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Eliza (2) Stubbs was born in Salford to parents Francis (2) Stubbs and his wife Hannah (nee Beech). She was christened at Manchester Cathedral with her younger sister Hannah (4) on September 2nd 1860 [IGI: Batch C073545]. The baptism register gives her date of birth as January 8th 1856 but the correct year was probably 1857, the associated GRO reference then being [Birth Index: Salford 8d 42, 1857 (March)]. This reference is the only candidate for her.
The 1861 Census finds her aged "4" living with her parents at 11, Cross Court, Greengate in Salford.
The 1871 Census finds her aged "15" living with her mother at 30, Deal Street in Salford and occupied as a doubler in a cotton mill.
On July 26th 1873 she married Frederick Cornforth at St. Simon's in Salford [Marriage Index: Salford 8d 55, 1873 (Sept)]. The register describes her as a spinster aged "18" (but perhaps slightly younger than that) and him as a bachelor aged 21 occupied as a spindle-and-fly maker. His father is named as an iron roller Thomas Cornforth and hers as a baker Francis Stubbs. Both give their address as Bedford Street. The witnesses were Thomas Smith and Maud Kenyon, whose connections are unknown.
Census returns indicate that Frederick was born around 1852 but was uncertain or casual as to his birthplace. He may have been born in Yorkshire West Riding [Birth Index: Hunslet 9b 275, 1852 (June)].
They appear to have produced at least two children Isabella and James in the 1870s and then separated, each taking up a new partner.
On June 28th 1880 Eliza (2) remarried - almost certainly bigamously - at St. Mary's in Manchester to a grinder named James Poole [Marriage Index: Manchester 8d 302, 1880 (June)]. The register describes her as aged 23 and (wrongly) as a "spinster" and him as a bachelor and grinder aged 27. His father is named as Samuel Poole whose occupation was calenderer (an operator of a 2-roller machine used to press and finish fabric or paper) and hers as a baker Francis Stubbs. Both give their address as 13, Water Street. The witnesses were James Bailey and Mary Bailey, whose connections are unknown.
In 1871 James had been living with his parents Samuel and Sarah at 2, Copeland Place in Salford, right next to Wheathill Street where Eliza (2)'s mother had been living in 1868. James was at that time occupied as a labourer and Samuel as a calenderer.
The 1881 Census finds her aged "24" living with James and children from both her marriages at 5, Bedford Square in Salford. Boarding with them were the above witnesses James and Mary Bailey.
The 1891 Census finds her aged "36" living with her family at 1, No. 3 Court, Bedford Street in Salford. James was still occupied as a grinder. The household included her nephew John (5) Stubbs, son of her brother John (4). He was occupied as a driller.
James Poole died aged "48" in early 1901 [Death Index: Salford 8d 14, 1901 (March)].
The 1901 Census finds Eliza (2) aged "46", widowed and deaf, living with her children at 87, Lissadel Street in Pendleton. By now she had several daughters bearing the same names as her sisters.
Nothing more is currently known of her.
Meanwhile, Frederick Cornforth had evidently taken a new partner Sophia, born in Ireland. Her maiden name is unknown. They appear never to have married each other. The 1881 Census finds them living at 2, Union Place in Ardwick and described as married. His occupation is given as iron works labourer and his birthplace as Staffordshire. With them was a girl Alice aged "13" who must have been Sophia's daughter by a previous partner, and their joint son Thomas Cornforth aged "2". The 1891 Census finds them boarding in the household of an Irish sand dealer Patrick Burns at 29, Grantham Street in Gorton with their son Thomas aged "12" and a further son Frederick aged "4". Frederick (senior) was now occupied as a general dealer and his birthplace given as Manchester. Here their marital status is not given. The 1901 Census finds them living at 2, Fair Street in Manchester with their son Frederick aged "13". Frederick (senior) was now occupied as a hawker and his birthplace given as Salford. Sophia evidently died in 1911 as "Sophia Cornforth" aged "53" [Death Index: Manchester 8d 322, 1911 (Sept)] and Frederick (senior) in 1929 aged "76" [Death Index: Manchester S. 8d 17, 1929 (March)].