elizabeth amelia chilton

Subject Name :    Elizabeth Amelia Chilton  (b 1846 – d 1933) 

Researcher :        Jo Patrick

Plumber’s daughter Elizabeth Amelia Chilton spent her early years in Kensington, London, before moving to Wonersh where she was a domestic servant.  She was an unmarried mother in the Guildford Union Workhouse at the age of 35 but went on to marry twice, the second time when she was 76.  Elizabeth had five children, one of whom died in one of the most infamous incidents of World War 1, the sinking of HMS Hampshire in 1916 which also claimed the life of Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, Britain’s Secretary of State for War, and over 730 crew.  

Elizabeth was born on 22nd January 1846 at the family home of 4 Kinnerton Street, Kensington, London 1.  Her parents were William Chilton, a plumber from Bristol, and Sarah née Batchelor from Wonersh, Surrey 2.  Elizabeth was baptised on 1st May at nearby St Saviour’s Church, Upper Chelsea 3.  She was the sixth of seven children, although two older brothers had died before she was born 4, 5. 

At the time of the 1851 Census, 5-year-old scholar Elizabeth and her family were at 34 Kinnerton Street 6.  Her father William was listed as a ‘plumber/glazier’.

Family split?

Elizabeth’s mother Sarah gave birth to her final child Archibald John in early 1853 at Kinnerton Street. The 1856 Post Office Directory listed Elizabeth’s father William as still at the same address, but the 1861 Census raises questions which remain unanswered 7.

That Census records Elizabeth’s mother Sarah living with only her 8-year-old son Archibald in D’Oyley Street, a short walk from Kinnerton Street 8.  Elizabeth’s brother William was lodging in Turk’s Row, Chelsea, also close to Kinnerton Street, while sister Emily was working in Cornwall 9, 10. 

Elizabeth, now 15, her father William and her eldest sister Sarah have not been traced, and the 1861 Census return for Kinnerton Street, has not been located.  They may have been at Kinnerton Street or indeed anywhere else, but why were mother Sarah and brother Archibald living apart from them?

Elizabeth moves to Shamley Green

Whatever the reasons for the apparent family separation, the 1871 Census showed that Elizabeth, now 24, and her 27-year-old brother William were back together and had moved to Shamley Green, close to their mother’s birthplace of Wonersh, living with their 69-year-old unmarried uncle, Benjamin Batchelor, a master shoemaker 11.  Elizabeth was a domestic servant, although whether this for her uncle or she was working elsewhere is not clear.  William was noted as a seaman in the Royal Navy, but he would have been at the end of his service having enlisted for 10 years from his 18th birthday in April 1861 12.

This Census also showed that Elizabeth parents were together again and living in Bloomsbury, West London 13.  Her father was no longer a plumber, but a porter, and the couple had two lodgers to supplement their income. 

Ten years later, at the time of the April 1881 Census, Elizabeth was an inmate of the Guildford Union Workhouse, unmarried, with her occupation ‘domestic servant’ 14.   Her admission was of a ‘temporary character and not of permanent illness or disability’ 15.  The Guildford Union Board of Guardians had instructed that ‘an order be obtained without delay for her removal to Hambledon Union’ because Elizabeth’s family was from the Hambledon parish of Wonersh, although she herself had been living in the Guildford parish of Albury at the time 16, 17.

The somewhat delicate phrase ‘temporary nature’ meant that Elzabeth was pregnant, as she gave birth at the age of 35 to her first child Cecilia Amelia Chilton on 14th May 1881 in the Guildford Union Workhouse, so clearly the order to remove her to Hambledon had not happened.  No father was named on the birth certificate 18.

Marriage and a move to the South Coast

There are no records to show when Elizabeth and Cecilia left either the Guildford or Hambledon Workhouse, but about 18 months later, Elizabeth married Farnham-born Harry (Henry) Bartlett from Shamley Green 19. 

Their first child Edith Alice was born in March 1883 at Lawnsmead, Wonersh 20.  On her birth certificate, Harry was a ‘leather dresser (journeyman)’, so he was probably working at nearby Lostiford Mill situated between Shamley Green and Wonersh 21.

