Person:Elizabeth Smithson (5)

Elizabeth Smithson's origins have yet to be established. Her first confirmed sighting is on 16th January 1777 when she married Henry Singleton at Hougham in Lincolnshire. At the time of their marriage Elizabeth was said to be living in Hougham, and one of the witnesses to the marriage was a William Smithson, who was presumably a relative.

Elizabeth and Henry initially stayed in Hougham, having sons named William and John baptised there in 1777 and 1779. They then moved about nine miles to the west to the village of Flintham in Nottinghamshire, where they had daughters named Elizabeth in 1782 and Mary in 1784. Sadly Mary died when she was only about eighteen months old.

In 1786 they had a son named Henry, who appears to have been baptised twice, once at Hougham and once at Flintham. The Flintham baptism has no day or month quoted, suggesting that he was properly baptised at Hougham but the fact was also noted in the Flintham registers. Perhaps they had briefly returned to Hougham to stay with friends or family.

They returned to Flintham, having four more children there: Thomas in 1788, another Mary in 1790, Joseph in 1792 and Ann in 1794.

Henry has yet to be traced after Ann's baptism.

Elizabeth's eldest son William was married in 1801, and Elizabeth's first known grandchild (also called Elizabeth) was baptised in 1805 at Long Bennington back in Lincolnshire.

Elizabeth appears to have lived in Flintham for the rest of her life, being buried there on 8th November 1813. She was said to be 62 years old.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Nottinghamshire Family History Society. Nottinghamshire Burials Database.

   bur. 8 Nov 1813, St Augustine of Canterbury, Flintham, Nottinghamshire: Elizabeth Singleton, aged 62 [1750/1]

   Needs to be confirmed at Nottinghamshire Archives.