Person:Elizabeth Moles (8)

Elizabeth Moles was baptised on 9th September 1821 at Willian in Hertfordshire, daughter of Mary Ann Moles, formerly Best, and her husband Thomas Moles, an agricultural labourer.

In 1839, aged 17, Elizabeth married a labourer named John King at Letchworth, the neighbouring parish to Willian. They do not appear to have had any children. They settled in Willian, where for a time in the late 1830s and early 1840s they ran the Dimsdale Arms. The 1841 census finds Elizabeth and John living in Willian. By 1851 they appear to have moved to the village's other public house, the Three Horseshoes. They had John's parents living with them in the 1851 census, when John was described as a victualler.

In 1852, whilst living at the Three Horseshoes, Elizabeth lent some money to her nephew George Moles (son of her brother William). When she asked George for the money back he assaulted her, hitting her in the face, leaving her with two black eyes. George was fined £2 for the assault.

Elizabeth's father died in Willian in 1853. Her mother moved a few miles west to Offley, where two of Elizabeth's sisters had settled. Elizabeth's mother died in Offley in 1861.

The 1861 census finds Elizabeth and John living with his parents back at Letchworth, where they were living at a lodge house, presumably on the Letchworth Hall estate.

By 1871 they had returned to Willian, appearing in both the 1871 and 1881 censuses living at 34 Terrace Cottages. In 1871 Elizabeth was described as a plaiter. In 1876 she gave evidence in the trial of her brother William, who also lived at Terrace Cottages and was accused of indecently assaulting a child in the meadow behind the cottages. She gave evidence suggesting William had not touched the girl, but nevertheless he was found guilty.

Elizabeth died in 1884, aged 63. She was buried at Willian on 28th October 1884. John outlived her by nearly 17 years.

1. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Willian Parish Registers.

   No. 70
   When baptised: 9 Sep 1821
   Name: Elisabeth
   Parents: Thomas & Mary
   Surname: Mole
   Abode: Willian
   Father's occupation: Labourer

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 437; Book 11; Folio 6; Page 7, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Willian, Hertfordshire
   John King, male, 20 [1816-21], Lab[oure]r, not born in county
   Elizabeth King, female, 20 [1816-21], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1709; Folio 139; Page 12, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Village, Willian, Hertfordshire
   John King, head, married, male, 32 [1818/19], Victualler, b. Arlsey, Bedfordshire
   Elizabeth King, wife, married, female, 30 [1820/1], Domestic duties, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   John King, father, married, male, 53 [1797/8], Ag[ricultural] Lab[oure]r, b. Arlsey, Bedfordshire
   Mary King, mother, married, female, 52 [1798/9], Domestic duties, b. Great Paxton, Huntingdonshire

4. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 816; Folio 88; Page 16, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Lodg [sic], Letchworth, Hertfordshire
   John King, head, married, male, 68 [1792/3], Laborer, b. Beds Arlsey
   Mary King, wife, married, female, 67 [1793/4], Wife of Laborer, b. St Neots Great Paxton
   John King, son, married, male, 41 [1819/20], Laborer, b. Beds Arlsey
   Elizabeth King, daughter, married, female, 39 [1821/2], Wife of Laborer, b. Herts Willian

5. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 1365; Folio 20; Page 13, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: No. 34 Terrace, Willian, Hertfordshire
   John King, head, married, male, 50 [1820/1], Lab, b. Arlsey, Bedfordshire
   Elizabeth King, wife, married, female, 48 [1822/3], Plaiter, b. Willian, Hertfordshire
   Mary King, mother, widow, female, 77 [1793/4], b. Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire

6. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 1416; Folio 119; Page 14, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: 34 Terrace Cottage, Willian, Hertfordshire
   James [sic] King, head, married, male, 61 [1819/20], Ag Lab, b. Arlsey, Bedfordshire
   Elizabeth King, wife, married, female, 59 [1821/2], b. Willian, Hertfordshire

7.   Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. Elizabeth KING, December Quarter 1884, Hitchin Registration District, Volume 3a, page 241, aged 63 [1820/1]

8. ↑ Burials index, in Church of England. Willian Parish Registers.

   No. 375
   When buried: 28 Oct 1884
   Name: Elizabeth King
   Age: 63 [1820/1]
   Abode: Willian

9.   Hertford Mercury and Reformer, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Saturday 27 Nov 1852.

   PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23
   ASSAULT.-George Mole, of Willian, was charged with assaulting Elizabeth, the wife of John King, of the Three Horse Shoes. Complainant stated that, on Saturday, the 20th inst., at about half-past 10o'clock in the evening, George Mole was sitting in my house; he owed me some money, and I asked him for it; he told me he would not pay it; and I said I would see if I could not make him: he was very abusive, and swore at me, and I opened the door, and tried to put him out, and he got me to the threshold of the door and struck me in the face two violent blows, which knocked me down on the stones, and blackened both my eyes, and made my nose bleed very much; two men came and picked me up, and carried me into the house, and aid me upon a form, and bathed my face for half an hour before I came to myself, being stunned by blows.- After hearing collateral evidence, the BENCH fined the defendant 40s., including costs. In default, one month's imprisonment. A week was allowed for payment.