Edith only lived for 8 weeks, passing away at home on 22nd May in Lords Hill Common, just to the west of Shamley Green, from ‘convulsions’ 22.   Two days following Edith’s death, Elizabeth’s first daughter Cecilia was baptised with the surname Bartlett, and parents Harry and Elizabeth at Christ Church, Shamley Green 23.  There is no burial entry for Edith, but it seems likely that her funeral would have taken place at the same time as Cecilia’s christening on 24th May, and that the burial was missed off the parish register by mistake.

Elizabeth and Harry suffered again when their first son Harley William died aged 2 months in January 1885 in Hambledon Union Workhouse 24.  

Their next child, Charles, was born in Castle Street, Guildford in January 1886 and did go on to survive his childhood 25. 

Elizabeth and Harry decided to move to Newhaven on the south coast of Sussex, where Elizabeth gave birth to her fifth and final child George in 1890 26. What prompted Harry and Elizabeth to move to Newhaven is unknown.  Perhaps there was more work to be had in the docks than there was available in Surrey.

The 1891 Census showed the family living at 8 Lower Elphick Road, Newhaven.  Harry was employed as a ‘dock quay labourer’. Daughter Cecilia was 9, son Charles 6, and baby George 6 months 27.

They had moved across town to 6 Clifton Terrace by the time of the 1901 Census with Harry still a labourer at the docks 28.  Son Charles, 15, was a ‘golf caddie’, with 10-year-old George ‘attending school’.  They also had another dock worker lodging with them. 

Elizabeth’s daughter Cecilia was a live-in servant in Tonbridge, Kent, in 1901, but returned to Newhaven, marrying labourer William Lower on Christmas Day 1903 29, 30. Cecilia named Harry as her father, although there is no other record to verify this was true.

The 1911 Census showed 65-year-old Elizabeth to be visiting Cecilia, William, and her three young grandchildren at 19 Evelyn Avenue, Newhaven 31.  Elizabeth had made the short walk from her home in Albion Place alone, as husband Harry was a patient in the Newhaven Workhouse Infirmary 32.  The date of the Census was 2nd April, and just 26 days later, Harry passed away in the Infirmary from ‘carcinoma of the larynx’ 33.

Son George lost at sea in WWI

The month following his father’s death, Elizabeth and Harry’s son George enlisted with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve 34.  Aged 19, he was called into action following the outbreak of  World War 1 in August 1914. He served on a number of ships before transferring to armoured cruiser HMS Hampshire in August 1915 35. 

HMS Hampshire was briefly involved at the end of May 1916 in the Battle of Jutland off the Denmark coast, the largest naval battle of the War 36.  

After the two-day battle, the ship returned to Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands in order to take Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, Britain’s Secretary of State for War, for talks with Russia’s Tsar Nicholas II.

HMS Hampshire left Scapa Flow on 5th June, but just a short time later, it struck a German mine off Orkney’s north-west coast and sank with the loss of 737 lives, including those of Kitchener and Elizabeth’s son, 25-year-old George 37.  Only 12 crew members survived. George’s body was one of many not recovered or identified, but he is among those commemorated at the Lyness Naval Cemetery on Hoy, Orkney Islands and on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Elizabeth was living in Blatchington, a short distance east of Newhaven, when her son died 38.   By the time of the 1921 Census she had returned to Newhaven, lodging at 45 Elphick Road 39.  Elizabeth clearly got on well with at least one of her neighbours, as early the following year, she married Thomas Novis, living at number 49 40, 41.  He was a widowed retired bricklayer, aged 78, a couple of years older than Elizabeth.  

They remained together at 49 Elphick Road, where Thomas died in 1930, aged 87 42, 43. Elizabeth lived there for another three years, passing away from heart disease on 3rd November 1933, also aged 87 44, 45.

October 2019, updated January 2025

Spike Lives is a Heritage project that chronicles the lives of inmates, staff and the Board of Guardians of the Guildford Union Workhouse at the time of the 1881 Census.  The Spike Heritage Museum in Guildford offers guided tours which present a unique opportunity to discover what life was like in the Casual/Vagrant ward of a Workhouse. More information can be found here

