Elizabeth Barrett c.1851-1921

Parents: John Barrett or Tredorow and ?
Born: c.1851 in Liskeard, Cornwall.
Baptised: ?
Married (1): ? Hunt
Children:
Married (2): Jesse Whiting, 41, widower, shoemaker, of Camps Road, Haverhill, son of Joseph Whiting, deceased, on 27th January 1883 at the Register Office in the District of Risbridge. Witnesses: Daniel and Maria Purkis.(1)
Children: none
Married (3): John Shipp, 58, widower, labourer, of 8 Parsons Yard, son of Samuel Shipp, labourer, deceased, on 28th September 1912 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill. Witnesses: George Barber and Kate Barber.(2)
Children: none
Died: 1921 in the Risbridge District.

Bio: Elizabeth is very difficult to try to track down. Married three times, her life took her all over England. Censuses say she was born in Cornwall. She comes to our attention when, as Elizabeth Hunt, she married Jesse Whiting in 1883 at the local Register Office in the Risbridge district. She gave father as John Tredorow, miner, deceased. However, when she was married for a third time in 1912 she gave her father's name as John Barrett, coal-miner, deceased.

Elizabeth was born in the early 1850s either in Cornwall or Devon judging by the censuses on which she appears.

Although somewhat older than expected, you would think a good candidate to be 'our' Elizabeth appearing on the 1881 census was Elizabeth Hunt, 38, born in Liskeard, Cornwall, wife of Stephen Hunt, 37, a stevedore, born in Hythe, Kent. The couple were living a 1 King Street, West Ham, Essex (3)
However, this Elizabeth and her husband both appeared on the 1891 census still living in West Ham, thus ruling her out.

When she married widower Jesse Whiting on 27th January 1883 at the Register Office, Elizabeth Hunt was described as a widow, aged 30, living in Camps Road, Haverhill, whose father was John Tredorow, miner, deceased.

Elizabeth appeared on the 1891 census living with Jesse Whiting at 104 Burton End, Haverhill, and she was described as being 37 and born in Cornwall.

On the 1901 census, the couple were living at 146 Burton End, and she was said to be 48 and born in Plymouth, Devon.

Jesse died in... and Elizabeth appeared on the 1911 census as a widow once more. She was in the Risbridge Union Workhouse in Kedington, and here her age was said to be 60 and her birthplace was given as Liskeard, Cornwall.

Elizabeth married John Shipp, 58, widower, on 28th September 1912 at St Mary's church, Haverhill.
Confusingly, her father was said to be John Barrett, coal-miner, deceased. She was said to be aged 58, and a widow.

The fact that her birthplace, age and father's name varied on records suggests that Elizabeth may not have known the circumstances of her birth.

...to be continued

Sources:

(1) Marriage Register. 1st Quarter 1883, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 641
(2) Marriage Register. 3rd Quarter 1912, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 1854
(3) 1881 Census, 1 King Street, West Ham, Essex. Class: RG11; Piece: 1716; Folio: 22; Page: 37; GSU roll: 1341410. Ancestry.co.uk