Elizabeth 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.


Elizabeth Darby was born in 1826 at Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire.¹ She was the daughter of Benjamin Darby and Mary Webb.^2,1 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.³

Elizabeth Darby was baptised at St. Boltoph on Sunday, 4 February 1827 at Eastwick, Hertfordshire.⁴

In the codicil to Thomas Darby's will on 5 August 1830 Elizabeth Darby, Ann Darby, Richard Darby, James Darby, Hannah Darby, George Darby, Elizabeth Perry, Elizabeth Darby and Sarah Darby were named as heirs. 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

She was recorded as living with her mother and step-father (and uncle) George Darby in the 1841 census at Great Parndon, Essex. She was recorded as being 13 years old.⁷ Elizabeth Darby was a dressmaker in March 1851.¹

She was recorded as living with her father-in-law and his wife in the 1851 census at Brocles, Great Parndon, Essex. She was recorded as being 23 years old.¹