My great grandmother Eleanor Rose Payne was born on 23 August 1892 in Biggleswade. She was the daughter of Charles and Rhoda Payne (nee Brown) who was born in 1860 in Potton, Bedfordshire. Rhoda’s mother was Elizabeth and her mother was Ann. Their lives can be tracked by census returns.
Note:
- Bedfordshire County Record Office have advised there were two Rhoda Brown’s born in Stotfold within a year of one another. One was the daughter of Elizabeth, the other the daughter of James. I believe my family is descended from the daughter of Elizabeth.
1861
The 1861 census shows Ann, a widow, aged 65, living at Queen Street, Stotfold, Biggleswade with her daughter Elizabeth, aged 35 (born 1826), who is unmarried. Elizabeth’s daughter Rhoda is living with them and is less than one year old. Ann was born in Arlesey, Bedfordshire, Elizabeth and Rhoda were born in Stotfold.
1871
The 1871 census shows Elizabeth, aged 46 and Rhoda aged 10, at Brook Street, Stotfold, Biggleswade. Elizabeth’s occupation is a straw plaiter.
1881
The 1881 census shows Elizabeth, aged 56, at Meeting Lane, Potton, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England. Her marital status is shown as married, however there is no husband recorded. Elizabeth is working as a char woman. She is living with Rhoda, aged 20, who is working as a domestic servant.
1884
I believe that Rhoda had a daughter called Annie born outside of marriage on 20 June 1884. Rhoda would have been 24 at the time. No details of the father appear on the birth certificate. However Annie appears to be living with Rhoda on the 1901 census and recorded as ‘Annie Paine’.
1891
Rhoda can be found on the 1891 census of Potton, aged 31 and now married to Charles Paine. They have one son called Charles, aged five and a daughter, Ellie, aged two. Elizabeth Brown can also be found on the 1891 census, at Meeting Lane, Potton, Biggleswade, living with with her granddaughter Annie Brown.
1901
The 1901 census show Rhoda and Charles are still at Horselow Street. The family has grown and now comprises six children – Annie (aged 16), Charles, Nelly (aged 8, born 1893), Minnie, Florence and Bertie.
1911
The family are still at Horselow Street on the 1911 census but Eleanor Rose is not with them.
