Elizabeth (Robson) Anderson (abt. 1743 - 1806)

Born about 1743 in Weaverthorpe, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Anderson — married 2 Dec 1760 in Weaverthorpe, Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died 12 May 1806 in Kilham, Yorkshire, England

Profile manager: C. Mackinnon [send private message]

Categories: Weaverthorpe, Yorkshire | East Lutton, Yorkshire | Kilham, Yorkshire | Broachdale, Kilham | All Saints Churchyard, Kilham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire.

Biography

Elizabeth was born in Weaverthorpe, Yorkshire, thought to have been the daughter of John Robson and his wife, Mary Wallis. Despite the curious story told by her son, Edward, of her baptism no record has been found of the event. She married local farmer, Robert Anderson son of Thomas Anderson and his wife, Hannah Twiddall and twenty years her senior at St Andrew, Weaverthorpe on 2 December 1760. ^[1] They farmed at East Lutton and worshipped at Weaverthorpe.

Elizabeth is said to have done everything about the house. With five sons born before her first daughter it must have been a substantial burden. Three more sons followed and another daughter. Her son, Edward, says that one of her trademarks was stockings. She liked to mix black and white wool to make them, so all the family had grey stockings. ^[2] (Anyone who has ever knitted socks will respect her mightily, knitting stockings for 12 people: she must have been at it continually.)

It was a difficult time for farmers throughout Europe. With growing populations and the growth of industry in the towns there was pressure to make the land more productive leading to enclosure and great pressure on land available to farmers. So it was that Robert was forced to find new land to rent and in about 1772 they moved to Broachdale near Kilham. Together Robert and Elizabeth raised ten children mostly happily but it must have been a great sadness when their son, Edward, fell out with his brother, Henry, and ran away to sea.

Robert died in 1796 aged 73 and their fifth son, John, took over the farm with Elizabeth. Her eldest son, Thomas, had joined his uncle, Edward, in Hull where they owned ships, Edward had run off to sea and contact with him had been lost, Henry was determined to become a Wesleyan Itinerant Preacher, and David was in business in Driffield as a nurseryman. Her younger sons, Richard, Christopher and Robert had all gone to sea. Hannah and Martha were still at home but the following year Hannah married local farmer, Richard Towse. ^[3]

Farming was still not straightforward for when the lease on Broachdale was renewed in 1802 John was required to pull down the farmhouse and outbuildings and replace them.

Elizabeth lived long enough to see her son, Richard, reap the rewards of serving his country at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, but when her youngest son came home from sea in January 1806 it was to die for he had consumption. Elizabeth did not long survive this blow dying on 12th May 1806 ^[4] aged 63 and was buried at All Saints, Kilham on the 18th. ^[5]

"In memory of Robert Anderson who died 22nd November 1796 aged 73 years. He left a widow by whom he had eight sons and two daughters who all survived him. Also of Elizabeth his widow who died 13th May 1806 aged 63 years. Also of Robert Anderson a midshipman youngest son of the above. He had the misfortune to break a blood vessel which brought on a consumption when serving on board HM Ship the Inflexible. Came home on the 11th and died on the 19th January 1806 in the 26th year of his age. He was a young man of much courage and promising abilities in his profession." ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage record, Weaverthorpe (2 December 1760 Robert Anderson married Elizabeth Robson) Viewed at Ancestry, Text only
2. ↑ The Sailor, Edward Anderson "My stockings did my mother's taste display, Black and white wool she mix'd to make them grey"
3. ↑ Marriage record Kilham (28 November 1797 Hannah Anderson married Richard Towse) Viewed at Ancestry. Text only
4. ↑ Monumental Inscription, Kilham All Saints
5. ↑ Burial record, Kilham, Yorkshire (18 May 1806Elizabeth Anderson, widow and farmer, relict of Robert Anderson, farmer
6. ↑ Memorial Inscriptions Kilham All Saints

• The Andersons: The History of a Kilham Family (1772-1880). Valerie Tonks 1985

• "England Expects", biography of Richard Anderson. Val Tonks

• Family notes in the back of The Diary of Richard Anderson 1805, Greenwich Museum (The diary is kept at Greenwich Museum and may be viewed there. It has also been photographed and a DVD is available by post)

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