Eliza Moody - Impossible Mystery?

[Merry]

BK6 updated from this thread

I last looked at this properly in June 2004 and have googled and searched this site to see if I've asked about it before, but couldn't see anything.

Eliza Moody was the first wife of my 4xg-uncle James Burchill.

They married 28th Jan 1853 at St Pauls, Bristol. I have not seen the marriage cert, but understand she named her father as John Moody, mariner.

She and James had one son, Joseph James Burchill b Bath Somerset 27th Dec 1857. It is reputed there was another son named William, but I have no evidence for his existence.

In 1861 James and Eliza are living separately.

James is at 12 Kingsmead Square, Walcot, Bath with his son aged 3.

Eliza is living in St Pauls Bristol and the relationship and marital status boxes stated "parted from my husband" in them. Eliza says she is 30 and born in Bristol.

Eliza 1861

On 24th Dec 1864 James Burchill remarried (to spinster Emily Freeman at St Saviour, Bath). He stated he was a widower. In 1865 they (inc young Joseph James Burchill) emigrated to Australia and had a large family there.

I am just trying to find out anything else about Eliza Moody especially what actually happened to her. I'm not convinced she died before James remarried.

There is a death for an Elizabeth Burchill in Bedminster in Q2 1861 but that isn't her.

Merry have you looked for her in an institution. It seems strange that the father had the child unless she was sick. She may have been suffering from post natal depression, which of course wasn't recognised then. She may have been institutionalised and given all sorts of harsh treatments, which more than likely made her worse.

[kiterunner]

FamilySearch has the baptism of an Eliza Moody 31 Oct 1824 at St Michael's, Bristol, parents John and Elizabeth. And there is an Eliza Moody on the 1841 census age 15, F.S., at Nicholas Street, St Leonard, Bristol, but apparently not with family, who could be her. If so then her age on the 1861 census is out by a good few years. I will have a look at my Bristol CD and see if there is extra info about the baptism.

[kiterunner]

Originally Posted by tenterfieldjulie

It seems strange that the father had the child unless she was sick.

Married women didn't have a right to keep their children in those days, so it could just be that the father wouldn't let her have him.

[kiterunner]

Extra details on that baptism - abode Host Street, occupation mariner. I'll just check for other children of the Moody couple...

[kiterunner]

Baptisms of other children of John and Elizabeth Moody:
Mary Ann 26 Jul 1818 St Michael, abode St Michael's Steps, mariner
John 22 Aug 1819 St Augustine, abode Lime Kiln Lane, mariner
George Rodney 16 Sep 1821 St James, abode St James, seaman
Samuel, Caroline and Maria 28 Feb 1830 St Philip & St Jacob, abode St Augustine, mariner.

[kiterunner]

This is Elizabeth Moody in 1851 with Samuel 26, Caroline 25, Maria 24, and two more children Emma 13 and Ann 4:
1851 census

All born Bristol. Emma is down as Elizabeth's daughter but no relationship stated for Ann.

[kiterunner]

And here they are in 1841:
Elizabeth Moody 1841 census

[Shona]

There is an Eliza Burchill, married, age 47, born Bristol, in the Bristol City Workhouse in 1871.

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/76...l=ReturnRecord

[Shona]

Can't find Eliza Burchill in the Bristol City Workhouse in 1881...or elsewhere. However, there is a death registration in Barton Regis for an Eliza Burchill, Oct-Nov-Dec quarter of 1877. Age 51.

The Barton Regis reg district of Bristol was created in April 1877.