Plymouth or Primer?

[Godetia]

Hi.Would be grateful for some help please. My paternal great grandmother was Elizabeth Downing. She was born about 1866 in St Mary Cray, Kent; and died in Battersea, London in 1952. She married my great grandfather, John Thomas Abbott on Aug 12, 1895 in St Mary Cray; but the banns do not show the name of her father. Therefore, we have been unable to go back any further, or find the name of her mother. Nor have we been able to find a birth or baptism record for Elizabeth. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Comberton]

Transcript of marriage is on FindMyPast. Elizabeth was 27 . I have looked at both entries for John and Elizabeth but both only mention the name of the father of John Abbott.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

I'm wondering if this is her on 1881 in St Mary Cray

Bridget Downey    40 - single, b Ireland. Work in paper mill
Francis Downey    16 - son b Foots Cray
Elizabeth Downey    14 - daughter b Bromley

RG11; 858; 123; 47;

Mother and daughter are still in St Mary Cray in 1891, as rag sorters at the paper works

Added: 1871 has place of birth as Farnborough, Kent

[rosie99]

I'm wondering if this is her on 1881 in St Mary Cray

Bridget Downey    40 - single, b Ireland. Work in paper mill
Francis Downey    16 - son b Foots Cray
Elizabeth Downey    14 - daughter b Bromley

RG11; 858; 123; 47;

Elizabeth does name one of her children Francis 

[Girl Guide]

Long shot but could this be her birth later than thought for?

DOWNING, ELIZABETH  ANN     - 
GRO Reference: 1868  D Quarter in GREENWICH  Volume 01D  Page 782

The little dash means that she is illegitimate.

This may be her in the 1871 census with mother Ann at Greenwich Union Workhouse, Woolwich Road Greenwich, Greenwich, London & Kent

Reg. Dist. Greenwich
Piece No. 761
Folio 34
Page 11

[hanes teulu]

FindMyPast Catholic baptisms (image/transcript)

Elizabetha Downey, born 27 Oct 1866, bap 16 Jun 1872, Chislehurst, St. Mary Cray, Deanery - Bromley, mother Birgitta Downey, no father named

[Girl Guide]

That looks a good find Hanes 

I think this might be Elizabeth and her mother Bridget in the 1871 census.  Living at Humphries Cottage, Chislehurst, Bromley, Kent as lodgers in the household of William Marchant.

Bridget's birthplace is given as Cork, Ireland and Elizabeth's birthplace appears to be Farnborough, Kent.

Registration district Bromley
Piece number 876
Folio 72
Page 45

[rosie99]

Marriage image is here (Image 979)

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896W-FRTQ?i=978

Witnesses no help as both Johns relatives - John Abbott and Florence Abbott.
However Elizabeth did sign her name and it is clear - Elizabeth Downing -her age 27

[Girl Guide]

Either wasn't too sure when she was born or told a very slight porky re her age.  If you assume she was 28 by the end of the year gives a birth year of 1867.

Nothing new re women lying about their age on a marriage certificate.  My great grandmother took ten years off her age when she married.