounded down to the nearest 5 years; her approximate age was recorded as 55 years old.¹⁰

Susannah Darby was recorded as the spouse of John Taylor in the 1851 census at Roydon Hamlet, Essex. She was recorded as being 79 years old. Also living in the house were a servant and a lodger. He was recorded as being 44 years old. Also living in the house were a servant and a lodger.¹¹

Susannah died circa June 1853 at Epping registration district, Essex.⁶