Hi Annette,
Thank you for your suggestions. Yes, this query arose from the 1840 baptism of Eliza. And yes, Jabez did first marry Sarah Clemson Carter in 1835 and then Ellen King in 1841. His daughter from the first marriage, Sarah Carter Abbott was born 7 Jan 1837 and was baptised at East Ham.
Because Jabez is the only one who is farmer in the area at this time, it does seem probable 1840 Eliza is his daughter. I too suspect a "liaison", however ....
Jabez had 11 children with Ellen King, 4 of whom have surnames as middle names. The first two John Venables Abbott and Ann Venables Abbott are named after Ellen King's stepfather. The others, Ellen Sheriff Nicoll and Donald Nicoll, might offer a clue to Eliza's name. Neither Nicoll or Sheriff appear anywhere in Ellen King's ancestry or cousins. Since Nicoll is used twice it must have meant something special to either Jabez or Ellen. But would Ellen have accepted two of her children being named after her husband's former mistress? The simplest explanation for the two surnames would be that they are Jabez's grandmother's names (his mother was a Williams). But no one else in his very large family has so honoured them; and I have seen a suggestion his paternal grandmother may have been Mary Ring (one of his sisters is Mary Ring Abbott). On the other hand if Jabez was married (very briefly) to Eliza, I think it possible he may have wanted to preserve her memory in the names of his later children.
If Eliza is the daughter of Jabez Abbott of Wall End Farm, then I think she must have died young. She is not with Jabez in the 1841 census or with her half sister Sarah who is living with her maternal grandfather, John Carter. But I have been unable to find a plausible death - for her or her mother.
I have tried to find a civil registration for an Eliza Nicoll or Sheriff in 1840, but nothing seems to fit. Jabez has acknowledged her as his daughter at the baptism. Would he then register her under her mother's name if she was illegitimate?
If Jabez did marry Eliza then unless the original indexers of the civil register have completely bizarrely misread Abbott, the marriage must have taken place between Feb and June 1837 or in the first quarter 1839, which is why I am wondering if there are any other avenues besides the published indexes to look at the civil register. First quarter 1839 would actually fit quite well with Eliza's birth in Apr 1840 if she is legitimate. I have so far checked registers for Whitechapel, Poplar and 25 parishes in western Essex (including East and West Ham), looking for the potential marriage.
If Eliza is illegitimate, and her mother's name was not Nicoll or Sheriff, then I suppose there is not much chance of finding out what happened to her.