Eliza Prior - 1839 to 1920

Eliza Prior was born on 1 October 1839 in Toppesfield Essex UK, the first of 11 children born to Thomas & Harriet Prior. Eliza was a scholar at age 11 and a Straw Plaiter at age 21, all the while living with her parents, perhaps to help with the care of her younger siblings, and possibly till her marriage at age 26 to Edward Argent. 

On 6 June 1861, when the census was taken, Eliza age 21 lived with her parents and 7 siblings in Toppesfield. She was also about 7 weeks pregnant with her first child, our second great grandfather Albert Prior. She gave birth to Albert on 13 January 1862 at age 22 and unmarried. A daughter Elizabeth arrived in June 1864, and the following year she married Edward Argent on 25 December 1865, Christmas Day.

Edward Argent was also from Toppesfield, born in 1837. In census records his occupation was  Agricultural Labourer, however on his 1865 marriage record to Eliza, his occupation is Blacksmith. The same record confirms that he was illegitimate; more on the Argent's below.

In the 1871 census Eliza & Edward Argent resided at Yeldum Road Toppesfield, with both Albert & Elizabeth listed as their children and therefore Argent's. Edward and Albert had something in common as they were both illegitimate children, perhaps this made Edward compassionate towards Albert or perhaps he was really Albert's father. However, despite this Albert would always use the surname Prior, while Elizabeth would be known as Argent; later Albert would reside with his grandparents Thomas & Harriet Prior. 

             extract of 1871 census - Yeldham Road, Toppesfield, Essex, UK

The children of Edward & Eliza Argent:

  -  Albert Prior b.1862, m Eliza Jane Jarvis, Hockley, 

  -  Elizabeth Argent b.1864, m James Moss Taylor

  -  Thomas Argent b.1867, m Eliza

  -  Harry Argent b.1869, m Harriet Louisa Pike

  -  Freddy Argent b.1877

  -  John Argent b.1880

  -  Arthur Argent b.1882

  -  Bertha May Argent b.1891

The Argent's

Edward Argent was born on 1 January 1837 in Toppesfield, the child of Susana Argent age 17, his father unknown, the grandson of Joseph & Elizabeth Argent. He initially lived with his grandparents, as his mother Susana Argent was to marry Thomas Butcher in 1840 & have 5 more children. After Thomas's death in 1851, Edward (age 15) lived with his mother and half siblings in the village, until his marriage to Eliza Prior in 1865.

Edward's grandfather Joseph Argent was born on 8 October 1790 in Stambourne, a neighbouring village. He was a Labourer but joined the Military on 10 April 1809 at age 19; his record describing him as 5"7' with fair complexion, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes in a round face. He served 9 years in the Foot Regiments during the Napoleonic & other wars, his service ending on 10 March 1819. In 1820 he resided with Elizabeth (surname unknown) in Canterbury Kent where their daughter Susana was born, then Sheffield Yorkshire in 1825 where their son William was born, finally moving the family to Toppesfield sometime during the next 10 years. 

In 1866 Susana Argent Butcher remarried to John Daines, a widower with 5 children, also from Toppesfield. In the 1871 census they lived in the village with John Daines age 18 (John & Marianne's son), and unknown relations Betsy Daines age 29, Frederick Butcher age 9, and grandson Herbert Daines age 1.

Straw Plaiter

Both Eliza and her mother Harriet were Straw Plaiters according to census records, and perhaps Eliza's grandmother Sarah Prior was also a Straw Plaiter.

The occupation of Straw Plaiter ...