Biography

Full profile at: http://www.thosebefore.com/g0/p600.htm

George was born circa 1779. He was baptised in St. Peter's on Sunday 11 April 1779 in Roydon, Essex. ^[1][2]

George Darby was indentured to William Fincher as an apprentice millwright at the age of about 14 on 14 December 1793 in Hertford. ^[3] For the next seven years he was probably fully engaged in learning his trade.

George Darby and Elizabeth Aylott perhaps came to know each other through common connections; Elizabeth's brother Samuel was, like George, an apprentice millwright to William Fincher.^[4]

He married Elizabeth Aylott, daughter of Samuel Aylott and Jane Campkin, in a Church of England ceremony in All Saints and Saint John on Tuesday 22 April 1800 in Hertford. Elizabeth was the daughter of a shopkeeper. The wedding certificate was also signed by Thomas Darby and Elizabeth Darby. Elizabeth and George went on to have 12 children together.^[5][6]

George and Elizabeth Aylott became the parents of their first child George Darby circa 1800. He was the first of about a dozen children born to George and Elizabeth over the next 19 years.^[7]

George and Elizabeth Aylott may have become the parents of their last child John D. Darby circa 1817 in Hertford.^[8] On 19 December 1819 his son George died at the approximate age of 19.

His first house was perhaps 'The Grove', which was constructed 1820 on one of the original blocks that he bought.^[9]

His wife Elizabeth died circa January 1821, leaving him a widower. He was about 42 when this happened, leaving him with 12 surviving children.^[10]

In Richard Darby's will George Darby, Thomas Darby and Joseph Munns were named joint executors. George had lost his own wife just 6 weeks before he was required to be executor for his grandfather.^[11][12]

He married Sarah Boden, daughter of Thomas Boden, in All Saints and Saint John on Thursday 27 May 1824 in Hertford.^[13][14]

On 6 June 1834 George Darby took on his son Samuel as an apprentice to learn 'the art of a millwright' in consideration for work and labour for 7 years. However, Samuel's apprenticeship was cancelled just over 2 years later.^[15] On 6 June 1834 George Darby took on his son Thomas as an apprentice as an apprentice carpenter and builder for 7 years.^[16].

On 3 March 1835 he listed for sale three cottages in Bengeo, Hertford, to be sold by private contract as well as ajoining land for sale or lease. Evidently, they did not sell as he relisted them with a more descriptive advertisement in November, and then again two years later.^[17][18]

On 3 September 1837 there was a large fire in the brickyard when a sizable quantity of straw caught fire. Although it was large enough to attract a large number of people and required a policeman to help with the incident, there was no further damage.^[19] By the late 1830's he had completed construction of a number of large houses on the land he owned including 'Whitacre', a large imposing structure. It seems likely that his financed this construction by mortgaging his land.^[20]

In 1839, four of his children emmigrated to Australia. Thomas, John and his wife Mary, Martha and her husband John Speller Wright, and Ann and her husband Joseph Peck left London on April 1839, and within 3 years his two remaining sons Samuel and William were there as well.

The family was mentioned in a letter from another South Australian immigrant. Describing something of their circumstances on 21 March 1840: "On the 27th of August [1839], I had the pleasure of seeing Thomas Darby, his brothers, and sisters, but they did not know me at the first sight, I looked so thin and bad ; but I told them I was well and hearty. They received me very kindly indeed, and I helpt them make their bed the first night in the colony; but to them it seemed a miracle that we should all meet here, after talking about it up at their father's house that night their chimney caught fire [perhaps the brickyard straw fire of 2 years previously]. They desire me to send their kind love to you all, likewise to their fathers and mothers, to their sisters and brothers, and to all inquiring friends and relations." No doubt this letter was very eagerly received back home.^[21][22]

George offerred his property (then known as 'Porthill House' later known as 'Whitacre') for let. It was a substantial house with nine bedrooms, offices, a library, morning room, dining room and drawing room, stables and garden.^[23][24]

He was recorded as head of household in the 1841 census at Bengeo, Hertford. His age was recorded as 62 years old. Also living in the house were two of his daughters Mary Ann and Elizabeth.^[25]

On 8 May 1844 George planned to sell seemingly all of his property; Port Hill House 'containing every requisite accomodation for a highly respectable family', a family house with 'attached and detached offices of every description', a dwelling house and eight cottages.^[26] In August 1845 he made another attempt to sell property by auction (with an unknown result).^[27][28] He was alive to see his child Amelia emmigrate to Canada circa 1846.^[29][30]

On November 1849 his daughter Lucretia died. He sufferred a set-back in that his water-windmill was damaged when the sails blew off due to the high winds on 5 February 1850 in Bengeo, Hertford.^[31]

He made a will on 16 May 1850. Of his other children, three other surviving sons (John, Thomas and William) are not named in the will. Perhaps this was because they had emigrated to Australia, but Samuel had also emigrated and is named. In any event, both John and William died in the three years that followed, both before their father's death. Further, George did not name his second wife in the will either, and may have been estranged from her. his son-in-law George Finer was named as the sole executor.^[32]

He was in financial trouble. He lost a court case and was required to pay Edward Drury Rayment £45 pounds in settlement for a bill of exchange. However, before the bailiffs could take possession of his goods the goods had been sold at auction, netting £220. Apparently, George, knowing the court action would go against him and being concerned that his remaining assets would not cover his other creditors 'thought it his duty to the other creditors to call them together, state the circumstances to them and offer a composition'. This approach stood, at least until April 1851 when the solicitor to the assignees requested his creditors send in their accounts on 2 November 1850.^[33]

