Person:Elizabeth Rastall (1)

Elizabeth Rastall’s origins have yet to be established. The age given for her when she died suggests that she was born around 1770. She also indicated that she was not born in Worcestershire, where she lived as an adult.

Elizabeth’s first confirmed sighting is on 19th July 1792, when she was married at Broadway in Worcestershire to a slater and plasterer called Stephen Miles. Elizabeth and Stephen had seven children baptised at Broadway between 1793 and 1808. The first three children were baptised at Broadway’s Anglican parish church, but the later four children were baptised at the newly-opened Independent Chapel in Broadway. Their eldest son died when only six years old in 1799.

The 1841 census finds Elizabeth and Stephen both in their seventies, living on the High Street in Broadway. Stephen was described as being of independent means. They were living next door to their son (another Stephen) and grandson Richard Keyte.

Elizabeth died later in 1841, when she was said to be 71 years old. Stephen outlived her by nine years.

1.   Buckland, Gloucestershire: Parish Registers (Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester).

   1771 / June 16th Baptized Elisabeth Daughter of Jo[h]n & Sarah Rastal

   This would appear to be the most likely baptism, being at about the time implied by the ages given for Elizabeth as an adult, and in a neighbouring parish to Broadway, but not in the same county, so agrees with her answer in the 1841 census that she was not born in that county. Also, the Elizabeth baptised in 1771 had a brother called William who was about eighteen months younger than her, who would therefore be a candidate for the William Rastall who witnessed Elizabeth Rastall and Stephen Miles’ marriage. Further evidence needed to be sure.

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 1204; Book 10; Folio 34; Page 8, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire
   Stephen Miles, male, 75 [1761-6], Ind[ependent], born in county
   Elizabeth Miles, female, 70 [1766-71], not born in county

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. Elizabeth MILES, December Quarter 1841, Evesham Registration District, Volume 18, page 273, aged 71 [1769/70]