EDDY Family of Cornwall

There were several William EDDY and Elizabeth couples in St Just in the early 1800s, and trying to work out which of the many children belong to which couple is very difficult, especially for the earlier couples whose children had flown the nest before the census returns. This William and Elizabeth are one such couple.

William is an innkeeper in the 1841 census (see below) with daughters Jane and Eliza. The only match for baptisms for Jane and Eliza around the right time (note Eliza's age in 1851 census was 30), are the daughters of William and Elizabeth, and are in St Just in 1817 and 1822. At these times William is recorded as a joiner/carpenter of Church Town, St Just, but I believe William must have later moved to Morvah and became an innkeeper.

The joiner/carpenter connection then provides a connection with 2 other children baptised in St Just: Ann and John (Feb 1813, Nov 1813).

I also believe Christiana baptised 6 Nov 1807 is probably daughter of this William and Elizabeth as the name is used previously in this family (William had a sister and aunt named Christiana).

And there is a William baptised 1809 that probably belongs to this couple. The rationale is that he is recorded as a carpenter in the 1841 and 1851 census returns but later becomes an innkeeper (1861 and 1871) - the same career path as his father! Also, his ages in the 1851 and 1861 census returns suggest a birth year of 1809, and a witness to his wedding was William EDDY, presumably his father. The only other William EDDY son of William baptised around 1809 was the son of William EDDY and Grace HOLLOW, who can be accounted for elsewhere in the census returns.

There are also baptism entries for Mary 1801, Mary 1802, Elisabeth 1804 and Christiana 1806 in Morvah that only listed the father, William. I previously thought they could be children born to this couple, but given the information above suggesting William and Elizabeth appeared to live in St Just early in their marriage, that is now doubtful. There are 7 other children baptised in Morvah to William (only) in the years prior to 1801 - possibly older siblings to Mary, Elisabeth and Christiana (and hence a different William, or at least a different wife). However, these are in the years 1777 to 1787 then there's a gap to 1801 which casts doubt over this theory. There is a marriage in Morvah 22 Apr 1780, between William EDDY and Jane RODDA who may be the parents of these children as there are no children baptised explicitly to a William and Jane in Morvah or Zennor (where William is noted to have come from).

There is an Elizabeth baptised 13 Feb 1803 in St Just, to a William and Elizabeth that may be this couple. I can't find anything solid to base this on, however there are the following reasons why I have assigned Elizabeth to this couple: 1. It was normal to name the first son/daughter after the parents, so I would've expected a William or Elizabeth baptised between 1 Jun 1801 (when William and Elizabeth married) and Christiana's baptism in 1807 (whom otherwise would seem to be the first child baptised to this couple). 2. The baptism is in St Just, in line with her siblings 3. This couple definitely did have children

Reason 2 is why I have discounted William EDDY and Elizabeth EDDY (who married 1802 in St Buryan), as it appears that their children where baptised in St Buryan around the same time (e.g. Mary in 1805). Reason 3 is why I have not chosen William EDDY and Elizabeth ANGWIN (who married 10 Oct 1801 in St Just, both widowers which in itself would suggest they were slightly older - maybe they had no children?).

In the 1841 census, ref Morvah 1-47: EDDY«tab»William«tab»60«tab»M«tab»Innkeeper«tab» EDDY«tab»Elizabeth«tab»60«tab»F«tab»«tab» EDDY«tab»Jane«tab»25«tab»F«tab»«tab» EDDY«tab»Eliza«tab»20«tab»F«tab»«tab»

In the 1851 census, William, 71, widower, is living with his daughter Eliza and family.