|
Facts and Events
Elizabeth Brough's origins are unknown. Her first confirmed sighting is on 1st March 1716, when she married a Joseph Cannon at Ardeley in Hertfordshire. At the time of their marriage she was described as being from the neighbouring parish of Clothall. If she was baptised at Clothall, there is a good chance that no trace of her baptism survives, as the Clothall parish registers only survive from 1717.
After their marriage, Elizabeth and Joseph settled in Clothall, where they had six children baptised between 1718 and 1733.
Joseph must have died some time before 1756, although there are three possibilities (in 1735 and 1751) for his burial, making it hard to know which is him. In 1756, Elizabeth's son Joseph appears to have obtained a settlement certificate for her. This was signed by the church warden and overseer of the poor of the parish of Clothall, acknowledging that "Elizabeth Cannon Widow" was their responsibility. The settlement certificate was addressed to the parish authorities in the nearby town of Hitchin. It was presumably therefore the intention that Elizabeth would live in Hitchin.
Elizabeth does not appear to have been buried in Hitchin. The most likely burials for her are both back at Clothall, in either 1764 or 1777.
References
- ↑ Settlement certificate, in Church of England. Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Hitchin. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies)
D/P53/13/3/050, 12 Sep 1756.
Hertfordsh[i]r[e] to witt
To the Churchwardens & Overseers of the Parish of Hitchin in the County of Hertford
We Thomas Smith & John Green Church-warden & Overseer of the Poor of Clothall in the County of Hertford aforesaid do hereby own & acknowledge Elizabeth Cannon Widow to be our inhabitant legally settled in the Parish of Clothall aforesaid. In Witness whereof We have here-unto set our Hands & Seals this twelfth day of September in the Thirtieth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France & Ireland, King Defender of Faith and in the Year of our Lord 1756
Thos Smyth Churchwarden [& seal]
John Green Overseer [& seal]
Attested by Us Joseph Cannon Thos Petts
To the Churchwardens & Overseers of the poor of the parish of Hitchin in the County of Hertford, We whose names are hereunto Subscribed two of His Majestys Justices of the peace for the County of Hertford Aforesaid do allow of the above written Certificate, And we do also Certify that Joseph Cannon, one of the witnesses who attested the Execution of the said Certificate hath made Oath before us that he did see the Churchwarden & Overseer whose names & seals are to the said Certificate Subscribed & Sett, Severally sign and seal the said Certificate and that the names of the said Joseph Cannon and Thos Betts, whose names are subscribed as Witnesses to the Execution of the said Certificate are of their own proper hand writeing, Dated the 16th day of September 1756
Thos Salusbury
Tho Bigg
- Church of England. Clothall Parish Registers, 1717-1904. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).
Two plausible entries:
1764
Dec[em]b[e]r 20, Elizabeth Cannon Widow
or
Buried 1777
Elizabeth Cannon a Widow (aged 82) bur[ied] August 31
|
