Eliza Peck, 1871 -

Eliza, 1944

Eliza 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 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 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 return 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.

Eliza was left to raise seven children on her own and did so before meeting baker, Harry Clarke, 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 Clarke in 1944

Eliza died as Eliza Clarke in 1948 aged 76.

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November 6, 2006