References

Note :  the source is Ancestry.co.uk unless otherwise stated

  1. Elizabeth Amelia Chilton 22 Jan 1846 England Civil Registration Birth Index; Jan-Feb-Mar 1846; Saint George Hanover Square, London; vol 1; page 15 Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  2. William Chilton and Sarah Batchelor 12 Oct 1829 Marriage London Metropolitan Archives; London Church of England Parish Registers; All Souls, Langham Place, St Marylebone 1825-1836; ref P89/ALS/048
  3. Elizabeth Amelia Chilton 1 May 1846 Baptism London Metropolitan Archives; London Church of England Parish Registers; St Saviour, Upper Chelsea 1840-1866; ref P74/Sav/001
  4. Sarah Emma Chilton 26 Apr 1830 Baptism London Metropolitan Archives; London Church of England Parish Registers; Holy Trinity, Brompton 1829-1846; ref P84/Tri2/001
    Emily Ann Chilton 7 Jul 1833 Baptism London Metropolitan Archives; London Church of England Parish Registers; St Luke, Chelsea 1829-1857; ref P74/Luk/171
    William John Chilton 19 Aug 1835 Baptism City of Westminster Archive Centre; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; St Peter, Eaton Square, Pimlico 1831-1861; ref SPES/PR/1/1
    Alfred Chilton 24 Jul 1839 Baptism City of Westminster Archive Centre; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; St Peter, Eaton Square, Pimlico 1831-1861; ref SPES/PR/1/1
    William Chilton 28 May 1843 Baptism City of Westminster Archive Centre; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; St Peter, Eaton Square, Pimlico 1831-1861; ref SPES/PR/1/1
    Archibald John Chilton 31 Mar 1853 Baptism City of Westminster Archive Centre; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; St Peter, Eaton Square, Pimlico 1831-1861; ref SPES/PR/1/1
  5. William John Chilton 18 Aug 1836 Burial City of Westminster Archive Centre; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; St George, Hanover Square 1834-1856; ref STG/PR/8/6
    Alfred Chilton 8 Aug 1840 Burial City of Westminster Archive Centre; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; St George, Hanover Square 1834-1856; ref STG/PR/8/6
  6. William, Sarah, Emma, Emily A, William, Elizabeth A Chilton 1851 England Census return for 34 Kinnerton St, St George, Hanover Square, Middlesex; PRO HO107; piece 1477; folio 72; page 19
  7. William Chilton, plumber 1856 Post Office Directory; London, Street Directory; page 467
  8. Sarah, Archibald Shelton sic 1861 census for 28 D’Oyley St, Chelsea St Luke, Middlesex; class RG9; piece 37; folio 117; pages 11 & 12
  9. William Chilton 1861 census for 8 Turk’s Row, Chelsea St Luke, Middlesex; class RG9; piece 32; folio 36; page 23
  10. Emily A Chilton 1861 census for Anthony St Jacob, Cornwall; class RG9; piece 1523; folio 35; page 55
  11. William Batchelor; William, Elizabeth Chilton 1871 England Census return for Shamley Green, Wonersh, Hambledon, Surrey; PRO RG 10; piece 826; folio 109; page 23
  12. William Chilton The National Archives, Kew; Royal Navy Ratings’ Service Records; Series ADM 139/511/11084 Discovery.NationalArchives.gov.uk
  13. William, Sarah Chilton 1871 England Census return for 9 Silver St, St George Bloomsbury; London; PRO RG 10; piece 341; folio 58; page 51
  14. Elizth Amelia Chilton 1881 England Census return for Guildford Union Workhouse, Stoke Next Guildford, Surrey; PRO RG 11; piece 778; folio 90; page 2
  15. Eliza Chilton 30 Apr 1881 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Guildford Poor Law Union Minute Book BG/6/11/20; page 139 Surreycc.gov.uk
  16. Hambledon, Surrey English Poor Law Unions Workhouses.org.uk
  17. Elizabeth Amelia Chilton 14 May 1881 Surrey History Centre, Woking; Guildford Workhouse Births 1866-1910; BG/6/37/1; page 31 Surreycc.gov.uk
  18. Cecilia Amelia Chilton 14 May 1881 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Guildford, Surrey; volume 2A, page 81
  19. Elizabeth Amelia Chilton and Henry Bartlett Oct-Nov-Dec 1882 England & Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index 1837-1915; Guildford, Surrey; volume 2A, page 126
    Henry Bartlett Apr-May-Jun 1852 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Farnham, Surrey; volume 2A, page 61
