Hannah (3) Woodhurst

Brief biography

Hannah (3) Woodhurst was born around 1791-92, probably to parents John (3) Woodhurst and his wife Mary Ferris. No christening record has yet been found for her.

She married David (1) Eldridge at Ickham, Kent on May 8th 1813 [Ickham Parish Register]. Ickham is situated about 4 miles north of Adisham and about 6 miles east of Canterbury. The register describes her as "of this [Ickham] parish" and David (1) as being "of Wingham", a village about 2 miles from Ickham, although he was apparently born in Adisham.

The 1841 Census finds her at (rounded) age "45" living with David (1) and two children in Grain St. James, a small village facing Sheerness across the mouth of the river Medway and lying about 9 miles from Hoo. David (1) was occupied as a servant.

The 1851 Census finds her at age "60" living with David (1) at White House Farm in Grain St. James. She is described as a servant born in Eastling (misspelled as "Easelin") and he as aged "61" with birthplace Adisham (misspelled as "Atsam") and occupied as a bailiff employing three men. Adisham was also the birthplace of the husbands of Hannah (3)'s presumed sisters Frances (3) and Mary Ann (5). Also with them was their unmarried son David (2) Eldridge aged "27" and occupied as a servant.

David (1) died in 1852 [Death Index: Hoo 2a 166, 1852 (March)] and Hannah (3) died in 1857 [Death Index: Hoo 2a 181, 1857 (March)].

Her children by David (1) Eldridge

1. David (2) Eldridge - born about 1823-24 at Ash near Sandwich
2. Emma Eldridge - born about 1829-30
3. and perhaps ... George and Mary - both born at Ash
4. and possibly others ...

David (2) was living with his parents at the times of the 1841 and 1851 Censuses. In 1857 he married Eliza Reed [Marriage Index: Hoo 2a 439, 1857 (Sept)]. The 1861 Census finds him lodging in Stoke, about 4 miles north-east of Hoo, unaccompanied by Eliza but described as married and occupied as an agricultural labourer. The 1871 and 1881 Censuses find him still lodging there but now described as widowed and still occupied as an agricultural labourer. He died aged "57" in 1882 [Death Index: Hoo 2a 318, 1882 (March)]. It is not yet known what had become of his wife Eliza.

Emma may have died in 1845 [Death Index: Hoo 5 193, 1845 (Dec)].