Person:Susannah Emerton (1)

Susannah Emerton was born on 2nd August 1801 and baptised two months later in the parish of St Paul in the town of Bedford. She was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Emerton. When Susannah was only a couple of years old the family left Bedford and moved to Husborne Crawley, about twelve miles south-west of Bedford.

On Christmas Eve 1821, aged 20, Susannah gave birth to a baby, called Jesse. His father was a labourer called Daniel Lewis, and authorities issued a filiation order requiring Daniel to pay three pounds and five shillings costs immediately, then two shillings a week towards Jesse's maintenance. On 10th October 1822, Susannah married Daniel Lewis at Husborne Crawley. They went on to have another three children baptised at Husborne Crawley between 1826 and 1833.

The 1841 census finds Susannah, Daniel and three of their children living at Crow Lane in Husborne Crawley, with Daniel working as an agricultural labourer. Susannah's youngest daughter, Ann, died in 1849, aged fifteen.

In 1846 the London and North Western Railway opened a branch line from Bletchley to Bedford. The line passes through the parish of Husborne Crawley, with Ridgmont station actually being in Husborne Crawley parish. Susannah and Daniel appear in the 1851 census living at Ridgmont station, with Daniel working as a coal merchant, presumably taking advantage of the new opportunities the railway had brought.

By 1861 Susannah and Daniel had left Husborne Crawley and moved about eight miles north to Cranfield, where they lived at Ivy Hall Farm at Bourne End, with Daniel describing himself as a farmer. Their daughter Mary and son William appear with them in Cranfield in both the 1861 and 1871 censuses; neither appears to have married.

Daniel retired in 1874, auctioning off the farm and equipment. He died on 20th February 1875, aged 71. Susannah appears in the 1881 census living in Cranfield with her daughter and son. She was described as a dairy farmer and proprietor of cottages at that time. Susannah died in 1883, aged 82.

1. ↑ Affidavit sworn before a Justice of the Peace, in Church of England. Parish register of Husborne Crawley, 1557-1812. (Bedford: Bedfordshire County Record Office, 1989)
   P49/13/4/25, 21 Sep 1822.

   Daniel Lewis and Susan Emerton, both of Husborne Crawley - Daniel Lewis is 19 years of age, and he has resided in the parish of Husborne Crawley for 14 years, his birthday being 19th March. Susan Emerton was 21 years of age on 2nd August last, and has resided at Husborne Crawley about 18 years. Prior to marriage.

2. ↑ England. Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. (FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, Findmypast).

   ch. 4 Oct 1801, St Paul, Bedford, Bedfordshire: Susanna daughter of Tho[ma]s & Elizabeth Emmerton

   Needs to be confirmed at Bedfordshire Archives.

3. ↑ 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 5; Book 20; Folio 13; Page 21, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Crow Lane, Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Daniel Lewis, male, 35 [1801-6], Ag[ricultural] Lab[oure]r, born in county
   Susan[na]h Lewis, female, 35 [1801-6], born in county
   William Lewis, male, 15 [1821-6], born in county
   Mary Lewis, female, 9 [1831/2], born in county
   Ann Lewis, female, 7 [1833/4], born in county

4. ↑ 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 1755; Folio 62; Page 1, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Station, Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Daniel Lewis, head, married, male, 48 [1802/3], Coal Merchant, b. Willing, Buckinghamshire
   Susanah Lewis, wife, married, female, 50 [1800/1], b. Bedford, Bedfordshire
   Mary Lewis, daughter, unmarried, female, 20 [1830/1], b. Crawley, Bedfordshire
   James Brown, visitor, unmarried, male, 17 [1833/4], Agricultural Labourer, b. Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Thomas Grace, servant, unmarried, male, 18 [1832/3], General Serv[ant], b. Crawley, Bedfordshire

   Ridgmont railway station was in Husborne Crawley parish.

5. ↑ 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 1002; Folio 19; Page 31, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Bourne End, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
   Daniel Lewis, head, married, male, 58 [1802/3], Farmer of 94 acres, 3 men, 2 boys, b. Willen, Buckinghamshire
   Susanna Lewis, wife, married, female, 59 [1801/2], b. Bedford, Bedfordshire
   William Lewis, son, unmarried, male, 35 [1825/6], Farmers Son, b. Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Mary Lewis, daughter, unmarried, female, 30 [1830/1], b. Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire
   William Johnson, servant, unmarried, male, 20 [1840/1], Carter, b. Cranfield, Bedfordshire

6. ↑ 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 1556; Folio 18; Page 28, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: Cranfield, Bedfordshire
   Daniel Lewis, head, married, male, 68 [1802/3], Farmer of 120 acres employing 3 men 1 Boy, b. Wilden, Bedfordshire [sic]
   Susan Lewis, wife, married, female, 70 [1800/1], b. Bedford
   William Lewis, son, unmarried, male, 45 [1825/6], Farmer Son, b. Husband Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Mary Lewis, daughter, unmarried, female, 40 [1830/1], Farmers dau[ghte]r, b. Husband Crawley, Bedfordshire

7. ↑ 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 1636; Folio 10; Page 14, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: Cranfield, Bedfordshire
   Susan Lewis, head, widow, female, 80 [1800/1], Cottage Proprietor & Dairy Farmer, b. Bedford, Bedfordshire
   William Lewis, son, unmarried, male, 55 [1825/6], Farmer's Son, b. Husborn Crawley, Bedfordshire
   Mary Lewis, daughter, unmarried, female, 50 [1830/1], Farmer's Daughter, b. Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire

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

   d. Susan LEWIS, December Quarter 1883, Ampthill Registration District, Volume 3b, page 224, aged 83 [1799/1800]