Elizabeth (Smith) Bird (abt. 1853 - 1944)

Born about 1853 in Burwell, Cambridgeshire, England

Wife of William Thomas Bird — married 1 Jan 1872 in Burwell, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom

Died 23 Apr 1944 at about age 91 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

Biography

Elizabeth (Smith) Bird was born in Burwell, Cambridgeshire, England.

Elizabeth Smith was born in 1853, in Burwell, Cambridgeshire, England, the daughter of Henry Smith and Susanna Norman, with her birth being registered in the 2nd Quarter at Newmarket.^[1]

On the 7th April 1861, the 8-year-old Elizabeth was living at the Causeway, Burwell, in the home of her Soham, Cambridgeshire-born maternal grandmother: Ann Norman (78), owner of land. Home at the time were her father: Henry (41), a farmer of 300 acres, employing 21 men; her mother: Susanna (41); her siblings: 5-year-old Henry; 3-year-old John; and 1-year-old Jane; and 14-year-old Burwell, Cambridgeshire-born Martha Barnes, house servant.^[2]

Elizabeth's mother died in 1861, the year after having given birth to her younger sister, Jane. Then, in 1863, her father brought home a new wife, Eliza née Robinson, who gave birth the very next year to another brother, named William James. Only a few years later, her father also died, leaving the children in the care of their stepmother.

Elizabeth was employed as a Laundress.

On the 2nd April 1871, Elizabeth (18), a laundress, was living on Georges Church Lane, Burwell, with her family. Those home at the time were her now widowed stepmother: Eliza (37), also a laundress; and her siblings: 14-year-old John, an agricultural labourer; 11-year-old Jane, a scholar; and 6-year-old William James, also a scholar.^[3]

Elizabeth married William Thomas Bird towards the end of 1871, in Burwell, Cambridgeshire, with the event being registered in the 4th Quarter at Newmarket.^[4] and subsequently having twelve known children, eight daughters, and four sons (their eldest daughter being named for the ship upon which she was born):

1. William Henry (1872–1874)
2. Alexandra (1874–1902 (Seymour))
3. Sarah Elizabeth (1876–1933 (Stafford))
4. ⛼ Unnamed female child (1876–1876)
5. Thomas (1877–1959)
6. Susannah Jane (1878–1952 (Gledson))
7. Henry John (1880–1953)
8. Emma (1882–1935 (Hardie))
9. Nellie (1887–1952 (Greenhill))
10. Evelyn Annie "Eva" (1890–1938 (Gray))
11. Norman William (1892–1971)
12. Mabel (1896–1974 (Tweddell))

Elizabeth (Smith) Bird migrated from England to Australia.

Three members of the Bird family departed from London, aboard the Alexandra; but four arrived in Brisbane on the 11th April 1874, a daughter — later given the name "Alexandra" — having made her appearance en route.^[5]

Elizabeth Bird nee Smith passed away on the 23rd April 1944, in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia,^[6] and was interred in the Ipswich General Cemetery, Ipswich.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth — England & Wales births, deaths and marriages registrations, General Register Office United Kingdom, Southport, England, HM Passport Office online search Births: Name: SMITH, ELIZABETH; Mother's Maiden Surname: NORMAN; GRO Reference: 1853 J Quarter in THE NEWMARKET UNION Volume 03B
2. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Class: RG 9; Piece: 1032; Folio: 12; Page: 17; GSU roll: 542740
3. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Class: RG10; Piece: 1597; Folio: 17; Page: 26; GSU roll: 829812
4. ↑ Marriage — FreeBMD online index search Marriages Dec 1871: Surname: Smith; First name(s): Elizabeth; District: Newmarket; Volume: 3b; Page: 1218 | FreeBMD online index search Marriages Dec 1871: Surname: Bird; First name(s): William Thomas; District: Newmarket; Volume: 3b; Page: 1218
5. ↑ Immigration — Queensland State Archives; Registers of Immigrant Ships' Arrivals; Series: Series ID 13086; Roll: M1697, Series ID 13086; Registers of Immigrant Ships' Arrivals, Rolls M471, M473, M1075, M1696–1710. Ship Name: Alexandra; Port of Departure: London, England; Port of Arrival: Brisbane; Arrival Date: 11 Apr 1874
6. ↑ Death — Queensland State Government Births, Deaths, Marriages Death Registration details: Elizabeth Bird; Event date: 24/04/1944; Event type: Death registration; Registration details: 1944/C/1911; Mother: - ; Father/parent: William Smith
7. ↑ Burial — Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192910225/elizabeth-bird : accessed 02 October 2021), memorial page for Elizabeth Smith Bird (1854–24 Apr 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 192910225, citing Ipswich General Cemetery, Ipswich, Ipswich City, Queensland, Australia ; Maintained by Anne - here lies (contributor 49429436).

• Queensland births, deaths & marriages.