Wow! You guys are really helpful! I love waking up in the morning to find all this information waiting for me to read it.
So, it looks as though another family legend has been dashed. I wonder why Elizabeth's son Thomas wrote these things in his diary? Someone had a fanciful imagination! Maybe it was a popular bedtime story.
I said to someone once that my ancestors didn't 'do' anything special, they weren't well-off or well-known and the person replied 'they survived', which I am thankful for and it makes finding out the truth a little easier to take.
London births and baptisms on Anc....y has this baptism
20th Jul 1835 at St Leonard Shoreditch
Elizabeth Ann Atchison-born 29th Sept 1820. Father William(deceased) Mother Elizabeth(deceased) Holywell Lane. Trade/Profession Colourman
I wonder why anyone would get baptised at age 15? Is that an odd thing or fairly common? I know parents sometimes waited till the child survived childhood, but 15? And with both parents deceased and the 3 sisters baptised together, makes you wonder who arranged it and why?
Thanks Steve for the definition of colourman. Either job was probably quite toxic and would lead to an early death I suppose.
Ruskie, I've read so many of your replies to other people and you continue to be a great source of information. Thank you so much for all your efforts. You've certainly set me up with some homework!
I've seen Dennis Sever's House on a travel show but I'd forgotten about it. It looks really interesting, I'll have to see if we can fit it in. I'd love to be able to afford to stay in a posh expensive place but that might have to wait for another visit. The one after I win the lottery!! The less I spend on accommodation, the longer I can stay in Europe!
Another snippet from the diary says that Elizabeth sang in the chorus at Drury Lane and that's where she met her future husband. Maybe another bedtime story.
Elizabeth and her husband left for Australia in 1853 so the opportunities for finding them in the census are very limited.
Regards,
Tracey.