Elizabeth Simpson was born in April 1870 in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, to Thomas Simpson, age 29, and Elizabeth Stapleson, about age 25.
Early Years
Elizabeth had an older brother, Frank, born around 1868. The family lived on Union Street in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, in 1871 and her father worked as a railway porter.[1]
The family was blessed with three more daughters: Emily Sophia, born in 1873; Lucy Ann, born in 1875; and Ada Mary, born in 1877.
The family continued to live at 23 Union Street in Luton, Bedfordshire, England in 1881, with father Thomas working as a "wharesman."[2]
Death of Mother
Elizabeth's mother Elizabeth passed away on March 5, 1884, in Bedfordshire, England, at the age of 39.[3] Elizabeth was 13 and her youngest sister Ada was only 7.
The family continued to live in Luton, Bedfordshire, England in 1891, however they were now at 41 Langley Road and were in the hat making business.
Thomas was a straw hat warehouseman, Elizabeth and her sister Lucy were straw hat finishers, and Ada a straw work apprentice. Emily was working as a domestic. Many of the neighbours were also working in the straw hat business.[4]
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| Not my relatives. |
See "Straw hats, their history and manufacture," by Harry Inwards to learn more about the importance of this business during this period.
Marriage
Elizabeth Simpson married William Carter (a straw hat blocker) on September 29, 1894, when she was 24 years old. The groom was a decade older than her at age 34.[5]
Family
Their son Frank William was born in April 1896 in Luton, Bedfordshire, England.
Death of Father
Elizabeth's father Thomas passed away before 1897 as he is shown as deceased on Elizabeth's sister Ada's marriage banns.[6]
Family
Her daughter Edith Emily (my great-grandmother) was born on August 12, 1897. Son Bertrum was born in 1901.
From 1901-1922 Elizabeth, William, and their family were living in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. In 1901 they were at 18 Buxton Road and in 1911 they lived at 10 Frederic Street. The family continued in the straw hat manufacturing business.[7, 8]
Historical
The family would have celebrated the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra at Westminster Abbey while living in the United Kingdom in 1902.
When Elizabeth was living in Luton, Bedfordshire in 1911, the fight for women’s suffrage had turned militant.
A resident of Luton, Bedfordshire, in 1911, Elizabeth may have been familiar with the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.
Elizabeth and her family no doubt suffered along with other residents of Luton, Bedfordshire when an oppressive heatwave ravaged all of England from July through September 1911.
Death of son
Her son Frank William Carter died in 1912 at age 16 from spinal meningitis.
After Great Britain issued a declaration of war on Germany in 1914, Elizabeth's son Herbert joined the Royal Navy in 1918.[9]
Elizabeth was 48 in 1918 when women across the country took to the streets to win the right to vote.
Death of Husband
Her husband William Carter died on December 16, 1936 in Luton, England.
Death
In spite of smoking menthylated cigarettes "for her health," Elizabeth lived to age 81 and died in 1951 in Luton, England.
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Sources:
1. 1871 England Census
2. 1881 England Census
3. England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915
4. 1891 England Census
5. London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932
6. Liverpool, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932
7. 1901 England Census
8. 1911 England Census
9. UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 for Herbert Thomas Carter
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