Elizabeth Rich was born before 25 March 1827 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England when she was baptized on 25 March 1827 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England, the daughter of John and Rebecca (Hill) Rich.[1] The baptism record says "Emma" but an "Elizabeth" with another surname was baptized days before "Emma." Since the 1841 England and Wales census does not include an Emma, but does include Elizabeth, it is probable that Elizabeth was not registered correctly, or was a twin of Emma and Emma did not survive infancy.
In the 1841 England and Wales census for Hilperton, the John Rich household was enumerated with these family members:
- Jno Rich - age 47, male, a weaver, born Wiltshire
- Rebecka Rich - age 55, female, born Wiltshire
- James Rich - age 18, male, born Wiltshire
- Elizabeth Rich - age 16, female, born Wiltshire
- Hannah Rich - age 15, female, born Wiltshire
- William Rich - age 10, male, born Wiltshire
- Samuel Rich - age 7, male, born Wiltshire
Since there were two other sons, John and Jesse Rich, who are not in the 1841 census because they were born in 1822, Elizabeth probably "fits" into the family after Hannah wsho was born in 1824. The ages stated in 1841 are not reliable.
Elizabeth Rich and James Carpenter were married on 7 March 1847 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England.[2] Elizabeth was listed as of full age, a Spinster, a Weaver, resident of Hilperton, father John Rich, a weaver. James Carpenter was listed as of full age, a Bachelor, a Weaver, a resident of Hilperton, father John Carpenter, a weaver.
James Carpenter7 was born about 1823 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England. He died before 9 June 1886 at the age of 63 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, England.8
James Carpenter and Elizabeth Rich had the following children:
- Hannah Carpenter was born about 1848 in Hilperton Marsh, Wiltshire, England. She died.
- Samuel Carpenter, born 3 May 1849, Hilperton, Wiltshire, England; married Mary Ann Agnes Janes, 1874, Connecticut, United States; died 3 February 1922, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
- William Carpenter was born about 1852 in Hilperton Marsh, Wiltshire, England. He died.
- Matilda Carpenter was born before 26 March 1854 in Chilmark, Wiltshire, England.
- James Carpenter was born before 7 October 1859 in Hilperton Marsh, Wiltshire, England. He died in 1934 at the age of 75 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
- Emma Carpenter was born before 28 March 1860 in Hilperton Marsh, Wiltshire, England.
- Ann Carpenter was born about May 1861 in Hilperton Marsh, Wiltshire, England.
- Francis Carpenter was born before 2 October 1864 in Hilperton Marsh, Wiltshire, England.
- Thomas Carpenter was born before 16 September 1866 in Hilperton Marsh, Wiltshire, England.
- Edward Carpenter was born before 18 September 1866 in Hilperton Marsh, Wiltshire, England.
The James Carpenter family was not found in the 1851 England and Wales census.
In the 1861 England and Wales Census, the James Carpenter family resided in Hilperton Marsh in Wiltshire. The household included:
- James Carpenter, head, married, male, age 38, a Woollen Weaver, born in Wilts in Marsh.
- Eliz'th Carpenter, wife, married, female, age 38, a Woollen Weaver, born Wilts in Marsh.
- Hannah Carpenter, daughter, female, age 13, a servant, born Wiltshire in Marsh
- Samuel Carpenter, son, male, age 11, a servant, born Wiltshire in Marsh
- William Carpenter, son, male, age 9, a Woollen Weaver, born Wiltshire in Marsh
- Matilda Carpenter, daughter, female, age 7, a scholar, born Wiltshire in Marsh
- James Carpenter, son, male, age 4, born Wiltshire in Marsh
- Emma Carpenter, daughter, female, age 2, born Wiltshire in Marsh
- Infant Carpenter, daughter, female, age 1 month, born Wiltshire in Marsh.
The James Carpenter household was not found in the 1871 or 1881 England and Wales census records. There was another James Carpenter family in nearby Trowbridge but the wife in that family was Mary and the young children in that family do not match the known children of Elizabeth.
It is not known when Elizabeth (Rich) Carpenter died. The last evidence of her existence is the 18 September 1866 baptism records of her sons Thomas and Edward. She may have died soon after theri baptism.
James Carpenter died before 9 June 1886 and was buried in the Hilperton, Wiltshire church yard.[3]
SOURCES:
1. Wiltshire births and baptisms, imaged, "Wiltshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1922," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61188/records/2506462 : accessed 13 March 2025); Hilperton > 1813-1839 > page 57 (image 69 of 116), No. 451, Emma Rich (probably Elizabeth) baptism entry, 25 March 1827, daughter of John and Rebecca Rich; Original data: Wiltshire Church of England Parish Registers, Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England.
2. Wiltshire marriages and banns, imaged, "Wiltshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1823-1919," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61189/records/510753 : accessed 13 March 2025); Hilperton > 1837-1922 > page 44 (image 52 of 213), James Carpenter and Elizabeth Rich marriage entry, 7 March 1847; Original data: Wiltshire Church of England Parish Registers, Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England.
3. Wiltshire deaths and burials, imaged, "Wiltshire, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1823-1922," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61190/records/932619 : accessed 13 March 2025); Hilperton > 1823-1991 > page 52 (image 58 of 96), No. 411 James Carpenter burial entry, 9 June 1886, age 64; Original data: Wiltshire Church of England Parish Registers, Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England.
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Elizabeth (Rich) Carpenter (1827-????) is my 2nd great-grandaunt and sister of my 2nd great-grandmother, Hannah Rich (1824-1911).
I have posted over 500 genealogical sketches of my ancestors back through the 7th great-.grandparents and a number of close relatives. Information about his father, John Rich (1790-1868) is in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 35: #42 John Rich (1791-1868).
The "52 Relatives" theme is a weekly series to document the lives of siblings of my ancestors with relatively short genealogical sketches, including important events, and with source citations. These relatives lived and died within a family structure, and deserve a genealogical sketch - they were integral parts and important persons in the lives of my ancestral families.
I post the 52 Ancestors and 52 Relatives sketches on the 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies page, in my Ancestry Member Tree, in WikiTree, and in the FamilySearch Family Tree. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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