Eliza Peck, 1871 - 1948

Eliza, 1944

Eliza (or Elisa as spellings vary) Peck was born in Pomfret Street, Sneinton, Nottingham in September 1871. She was the daughter of Thomas Peck and Mary Ann. Thomas was a framework knitter. Eliza was one of seven children born to the couple in Sneinton between 1869 and 1878.

Pomfret Street, Sneinton, Nottingham

By 1881 the family had moved to Colton Terrace, Sneinton and Eliza (or Elysa as she appears in the census document) is shown as a 9 year old scholar. By 1891 Eliza is a 19 year old 'lace clipper' employed in one of the many lace factories nearby. Also shown in the house at 13 Bond Street is a lodger by the name of Mary Ann Fowler, the half sister of James Fowler. This probably explains how Eliza was to meet her future husband and the two of them were married in October 1901 at St Albans Sneinton.

13 Bond Street, 1891 Census

Following their marriage James and Eliza Fowler continued to live with the Peck's and in 1901 they are living at 107 Manvers Street. James Fowler was a railway worker, painting signals and bridges, probably for the Midland Railway. However in 1901 he is absent, but strangely he does not seem to appear in any of the 1901 census returns for England and Wales. There is some speculation that during this time he could have been serving in the army in South Africa, as this was the time of the Boer War. James returns in 1902 and he and Eliza have a total of seven children, including May Fowler, before his death in about 1907. During this time they continued to live at Manvers Street.

In 1911 the family have moved to Stanley Terrace, Eldon Street, Sneinton. Eliza is head of household and is supporting the family through laceworking at home. She is supported by her two working sons Harry and Bertie, but also looking after her eighty year old mother, Mary Ann Peck.It was during this period that she tragically lost her youngest son Horace at just 5 years of age in 1913.

Eliza was left to raise seven children on her own and did so before meeting widowed baker, Harry Clark, who she married in April 1915. Eliza also outlived her son Bertie Fowler who was killed during the First World War, at Ypres in 1917.

Harry Clark in 1944

Eliza died as Eliza Clarke in 1948 aged 76.

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September 29, 2011