  20. Edith Alice Bartlett 25 Mar 1883 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Hambledon, Surrey; volume 2A, page 129 Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  21. Shamley Green A History of the Village published 1993 The Shamley Green History Society SGmatters.co.uk
  22. Edith Alice Bartlett 22 May 1883 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915; Hambledon, Surrey; volume 2A, page 88 Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  23. Cecilia Amelia Bartlett 24 May 1883 FamilySearch; England Select Births & Christenings; Shamley Place
  24. Harley William Bartlett Oct-Nov-Dec 1884 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Hambledon, Surrey; volume 2A, page 149
    Harley William Bartlett 26 Jan 1855 Burial Surrey History Centre, Woking; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Shamley Green, Christ Church1882-1997; ref 8615/1/7
  25. Charles Bartlett 15 Jan 1886 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Guildford, Surrey; volume 2A, page 85 Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  26. George Bartlett Oct-Nov-Dec 1890 England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index 1837-1915; Lewes, Sussex; volume 2B, page 175
  27. Henry, Elizabeth, Cecilia, Charles, George Bartlett 1891 England Census return for 8 Lower Elphick Rd, Newhaven, Sussex; PRO RG 12; piece 800; folio 28; page 50
  28. Harry, Elizabeth, Charles, George Bartlett 1901 England Census return for 6 Clifton Terrace, Newhaven, Sussex; PRO RG 13; piece 918; folio 28; page 10
  29. Cecilia A Bartlett 1901 England Census return for 12 Manor Grove, Tonbridge, Kent; PRO RG 13; piece 757; folio 89; page 23
  30. Cecilia Amelia Bartlett and William Lower 25 Dec 1903 Marriage East Sussex Record Office, Brighton; Sussex Parish Registers; Newhaven Parish Church, 1889-1916; ref PAR 426/1/3/3
  31. William, Cecilia, Charles, Henry, William Lower; Eliza Bartlett 1911 England Census return for 19 Evelyn Avenue, Newhaven, Sussex; PRO RG 14; piece 5077; schedule 121
  32. Henry Bartlett 1911 England Census return for Newhaven Workhouse, Newhaven Sussex; PRO RG 14; piece 5086; schedule 9999
  33. Henry Bartlett 28 Apr 1911 Death England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index 1837-1915; Newhaven, Sussex; volume 2B, page 110 Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
  34. George Bartlett 18 May 1911 enlistment The National Archives; Kew; Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve; Records of Service; First World War; War Fleet Service Divisions; Sussex, volume 1, companies 1-6; reference ADM 337/68/298
  35. Battle of Jutland Wikipedia.org
  36. HMS Hampshire (1903) Wikipedia.org
  37. George Bartlett 5 Jun 1916 death UK, Royal Navy and Royal Marine Graves Roll, 1914-1919; Naval Cemetery, Lyness, Island of Hoy, Orkneys
    George Bartlett 5 Jun 1916 Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Commonwealth War Graves Register 1914-1918; Portsmouth Naval Memorial Register
  38. George Bartlett death 5 Jun 1916 mother Amelia The National Archive, Kew, London; UK, Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919; series ADM242/7
  39. Elizabeth A Bartlett 1921 England Census return for 45 Elphick Road, Newhaven, Sussex; PRO RG 15; piece 04858; schedule 68
  40. Thomas, Ellen (daughter) Novis 1921 England Census return for 49 Elphick Road, Newhaven, Sussex; PRO RG 15; piece 04858; schedule 66 
  41. Elizabeth A Bartlett and Thomas Novis Jan-Feb-Mar 1922 England & Wales Civil Registration Marriage Index; Newhaven, Sussex; volume 2B, page 291
  42. Elizabeth, Thomas Novis 1922, 1930/31 East Sussex Record Office; East Sussex Electoral Registers; Newhaven; 49 Elphick Road; reference C/C/70/1/3/36 and C/C/70/1/3/48
  43. Thomas James Novis Oct-Nov-Dec 1930 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Newhaven, Sussex; volume 2B, page 226
  44. Elizabeth Novis 1932/33 East Sussex Record Office; East Sussex Electoral Registers; Newhaven; 49 Elphick Road; reference: C/C/70/1/3/50
  45. Elizabeth Amelia Novis 3 Nov 1933 England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index; Newhaven, Sussex; volume 2B, page 255 Digital copy from General Register Office GRO.gov.uk
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