# Dunford Family
NAME:

BORN:

DIED:
Nov 1924, buried Saint Mary's church, Swindon.
Grave Record

MARRIED:




Summary of the life of Eliza


Eliza Dixon was born 1859 in the Wiltshire village of Grittenham, two miles south-east of Brinkworth.


At the time that Eliza was around ten years old, there were ten individual Dixon households in the small village. Her father (William), extended family members (Henry, James, Alfred, Moses, David, John, Isac and Charles) and grandfather (John) were all employed as agricultural labourers on local farms. At this time, there were around 30 Dixon children under the age of 16 living in the village.


In the early 1870's the family moved out of the village of Grittenham to the Haydon Wick area of Swindon, probably to the area that is now known as 'The Brow'. William continued in the same line of work as a farm labourer.


In 1878 the 18 year old Eliza married local farm labourer William Howse, who was 19 at the time. The newly wed couple initially lived on 'The Street' ('Wick Street') - the same road that William grew up on. By 1901 William, Eliza and their growing family had moved to 'Fairview House' on The Broadway in Rodbourne Cheney.


During their marriage, Eliza and William had 13 children.


Eliza had one eye blind/deformed and she would often position herself to not show this side of her face when having her photo taken.


She died in 1924, aged 65.


Notes recorded by grandson Ernest Dunford


By all accounts, Grandmother (Elizabeth House, nee Dixon) originated from Romany stock.

William (58), Elizabeth (57) and Ida (13) House, 1916

William (58), Elizabeth (57) and Ida (13) House, 1916.


William and Elizabeth Howse

William and Elizabeth Howse


Elizabeth Howse

Elizabeth Howse


1871 Census

Cottage, Grittenham, Brinkworth

Name Age Relation Birth Town Occupation
William Dixon 38 Head Brinkworth, Wilts Agricultural labourer
Mary A Dixon 35 Wife Tytherton, Wilts
Eliza A Dixon 10 Daughter Brinkworth, Wilts
Margaret Dixon 6 Daughter Brinkworth, Wilts
Mary Dixon 3 Daughter Brinkworth, Wilts
Arthur Dixon 1 Son



1881 Census +

Wick St, Rodbourne Cheney

Name Age Relation Birth Town Occupation
William H. House 22 Hd Moredon, R Cheney Lab. Factory. GWR
Eliza A. House 21 Wf Grittenham Brinkworth
Florence L. House 0 Dt H Wick R Cheney
William J. House 3 Sn H Wick R Cheney



1891 Census +

Rodbourne Cheney, Swindon, Wilts

The house was a small cottage on Moredon Road, opposite what is now no.36 (where Ede & Reg Brown lived).

Florence Louisa would hide her pocket money in the roof thatch which sloped to the ground.

The cottage was very small. A door opened into the front room and there was a small scullery, 1 bedroom upstairs and 1 landing bedroom. It was demolished in 1958. Map from early 1800's shown below:

Map of Moredon Rd Swindon showing location of cottage


Name Age Relation Birth Town Occupation
William H Howse 32 Hd Rodbourne Machinist GWR
Eliza A Howse 31 Wf Brinkworth
Florence L Howse 11 Dt Rodbourne Scholar
John Howse 8 Sn Rodbourne Scholar
Elizabeth Howse 6 Dt Rodbourne Scholar
Arthur Howse 4 Sn Rodbourne
Albert Howse 1 Sn Rodbourne
Ernest Howse 0 Sn Rodbourne



1901 Census +

Fairview House, (The Broadway) Rodbourne Cheney, Swindon, Wilts


Map of The Broadway in Rodbourne Cheney from early 1900's showing location of the Fairview Bungalow:


Map of The Broadway, Rodbourne Cheney, showing location of Fairways bungalow


Name Age Relation Birth Town Occupation
William H Howse 43 Hd Rodbourne Cheney Railway Engine Stoking Machinist
Eliza A Howse 41 Wf Rodbourne Cheney
William J Howse 23 Sn Rodbourne Cheney Steam Engine (???)
Florence J Howse 20 Dt-Lw Swindon
John Howse 18 Sn Rodbourne Cheney Railway Engine Stoking Machinist
Elizabeth Howse 16 Dt Rodbourne Cheney
Arthur Howse 14 Sn Rodbourne Cheney
Albert Howse 11 Sn Rodbourne Cheney
Ernest Howse 9 Sn Rodbourne Cheney
Lilian H Howse 8 Dt Rodbourne Cheney
Annie Howse 7 Dt Rodbourne Cheney
Walter H Howse 3 Sn Rodbourne Cheney
William G Howse 3 G-Sn Rodbourne Cheney (Son Of William J Howse)
Henry J Howse 3 G-Sn Rodbourne Cheney (Son Of William J Howse? Adopted and living in Wales by 1911)



1911 Census +

No 1 Fair View, (The Broadway) Rodbourne Cheney, near Swindon, Wilts

Name Age Relation Birth Town Occupation
William Henry Howse 52 Hd Rodbourne Cheney Machineman Planing Engine fittings, Railway Co Loco Dept
Eliza Ann Howse 51 Wf Rodbourne Cheney
Walter Henry Howse 13 Sn Rodbourne Cheney School
Ida Ellen Howse 9 Dt Rodbourne Cheney School
Albert Howse 21 Sn Rodbourne Cheney Labour



1921 Census

Fair View, Broadway, Rodbourne Cheney

Name Age Relation Birth Town Occupation
William Henry House 62 Head Rodbourne Cheney Machine man, GWR
Eliza Annie House 61 Wife Grittenham Home duties
Arthur House 35 Son Rodbourne Cheney Miner - Powell Duffryn Co, Bargoed, S Wales. Out of work
Walter Henry House 23 Son Rodbourne Cheney Labourer - Starks Market Gardener, Rodbourne Cheney
Idar Ellen House 19 Daughter Rodbourne Cheney Home duties