Elizabeth Little

     Elizabeth Little was baptized on 9 August 1827 at St Peter's, Liverpool, Lancashire, England.¹
This baptism is a possibility for our Elizabeth but further work is required. There is another possibility: Elizabeth Little baptised 7 Oct 1825 to William and Elizabeth Little at St Peter Liverpool. Census and date at death do support the 1827 date though.² She was the daughter of William Little and Mary (?).
On 7 June 1841 Elizabeth Little lived at Duke St, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Elizabeth is living with Ann Blain, 25 yrs, draper and Jane Blain, 65, independent, and others. She is a drapers assistant. It is interesting to note that a Thomas Blain was an executor of Elizabeth's cousin Mary Little's will in Carlisle, Cumberland in 1860.³
In the 1851 census there is an Elizabeth Little, age 28 years, born Liverpool, working as a draper's assistant in London. She was living at 65 Bishopsgate Street, St Ethelburga, London. At that time, Elizabeth's sister Jane Little was living a short distance away in Houndsditch Road, Bishopsgate, London.
Elizabeth was living at the same address for the 1861 census but her occupation was needlewoman.^4,5
Elizabeth Little witnessed the marriage of Thomas Ward and Jane Little on 9 June 1862 at All Hallows London Wall, London, England.⁶
An Elizabeth Little, born c1829 in Liverpool, was living alone in Wetheral near Carlisle, Cumberland for the 1871 census. Her occupation was housekeeper.⁷
On 3 April 1881 Elizabeth Little lived at 2 Hartington Place, Rickergate, Carlisle, Cumberland, England.⁸
Elizabeth Little witnessed the will of Jane Little dated 3 April 1881 at Carlisle, Cumberland, England.⁹
The 1881 census reads:
Jane Little, Head, unmar, 56 yrs, income from rents, dividends, etc, b. Cumberland, Carlisle.
Elizabeth Little, Cousin, unmar, 54 yrs, income from rents, dividends, etc, b. Lancashire, Liverpool.
Ellen Edgar, Servant, 37 yrs, cook domestic, b. Cumberland, Nichol Forest.
Elizabeth Edgar, Servant, 17 yrs, housemaid, b. Scotland.
Elizabeth Little is living with her cousin Jane Little (this is not Elizabeth's sister, Jane Little, who married Thomas Ward). This may be a clue that the family originally came from Carlisle. Elizabeth left a will in which she owned the properties at nos 2 and 4 Hartington Road, Carlisle. Did she inherit these from her cousin Jane?
In the earlier 1851 census, this Jane Little is recorded at 4 Earl St, Rickergate, Carlisle:
Mary Little, Head, unm, 36 yrs, Annuitant, b. Carlisle.
Jane Little, Sis, unm, 26 yrs, Annuitant, b. Carlisle.
Mary Wigham, Aunt, unm, 50 yrs, Annuitant, b. Haltwhistle,NBL
The prescence of Mary Wigham is significant, as Elizabeth Little appointed Thomas Wigham and Anne Ward as executors of her will in 1889. Anne WARD's address is given as 11 Spring Bank, Manningham, Bradford and is probably a close relative of Thomas WARD (m. Jane LITTLE). The probate indicates that Anne Ward had died before the will was proved in 1896 as Thomas was the only surviving executor. There are family connections here that need to be resolved.^8,10
Elizabeth never married.
Elizabeth Little left a will made on 3 September 1889 at Carlisle, Cumbria, England.¹¹
"This is the last will and testament of me, Elizabeth Little, of 2 Hartington Place in the City of Carlisle, spinster, made this third day of September one thousand eight hundred and eighty nine. I appoint my friends Thompson Wigham of 20 Spencer Street in the said City, Ham Factor, and Anne Ward of 11 Spring Bank, Manningham, Bradford in the County of York, Spinster, Executors and Trustees of this my will and I declare that they or the survivor of them or other the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my will are and is herinafter referred to as my Trustees". I give to my trustees the sum of ten pounds each free of Legacy duty to be paid to them on my decease. I give devise and bequeath my two Leasehold Messuages or Dwellinghouses and premises being numbers 2 and 4 Hartington Place aforesaid together with the furniture and effects therein contained and all other my estate, both real and personal, of which I shall be possessed at the time of my decease unto my Sister Jane Ward of Vuna, Rathmines Road, Auburn, Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria (Widow of the late Thomas Ward of Quara Walui, Taveuni in the islands of Fiji) absolutely. But if she shall die in my lifetime then I give to my two nieces Florence Amelia Ward and Clara Lavinia Ward the whole of my clothing, wearing apparel and ornaments of the person to be equally divided between them as may be agreed upon between themselves. And subject thereto I give devise and bequeath my said two Leasehold Messuages and premises with the furniture and other effects therin contained and all other my estate, both real and personal, of which I shall be possessed at the time of my decease unto my trustees upon trust to sell call in and convert the same into money and, after payment thereout of all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses and the above mentioned legacies, to pay and divide the net proceeds thereof unto and equally between and amongst all the children of my said sister Jane Ward who shall be living at the time of my decease and the issue of such of them as may be then dead such issue taking their parents share only equally between them. And I declare that my trustees may transmit the amount payable to any Legatte under this my will who may be residing abroad in such manner as they may think proper without being responsible or liable for any loss which may arise in such transmission. And I empower my Trustees if they in their absolute discretion think fit to pay over any vested or share or part therof of any infant Legatee under this my Will to such infant upon his or her receipt alone which shall not withstanding his or her infancy be a full and sufficient discharge to my Trustees. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year first before written ----Elizabeth Little----
Signed by the said Elizabeth Little as and for her last and only will in the presence of us, both then present at the same time, who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other subscribed our names as witnesses ---John E Vipond---Hy. Hodgson---- Clerks with Messrs Wright & Brown, Solicitors, Carlisle.
On the twenty fourth day of August, 1896 Probate of this will was granted at Carlisle to Thompson Wigham the surviving executor."
(Transcribed by Geoffrey Barber c1987)
Her estate was registered as worth 2,115 pounds.¹¹
Elizabeth Little died on 17 July 1896 at Carlisle, Cumberland, England, at age 68. (date from probate record) age 68 years.¹²
John Ward Trowbridge, of Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia is a grandson of Jane Little's daughter Clara Lavinia Ward. He is said to have a card in his possession which reads:
The death date here is different to that given in the grant of probate, which has 17 July 1896. Given that the card has not been sighted, the death date is recorded as 17 July until proven otherwise.
Elizabeth Little was buried on 20 July 1896 at Carlisle Cemetery, Cumberland, England.
Her estate was probated on 24 August 1896 at Carlisle, Cumbria, England, Little, Elizabeth of 2 Hartington Place Carlisle spinster died 17 July 1896 Probate Carlisle 24 August to Thomas Wigham ham factor. Effects 1,934 pounds 4s 3d. Resworn November 1896 2,115 pounds 17s 9d.^11,13
Elizabeth's estate was worth 2,115 pounds, a considerable sum, and included two dwellings at 2 and 4 Hartington Place in Carlisle, Cumberland, England which she had inherited from her cousin Jane Little in 1888. Her personal effects (clothing and jewellery, etc.) were divided between Florence Amelia Ward and Clara Lavinia Ward. The money was equally shared between the children of Thomas and Jane.