Christiana Whiting c.1863-1950

Parents:     Edmund Whiting and Lucy Clover
Born:            23rd April 1863 in Bethnal Green(5)  
Baptised:   ?                   
Married:     Elijah Cornell, 21, batchelor of Camps Road, labourer, son of John Cornell, labourer, on 25th December 1885 at St Mary's Church, Haverhill. Witnessed by David Whiting and Annie Elizabeth Wilkinson.(1,2)
Children:    None.
Died:               April 1950 in the Newmarket district. Buried at Haverhill Cemetery on 6th April 1950.(3,4)

 

Bio:             According to the censuses, Christiana was born in Bethnal Green around 1863, although I have been unable to find a record of her birth or baptism. She appears on the 1871 census as a scholar living with parents Edmund and Lucy and family at 1 Lee's Court, Islington. When her parents returned to Haverhill, Christiana moved back with them. We see her here at the time of the 1881 census as a boarder with the Farthing family in Eden Road, Haverhill. She was the niece of Ellen Farthing nee Whiting (now on her second marriage), who was the youngest sister of her father Edmund. Her name is listed as 'Cris' Whiting, and she is working as a jacket maker. Her birthplace is listed as Shoreditch, not Bethnal Green, but the age is correct. When Christiana married Elijah Cornell in 1885, her residence at that time was still Eden Road, and one of the Witnesses at her marriage ceremony, Annie, had been living with her in Eden Road on the 1881 census. Elijah and Christiana are living at 1 Mason's Yard on the 1891 census. Elijah is a coal carter, and Chris is a jacket maker.

On the 1901 Elijah and Christiana are living at 11 Eden Road, Haverhill. Elijah is a horsekeeper/groom at the Co-op Stores, and Christiana is jacket machinist. They have no children. The 1911 census sees them at 18 Meeting Walk, Haverhill. Interestingly Christiana has a middle name here, and it looks like 'Marcia'. Elijah has the same occupation as on the previous census.

Elijah and Crissie are still at 18 Meeting Walk, Haverhill, on the 1939 Register. (5)

It seems to me that Christiana is the Christine Cornell, widow, who died in the Newmarket District and was buried at Haverhill Cemetery on 6th April 1950. The age is almost spot on. Elijah Cornell had died the previous April also in the Newmarket District (maybe at White Lodge?) and was also buried in Haverhill Cemetery.

Sources:     

(1) Marriage register. 4th Quarter 1885, Risbridge District, Vol 4a Page 947
(2) Suffolk Records Office, Bury St Edmunds, Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Haverhill. Fiche 578/4/p28 of 37
(3) Burial register. 2nd Quarter 1950, Newmarket District, Vol 4b Page 842
(4) Haverhill Cemetery, Ref. 5999.  http://www.haverhill-uk.com/pages/burial-records-137.htm
(5) 1939 Register, The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/6661A