Welch, Lizzie

Singer

Collection date: Apr 1904

Area: Somerset - Hambridge & Westport

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Mrs Lizzie or Elizabeth Welch of Westport (1868-1952?): age 36, 15 songs over 4 visits commencing 4 Apr 1904: Elizabeth Woodland, daughter (and youngest of 6 children) of Samuel and Mary Ann Woodland, was born c1868 in Puckington. She was not baptised until 24/2/1874 (Hambridge church). In 1881 census she was aged 14, a collar worker like her two older sisters Mary Jane (19) and Rosa (17). Mary Jane also sang for Sharp (as Mary Jane Ree).

On 14/9/1886 at Hambridge church, aged 18, Lizzie married William Walter Barratt and they emigrated to Australia in 1888/9, where sadly husband William must have died. In 1891 Lizzie was back in Westport as a widow with eldest son Owen Thomas Barrett (age 4 b Westport) and Wm John Barrett second son (age 2 b Queensland).

On 22/9/1892 Lizzie was remarried in Hambridge church to George Welch, widower age 28. George brought 3 children to this marriage – Albert Welch b1888, George Thos Welch b1889 and Edward Walter Welch b1891. Together George & Lizzie had another 4 children – Emma bp 30/6/1893; Lottie Mary bp 10/6/1895; Ernest Mark bp 23/8/1901; and Earl Ambrose Welch bp 16/5/1909. The 1901 census (RG13/2289 f90 p17) has George Welch 36 Farm Labourer b Puckington with wife Lizzie 33, living at No 1 The Row Westport. The small child in Sharp’s photo of Lizzie was probably Ernest Mark.