Eliza Harwood

[Holly Heaton]

Hello,

This may be a bit of a long shot.  I am on the hunt for my 3xgreat grandmother Eliza Harwood.

Here is what I know about her so far.  She was born 1852/3 in St. Leonard's, Hastings, Sussex to John and Frances Harwood, the youngest of 6 children.  In February 1869 she is admitted to the Union Workhouse, Ore, Sussex where she gave birth to a child called John Henry Harwood.  No father is listed on the birth certificate.  The family story goes, she left the child with her parents and disappeared to London and wasn't heard from again.  That seems to be true as the 1871 census shows her as living in Highgate Penitentiary for fallen women (AKA North Hill House) all of which ties in with what I know about her.

However after the 1871 census the trail goes cold, and I have no idea what happened to her.  If anyone is able to help me, I would be very grateful

Many Thanks

[avm228]

Welcome Holly

I see from FreeBMD that Eliza Harwood's birth was registered (no middle names), Jun qtr 1852 Hastings.

Will see what I can see after 1871.

[avm228]

According to this listing (scroll down), Highgate Penitentiary records form part of the Guildhall Library Manuscripts collection:

http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=O38058

http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon/searches/locresult_details.asp?LR=76

You may be able to find admission and/or discharge records for Eliza.

Her name does not appear in the list of girls & women from the penitentiary buried in its communal grave at Highgate Cemetery, according to this article:

http://spamosphere.blogspot.co.uk/

[Holly Heaton]

wow...thank you so much.  I shall definitely have a look Its been a family mystery since 1869, i'll be thrilled if I can solve the mystery.  Thank you for your help.

[avm228]

One possibility to look at in 1891 is the Eliza Harwood, "36", birthplace unknown, in St Olave Union Workhouse, Southwark.

Your Eliza would have been 38-39 in April 1891 but given the unknown birthplace her stated age may not be all that reliable.

Reference is RG12/369/119/13.