P11

Emma Simmonds


My Dad Dad's Mum's Mum

My Great-Great-Grandmother

1851 - 23 March 1924

When Emma Simmonds was born in January 1851 in Uckfield, Sussex, her father, Edward, was 31, and her mother, Eliza, was 35.


She married George Elphick on 23 April 1871 in Maresfield, Sussex. They had eight children in 19 years.


She died on 23 March 1924 in South Croydon, Surrey, at the age of 73.

Great-Great-Grandmother's Gallery

A selection of photographs and images associated my great-great grandmother.

Official Documentation

Additional Information


  • 1851 Census
  • In 1851, Emma (my great-great-grandmother) was merely 2 months old. Her parents, Edward and Eliza, were living in Nutley, Maresfield, Sussex, with their other children (Edward and Ellin).
  • Edward (my great-great-great-granfather) was aged 40, and listed as an agricultural labourer. His place of birth is recorded as Maresfield, Sussex.
  • Eliza (my great-great-great-grandmother) was aged 36, and her place of birth is recorded as Buxted, Sussex.
  • Edward (the son) was aged 12 and Ellin was aged 4. Both were born in Maresfield, Sussex.
  • Emma was born in Uckfield, Sussex.
  • 1861 Census
  • In 1861, my great-great-grandmother was aged 10, and was the only child still at home with her mother Eliza and a boarder Elizabeth Markwick. (Edward was not a home for the census - not sure where he was at the moment!) Home was now Besti Cottages, Maresfield, Sussex.
  • Eliza (aged 43) is registered as the wife of an agricultural labourer from Buxted, Sussex.
  • Emma is from Uckfield, Sussex.
  • Elizabeth (listed as a boarder) is aged 4 and registered as a scholar (perhaps attending the nearby Maresfield National School), from Maresfield, Sussex.
  • 1871 Census
  • In 1871, Emma (aged 20) was now working as one of two servants in the house of John Knight (widower) and his three children (John, Grace and Ebinger) at Town Place Farm House, Horsted Keynes, Sussex,.
  • John (the father) was aged 58, and is listed as a farmer with 180 acres from Hartfield, Sussex.
  • His eldest son, also John (aged 28) is from Hamsey, Sussex.
  • Grace (aged 26) and Ebinger (aged 19) Ann Vinall (aged 53) are both from Barcombe, Sussex.
  • Emma (my great-great-grandmother) is listed as a servant from Uckfield, along with William Gerace (aged 15) from Ditchling, Sussex.
  • In addition, there was a lodger, William Rich (aged 57) who is listed as an agricultural labourer from Edenbridge, Kent.
  • 1881 Census
  • In 1881, Emma (aged 30) was now married to George with four children at home (Emily J, Frances, George and Alice) living at Kentwater Cottage, Cowden, Kent.
  • George (aged 30) was listed as a farm servant from Maresfield, Sussex.
  • Emma is from Uckfield, Sussex.
  • Emily J (aged 9) and Frances (aged 7, my great grandmother) are both listed as scholars (suggesting they attended school) and both from Maresfield, Sussex.
  • George the son (aged 2) is from Rotherfield, Sussex.
  • Alice (aged 1 month) is from Withyham, Sussex.
  • 1891 Census
  • In 1891, Emma, now aged 40, and her husband George (also aged 40) are living at Shoesbridges, Cowden, Kent, with five of their children (Rose, George, Alice, Alfred and William) and two nieces (Alice and Ellen).
  • George is recorded as an agricultural labourer from Maresfield, Sussex.
  • Emma is now also from Maresfield, Sussex.
  • Rose (aged 15) is from Rotherfield, Sussex. She was living with her uncle Edward Simmonds in 1881 at this very same address.
  • George the son (aged 13) is also from Rotherfield, Sussex.
  • Alice (aged 10) and Alfred (aged 7) are recorded as scholars (presumably they attended school). Alice is from Withyham, Sussex, whilst Alfred is from Cowden, Kent, as is their younger brother William (aged 2).
  • Alice (aged 20) and Ellen (aged 5) are recorded as George's nieces, and possibly Ellen was Alice's daughter (and with the same surname, Elphick) may have been out of wedlock. Alice is from Maresfield, Sussex, whilst Ellen is from Cowden, Kent. 
  • 1901 Census
  • In 1901, Emma (aged 50) and George (also aged 50) are now living at Upper Plouehurst Road, Lingfield, Surrey, along with four of their children (George, Alice, William and Florence) and their grandson Albert.
  • George is an agricultural labourer on Plouehurst Farm from Maresfield, Sussex.
  • Emma is from Uckfield, Sussex.
  • George the son (aged 22) is also a farm labourer (perhaps with his father) from Crowbrough, Sussex.
  • Alice (aged 20) is a general domestic servant from Withyham, Sussex.
  • William (aged 12) and Florence (aged 9) are both from Cowden, Kent.
  • Albert (aged 10 months) is presumably Alice's son (and with the same surname, had out of wedlock) is from East Grinstead, Sussex.
  • 1911 Census
  • On Monday 3 April 1911, my great-great-grandmother was widowed and listed at living at 24 Riddlesdown Road, Purley, aged 60. The head of the household was her daughter, Rose Ellen Harris aged 35 (who raised my grandfather as her own) along with her  own grandchildren Beatrice (Cissy) aged 7 and Frederick (my grandfather, aged 5). Also in the house that day was John Harris (Rose's brother in law) aged 25.
  • Rose Ellen is classed as a widow (her husband having died earlier that year) and having two children, although why her other daughter Nellie was not at home is strange. Her occupation is listed as 'daily work', which could mean anything. Her birthplace is Jarvis Brook, Sussex.
  • Emma is also classed as a widow (her husband having died ten years earlier) and her occupation is listed as 'housekeeper'. Her birthplace is unlisted.
  • Both Beatrice and my grandfather are listed as attending school. Beatice's birthplace is South Croydon, Surrey, whilst my grandfather is Groombridge, Kent. 
  • John is listed as married for less than a year, and his occupation is that of a timber carman, suggesting he was a driver of a horse-drawn delivery vehicle for wood. His birthplace is Nutley, Sussex.
  • Interestingly, despite my grandfather believing that Rose Ellen was his mother until he was much older, he was registered as her nephew on the official census.
  • The property was obviously very modest and cramped for the household, having only 4 rooms.

Other Documentation

Other relevant documents for view will be listed below...

  • Birth Register 1851
  • Here is a copy of the birth register with my great-great-grandmother's listing in the Uckfield district.
  • Marriage Register 1871
  • Here is a copy of the marriage register with my great-great-grandmother's listing in the Uckfield district.
  • Death Register 1924
  • Here is a copy of the death register with my great-great-grandmother's listing aged 73 in the Croydon district.

Family Relationships

Share by: