George Darby

     (For a brief history and context on the Darby family see this page)

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.


George was born circa 1779. He was the son of Richard Darby and Anne Brett.¹ George Darby was baptised at St. Peter's on Sunday, 11 April 1779 at Roydon, Essex. His cousin Thomas was the next person baptised in the church.^2,1 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.³

George Darby was indentured to William Fincher as an apprentice millwright at the age of about 14 on 14 December 1793 at Hertford. George was at least the fourth and possibly the last of his apprentices over a 15 year period.⁴ The city of Hertford dates back to at least 673, and was an important market town surrounded by agricultural land. From the late 16th century, it had access to the London corn markets via the Lea river.

For the next seven years he was probably fully engaged in learning his trade.

George Darby and Elizabeth Aylott perhaps came to know each other through common connections; Elizabeth's brother Samuel was, like George, an apprentice millwright to William Fincher.⁵

He married Elizabeth Aylott, daughter of Samuel Aylott and Jane Campkin, in a Church of England ceremony at All Saints and Saint John on Tuesday, 22 April 1800 at Hertford. Elizabeth was the daughter of a shopkeeper. The wedding certificate was also signed by Thomas Darby and Elizabeth Darby. Elizabeth and George went on to have 12 children together.^6,7 All Saints church was built in the 15th century with a cruciform plan and a west tower. However, it burnt down in 1891.



George and Elizabeth Aylott became the parents of their first child George Darby circa 1800. He was the first of about a dozen children born to George and Elizabeth over the next 19 years.⁸ James Catlin was indentured to George Darby as an apprentice millwright for 7 years on 26 August 1803. James' father was a labourer of the same name.⁹ James Darby was indentured to George Darby as an apprentice on 9 February 1805 at Hertford. James was George's nephew, and continued as a millwright for the rest of his working life.¹⁰ From the birth of Eliza, their third child, all their subsequent children were baptised at Lady Huntingdon's Connexion, Hertford.Lady Huntingdon's Chapel was one a series of chapels founded in the 18th century by the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion as part of a Calvinistic movement within the Methodist church. She insisted that they should all subscribe to the doctrines of the Church of England and use only the Book of Common Prayer. It was apparently founded in 1800, and started keeping registers from 1806.



He may have attended the wedding of his brother in the marriage of Richard Darby and Letitia White in a Church of England ceremony at St. Andrew's on Sunday, 4 June 1809 at Greensted-juxta-Ongar, Essex. The were married on the same day their first child was born. Letitia and Richard went on to have six children together..^11,12 On 4 March 1813 George Darby took on John Aylott as an apprentice at Hertford. John was to be an apprentice timberhewer for seven years.¹³

In 1814 the Hertford Corporation contracted George to replace the towns elm water pipes with iron pipes they had purchased. He was paid by the number of joints and fireplugs he installed. He had to supply all tools, transport the pipes from the wharf, fill in the paths, take the old pipes away and make good any damage.^14,15

George Darby bought a total of 3 acres from George Cock in Hertford comprising three seperate strips. This land was then mortgaged to John Hudson four years later for £550 in 1815.¹⁶

George and Elizabeth Aylott may have become the parents of their last child John D. Darby circa 1817 at Hertford.¹⁷

On 19 December 1819 his son George died at the approximate age of 19.

His first house was perhaps 'The Grove', which was constructed 1820 on one of the original blocks that he bought from George Cock.¹⁸

His wife Elizabeth died circa January 1821, leaving him a widower. He was about 42 when this happened, leaving him with 12 surviving children.⁸

In Richard Darby's will George Darby, Thomas Darby and Joseph Munns were named joint executors by Richard to handle his estate on 27 January 1821. His grandfather, now about 90, had perhaps guessed that he was in poor health. George had lost his own wife just 6 weeks before he was required to be executor for his grandfather..^19,20

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.¹⁹

George and Sarah Boden became the parents of Elizabeth Darby circa 1823. She was the last of George's 13 children to be born, and apparently the only one with his soon-to-be second wife Sarah.²¹ His was listed as many as three times in a trade's directory Cowbridge, Hertford, 1823, firstly as a "bricklayer (& brickmaker)", secondly as a "millwright (& engineer & machine maker)", and as a blacksmith. They were perhaps also referring to him when in a listing as a "mealman and miller" of Molewood-mill.²²

He married Sarah Boden, daughter of Thomas Boden, at All Saints and Saint John on Thursday, 27 May 1824 at Hertford..^23,24 His son William was indentured to Thomas Dew Boden as an apprentice ironmonger for a period of 7 years on 2 August 1824. William's father George had recently married Thomas Boden's sister.⁹

On 11 June 1827 his son Richard died at the age of 19.

In 1828 and 1829 he conducted a number of land deals that through exchange and purchase left him with about 8 acres in the central part of Hertford. His house, 'The Grove' was situated in the centre of all this. He then developed the houses on Russell Street, George Street and the north side of Port Vale, most of which still exist. These houses were all constructed of brick and had gardens and were seen as better than much of the other housing available to the growing population.²⁵ George Darby as father of the brides, attended (and was witness to) the weddings of two of his daughters; Lucretia who married John Warner and Eliza who married Jerimiah Playl on 7 April 1828 at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, London.²⁶

George, as the father of the bride, attended the wedding of Eliza and Jerimiah Playl, a tailor, 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.. Others who may have attended include Esther White as mother of the groom and Jerimiah Playl as father of the groom. Jerimiah and Eliza went on to have six children together.²⁶

George Darby attended the wedding of John Warner and his daughter 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.²⁶

Apparently a nurseryman and market gardener named George Hide who resided at Darby's Cottage, Port Hill Common was declared bankrupt on 25 February 1831.²⁷

He is recorded in the Poll Book as eligible to vote, with his place of abode in Port Hill, and his qualification to vote being freehold house and land in Port Vale.²⁸ On 6 June 1834 George Darby took on Samuel Darby as an apprentice to learn 'the art of a millwright' in consideration for work and labour for 7 years. However, Samuel's apprenticeship was cancelled just over 2 years later.²⁹ On 6 June 1834 George Darby took on Thomas Darby as an apprentice as an apprentice carpenter and builder for 7 years.⁹

On 3 March 1835 he listed for sale three cottages in George Street, Bengeo, Hertford, to be sold by private contract as well as ajoining land for sale or lease. Evidently, they did not sell as he relisted them with a more descriptive advertisement in November, and then again two years later.^30,31 Bengeo is a parish and village just north of Hertford; the village was gradually incorporated into the larger town. The part that ajoins Hertford is lower, rising to agricultural land to the north. The chief crops were wheat, barley and turnips.³²

George Darby donated some bricks to construct a cottage for a caretaker of a public park on 9 February 1836.³³ He had two brickyards, probably one after the other. The first was at Port Vale when he was living there; when he moved to a property near Russell Street, the brickyard moved too.³⁴

On 15 March 1836 a boy named William Stewart in the employ of George was killed near Sandy Lane when the horse of the cart he was driving started and the cart rolled over him. He was taken to the infirmary but he was already dead.³⁵

George, as the father of the bride, along with Elizabeth may have attended the wedding of Martha and John Speller Wright, a tailor, in a Church of England ceremony at St. Pancras Parish Chapel on Wednesday, 11 January 1837 at St. Pancras, London.. Others who may have attended include and William Wright as father of the groom. John and Martha went on to have two children together.^36,37,38

George Darby attempted to sell nine plots of freehold land in Russell Street, as well as 2 cottages in the same area on 8 August 1837.³⁹

On 3 September 1837 there was a large fire in the brickyard when a sizable quantity of straw caught fire. Although it was large enough to attract a large number of people and required a policeman to help with the incident, there was no further damage.⁴⁰

By the late 1830's he had completed construction of a number of large houses on the land he owned including 'Whitacre', a large imposing structure. It seems likely that his financed this construction by mortgaging his land.²⁵ George was listed as many as five times in a 1839 trade's directory in Port Vale, Bengeo, Hertford, firstly as a bricklayer, secondly as a brickmaker, thirdly as a builder, fourthly as a carpenter and lastly as a "millwright (and engineer and machine maker)". Unlike the 1823 diectory he doesn't describe himself as a miller.⁴¹ He was associated with John D. Darby in that John had probably been working for his father up until in March 1839.^42,43

In 1839, four of his children emmigrated to Australia. Thomas, John and his wife Mary, Martha and her husband John Speller Wright, and Ann and her husband Joseph Peck left London on April 1839, and within 3 years his two remaining sons Samuel and William were there as well.

George, as the father of the bride, may have attended the wedding of Ann and Joseph William Peck, a builder, in a Church of England ceremony at St. Leonard's on Monday, 1 April 1839 at Shoreditch, London. Ann was 26 and her husband Joseph was 21. They married seventeen days before they set sail for South Australia.. Others who may have attended include .^44,8

The family was mentioned in a letter from another South Australian immigrant. Describing something of their circumstances on 21 March 1840:

No doubt this letter was very eagerly received back home.^45,40

George offerred his property (then known as 'Porthill House' later known as 'Whitacre') for let. It was a substantial house with nine bedrooms, offices, a library, morning room, dining room and drawing room, stables and garden.^46,47

He was recorded as head of household in the 1841 census at Port Hill, Bengeo, Hertford. His age was recorded as 62 years old. Also living in the house were two of his daughters Mary Ann and Elizabeth.⁴⁸

George, as the father of the groom, may have attended the wedding of Samuel and Mary Ann Taylor in a Church of England ceremony at St. Mary on Sunday, 27 June 1841 at Ealing, Middlesex. Others who may have attended include and William Taylor as father of the bride. Mary and Samuel had no known children.^49,50 George Darby offerred up 3 lots of freehold land for sale by auction in George Street and Port Vale. on 11 June 1842.^51,52

George, as the father of the bride, may have attended the wedding of Mary and William Skerman, a clockmaker, marrying for the third time, 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.^53,54,55

On 8 May 1844 George planned to sell seemingly all of his property; Port Hill House 'containing every requisite accomodation for a highly respectable family', a family house with 'attached and detached offices of every description', a dwelling house and eight cottages.⁵⁶ In August 1845 he made another attempt to sell property by auction (with an unknown result.)^57,58 He was alive to see his child Amelia emmigrate to Canada circa 1846.^59,8 In February 1846 he was called onto a grand jury for the epiphany sessions (which were postponed.)⁶⁰ Papers exist that relate to the transfer of lands to a John Smitheman; this would have included the sale of 'Porthill House' (which was still mortgaged).^61,25

A George Darby contacted a carpenter to build a pair of gates from some timber he had, but apparently a dispute arose about payment and the carpenter knocked the gates down again. He was taken to court and the defendant lost; the carpenter was required to pay 4 shillings damages and the costs.⁶²

George placed an advertisment in the paper on 17 March 1849:

It might have been of some sadness that George wasn't able to offer one of his sons this role.⁶³

On November 1849 his daughter Lucretia died. George Darby sufferred a set-back in that his water-windmill was damaged when the sails blew off due to the high winds on 5 February 1850 at Bengeo, Hertford.⁶⁴

He made a will on 16 May 1850. 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. His son-in-law George Finer was named as the sole executor. (an unknown value.)⁶⁵

George sufferred an injury on 18 May 1850:

He required to make a public apology to Edward Drury Rayment for alleging that he was insolvent. on 24 August 1850.⁶⁷⁶⁷ He was also required by another action to assign over 'his Household Furniture, Stock-in-Trade, Fixtures, Utensils, Tools, and Implements of Trade, Book and Other Debts, and all his other personal Estate whatsoever' to satisfy a debt to Jerimiah Rayment (a plumber and glazier) and Thomas Taylor (an ironmonger) in settlement of debts. on 24 September 1850.⁶⁸ He was in financial trouble. He lost a court case and was required to pay Edward Drury Rayment £45 pounds in settlement for a bill of exchange. However, before the bailiffs could take possession of his goods the goods had been sold at auction, netting £220. Apparently, George, knowing the court action would go against him and being concerned that his remaining assets would not cover his other creditors 'thought it his duty to the other creditors to call them together, state the circumstances to them and offer a composition'. This approach stood, at least until April 1851 when the solicitor to the assignees requested his creditors send in their accounts on 2 November 1850.⁶⁹⁷⁰

George Darby was listed as head of household in the 1851 census at 'Brick Field', Bengeo, Hertford.⁷¹

On 26 January 1853 his son John died at the approximate age of 34 in South Australia.⁷²

George died of old age on 4 March 1853 in 'Ivy Cottage', a house he had constructed. at Bengeo, Hertford. He was about 74 years old, and only 3 of his children were still alive and in England.^73,74
His body was interred at St. Leonard's parish church on 11 March 1853 at Bengeo, Hertford. His body was interred in grave L, reference no. 096.⁷⁵ The Church of England church of St Leonard is a 12th century Norman building and the oldest building in Hertford. It was the parish church of Bengeo until 1855. It stands in the eastern corner of Bengeo urban parish near the junction of the Beane with the Lea.^76,77



George's will was probated on 20 April 1853.⁶⁵ His property still had not sold at his time of death, but was to auctioned to satisfy the conditions of his will. In June 1853 four dwelling houses were to be sold, and in September his land was to be sold.^78,79,80 His estate planned to sell several plots of 'valuable freehold building ground'. This turned out to be 'four respectable newly-erected substantially brick-built and slated dwelling HOUSES' in Russell Street, three of which were leased for 457 pounds per annum.^81,82