George died of old age on 4 March 1853 in 'Ivy Cottage', a house he had constructed. in Bengeo, Hertford. He was about 74 years old, and only 3 of his children were still alive and in England.^[34][35] His body was interred in St. Leonard's parish church on 11 March 1853 in Bengeo, Hertford. His body was interred in grave L, reference no. 096.^[36]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: Essex, England, Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812 Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com) Name: George Darby; Gender: Male; Baptism Date: 11 Apr 1779; Baptism Place: Roydon, St Peter, Essex, England; Father: Richd Darby; Mother: Anne Darby; Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Map: ; View this parish; Source Description: Register of Baptisms and Burials; Service of Church: Registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials; Incumbent; Roydon, St Peter; Parish Records;1775-1812.
2. ↑ E-mails from Eve Mintern to Tim Hill, 2012- 15th Oct 2012.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com.au Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com.au/) UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/iexec?htx=View&r=5544&dbid=1851&iid=40108_236913-00533&fn=Wm&ln=Fincher&st=r&ssrc=&pid=194826).
4. ↑ Aylott family, Court documents, 1782-1822, Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Hertford, 14 July 1797.
5. ↑ Marriage: England Select Marriages, 1530-1973 Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com) Name: Elizabeth Aylott; Gender: Female; Marriage Date: 22 Apr 1800; Marriage Place: All Saints and Saint John,Hertford,Hertford,England; Spouse: George Darby; FHL Film Number: 991313.
6. ↑ Family Search (https://familysearch.org) England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N2T9-N5W : accessed 23 May 2014), George Darby and Elizabeth Aylott, 22 Apr 1800; citing All Saints And Saint John,Hertford,Hertford,England, reference ; FHL microfilm 991313.
7. ↑ E-mails from Eve Mintern to Tim Hill, 2012- 22 Aug 2012.
8. ↑ Parish Registers for Hertford Back Street Bethel - Lady Huntingdon, International Genealogical Index, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V5V9-VVN : accessed 23 May 2014), Geo. Darby in entry for John Darby, 23 May 1819; citing BACK STREET BETHEL-LADY HUNTINGDON,HERTFORD,HERTFORD,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 0566026 (RG4 1367).
9. ↑ Geoffrey Thornton, "George Darby and the Development of Bengeo" p.3.
10. ↑ E-mails from Eve Mintern to Tim Hill, 2012- 22 Aug 2012.
11. ↑ City of London Corporation Libraries, London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858, London (Ancestry.com, unknown repository reference) Name: Richard Darby, Probate Date: 20 Mar 1821, Parish: Hunsdon (http://search.ancestry.com.au/iexec?htx=View&r=5544&dbid=1704&iid=31787_A037285-00905&fn=Richard&ln=Darby&st=r&ssrc=&pid=369585).
12. ↑ William Darby Strong Tim Hill's collection, (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hollyn/william_strong.htm).
13. ↑ Marriage: E-mails from Eve Mintern to Tim Hill, 2012- 8th Nov 2012 "Sarah Boden her husband."
14. ↑ E-mails from Eve Mintern to Tim Hill, 2012- 'Marriages' 13th Oct 2012.
15. ↑ The National Archives, England Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=046-hb&cid=2-1-1-108#2-1-1-108.
16. ↑ The National Archives, England Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=046-hb&cid=2-1-1-107#2-1-1-107.
17. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 03 Mar 1835 p.3.
18. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 10 Nov 1835 p.1.
19. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 05 Sep 1837 p.2.
20. ↑ Geoffrey Thornton, "George Darby and the Development of Bengeo" p.4.
21. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 'Emigration from Hertford' 21 Mar 1840 p.3.
22. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 05 Sep 1837 p.2.
23. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 'Respectable Family Residence' 22 May 1841 p.1.
24. ↑ E-mails from Thornton to Hill, 2011-2012- 17 Mar 2012 (for identification of property).
25. ↑ Online image of the National Census for England, 1841 (England Census 1841, Ancestry.com) Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece 444; Book: 6; Civil Parish: Benegeo; County: Hertfordshire; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 26; Page: 12; Line: 19; GSU roll: 288831.
26. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 28th April 1844 p.2.
27. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 11 Jun 1842 p.1.
28. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 23 August 1845 p.1 ("Consisting of several excellent and extensive Warehouses and Workshops, part of which have been recently and substantially rebuilt with brickwork, and well adapted for carrying on a large business in either of the [carpentry, building and wheelwrights] trades, or may be, at a trifling expense, converted into dwelling houses; also two capital cottages, with a Butcher's Shop, and small gardens behind the same, and a large Corn Shop, with granary over, ajoining, together with several plots of building ground and a quantity of building materials").
29. ↑ The Islands (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~theislands/) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~theislands/contrib/1901wolfepart4.htm.
30. ↑ E-mails from Eve Mintern to Tim Hill, 2012- 22 Aug 2012.
31. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 'The Wind' 09 Feb 1850 p.2.
32. ↑ The National Archives, England (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) Will of George Darby, Brickmaker of Bengeo, Hertfordshire - Reference: PROB 11/2170/145 (http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D46754).
33. ↑ The Hertford Mercury and Reformer, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, 'An Interpleader Case' 02 Nov 1850 p.3.
34. ↑ Death: General Register Office, England - Death Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Deaths, Vol. 3a p.176.
35. ↑ Geoffrey Thornton, "George Darby and the Development of Bengeo" p.5.
36. ↑ Burial: E-mails from Eve Mintern to Tim Hill, 2012- 30th Sept 2012.