Person:Elizabeth Ralphs (3)

Elizabeth Samm Ralphs was baptised on 17th February 1792 at Hitchin in Hertfordshire, daughter of a tallow chandler named Robert Ralphs and his wife Mary.

By 1812, Elizabeth was living at Marylebone in Middlesex, then on the northern edge of London. She was married there on 9th March 1812, aged 20, to a William Norman, who was 30. He was also living in Marylebone at the time of their marriage but, like Elizabeth, he was originally from northern Hertfordshire, having been baptised and spent his early childhood in the little village of Letchworth, just east of Hitchin, before moving to the neighbouring village of Willian with his parents when he was about eight years old. When they married, both Elizabeth and William signed the register.

Shortly after Elizabeth and William's marriage, they moved back to Hertfordshire, living initially at Willian, where William's mother was still living. Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter, Sarah, who was baptised at Willian on 16th May 1813. At this time, William was described as a shopkeeper and labourer.

Elizabeth and William then moved to William's native Letchworth, where they had a son named Robert Samm Norman in 1815, who was presumably named after Elizabeth's father and shared Elizabeth's distinctive middle name. He was followed by a daughter named Mary Ann in 1819 and a son named Edward in 1822. The baptisms of the three children baptised at Letchworth all give William's occupation as a farmer.

Some time between 1822 and 1824 the family moved again, returning to Willian. In September or October 1824, Elizabeth gave birth to her fifth child, a girl. Sadly Elizabeth died shortly after giving birth, being buried at Willian on 7th November 1824, aged 32. The baby was baptised the following month and was also named Elizabeth. Baby Elizabeth did not long outlive her mother, dying aged seven months old.

William outlived Elizabeth by over 22 years, and remarried ten years after her death.

1. ↑ Church of England. Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Hitchin. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   Baptized 1792
   Feb[ruar]y 17 Elizabeth Samm d[aughter] of Robert & Mary Ralphs, Tallow Chandler

   This baptism has been linked to the Elizabeth Samm Norman who was having children at Letchworth and Willian between 1813 and 1825 on the basis of the distinctive middle name, which then ties in with the marriage in London in 1812. Also, this Elizabeth's father was called Robert, which was the name given to Elizabeth's eldest son.

2. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. Willian Parish Registers.

   BURIALS in the Parish of Willian in the County of Hertford in the Year 1824
   No.	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   40	Elizabeth Samm Norman	Willian	Nov[embe]r 7		Holt Simpson Curate of Bygrave